Week 3 Learning 3DS Max Camera Alignment

Learning 3DS Max

Week 3

        The  third week of my self-directed study went  a lot smother then my second week. In this week.  I learned how to set up a camera properly in 3DS Max. I knew the basics on how to set up a camera, but nothing accurate to align and match the position of the original shot . Here they showed me to set up an environment that will match your scene. The showed me lots of helpful hints on how to get it looking right.

         The first trick they showed me was getting to take a shot of the person shooting the shot. This is a good thing to know because you will know the height of your objects in the film by knowing how high it was filmed. Simple little trick to find out how far away you were from recording it. This will also help a lot later on when placing the camera in 3DS Max to the right height. From here they move on creating wall planes and ground planes to scale and getting your horizon line accurate to your scene. Nothing was complicated in the tutorial video and there were no complications with it .

             But it was a good refresher on the stuff I knew already tofind out where things are  and get use to the tools that move a bit differently . When you completed that I then had to set up my camera properly. After setting my camera this will now allow you to start getting ready and adding your V-ray materials later on.  This is very simple thing. But i liked that there was it's own video for it and was smart thing to do . Taking the time to understand the basic first,  will prepare you for when things are getting added and harder. 

Next weeks Blog is about Camera Mapping .

Week 2, Self Directed Study, Scene Set Up & Location

Learning 3DS Max

Week 2         -Location and Photo Taking 

This weeks Blog is about choosing a location,

           Locations you chose can make or break your scene. I wanted to create a closed in area with 2 long buildings on the side, looking down a one-way street, the sky high in the air. I was going for good reflection and easy lighting. I know doing would be hard on a one-way street and not getting the cars to be on the road. On the other hand the shot seemed like it would end up looking good if I was able to capture it. So I chose the street shot rather then doing the field one scene where the reflections would be really hard to tell. The only problem i was really worried was trying to get the sun at noon. The street had alot of people on it was the problem.

Photo Taken From Iphone Spherical Environment App

           We got there when the sun was at noon and got a couple of shots. The problem was at noon there where cars and there was no time to get a HDR photo of the spherical enviroment. Without the environment being the same I couldn't do it. This would cause problems because the car's would be there in one reflection but not the scene itself or the other way around. I couldn't use these shot's but since the sun was now setting, I took the risk of trying a scene of harder lighting with the sun setting  and take the risk of the reflection might not being as well if i couldn't get it right.

          Since it was later in the day we shot it became easier. There wasn't as many cars in the way , but we did have to reset a few times. Taking the 360 spherical enviroment photo was hard to capture because it does take a bit to take and car's would move and ruin the photo. I ended getting decent photo with only a few mistakes here and there. I knew then I wouldn't get any better or the picture would be too dark to take.



Here are the photo's that I was able to capture. During this week of my self directed study.

Week 1, Learning 3DS Max

Learning 3DS Max

Week 1 - Basic's of 3D's Max

        For the first week of my self-directed study I only had one thing to do. That was to work with the 3ds max program and familiarize myself with the buttons and layout. This was a good idea because I'm use to working with Maya. The the control's in 3Ds Max are very similar to Maya but at the same time very different. I focused my time leaning the move, rotate, scale tools . I was also worked on importing objects and creating them. I am preparing for next week where I will have all my own scenes and assets.

         

      Creating object is pretty easy in 3Ds max. Getting use to changing the shape of the object is the only thing that seems to be different in 3Ds Max so far. This is a a new program that I know nothing about. I hope this isn't going to be a challenge for me to chose as my self directed study. 3Ds Max seem's like Maya a lot, Only difference is I find the location of all your tools. "To make anything to look good, we first need to build a good foundation"  The first two videos from Freddie W and Brandon L were great at showing this and explaining the basics. This gave me great foundation for any project about to start.

Next weeks Blog is about choosing a locations



By : Cameron Arseneault