Work in Progress for Computer Applications

Project 3 - A maximum 90 seconds Animation of the Completed 3D Scene

This final project of Computer Applications require us to create a 3d animation video of 60 to 90 seconds relating to our previous projects. Base on the retreat house's model, a creative animation is to be created which can show several techniques of animating objects.

Learning to create particles in 3ds Max. Super spray of teapots applied through geometric instances. 

Rain effect using PF source. This was a little confusing at first and it did not appear as what I expected. It involves forces wind and gravity.

Making curtain movement using P array.

I wanted to create the effect of leaves in the wind using super spray. Making of a leaf particle for geometric instances use by bitmap onto a plane.

Adding an opacity alpha to the bitmapped leaf so it is properly shaped.

Test rendered the leaf particle to check the effectiveness when rendering.

Most part of the modelling involve importing object models to furnish the structure. This adds context to the retreat house.

Creating the flame model for the candle and manipulating the mesh into the right shape.

Looping the keys for flame movement.

Experimented with path constraint for the camera. Ended up putting it to just revolve slowly around the dining table and candle.

Used PF source to add particles to the "ball of light". Wanted to have a fairy-like effect to add more fantasy expressions into the animation but it wasn't quite as I expected as the results were rather dim. 

Creating light spheres all around the trees and bushes to induce a firefly effect.

Making down lights out of cylinders.

Placing the light fixtures into the model.

Test rendered the light and it appears to be weird, requiring readjustments.

Lighting added with more minor adjustments...

In process of rendering which took about a day and a half and 10 plus computers. Pays to create too many frames, and I ended up with over 4000 frames. The rendered clips were then edited and combined in Windows Live Movie Maker.

 End Product - Video animation on Youtube

The general idea is to engage with the light plays in the building. By putting it in an after dark environment to create a contrast with the lights. The animation presents itself from day plunging into night and the mystical light plays before it vanishes as the sun rises again.