3D Modeling/Project 1

on

2.10.2023 - 16.10.2023/Week 6 - Week 8
Sim Jian Xiong (0356498)
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Project 1

LECTURES

Week 6
Look Development

Week 7
UV unwrap & Texturing

INSTRUCTIONS  
Project 1: Hard-Surface Modeling
Before starting Project 1, we have to choose one hard surface model in these four categories: 
  1. Vehicle
  2. Weapon
  3. Robot
  4. Machine
Mr. Kamal stated that the model for this project has to be detailed and contains a lot of lines. Taking this in, I know that sci-fi weapons in games and movies are usually highly detailed, so that's the topic I'm going for. Initially, I wanted to create a futuristic gun so I searched every sci-fi game and movie I know. It is until I searched Star Wars and I realise I can make the elegant weapon of a Jedi - the lightsaber.

REFERENCES 
Fig 1.1 References, Week 6 (2.10.2023)

On the Internet, I was able to find two blueprints of Obi-Wan Kenobi's lightsaber. The left one shows the outline of each parts and right one shows the colouring.

MODELING
Fig 1.2 Modeling Process, Week 7 (10.10.2023)
  1. I started off at the bottom of the lightsaber. Following the blueprints, I used loop cuts and extrude out squares around the base for the knob and added a Torus for the ring. The same process is repeated for the component made out of several trapeziums. 
  2. Going up, I then created the handgrip made out cylinder buttons and an array of small spheres at the top. More loops cuts and extrude were used.
  3. Higher to the top, I extrude out two rings, the larger one at the end with the lightsaber emits. There's a slight inaccuracy on this model, however, the smaller ring closer to the grip is supposed to be slightly wider than the large ring. But it's okay as I'm not aiming for 100% accuracy.
RENDERING
Fig 1.3 Rendering, Week 8 (16.10.2023)

After assigning materials, I used Eevee for rendering. Unlike the models from my exercises, I left the lightsaber floating in midair like a Jedi is lifting it with the Force.

FINAL SUBMISSION
The image on the right in Fig 1.3 was my first submission. But after feedback from Mr. Kamal, I decided to add the light in the lightsaber by using Emission on the cylinder under Surface. I went with this shot as it's more dynamic and I couldn't fit the entire lightsaber horizontally in the camera.

Fig 1.4 Project 1 Final Submission, Week 8 (16.10.2023)

Fig 1.5 Project 1 with Wireframe Final Submission, Week 8 (16.10.2023)

FEEDBACK

Week 6
Specific Feedback: Low poly is good but this project requires smooth edges. Try using mean crease.

Week 7
Specific Feedback: The rectangles in the rubber grip needs more highlight to be seen. Other components are good.
REFLECTION

Experience
This project feels similar to Exercise 2, where I created bottles out of cylinder shapes. Mainly because I used extrude and loop cuts a lot, especially on the rubber grip. Hopefully the lightsaber model has enough details and lines to satisfy the criteria. The camera feels restrictive to move around, perhaps because I'm not familiar with it yet.

Observation
I noticed that some components in the lightsaber are made up of several shapes that are repeated throughout. I tried using Array modifier, but I don't know how to force the shapes to go in a circular shape instead of a straight line. Thus, I extrude them out manually one by one, which is frustrating and time-consuming.

Findings
I realised that I have a tough time having my priorities straight on my assignments across each module in a week. I spent way too much time on this project, leaving little time on other assignments. I blame myself.

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