Pre-production design project (LEVEL 3 GAMES DESIGN)

Ayami Kojima

The colour pallet that Ayami Kojima uses are red, yellow and white. Red is most likely used to represent blood that relates to vampires; Ayami Kojima works on most Castlevania artwork. Yellow is used to represent the sickness of the characters; vampirism is a disease commonly seen within games, movies and other media that contain vampires. White is used to represent the paleness of the characters; Vampires are usually seen as a white pale colour.

The focal point of Ayami Kojima's artwork is usually the pale characters which stand out from the red colours that surround them.

The image that Ayami Kojima has created depicts a pale man who is likely a vampire judging by their red and yellow eyes staring at the viewer. The man is surrounded by blood red skulls of animals and blood red castles which shows that the image could belong to the Castlevania games artwork. The yellow/gold colour could represent the power of the character being shot out like rays of light/power.

The atmosphere of the image is cold as the pale man stares directly at the viewer that gives an eerie and fearful feeling. The blood red creatures make them seem like demons and as they all look out from the pale man gives the image a hellish atmosphere.

The meaning of the image is that the pale man is a vampire lord that has immeasurable power which is represented by the yellow/gold rays; also the blood red creatures could represent the pale mans minions that he controls and the blood red castle represents the pale mans domain.

I first notice the pale man as he is at the centre of the image and his white colour stands out from the colours surrounding him such as red, yellow and black; its the opposite of trying to use a colour to stand out since white is a very base colour while the red and yellow colours are more vibrant.

My peers say that the image of the pale man is represented to be angry judging by the serious look on his face. The first thing they notice is his eyes because of the red and yellow colour. They have also said the the pale man is very tense as he looks angry.

Rule of third

How has artist used the rule of third grid?
Rule of third was used for the golden spear-like objects that surround the face, each point of the grid is on or next to the golden spear-like objects.

Focal point of picture?
The focal point of the picture is the pale face shown in the centre, taking up most of the space in the three centre squares of the grid. The white pale colour also makes the face stand out from the colours like red that burst out and the yellow that surrounds the sides of the face.

Biggest form of picture?
The biggest form of the picture is the pale face as it takes up most of the three centre squares of the grid.

Rule of third sketches

 I created a sketch using rule of third method. I created an alien jungle-like setting, making the tree be the focal point of the whole sketch as it's on the line of the rule of third method. The biggest form in the sketch is the tree.

 I created a second sketch using the rule of third method. I created a sci-fi theme with the focal point being the person as they are drawn on the line of the rule of third method. The biggest form in this sketch is the portal at the top of the stairs.

I created a third sketch using the rule of third method. I created an island setting with the sea in the background. The focal point is the palm tree as it is on the line of the rule of third method. the biggest form in this sketch is the palm tree.

Golden spiral sketch

I started drawing a desert theme landscape sketch.

Sub and dominant forms

 The red colours represent the dominant form which is the biggest form in the image, the yellow colours represent the subdominant forms representing the smaller but still big form. The green colour represents the focal point of the image, which could be a person.

Dominant sketch

I used the golden spiral method to help draw my sketch that shows the dominant form being the biggest building, the subdominant form being the smaller buildings and the focal point being the person who is getting abducted.

Maya Tutorial
File>Project window>New (create test_project 3)

Setting up Maya grid for unreal4 - 1 x UU = 1cm    1 x Grid Unit = 1cm

Coke can
12.2682 size of coke can
Create a new layer and assign selected object (Right side)
Insert coke image to fit into wire frame shape
Make the can's lines match the grid lines

Leading lines, light source and framing
(Red arrows represent the leading lines, green arrow represents the light source and the blue lines represent the framing of the picture/focal point)

 The spaceship has two leading lines into the character, above spaceship is archway that has leading line into character. Building has leading lines into the character and rock that character is standing on has leading line into them. The light source is coming from the left side of the image which makes the character light up and stand out. The rocks the the right side of the image frame the image and makes it easier to see the focal point of the image.

 All of the arching rocks have leading lines into the tower. The light source is coming from the left side of the image that lights up the tower and makes it stand out from lower part of the image; contrast has been used which could show the importance of the tower. The image is framed by the rocks in the bottom left side where the horse is standing on.

