Critique my tram

[maudioradium]

Hello,

As an introduction to this piece and my background - I'm very new to 3d compositing onto recorded video/film, but I have been doing 3d (and 3d animation) as a little hobby.

I approached a small business who had a crude mock up of a tram in a local town, I asked if he'd like a much better representation and offered a free animation reel just to get started.

Anyway, I recorded the video on my iPod then stabilised it using a video editor. I then tried my best to match up the perspective so I could put in the tram to make it look realistic.

So, just to note - I am very new to this and I tried to match up the colours the best I could, however I would very much appreciate some critiques on making this better and more realistic.

I realise this is in the 3d *stills* but I don't want my animation to be commented on because I can make this much better once he's approved the first sample. However, I'd like to improve the tram so it looks like it's really *in* the town and I'd love to know how.

Cheers.

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoQvQ...ature=youtu.be

Additional notes:
- I used global illumination
- I used area shadows
- I placed the sun in a position where the sun actually was in the scene. I did this by using a mans own shadow and putting an object around the mans size, then making the shadows similar

[McFly]

That's actually very good! Fits env very well in terms of lighting, shadow positions etc.
If I wanted to crit I'd say tram stops a bit too abruptly and moves back a tad too much.

Again, it's very solid.

ps: people pausing before crossing in front of the tram, such a perfect timing almost makes me think it's all live footage!

[maudioradium]

Thanks a lot.

Is there anything that you would improve upon it? I thought the shadow could be softer around the edges?

[danielmn]

I think its looking really good.
At this point the only other critque I can give,
-is try to match the graininess in the frame already.
-add a bump to the paneling of the metal, needs more ridges to break up the spec and reflections

http://www.lightrailnow.org/facts/fa...rt-data-01.htm
look here and see how the reflection on the top move around and it wavy

and is the tram reflecting anything in your scene, did you place any geo or maps on the side for it to reflect that could help too.....Render as a seperate pass and then slowly add the reflection in.

[maudioradium]

Originally Posted by danielmn

I think its looking really good.
At this point the only other critque I can give,
-is try to match the graininess in the frame already.
-add a bump to the paneling of the metal, needs more ridges to break up the spec and reflections

http://www.lightrailnow.org/facts/fa...rt-data-01.htm
look here and see how the reflection on the top move around and it wavy

and is the tram reflecting anything in your scene, did you place any geo or maps on the side for it to reflect that could help too.....Render as a seperate pass and then slowly add the reflection in.

Hi thanks, great points.

First, yeah I attempted to add some of that grain from the video but I think adding specifically noise in AE will fix that. So I'll add that definitely.

Will also look into bump maps as well for the body.

As for the reflections in the scene - yes this is one point which I haven't yet done as I don't know how to do it. The scene at the moment I've simply used a (sun) light, and the material of the train for the ENV channel is using that picture but I don't think it's working out too well. Maybe I need to add an actual sphere around it using that texture and then align it so that the wall for example is on the left, and the buildings on the right - maybe that would help give accurate reflections?

Cheers.

[McFly]

One thing I just realized. A tram needs tracks and you placed it on a bus lane.
So next on your list: add tracks to the ground.

[maudioradium]

Originally Posted by McFly

One thing I just realized. A tram needs tracks and you placed it on a bus lane.
So next on your list: add tracks to the ground.

It's a translohr - some have just one middle track. The translohr also has two rubber wheels either side.

But yeah, the client hasn't paid yet so I won't be doing any fixing to the environment until he pays the deposit.

[Kage]

I agree on the trams animation in terms of stopping. It'd take much longer to stop in reality, and would slow down very gradually.

That said, it looks pretty good. I agree it could do with some grain, and maybe a bit of colour correction?

If the light from the ground bounced, it would give it a more realistic look too. You can fake this by putting a floor plane down coloured the same as the orangey floor, and the light will then bounce this back onto the tram.

The environment map could do with some tinkering too yes.

Also, never ever record in vertical...

[maudioradium]

Originally Posted by Kage

I agree on the trams animation in terms of stopping. It'd take much longer to stop in reality, and would slow down very gradually.

I realise this is in the 3d *stills* but I don't want my animation to be commented on because I can make this much better once he's approved the first sample.

Originally Posted by Kage

That said, it looks pretty good. I agree it could do with some grain, and maybe a bit of colour correction?

Thanks - what kind of colour correction is needed? More blue? red?

Originally Posted by Kage

If the light from the ground bounced, it would give it a more realistic look too. You can fake this by putting a floor plane down coloured the same as the orangey floor, and the light will then bounce this back onto the tram.

Good idea, I'll change the floor to a red colour.

Originally Posted by Kage

The environment map could do with some tinkering too yes.

Unfortunately when I added a sphere and wrapped it around the whole scene, I couldn't get it to line up so that it looked correct in all positions (such as left wall - bottom - floor and so on. Maybe I just keep need to change the textures cordinates?

Originally Posted by Kage

Also, never ever record in vertical...

Why?

[danielmn]

for the ground plan camera map the background image you have here that way it bounces the light correctly.

as far as reflections go you got several options.
- do you have any other photography of that area?
if not
- try finiding that area in google and capturing some source image.

you can make some lo res geo with some images set at different light and darks to give the reflection a more dynamic look.


The important thing is , its all a cheat so just getting someting out that looks ok because in the end you will lay it on top at like a 20% opacity so nothing has to be fully correct.

Even if you can find image facing what the tram would just make some stuff up you have shops on the right that you could flip.
take, the planter make some texture from that... be creative they are just cards to give a litte more interest

[Kage]

Recording in vertical wastes space. It doesn't upload correctly to the likes of Youtube. See the black bars either side?
Always record with the iphone (or whatever phone) recording sideways. You will take use of all the resolution and it will correctly upload.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt9zSfinwFA

[maudioradium]

Originally Posted by Kage

Recording in vertical wastes space. It doesn't upload correctly to the likes of Youtube. See the black bars either side?
Always record with the iphone (or whatever phone) recording sideways. You will take use of all the resolution and it will correctly upload.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt9zSfinwFA

Very funny video. Thanks for all you guys advice, I'll be sure to keep working on it!

Cheers.