Post-Production

Animation by Liam:

Project Evaluation 

1. Introduction to the Project – 

1. What is the project and what is it about? 

The project is the Eclipse of Existence project where we were tasked, as a team, to create an environment that would fit one of the four games with an apocalyptic setting (given in the brief). We were tasked to create all models and texture them as well as any other production processes, animation etc.

2. What have I been asked to do (aims and objectives)? 

I was tasked with 3D modelling the cabin, and various other things within the cabin along with props, texture the models and I also tasked myself with setting up the environment, so getting all the assets in one scene, placing them etc. along with the FX and other things like particle system for the trees and snow etc. And I was also tasked with making a final animation render.

2. Strengths and Skills. 

1. What were my key strengths when I came into the project (technical & non-technical)?

I was already fairly adapt at using blender as I'd been using the software since before joining this course, so my 3D modelling skills and general blender skills were fairly good, I also picked up animation pretty quickly and I really liked a lot of the FX I added to the animation video (Ice on the screen when outside etc.).

2. What was I hoping to develop from this project? (technical & non-technical).

I didn't go into the project expecting to develop many skills, again I'd been using blender for a little while before, so more so I was hoping to test my skills with a real project, rather than just learning blender, applying my skills to a project.

3. What strengths and skills have I developed throughout the project (technical & non-technical)?

Despite not expecting to develop any skills I did learn a few things, like how to use forces and a particle system to make snow, and also various addons in blender such as blender kit and real snow.

3. Technical and non-technical skills that did not work. 

1. During the project what issues did I come across?  

1. What technical issues did I have (lack of software / skills / knowledge / time / teamwork /etc.) 

The software and skills side were fairly okay, however I will say in hindsight I could have used a more professional production pipeline, as I was confident (maybe too confident) in my blender skills. And with the discovery of Blender Kit it became clear that there was an easy option to just use blender to make this environment (textures and all), which for the most part is what I did. The "professional" way of doing an environment/project like this would have been to use separate software for the texturing such as substance painter. My thought process behind not using the other software was that, the materials I needed didn't seem complicated enough to use substance painter, I wasn't making characters which needed tens of materials all on one mesh and a lot of the models were made of very simple geometry so it was an easier option to use blender to add materials/textures to them.

Timing seemed okay, however I do think I could have communicated better with my teammate about what I was doing, my general thought process was that once we have an idea and I know what I'm supposed to do then I can just do that and be done. This in the end didn't effect the final product to much however I do think, looking back on it, if I had communicated to my teammate I could tell him where issues lay in his models and give advice etc. on how to improve.

4. Software. 

1. What software did I use? 

I used blender to make the scene (everything in it), Photoshop (for the "concept art") and shotcut for video editing software.

2. Did I learn any new skills? 

I learned some new blender skills, how to use forces to simulate wind for the snow, how to piece together a full environment scene etc. and also image editing techniques (photoshop).

3. What would you have liked to explore further? 

I'd have liked to have made some more complex models and other models to fill the scene just a bit more.

5. If you did this project again, what would you do differently? 

1. What areas would I improve? (Research / design / development / software etc.) 

I'd have researched more, done more concept art, maybe a mood board, and used a more professional production pipeline (used substance painter for texturing).

6. Conclusion. 

I'm happy with what I got done, It was a very fun project as I could just think of all the stuff that needed to go in and I could actually make them in blender, It verified that I have improved since starting this course and the project over all it was a fun concept. I have areas to improve, communication and using more professional ways of production etc.