I’m trying to create eye and blinking animations for coral reef creatures in TouchDesigner. I’m really excited about this because the eyes are very cute, and the process is helping me deepen my understanding of TouchDesigner compared to before.
On the other hand, I haven’t been able to create the coral reef creatures very well because my skills and knowledge are still limited. From this experience, I’ve changed my focus from creating the whole creature body to designing the creature’s eyes, so I can at least contribute to the project.
I made an environment (Under the Sea) in UE5 based on references that I researched before. In the process, I have faced up some difficulties and challenges to achieve our concept image. In particular, it is the most difficult to make water surface and atmosphere in ocean.
To overcome these difficulties, I searched tutorial in YouTube and some website. And then, I found some good reference and tutorial to revise my purposes in UE5. Therefore, I used to this knowledge. I used blueprints for water and sculp mode for making ground and texture and assets from Fab.
Also, I considered about construction of each nature objects such as, rock, coral reef, and sand etc.
I learned how to make and revise 3D digital signage by using UE5 in this week. This installation is so called projection mapping as well. And it was really excited for me because I thought that might be difficult for me before I took the class today, however, indeed, it is not too difficult for me.
To sum up key point, first, I decide the camera angle to consider where is from the viewer saw it. And then, I set up moving object from back to front. Also, it is the most important thing is to be aware of what you gonna make 3D advertisement in real field, and fit it correctly in UE5.
And then, to render the video and fix it in after effects. After that, finally, the video shows to the object via screen projector.
In this week, I learned what is reality capture and how to use it. This system is so useful to make real object without modeling process.
As you can see overall, firstly, I prepare real object what I would like to import as 3D model into Unreal Engie 5. And then, I record the object from 360 degrees perspectives by using smartphone app that is Unreal Vcam. And next, open this video in reality capture software and setting and edit it. After that, the data import into UE5. And finally, I fixed mesh and UV, I can use it as same as normal 3D object.
Making Environment
I found these reference for under the sea. I would like to make this kind of beautiful sea based on blue colour. Also, I will simple color that mean i do not use too much colors because our project wants to emphasize and focus on creatures so I am eager to make a good balance !
I collaborate with Chichi, Liz and Maria in this project ! I really excited to work together and we conceive main idea, meaning of it, and main concept for this project. In particular, we choose under the sea environment and three types of creature for interactive installation. To sum up, the viewer shows three different hand gestures or handwaves that have different speed and the camera catch up this motion and creature react real time under the sea.
When it comes to meeting with my group members about out project, I researched what kind of creature do we want to create and suitable for achieve our purposes in this project like this pictures in advance ! And in my opinion, I would like to create unique character that inspired from sea animals such as, jelly fish, coral reef, and urchin etc. Furthermore, we decided to add different emotions like happy, calm down, and steadily in these creatures.
Also, we made a timeline and provide each task such as, character modeling, environment making, and sound, and touch designer and so on. And especially, I have assigned to work on making environment in this project! Therefore, I will do my best to contribute to this project. So that, I will collect reference and imagine how is appearance at first, and then I will use Unreal Engine 5 to make it.
I attended touch designer workshop in this week. And I understood basic knowledge in touch designer. I supposed it is similar with nuke and node in blender. And I watched some examples of artwork and installation by using touch designer and projection mapping as well.
TouchDesigner is a node-based visual programming software used to create interactive media, real-time graphics, animations, and audiovisual installations. It is widely used in digital art, live performances, exhibitions, and projection mapping.
I learned 360 camera in UE5. In particular, it is necessary to use Off World plugin for UE5 and setting as well. However, it is not difficult for me, even I need to remember the process. So I would like to use and repeat for improve my FMP.
Also, I talked a lot of student about brief 1 and brief 2. And then, I found 3 members who has a similar ideas and want to do it in this unit! Probably, we create a interactive artwork by using touch designer. Therefore, I will attend a workshop to learn how to use touch designer actively from myself!
I am going to choose this brief 1 because I am really interested to explore animation possibility. Also, I would like to use touch designer so that, I joined workshop to learn and use it from myself!
In the class, I watched a lot of previous work in this same unit, and then I really impressed by experimental animation work. Additionally, I felt that can be useful for preparing PhD programs.
In this week, I did workshop to make one scene by using maya plugins such as, studio library, animbot, and animation layer etc. Especially, I was surprised that studio library is very useful and easy to combine different shot into one maya file. I made pakkun flower attack to mario in this scene. Throughout this practice, I realized that I really enjoyed to make attack scene like game and I like mario character !!!
Advanced Animation Shot Polish
I polished timing and space in this week for advanced animation shot. Also, I add first scene that is included weigh shift motion. Furthermore, I realized that I need to add more characteristic motion like anticipation and exaggeration etc. And I received feedback from Mariana, she gives me a good animators’ youtube account to learn body mechanics.
I learned maya plugin system that is called Anibot. This is so useful and convenient to adjust graph editor and easy to operate maya function by Anibot. And then, I made a pacnflower animation by using Anibot function in maya. Throughout making process, I realized that anibot helps me for saving time because that is easier than before.
