Behind the Scenes: Ace of Spades

INTRODUCTION

Hello, I’m Arati Puranik, or @rteaarts on most platforms. I’m a 3D artist from Maharashtra, India. I’m at present an artwork director in an indie studio. 

Earlier than 2019, I used to be pursuing a profession in scientific psychology, having already earned my masters and instructing psychology in a school. Then, I made a drastic profession shift and determined to go for a Diploma in Sport Artwork and Design. Since then, I additionally took loads of programs on-line to additional upskill myself (Wingfox is a lifesaver!). 

I like storytelling by environments, and I actually love creating cozy scenes. I’d like to work on extremely detailed, visually beautiful environments that inform their very own tales. I take into account myself a realism artist, however I wish to discover NPR artwork types often. At the moment, I’m within the preliminary levels of engaged on my first quick movie.

INSPIRATION

I’ve at all times actually beloved customized taking part in playing cards, a few of my favorite artists have their very own decks that I want to purchase some day. So once I first noticed Blender’s new Ray Portal Shader, the very first thing that got here to thoughts was a taking part in card.

I selected Ace of Spades for this as a result of I believe spades form of appear to be mushrooms, and I assumed making a mystical mushroom forest would look fairly good for this piece.

PROCESS

Software program:

  • Blender
  • Substance 3D Painter

Block-Out:

I knew I needed to create one thing that appeared like a mystical forest with a mushroom within the middle, so I began by gathering references on-line. I primarily searched on Pinterest and Google Photos with particular key phrases, however I additionally appeared for some references on Artstation.

I gathered references for composition in addition to artwork model references.

As soon as I had arrange the ray portal shader (I adopted Default Cube’s tutorial for this on YouTube), I began attempting to determine the dimensions of my scene. 

I knew I needed it to really feel like a spot that was contained throughout the taking part in card, one thing that you just take with you, and never like the cardboard was only a doorway into an entire different world. I believe this stage took the longest, with me experimenting with numerous completely different dimensions and shapes of the room that this forest was going to be in, however lastly I settled on this.

Modelling:

As soon as I had the scale of my scene set, I set to work on the mushroom. Since this can be a taking part in card, and the mushroom was going to be my Ace of Spades, it was vital that I acquired the form and placement proper. I additionally shortly created the outer shell of the taking part in card. This was required as a result of the ray portal shader is double sided.

After I had the entire major components in place, it was time so as to add the atmosphere. I created a flat airplane, gave it a bunch of subdivisions and sculpted the bottom so the mushroom was sitting on the bottom as a substitute of floating in air, after which I added timber within the background. I needed the timber to present that mystical but stylized look so I made the timber pretty skinny.

Now, with the entire structural components arrange, I simply had so as to add foliage. I created a few various kinds of crops.

At this level, it appeared fairly good nevertheless it was lacking one thing. So, I made a decision so as to add a log and a few various kinds of mushrooms, plus some grass to the bottom.

Texturing:

At this level I used to be fairly pleased with the composition, so I separated all the weather and exported them for texturing in Substance Painter. I initially needed to present it a watercolour texture however I felt this scene would look higher with less complicated textures. I saved the textures easy, principally making use of place gradients and slope blur, and painted darker strains wherever wanted.

I textured the cardboard utilizing a number of completely different alphas that include Substance Painter. That is what the textured end result ended up trying like.

Lighting:

Lighting for this was fairly easy. As soon as the scene was all arrange, I added some volumetric fog and a lightweight that shines instantly onto the scene. I additionally needed it to appear to be moonlight was shining in by the highest, so I added a little bit of an exaggerated blue mild coming in from the highest. At this level, it nonetheless felt just like the render might use a bit extra flare, so I simply added a couple of yellow level lights to make them appear to be fireflies. I additionally added a lightweight that was pointed on to the cardboard to focus on the metallic components of the cardboard.

Animation & Rendering:

I parented the cardboard to an empty and animated the empty to finest seize the sensation of this portal, after which it was time to render.

And that was it! Under are the ultimate renders.

RENDER: Ace of Spades

That’s all! Thanks for studying!

Concerning the Artist                       

Arati Puranik is a 3D Artist from India. She is at present working as an artwork director in an indie studio and is open to freelance jobs.