The End

I have now finished my Bumper Car animation. Using the arena and cars that I have made, I animated them driving around the arena using AutoKeys in 3ds Max. I then created a camera which follows a set path, showing the arena from multiple angles, until finally panning to the roof, showing a sign displaying the name of the arena, Krazy Karz. This could be used as an advertisement on a kiosk at the seaside, which was the goal for my project.

I was happy with the way the cars and arena turned out, modelling them was very enjoyable and I learned a few tricks that I will be able to use in the future. This was my first time animating, so I found it quite challenging, but I feel the result was good and it worked the way I wanted it to. I wasn't too happy with the way the environment around the arena turned out, if I were to do more work on this I would need to look into improving this.

Overall I feel that this project was enjoyable yet challenging, and I have learned some useful skills along the way.

Car pt. 3

I made a last few alterations to the bumper car. I added an aerial to the back of the car, which I thought made the design a lot more realistic, and I also put a chamfer on the corner of the seat to make it look softer, and less rectangular. I also added white cylinders in the light sockets so that they looked like they werent empty sockets. Lastly, I added a slightly reflective raytrace to the shell of the car, which I think turned out well. I also saved a version of the car with a blue shell, so that I could have two different colour cars in my arena.

Arena pt. 3

I did some more work on the maps for the arena. I created a sign for the back, and on the side of the roof, using photoshop. To create the texture for the roof and base, I found a picture of metal, and tinted it red using photoshop. I then used the offset function to make it suitable for tiling, and applied it to the structure. I added some small signs on a couple of the posts, which were for fun and to give the arena a little more character.

I found some grafitti images, and I chose one (the right one) to apply to the floor. I felt that it turned out very well, making the whole arena look more stylish, and also gave the floor a nice rough texture. I was very happy with the result.

Car pt. 2

I made quite a few changes to the bumper car, of which I was quite pleased. Firstly, I added a raised strip in the middle of the car bonnet. Although quite a simple change, I felt it gave the car a lot more character. I chose yellow for the strip in the end, as I felt it complemented the cars main redness. Lastly, I made the bumper of the car a lot thicker, which made it look a lot more like a real bumper car.

Arena pt. 2

I added a few extra parts to the arena, a sign at the back, and a poster shaped rectangle on the side of the booth.

I then added a wooden texzture to the booth, which turned out well after a few adjustments to the tiling. I also added a map to the poster, which was something I found on the internet.

Car pt. 1

This was the very first attempt for the basis of my bumper car. I used merge booleans to create the base of the car, and to create a rectangle with a rounded back for the sides and back of the car. I then used subtraction booleans to cut the space for the seat, and cut a section of a sphere for the bonnet. I thought it looked kind of like a slipper, so it needed some work yet.

I added a steering wheel using cylinders, and a seat using a couple of rectangles. I grouped the two seat parts together, and used a boolean to cut a slot between the seats. It still needed some work, though.

Arena pt. 1

First, I created a basic arena for the bumper cars. Its comprised of various shapes, mainly different rectangles. I used chamfers do put the slanted corners on the roof and base, and used the Boolean funtion to cut holes in the top of the foor, and the inner floor of the arena. I also tested possible maps on the pillars.

Next I created the booth. The windows were created by cutting rectangular holes via a boolean, and then inserting a thin rectangle in the window slots, with a raytrace map to add reflective quality. I also added a ramp to the main structure.

Materials

These are some of the materials that I have found for possible use in the project. Rubber, wood and metal are all quite common materials which could be used for a lot of the major parts of the structure. I have decided not to use maps for the main body of the bumper car, but rather give it a reflective quality which should imitate the real thing quite nicely.

Research

These images are ones I found for concept ideas for my project, which will be used to help me come up with the design of my bumper cars and the arena for them to be animated in. I wont be basing my bumper car on any single one, but rather a combination of parts of them all.
The arena I will make is going to be an outdoors arena, which will be open on all sides. These images will help give me an idea of proportions and textures, however.

Mood Board

The mood board was kind of a brainstorm of initial ideas, a visual collage of things that make me think of the seaside. There is quite a contrast, but its all quite bright, and fun.
The two top left images are dark areas filled with bright lights, representing the warm colourful nightlife that I associate with going to the seaside in the summer.
The sun, sea and sand represent the beaches in the summer, probably the first thing most people will accociate with the seaside, and again quite bright, but calm.
The bumper car and the arcades represent the fun of the seaside, where everyone can relax, and perhaps act like children and bring back memories.
The hot dog reminds me of the old signs by the beaches where you can buy fast food, and the ice cream also brings memories of children and adults enjoying something cold by the sea.
Lastly, the middle image represents the family aspect of the beach, tieing it all together, the beach being a fun safe place for the whole family, and all ages.

Thursday 21st March

Uing the RAM player

When altering small details such as lighting in an image, its possible to use the RAM player to compare them. To do this, you have to render the first image, open the RAM Player, and load the image into channel A. Then, you make the changes, render it, and load it no channel B. Then you can move the slider to compare differences.

Raytrace shadows can be used for better shadow effects, but they take more memory to use.

Using the Atmosphere and Effects modifier it is possible to add more effects to an existing light.

Bones

By using bones we can create movement by applying them to an object. First, I created a cylinder, which would act as an arm. By selecting Systems, then Bones, I accessed the bones panel. For the arm, I selected IKLimb, and clicked and dragged three bones that filled the length of the cylinder. Then, I placed the bones within the cylinder.

Next, I selected the Skin (the cylinder) and click the modify panel. On the drop down list, I selected Skin, then next to "Bones:" I clicked Add. I then selected the bones that had been created before, and this connected the bones to the skin. This allows the cylinder 'arm' to move when the bones are moved.

Next I selected the Helpers button, and selected Dummy. I created the square object, and kept it away from the other objects. By linking this to the arm, it could be moved to bend the arm as if by a string, rather than manipulating the bone itself.

Lighting and Cameras

Firstly I created the scene by using various boxes and shapes, and altered one or two by converting them to editable polys. I then placed an Omni light on the ceiling for general lighting (which was fairly dim) and and Omni light inside the candle to create a candle like effect. Lastly, I added materials to make it more realistic.

Next, I created a free camera, which was targeted near the middle of the room. I created a line circle, and attached the camera to it to create a path for it to animate on. This gave an effect as shown in the video clip.

Apple

I found this to be quite challenging, I had never used these techniques before, so I didn't really know what I was doing. I managed to stretch the polygon into this shape using the smooth tool, but it took a lot of trial and error until I got something that looked alright.

Not sure how well I'm going to do with this module, but I'll see how it goes.

Impressions on brief

I wasn't sure what kind of program we would be using, but finding that we will be using 3D Max was good, since I enjoyed using it in 3D Modelling in Year 1. However, the project sounds like it could be quite hard work so could be difficult to get done on time.