Week 11 Conclusion of the Tree project and Term 1

The last week of the first term turned out to be a review week and for that reason it was a week full of self directed studies. The self directed time included an opportunity to do some clothed model sketching in the Life Drawing studio. The students were allowed to choose what to draw, so me and a couple of other students asked the model to do some quick sketches of different seated and standing poses. This would have counted as primary research for the upcoming Stylised Character project.

I moved onto modelling the trees in 3DS Max. The project introduced two new techniques for making 3D models. One of them was creating the tree drawing an NGon and a line for the base of the tree. Then I created a loft along the guidelines and continued creating spline lines. Up to that point there was no need to change the model to an editable poly. I only needed to change the object to editable poly for extruding branches along the created splines.

I had applied the bark texture to the loft right after it was created and for that reason there was no need to unwrap it, only the branches needed it.

Example of the tree branch with Alpha
Channels applied

After unwrapping, phase two of the tree creation started with creating a tree branch and leaves. Adding a single new Alpha Channel made the texture transparent in 3DS Max.

To finish the model I had to copy around planes with the branch texture applied to it and the model was done and ready to port to the Unreal Engine.

The trees could have been improved in more than one way.

To improve my tress I could create a different tree with more branches going out of it. I could also change the colours and add more chunkier leaves for the alpha textures. Perhaps adding more branch  and leaf planes to the trees could make it look more rich with leaves.  Also the branches of the tree could have been made longer to look more realistic.

In conclusion I am quite happy with the trees as they do not look alien to the village when in engine.

So far I love the course and I've learned so much in such a little time. I look forward to what the next term will teach me and how I will develop as a person and an artist.