Shoes

Students in 3D Animation and Special Effects are quickly confronted with the process of creating an animation project by studying: artistic techniques and practices, modelling, texturing and lightning are studied from the first year through practical exercises on still images. This was the case for the first-year students from Montpellier, whose teacher Julien Joubert suggested a theme: shoes.

Shoes are an essential accessory in our daily lives, both practical and fashionable. The subject is far from trivial, since shoes come in a variety of shapes and textures, as well as showing signs of wear and tear. So it’s time to take a fresh look at our shoes and pay attention to the little details.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EXERCISE

Step by step, the 3D Animation Film course is no exception to the rule. The acquisition of knowledge goes through various stages. For the subject of shoes, the Montpellier students worked in two phases.

First, the students modelled a pair of shoes of their choice in modelling class, using as many reference photos as possible. Then they corrected this modelling if it did not correspond well to the proportions of the model and by following an edgeflow (a certain important position of the polygons in the zones of deformation of the object to prepare them for use in animated films (folds of the toes and articulation of the malleolus).

Once the modelling had been completed and corrected, they moved on to unfolding the UVs of the objects so that textures could be applied. They were free to use bitmap textures (retouched photographs) and procedural textures (mathematical algorithms used to create textures in 3D and rendering software: maya and renderman).

They were asked to add layers of wear / dirt or other scratches to make the object’s ‘life’ believable, depending on what they wanted (mud / paint / gravel / scratches, etc.)

A small piece of simple decor and 3-point lighting were requested to enhance the volumes and textures created and add credibility to the image.

RENDERING

The rendering had to be hyper-realistic and correspond to an advertising packshot (framing/staging/lighting, etc.), while at the same time remembering to use the object to present techniques for superimposing layers of materials.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE

These different exercises provide a gradation in learning and awareness of textures and light.

TECHNIQUE(S)

Maya, Renderman, Photoshop.