Friday, 5 March 2010

Communicating

Our group although not always in together every week have been communicating mostly through face book email. I think it has worked quite well, although we could have used the blog a bit more.
When having problems with rendering and bits and pieces and we think another of our team members could help, we just gave each other a call or discussed it on the days wer were in together.



Here are a few of my emails.:

Tara KImberley Dulake February 9 at 9:36pm
Just to let you know this is what i have sent to mike to send out to sound design.
Love you.xx



Hey Mike/Jared,

Any chance you can forward this message on to the sound design lot for us. Thank you. From Tara





Hello to all you sound designers that live down the hall from us Animation students.

As a project this term we have had a environment project, Where we have had to design an environment and animate its surroundings.

Our group has designed a Fairy tale Princess's room from (Princess and the Pea) and we were wondering if anyone was interested in helping us to put a soundscape together for it.

It should run for no more then two mins, have sounds of winds, bird noises ect ect (Like a fairy tale) with a score that hopefully you could create.

Anyone interested and up for the task, please give me an email to either t.dulake@rave.ac.uk or taradulake@hotmail.co.uk

If you want to have a look at whats going on so far you can look at our blog - http://whenigrowupiwant2b.blogspot.com/ (Please bare in mind its not finished yet, lol)

Or even if you could give us some suggestions or files you may already contain to help us out, would be greatful.

Thank you

From Tara Dulake

(Animation Level Two)
whenigrowupiwant2b.blogspot.com
- OK so apparently the colours I just made are not being used, even though I was asked for a final design so that we could get on with it. Oh well! On with t...
Alexander Daniel Bax February 9 at 11:58pm Reply
nice one Tara :)
well said :D
thanks!!

Tara KImberley Dulake 16 February at 19:44
Hey as you know two people from sound design have got back to me today, we will at least be meeting with one next tuesday, so we need at least a rough render for him to take away. we only technically have two weeks left, so can we all come in on monday to get everything together and know the final touches for next week, thanxs guys.
from tara

Scheduling.

We didnt manage to finish our project with the rendering. I think this is down to not haveing a porper schedule made, i made a ropey one to begin with, but some members of our team were not in to talk to properly about what we needed done, so it was getting later and later, and things were not getting finished on time, i think i may have spent a week longer on the modelling then i should have which pushed all the animating and everything else back which didnt really help matters. I think for the next project, i will defiantly do a proper schedule and try to stick to it.

Comparison of work.




With the style of our work i think that it looks much like the Barbie princess stories. In the way of modelling and colour.
Professionally it could work with some good animation.

Illustration

Today we have been putting together our work to be handed in, i realised we didnt have the illustration we were going to use, and decided to do a quick one to put in the beginging.This was the final image, i wanted it to look like a illustration rather then a picture, i used the Stamp effect in photoshop, and i drew over the bricks and added a flower for some colour.
This is the Picture i did, but it wasnt quite right . Alex did say that it should just be a quick picture.
This was over complicated with the castles, so i decided to tone it down. I wasnt too sure if the back ground would match with the start of the frame anyway so i took it out and used the same colours for the background.
If i did it again, i would take more time over it, and get the actual image from after effects, then it would match up perfectly.

Thursday, 4 March 2010

Rendering

We were unable to get our technical advisor to help us out with the render farm yesterday as he was ill, We had already tried to put something through it on monday, but it had many issues and didnt work, so we decided to devide the layers of the renders between us, Rochelle had lights, alex had colour and i had occlusion.
The occlusion layer was not rendering as it should have, it got to 260 frames before failing, and the programme would not open up and render it out, sometimes the render would not do it, so there was many difficulties, Rochelle and alex both had the same problem after i asked them to try it themselves.
Therefore we decided to try to put the colour and the lighting layers together. However we had problems trying to match the frames together even though there was the same frame rate the picture didnt match up. As last minute, we had to make tow of both layers, We managed to put in the fairy dust, although it needs to be masked in certian areas.

