Tasks:
. Traditional Sketch Idea of Scene
. Layout Designs
. 3D Model Blockout (x2)
. Blockout Sketch (x2)
. Colour Ideas
. Art Style Practice
. Asset Model Blockout
. Asset Sketch
Week Number & Date: Week 2 – 25/11/19
List of Tasks Planned for this Week:
. Do a rough sketch/sketches of the scene I intend to create
. Do layout ideas for final piece using Photoshop
. Create a blockout on Maya
Sketches
Above are a few rough sketches of the scene I intend to create, as well as different versions of it. I intend to create a cyberpunk railway station or metro, that has an empty, disused atmosphere, or it has been abandoned. I did rough sketches using a few possible assets I could use, examples including platform barriers, a holographic screen and staircase. For the final product, I may add other additional objects to the scene, such as benches, litter and signs. I may possibly challenge myself, and attempt to draw a locomotive in the scene as well, however this depends on time constraints as well as my ability.
Layout Ideas
To start getting a rough idea on the layout for my piece, I decided to use shapes on Photoshop to represent sections for my piece. I then started to place them in random areas, to get a visual idea on what would be where. I used referencing from my research to get an idea on how the station could be laid out. I only used certain assets for reference for the layout, but I may add more detail into my official piece, such as litter or posters or graffiti.
This first idea is a more simple layout. It would have the stairs on one side,and two set of tracks, with a few assets on the platform. This is generally a more simplistic idea, for if I find out during trying blockouts, it would be too difficult.
The second idea is almost as simple as the first idea. I simply moved a few of the assets around, moved the staircase shape onto the other side, and rather than have two sets of rails, I added another platform to form a island platform. It would also be one of the simpler ideas I could follow if I find this difficult to blockout.
The next idea is a bit more difficult in terms of its layout. I added two staircases, but kept the island platform. I hope to test myself when I do this project, so this idea could be similar to the one I aim to do.
The last idea I came up with is very identical to my first idea, however I added one major asset. As I looked back at my asset research, I did research on locomotives. A possibility I could do is to add a locomotive into my piece and make it the asset of focus. As much as I want to do this, this could also prove to be difficult to design when I do the blockout, as well as difficult to draw and colour when I end up sketching it.
Blockout
Above is a blockout I did for this project to practice my sketches. I used my first layout idea for inspiration for this blockout, and I took it out at multiple angles to get a rough idea on how it could look visually, and I also used different colours to mark each asset, so I know what piece is what. For a draft, I think it looks good. I only added a few minor assets to the blockout, as this is a mock-up of what I intend to do, so as I sketch it, I can get an idea of whether or not I have added too many assets in one scene or how it could turn out with more objects. I am debating over whether or not to make it longer for my official piece, as well as what to add at the end of the diorama. I am also wondering if I should make it a block diorama, or if I should make it a whole page concept piece.
What tasks didn’t you complete this week?
N/A
Planning for next week?
. Start to use the blockout to sketch on Photoshop
. Begin generating colour ideas
Week Number & Date: Week 3 – 2/12/19
List of Tasks Planned for the Week :
. Do a sketch of my blockout on Photoshop
. Begin generating colour ideas on some assets on Photoshop
. Begin to practice art style on Photoshop
Blockout Sketch
Above is a sketch of the blockout that I created on Maya, using Photoshop. This helps me to get an idea on the sort of scene I could produce, on a miniature scale, as well as show off what items I could focus on. I plan to do colour ideas on two of the objects in this scene, particularly the staircase and the bench.
Colour Ideas
Above are some colour ideas, using the bench from my sketch. I decided to focus on bright colours for the bench, as cyberpunk themed environments normally appear to have a neon colour to show off detail or design. I also tried to use different colours for the legs of the bench. Alongside testing out colour ideas, I also practiced using the screen printing art style I intend to use for the piece, and I think they came out well.
Above is the second object I focused on doing colour ideas for. I used the stairs for the second part, as this was a larger and more complex object. As most buildings in a cyberpunk environment had dark colours, I decided to do my first two colour ideas in dark colours, using a dark cyan colour and a navy blue colour. For my last idea, I decided to have a go with a brighter colour. A possible idea for the final piece could be to combine the dark colours and add some of the brighter colour somehow. I also decided to do use my art style for practice on these colour ideas.
Blockout 2
I decided to do a variety, and do another blockout on Maya, trying to create another one of my ideas that I created in the layouts. For most of this, I created replicas of existing items, made the diorama stage larger. and changed the back screen around, to make it appear like a news advertisement. I think it came out very well, and I quite like the layout for it. I am not sure what my object of focus may be yet, but I have been debating over attempting to design a train similar to those used in Japan, to add to my scene.
Blockout Sketch 2
Above is the sketch of the blockout that I recently created. I used a snapshot at a slightly different angle for this sketch, and I am quite proud with how it came out. I also experimented a bit with text, to see if I could possibly add some text into my official piece. I quite like how it looked, but I am not sure whether or not to stick with the text.
Blockout Asset
I attempted to use this time to create a possible model of a locomotive, that I could possibly use in the final product. This locomotive is only small and doesn’t have many details, but for a draft, I think it is a good attempt. I hope that I can make a locomotive in my final piece, but it will all come around to time constraints, as I will also not only have to sketch it, but colour it.
Blockout Asset Sketch
Above is a sketch of the locomotive that I created on Maya. I think it came out very well, and I would definitely focus on this as the main asset if I add it to my official piece. I may stick with this design if I add it in the official piece, however I may make it slightly longer, as I do intend to make the scenery much bigger.
Additional Blockout Details
To get more ideas for details, such as neon light placement – which is a crucial part of the cyberpunk theme environment – I added certain blocks and shapes in different vibrant colours, to show where I would place them. I did them in different colours, for I am not sure what colour to chose for the official colour scheme in the area.
What tasks didn’t you complete this week?
N/A
Planning for next week?
. Come up with blockout ideas for what the train could look like
. Sketch the blockout ideas
Week Number & Date: Week 4 – 9/12/19
List of Tasks Planned for the Week :
. Try to come up with blockout ideas for what the train could look like
. Attempt to sketch the blockout ideas, and come up with the official design
Train Blockout Examples
Example 1
The first design is a much more simplistic design, based on some real life examples of trains, giving it a flat face. This sort of train would be more used for suburban and metro systems, similar to what I intend to create. It is also much more simpler to design, as it consists mostly of blocks. However, I’m not sure if this would be appropriate for a cyberpunk environment.
Example 2
This second idea is very similar to my first idea. However, I made it longer, smaller and more narrow, and I even added a head at the opposite end. It’s appearance is supposed to be inspired by the Japanese high speed trains, also known as shinkansen. I quite like this design, and it also appears quite futuristic, and somewhat ideal for the cyberpunk environment.
Example 3
My third example is an example of a streamlined train, mainly inspired by the H5 Series Shinkansen locomotive, with its long nose feature. It’s appearance is almost futuristic, which is what I aim for my cyberpunk scenery, however, because its a complex design, it might be too difficult for me to create in the time period I have.
Train Sketches
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Above are sketches of the trains I did using Maya to blockout. Although I found example 1 the easiest to design and sketch, I don’t think it’d appeal to the theme of cyberpunk. I did like the design of example 3 too, and this sketch would be the most likely design for a cyberpunk train, but I found it difficult to add detail to the windows and the doors as the train went along. Out of these sketches, if I had to choose one to follow, I would mostly likely go for example 2, as it has examples of a simple design from example 1, and it also sticks to the cyberpunk theme, similar to that of example 3.
Sophie Level 3 Games Dev 2nd Year 