 The vehicle has a leading line going into the character, the box at the bottom has a leading line into the character and the debris on the right has a leading line into the character. the light source is from the left side of the image which shines rays of light on the wall but not so much on the character. The image is framed by parts of the building that the character is in and a turned vehicle.

 The leading lines on the buildings lead into a building in the background, the sign has a leading line into the background and the long wire has a leading line into the building in the background. the light source is coming from the sun at the top which is nearly blocked out by a building. The image is framed at the top and top left by parts of a building (futuristic) or spaceship.

The leading lines from the rocks, pillars and creatures all lead into the character in the centre. The light source is from the clouds; sun mostly blocked out by the clouds which only allows some light through. The image is framed by rocks in the bottom right and the pillars in the centre frame the character.
Leading lines, light source and frame

Only one leading line from the smallest building leading up to the person who is the focal point(Will create more and better leading lines). The light source will be from the alien ships abducting people as the setting will be night and so everything will be darker except from the ships. The frame will be other buildings so that the focal point can be focused on more easily.

The colour palette i will be using will include a maroon colour for the bricks of buildings. The white-blue colour will be used for windows; i will set the opacity very low and black background for windows. The brown colour will be used for the sky as i want the setting to seem polluted as the setting is futuristic; could relate to the backstory of the painting. The midnight blue colour will be used for the space ships as i think it will give them an ominous look.

 I decided to flip the golden spiral and the image so that i could change the focal point to instead be on the hulking alien.

I added colour to most of the drawing except for some parts like the ships, people, hole in building and the alien as i did not have enough time to finish the drawing. I also was not able to add small details like the alien's face and body as well as the people's body and face's. A transparent green light would of also been added to show the spaceship was abducting the person in the sky. The dominant form is the tall building on the left side and also acts as a frame for the picture. The subdominant form would be the closest alien ship (biggest one) in the sky and the focal point of the image is the hulking red alien shown holding a human (unfinished) as they push vehicles out of the way. The reason why the hulking red alien is the focal point (rather than the humans, alien ships or buildings) is that its framed by the building on the left, is near to the centre of the picture, meets the end of the golden spiral and contrasts from the green building that also frames the hulking red alien with the hole in the wall.

Three point perspective sketch

I used three point perspective to create an evil tower where the top shows an orb and three curved parts surrounding the orb. (I took inspiration from 'The Lord Of The Rings' movies where the tower has the eye at the top)

Mind-map ideas of settings

I came up with 4 main ideas as to what i wanted to make, being a sea, islands, volcanic and space settings. I then came up with two more settings for each main setting that are more specific. I then talked about the backstory of the settings and then talked about the locations that the settings were located to be more specific.

Silhouettes

Sketch of a futuristic hangar but shows exit of hangar, with planets in space, Front of ship is shown at bottom. Shows the use of a midpoint with leading lines going into the centre. The crate on the left has visual weight as it can be compared to the size of the space of the hangar.

A corner of a room that shows the use of a midpoint.

Space ships are shown flying around as a person on the left is waving. Rule of third is used to show the main points of the image being the ships, The ship closest is the dominant form while the ship further away is the sub-dominant form and the person waving is the focal point.

A path to a teleporter that shows something like a monster emerging. Leading lines have been used from the path to point to the focal point/monster.

A flying spaceship is shown flying towards asteroids. The rule of third has been used to show the main point of the sketch being the flying spaceship. The spaceship and asteroids has visual weight as they both can be compare to one another to show each has different sizes; the asteroid on the right can be shown to be closer than the others and much bigger than the spaceship.

Earth is shown while a monster is emerging from a rupture in space. Rule of third has been used to point out the monster, a country on earth and a wormhole in the sea on Earth.

 A sketch that shows two humanoid guards with staffs outside a room with a type of electrical power running inside. I have used a midpoint with the electrical power at the centre while the guard's staffs have leading lines going into the midpoint.

 This sketch is a city under attack by a monster. The monster is on the midpoint while the buildings have leading lines going into the monster. The buildings have visual weight as each building is a different size than each other.

 This sketch is of a planet that has giant tentacles breaking out. Rule of third was used to show each point has tentacles bursting out.