Texturing

Texture for phot frames made by greg
Here i made a texture for the carpet of a pink carpet with green strips and a green spot to represent the pea. How ever when i loaded it into the scene it didnt match up well with the steps that were in place, so i just removed the spot and kept the stripes.
This texture came from a picture i took at the castle. I have made it into a tileable texture and underneath is where i have made a bump map of it. We arent going for a realistic look, so i thought i could just use it over a colour lambert.
Bump map
Matresses

These pictures were created by gregory to add to the photoframes in the scene.

This was also created by gregory as part of the background for the beginning shot.
These texture are for the matresses. We tried to get lots of different colours and patterns to show the intence number of matresses.




Although at the end we didn't manage to see any of the textures i did try to create some. A lot didnt work very well, as i used nurbs to model, and they jest came out stretched over.

Wednesday, 17 February 2010

Book stand

The book stand here was one of a last minute things. After talking about our project with our tutor, we decided that a fairy tale book opening would fit in with our opening and ending, allowing us to have a continuous story that over laps on each other.

I had a look at stands for alters, and books, i found a couple of examples, and i changed it adding the pea in the crown symbol which is in a lot of the furniture i designed. I had major problems with the pages i was trying to create. At first they wouldn't turn on the axis, i found if i grouped it to itself i wouldn't have that problem, then i wanted the page to bend and look as if you were (flicking) through the book, so i managed to rig the pages and add bend to them. I still think that alex had a lot of problems try to animate the pages, as for some reason i couldn't get them to all line up properly, but as we only have really a week left before we need to render, i think we will have to make do with what we have.

Tuesday, 16 February 2010

Models

Here are the main models that are going into the scene as Occlusions, The clock has been rigged so that the hands go round and the front door opens as well as the pendulam swings.
The candles i havent added and flames, as i hoping the lights on top will give off that effect, as they sould then technically not really be needed. We have discussed animating them to go out, which would mean adding smoke and animating the lights flickering off.
The doors have been rigged to open and close within the scene.
The chest fo drawers is suposed to have a mirror in it, however it wont be in the scene for long, and i havent yet found away to make it look like a mirror unless i took a picture from that angle and put it in, but even doing that wont make it look quite realisticaly right as you will see the same image as the camera moves round.

Thursday, 11 February 2010

Made the BEd taller like jared said and the pea on top smaller

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Sound

I don't think anyone has really thought about the sound so far, so i have sent a message to sound designers where Im hoping they will get into touch and help us out with creating a sound design for our picture.



Hello to all you sound designers that live down the hall from us Animation students.  As a project this term we have had a environment project, Where we have had to design an environment and animate its surroundings.  Our group has designed a Fairy tale Princess's room from (Princess and the Pea) and we were wondering if anyone was interested in helping us to put a soundscape together for it.  It should run for no more then two mins, have sounds of winds, bird noises ect ect (Like a fairy tale) with a score that hopefully you could create.  Anyone interested and up for the task, please give me an email to either t.dulake@rave.ac.uk or taradulake@hotmail.co.uk  If you want to have a look at whats going on so far you can look at our blog  -  http://whenigrowupiwant2b.blogspot.com/ (Please bare in mind its not finished yet, lol)  Or even if you could give us some suggestions or files you may already contain to help us out, would be greatful.  Thank you  From Tara Dulake  (Animation Level Two)

I got two replies from sound design.
Hi my name is Matthieu and I do sound design (2nd year ) I know you e mail is a bit old so you may have found already wot ya were looking for... If not let me know I 'am quiet interested in doing it  Thanx matt

