Category: Virtual Principles

Animation and Arnold

After completing most of the materials for the body and some of the special materials such as the buttons for some of the doors, the striped material for the sofa and the material for the extractor fan. I started to try to render pictures of the interior of the car. And I started to use the camera paths I had created before to plan the view of the animation.

In another part, to complete a 40 second or one minute long animation, the story focuses on an underground ride through the space hyperspace fast lane. After a momentary jump out of the dark passage on the way to see the Milky Way, the underground returns to the dark passage after more than 20 seconds of viewing the Milky Way. I created two more pitch-black cylindrical shapes as a jump out and behind which there is entry and the space hyperspace fast lane. After this I started to set the keyframes for the animation and the position of the model, as well as the ambient light source for the rotating Milky Way mapping.
However, because of my laptop hardware, rendering the whole animation seemed out of reach and the long render times often crashed my computer. So I had to use the most basic, unrendred animation to describe the story.

Evaluation and review
In this project “Galaxy – Exploring the Metro” I focused on the Metro and the future of galactic exploration. A science fiction novel had a big influence on my initial idea. Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, one of the ideas, the idea of building a hyperspace fast track through space, gave me something to think about. The idea fitted in with my original theme for this project, exploring the unknown. It just went from my initial exploration of the outdoors from inside the metro to a wider and unknown exploration of space.
Based on the feedback given to me about this 3D world and animation project, there is a section on the direction I am taking and the theoretical knowledge I have gained from this work that can also be used to help me with my creative practice. Due to the specific nature of maya and the fact that this is the first time I have tried and learnt the software and skills involved. I need to have ideas, experiment on different levels and have the ability to explain to others the direction I want to explore and understand. There is also the ability to implement innovation well in the development of the project.
But on the other hand. After self-examination and feedback, I have recognised the problems that exist. Each part of my 3D world and animation has different levels of problems that I need to address in the 3D world and animation. Firstly, I need to learn better ways to use implementation methods for feedback in maya. Also, I need to learn how to use more software and plugins in maya to help me express my projects better, such as adding more attempts to prove my ideas, and the ability to maintain my logic and continuity of work. Also, I need to experiment more with new materials and new ways of modeling, choosing carefully which materials I need and might use, so that I can strengthen my skills and knowledge of materials and experiment in my 3D world and in my animations. Most importantly, I need to apply professional behaviours effectively in my practice and increase my productivity. I need to develop a daily schedule through thorough reflection and personal development to help me start working and practising creatively and effectively. However, due to my laptop hardware, rendering entire animations seemed out of reach and the long rendering times often crashed my computer. Use the most basic, unrendered animation to describe this story.
Overall, for me personally, maya is still a software and skill that deserves more time to explore. There are many parts involved, modeling, mapping, animation, rendering. Each one of them is worth more time for me to learn and master.

UV Map Test

To complete some of the special materials, such as the buttons on some of the doors, the striped material of the sofa and the material of the extractor fan. I started to split the corresponding UV maps and used photo shop to paint the corresponding materials. After a period of painting and using these images and rendering the corresponding parts, I found that the material would only appear in the render.

In another section I finally created the galaxy and galaxy images that I was happy with. This image will be used as a texture for the ambient light source in the final animation. A 40 second or one minute long animation, the story focuses on a sequence where the protagonist rides an underground through the hyperspace fast lane in space. The Milky Way is seen after a momentary jump out of the dark passage on the way, and after viewing the Milky Way for 20 seconds or so the underground returns to the dark passage.

Material experimentation

The inner appearance of this underground carriage is part of the animation, so I built most of its appearance and content. I have now completed all the modeling and some of the materials for the underground. This image shows the basic appearance of the underground and its rendering. Most of the light for this piece comes from the lamps inside the car. The glass material is also used to better show the galaxy and galaxies outside.
For the majority of the car body I have chosen to use partially reflective metal, such as the roof and underside of the car. For the metal railings I have chosen the most reflective material to distinguish them from the rest of the car. The fender near the sofa is made of blue plastic.

Preliminary Technique Attempt

In order to present this underground carriage well, I built most of its appearance and content. At this point I have finally finished modelling the entire underground. This image shows the basic shape of the underground and its anatomy.

I didn’t rush to finish the materials and rendering after the majority of the model, but started to experiment with the glass and glow materials. Most of the light for this piece comes from the lamps inside the car. The glass material is also used to better show the galaxy and galaxies outside.

Preliminary Technique Attempt

Through my previous research and the perspective drawings I created, I tried to create a simple underground model in maya. In this initial version of the model I have tried to include some basic objects that are commonly used in the underground such as sofas, railings and windows. And I have basically created the general shape of the vehicle. The model still needs further improvements such as lighting, materials and the corresponding scenes.

In terms of research, I started looking at science fiction novels about trains, subways and exploration. After a period of research I found a science fiction novel that had a great influence on my work. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, and one of the ideas, the idea of building a hyperspace fast track through space, gave me something to think about. The idea fitted in with my original theme for this project, exploring the unknown. It just changed from my initial exploration of the outdoors from the interior of the metro to a more expansive and uncharted exploration of space.

Early Entity Investigation

To better serve my purpose, I set out to create a plausible metro train and its corresponding interior by using a frame of a picture from a video I had recorded in a basic way. So I created this image by using photo shop. In this image I have used blue lines to represent the contents of the underground, from the sofa, windows, landmarks and other contents. I believe that by using this perspective I can better understand the underground and what I need to create in Maya.

Source of ideas

The idea for this project came from a journey I took on the underground. I felt a special feeling during the ride, a feeling of exploration from the inside out, from the inside to the outside. And the contrast between the lights inside the car and the lights outside was also different. So I wanted to use this as a starting point to make an animation about the underground and exploration.