This sketch is of spaceships attempting to reach the planet. Rule of third has been used showing that the spaceship and a spot of the planet has importance.

Colour pallete

This is my colour pallete that i will use. Brown for the buildings, white for the windows, grey for the pathment and smoke, green for the alien, yellow and orange for the fire and black for the sky and roads.

Lighting plan

My light source for this environment will be a fire. The blue lines coming outwards from the centre midpoint will be the direction of the light source. The red colour represents where the light will be strongest while the yellow will be where the light source will be weakest and orange is the transition of the light intensity from strongest to weakest.

Sketchovers

Perspective- I will use a top perspective so that most of the spaceship can be seen as well as the rest of the environment. This will alter how the scene will feel because of the high amount of huge asteroids that surround the spaceship; the size of the asteroids are bigger than the spaceship which can make the scene also feel overwhelming. I will situate the horizon on the portal so that the viewpoint will show that the spaceship is flying towards the portal.
Backstory- A rift has appeared in an asteroid field and group of explorers have decided to fly their spaceship towards it hoping to discover something new. The scene is trying to show the spaceship fly towards the rift through the asteroid field because the spaceship is full of explorers who want to find out what the rift will do when they go near it. The meaning i'm trying to convey is risks can have consequences.

Perspective- I will use a front perspective so that all of the front and side of the buildings leading up to the alien can be seen, its also more easier to see whats going on in the environment if a front perspective is used. This will make the viewer feel like they are actually in the city with the alien attacking in the distance.The viewpoint will be on the alien as it will be the focal point as dominant forms and sub-dominant forms will be the buildings that lead into the focal point. Leading lines also lead from the buildings and sidewalk as well as a broken part of the scaffold.
Backstory- A city is being invaded and destroyed by an unknown alien. The scene is trying to show an alien approaching a city and destroying buildings along its path. The alien is hungry and  searching for humans to devour. I want to convey a meaning of how something unknown can be scary to people.
I will use the CMYK colour system. I will use colours like grey and brown for buildings to compliment the colours used for the alien which could bright like yellow, red, green, etc. The colours used will be desaturated; this will create a very dark and menacing atmosphere. The colour palette i will use will be dark grey, brown, pale green and yellow; i chose this colour palette because it creates an evil atmosphere.

Final environment evaluation

My digital painting is a sci-fi theme in a city.I am happy with the resulting scene as i have used techniques such as leading lines on the buildings, dominant & sub-dominant forms being the biggest and smaller buildings has helped to frame the focal point so the view understands the meaning, focal point being the alien and framing with the buildings on both sides of the alien. I am most proud of how the alien is shown destroying the buildings. I used my time effectively to complete the environment as i made sure i focused on the details around the alien. I did not use any resources like books or the internet but i did take inspiration from movies like war of the worlds by H.G.Wells that had aliens with tentacle-like features. My scene would fit into an action game. War of the worlds was an effective resource as it gave me ideas as to what my focal point could be and so i decided to create an organic alien with tentacles as my focal point. If i had more time i would add people running away and more detail to the alien to make it look more scary. I used lighting to show the intensity of the fire by showing how far the light travelled. The buildings frame the alien which makes the alien more noticeable. Digital painting is used instead of normal painting because it allows me to easily correct my mistakes. I can add to my painting easily instead of using normal paint. I would have to wait for normal paint to dry but digital painting allows me to save my work fast. I can used a wider range of colours and shades of each colour more easily for digital painting. I used my colour pallete that i created consisting of colours such as brown, white, grey, yellow, orange, black and light green. Dark brown was used for the colour of the buildings, light brown was used for the door, light grey was used for the colour of the windows, dark grey was used for the pathment, smoke from fire, the scaffold under the poster and the metal billboard part where the poster has been ripped off,  black was used for the billboard  and sky, white was used for the stars, aliens eyeball and writing on the poster on the billboard, orange was used for the fire, yellow was used for the aliens pupil, brighter part of fire and lamppost light and green was used for the aliens body colour. Red, green and brown was used for the burger picture on the ripped poster on the billboard.

Leading lines and midpoint on final environment.

My final environment showing the leading lines and midpoint. Buildings and windows  have leading lines into the midpoint. The midpoint is on the alien as i want the alien to be the focal point in the environment.