10-28-2015, 07:44 PM
@Bart: Check out your crit on the stream :)
@Xiaogabe, thanks for the link, I think I have seen the other two vids as well! Genius stuff.
Hey guys thanks for those who made it to the stream. Sorry for the lag, it was horrendous. I talk about the project on the week03 stream here: starting from 31:10.
Below is the text of the document I was referring to with more links and stuff.
What you complete in the following weeks will depend on what you can handle within the time frame. It may be one or more highly polished production illustrations, it may be a number of well presented, quick concept / mood sketches. It might be some detailed perspective line drawings. I may send you off on different directions to others based on what I see and what you want to do and what I believe will be best for your development at this time. Feel free to disagree with me!
Week 04: Ideation
Deadline: Wednesday 04 November 9pm NZST
01. Everything starts with an idea.
02. Brainstorm / idea generators / your own IP / redesigns
Once you have some ideas, fill in the following specifics, some examples given:
It might be useful to think of and split up reference gathering into the following areas:
The best photos are those taken under ambient lighting (for example photos taken on overcast days). Avoid over/underexposed photos. If using lit photos, try and make sure the lighting direction will suit your scene if you already have something in mind.
Be be sure to look at interesting parts of images, not just images as a whole. You want to select interesting things out of what is there, not be tied to the photo as is. Look for interesting, shapes, patterns, details that will suit your scene not just specific objects already made.
Assignment Pick a mini-project to work on for the next 4 weeks.
Create your mood board/s
www.pinterest.com is a good simple site to gather, collect and share reference quickly.
PureRef (www.pureref.com) is a great powerful lightweight free tool to arrange your reference quickly and easily
If you think you might want to explore more than one location within your world, create as many boards as you need for each one.
These will become your reference board as we develop your designs.
Ideation sketches Ideation is visual brainstorming.
Begin the ideation process and do sketches for one or more locations within the world of your project.
Do as many notans / thumbnails / value sketches / colour thumbs as you can or need to.
Anything goes. I don’t want to restrict your methods of ideation. You can use any of the techniques I have shown you or other techniques you prefer yourself.
Here are some options to help you along the way:
At the end of it I would like to see your mood board, ideation sketches and present 4 of your best ideas taken to a level where I can tell what the general composition and values and mood design will be. Doesn't have to be detailed, but it should be clear. When you post your assignment please also post your moodboard, your setting details and any (short!) backstory or design details that you are aiming for and is pertinent to the environment setting.
Post any questions or troubles you are having along the way here, and I will endeavour to help out, time permitting.
[font='Segoe UI Light', sans-serif]ENJOY AND REMEMBER THIS IS THE FUN STUFF!!!![/font]
@Xiaogabe, thanks for the link, I think I have seen the other two vids as well! Genius stuff.
Hey guys thanks for those who made it to the stream. Sorry for the lag, it was horrendous. I talk about the project on the week03 stream here: starting from 31:10.
Below is the text of the document I was referring to with more links and stuff.
What you complete in the following weeks will depend on what you can handle within the time frame. It may be one or more highly polished production illustrations, it may be a number of well presented, quick concept / mood sketches. It might be some detailed perspective line drawings. I may send you off on different directions to others based on what I see and what you want to do and what I believe will be best for your development at this time. Feel free to disagree with me!
Week 04: Ideation
Deadline: Wednesday 04 November 9pm NZST
01. Everything starts with an idea.
02. Brainstorm / idea generators / your own IP / redesigns
- Come up with a short backstory. What is the history of the environment, and what is the current story of you as the “viewer”. Why are you or your characters there, what brought you there, what are you there to do?
- You can use random generators: http://crimsondaggers.com/forum/thread-1247.html
- Find environments you like and use it as inspiration to develop a story setting within it: Go to http://www.mapcrunch.com/ or http://randomstreetview.com
- You could redesign/reimagine existing movie / book / game locations.
- Find literary excerpts and descriptions. Example below:
Once you have some ideas, fill in the following specifics, some examples given:
- Location: temple, swamp, airport
- Time of Day: midday, noon, night
- Mood /Emotion/Themes: examples - sombre, eerie, celebratory, fear, awe, joy.
- Weather: stormy, windy, sunny
- Genre: science-fiction, gothic, fantasy
- Period: stone-age, medieval, roman, future-times
- Obstacles / Objectives: chasm, towers, narrow path
- Focal Points: in game design often are prominent landmarks. Also add visual impact to single illustrations.
- Activities: loading ships, shopping, rebellion, cocktail party
It might be useful to think of and split up reference gathering into the following areas:
- Specific location (architecture, landscape features, vegetation)
- Lighting + mood + palette
- Set design + props
- Style reference
The best photos are those taken under ambient lighting (for example photos taken on overcast days). Avoid over/underexposed photos. If using lit photos, try and make sure the lighting direction will suit your scene if you already have something in mind.
Be be sure to look at interesting parts of images, not just images as a whole. You want to select interesting things out of what is there, not be tied to the photo as is. Look for interesting, shapes, patterns, details that will suit your scene not just specific objects already made.
Assignment Pick a mini-project to work on for the next 4 weeks.
Create your mood board/s
www.pinterest.com is a good simple site to gather, collect and share reference quickly.
PureRef (www.pureref.com) is a great powerful lightweight free tool to arrange your reference quickly and easily
If you think you might want to explore more than one location within your world, create as many boards as you need for each one.
These will become your reference board as we develop your designs.
Ideation sketches Ideation is visual brainstorming.
Begin the ideation process and do sketches for one or more locations within the world of your project.
Do as many notans / thumbnails / value sketches / colour thumbs as you can or need to.
Anything goes. I don’t want to restrict your methods of ideation. You can use any of the techniques I have shown you or other techniques you prefer yourself.
Here are some options to help you along the way:
- Notan sketches
- Value sketches
- Colour Thumbs
- Draw a top-down layout map of your scene and possible camera vantage points.
- Basic 3D modelling + lighting + shot renders.
At the end of it I would like to see your mood board, ideation sketches and present 4 of your best ideas taken to a level where I can tell what the general composition and values and mood design will be. Doesn't have to be detailed, but it should be clear. When you post your assignment please also post your moodboard, your setting details and any (short!) backstory or design details that you are aiming for and is pertinent to the environment setting.
Post any questions or troubles you are having along the way here, and I will endeavour to help out, time permitting.
[font='Segoe UI Light', sans-serif]ENJOY AND REMEMBER THIS IS THE FUN STUFF!!!![/font]