> hi Tara > > just curious if you've found a sound design person for your project yet? > > > > -- > georgi marinov > creative sound design lv.2 > > 
Hey thank you for your response, Matthieu Baron also got back to me this morning and was interested, but we need something in the next couple of weeks, so unless you want to work with him or create something for us yourself we would appreciate it very much.  When are you in next? as we could meet up and give you some ideas of want we would like. We will be in animation level two until 4 today, if you get his mail in time. Email me when you can meet. Thanking you.  From Tara and gang.  
hi Tara  Matt and I are handling this our end so don't worry at all. I was just slightly confused as I normally get mixed feelings when   people use the word "interesting" :)  g    On 2 Mar 2010, at 20:23, Tara Dulake wrote:  > Hey, i think we are all pretty happy with what you have produced so   > far, > so, just keep going with it. > Sorry if we messed u up with Matt now, were you going to do bits   > together > or by yourself? > > thanks, > should be in all day tomoz if you need to drop by. > > from tara > > > > > >> hi . >> >> just fyi I had a deadline slip into the weekend so am delayed by a   >> day. >> I'll come and see you tomorrow. >> >> >> g >> >> >> >> On 26 Feb 2010, at 11:27, Tara Dulake wrote: >> >>> thanks for Getting in touch Georgi. >>> Yeah sorry to hear about the mix up. >>> some people from my group and in college right now, so still roll >>> down to >>> animation lab two at end of hall if you get here by one. >>> >>> if not ill try upload some of the videos. >>> >>> from tara >>> >>> >>> >>>> hi Tara >>>> >>>> Gotta love Ravensbourne and how they "promote collaboration" by not >>>> having students' timetables overlap at all. >>>> I'm in at 130 this afternoon, doing a longish presentation. Since I >>>> come all the way from north London and stayed till 4 last   >>>> evening, I >>>> quite literally can't get in before 1pm. >>>> >>>> And since I can't expect you to be there, I suggest we kick things >>>> off >>>> by email since time is getting tight. Maybe upload some video and >>>> send >>>> me the link, together with a couple of paragraphs about what your >>>> intentions are, so I can layer some sounds and get them back to you >>>> for review. >>>> >>>> mpeg-4 works best. please no wmv. >>>> >>>> Seeing as there's only 1 week left of this term (at least ours), >>>> here's my schedule for next week: >>>> = monday, tuesday, wednesday - all in >>>> = thursday, friday - not in >>>> * i *will* be reachable over the entire week, since there's nothing >>>> left to submit my end. >>>> >>>> >>>> I'm still committed to doing this, despite the slide in our >>>> timetables >>>> and => difficulty to meet at college. >>>> >>>> g >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 25 Feb 2010, at 20:17, Tara Dulake wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hey where did u want to meet tomoz? i only have a lecture till >>>>> 11:30, but >>>>> i can hang on till lunch if you want. >>>>> >>>>> txt me on 07850159682 >>>>> >>>>> from Tara >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> hey Tara >>>>>> just make sure you have video for me on Friday and don't worry >>>>>> about >>>>>> the rest. >>>>>> a week is perfectly fine if the vid isn't too long. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> g >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On 23 Feb 2010, at 20:39, Tara Dulake wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Hey, Yeah if you want to meet up on friday that will be cool, >>>>>>> however our >>>>>>> work is due in next friday, so i don't know how much time you   >>>>>>> have >>>>>>> with >>>>>>> your other projectsand if you will have enough time to do   >>>>>>> ours, i >>>>>>> dont >>>>>>> want you to not do your other work. it would be helpful if you >>>>>>> could >>>>>>> help >>>>>>> us out. >>>>>>> I can give you a couple of files on friday of what it looks like >>>>>>> so >>>>>>> far, >>>>>>> and if you want to still have a go then you can, im sure you can >>>>>>> do >>>>>>> alot >>>>>>> better job then us. Even if you can just help us out by   >>>>>>> finding us >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> right sound effects and stuff, would be helpful. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Let me know >>>>>>> From Tara >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> hi Tara >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> how are you progressing? >>>>>>>> I have lectures this week on both wednesday and friday, so if   >>>>>>>> you >>>>>>>> want >>>>>>>> us to have a brief chat maybe we could have a meeting or >>>>>>>> something, >>>>>>>> if >>>>>>>> you're still up for this? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> g >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On 16 Feb 2010, at 19:37, Tara Dulake wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hey Georgi >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Sounds good to me, we arent in until next tuesday so it works >>>>>>>>> out. >>>>>>>>> By then >>>>>>>>> we should be able to give you something to work with, much >>>>>>>>> appreciated. >>>>>>>>> We should be in the animation studio room down at the far   >>>>>>>>> end of >>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>> building from 10-4 so any time will be great. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> here is my mob number so you can text me if u need: >>>>>>>>> 07850159682. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Your stuff sounds good. im expecting good things from you. lol >>>>>>>>> im sure you can do a better job then any of us in our group. >>>>>>>>> Look forward to meeting you. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> From tara >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> oops, sorry, my lectures just got cancelled. I won't be in   >>>>>>>>>> till >>>>>>>>>> next >>>>>>>>>> Tuesday. >>>>>>>>>> I can work relatively fast, and very often work from a >>>>>>>>>> distance, as >>>>>>>>>> long as you can supply me with some information and, of   >>>>>>>>>> course, >>>>>>>>>> video. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Maybe have a look at http://esem.name/sound and tell me what >>>>>>>>>> you >>>>>>>>>> think. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> g >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On 16 Feb 2010, at 14:07, Georgi Marinov wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> hi Tara >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> I'll be in tomorrow, can't do today. Do you have classes   >>>>>>>>>>> then? >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> g >>>>>>>>>>>

At first we had some probelms as the sound designers got the message a bit late, and so by the
time they got in touch it was literally two weeks before hand in. 
Then we had a few problems trying to meet as we were trying to get together during college to discuss what we wanted to do, 
and it was difficult as our time tables were not the same and we were in on different days.

We managed to meet with them and we gave tham a play balst of what we had so far, 
a few notes on what we ideally wanted to have sound with in the scene, and 
We gave them a couple of tracks that we decided we wanted it to roughly sound like, such as music from The fairy tale picture Peter pan.

Georgi returned with some really nice stuff, and we told him to carry on and add some sound effects. I don't think that we were much help to him,
 and we really needed to give him a final render on the last week, but we had left everything too late, that and he only had limited time to do it, 
Ideally for my next project i want to get someone in from sound design right at the beginning of the Project.

This is the final sound that was sent to me for our project.

Trip to leeds castle for reference material and textures

I took a trip to leeds castle, to try get some ideas for modelling and what to put in the scene, but i alsmost finished all the modelloing, so i mostly went to find some textures to add.This Candle stick for reference to the lighting and modelling, Could be put in the scene to make things brighter.
This is where people would bath, i wanted it as the lightin the window and the sticky out seated bit which was what i was planning to do in mine.
I Took this picture for the fabric that lay on the floor. I wanted to add this in, but i would have only been able to add it to the bottom layer, as fabric would be alot to animate in such a short sapce in time.

This reference was for the style of the door in the way of the little black dots for holding it all together, I managed to incorperate this into my design.
A candle holder, looks more menacing then anything, but good reference for a different style if i could do it in a different color.
I did at first think about haveing a suit of armour outside the door, but we only were doing the bedroom, and so it wouldnt really fit within the scene and just stick out like a sore thumb.
The castle,- for reference of the outside of the castle, although the only bit of outside we see is the brick wall.
Bricks for the wall texture.


I tried to get amny texture of brick to see whcih might look best.
This gate would have been nice to modell if we were doing rthe outside of the castle.

More stones and bricks.

Rigging, the Matresses


The mattresses have been rigged so that they can be animated whilst flopping on the bed. Each mattress will have its own texture layer. I need to ensure all are imported for alex to use within the scene.
I have put handles on the mattress for ease of use. An over-all handle can move each mattress into place. I rigged them using clusters and a lattice around the mattress. I wasn't able to get as much movement in the mattress as i would have liked, because i could only put one cluster in one group. However i think we should still be able to get good movement out of the mattresses.

Monday, 8 February 2010

Modelling

These images are of all the models produced to go in the room so far. it looks at some of the different angles we could have with the camera in the scene.




The clock hands i managed to rig to move round how they are meant to. This will give an effect of time passing on by.