Project 2: Environment Design

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Week 6 

Week 7 

Final Outcome 

Week 6

Assignment brief

Environment Design

Based on our character design, we now need to design environment for our characters. We can choose one character design to design environment for it. Or we can randomly choose any characters we created to create environment design. 

Progress

During week 5, after I submit my project 1, I've started brainstorming on the environment design for my characters. In class, Mr. Hafiz also gives us a lot of notes and a book named 'Framed Ink' for us to refer. We can learn about composition throughout these notes. 

I try to sketch out the idea in my head on paper. Originally, I wanted to create environment for all 3 of my characters. But, I feel that it is not necessarily at the end. But first, these are my first initial sketch. They are all in portrait as I did not listen carefully that our assignment actually need us to create landscape environment. 

First sketches:

  

 

I also explore about the colour palette.

After I realized I need to do landscape environment design, I quickly draft similar idea in landscape in class. 

Second sketches:

Consultation
I have a small consultation session with Mr. Hafiz in class. For the first sketch, I need to think about what to add more in the empty area, because now it seems too empty and the main focus (the character0 is not strong enough. While for the second sketch, I need to be careful about the size of the objects and the characters, as things looks very different from far distance. The further the distance, the smaller the object. 

Progress

After the consultation, I draw some more sketches and improved the sketches. I adjusted the composition better using rule of third and golden ratio. You can see the sketches below where I use these composition rules to make the composition better. 

Improved sketch using combination of golden ratio and rule of third:

 

My third sketch (using rule of third):

After this, I get some inspiration for colour palette using Pinterest. I made 3 moodboard for 3 different environment design. 

Following the moodboard and my sketches, I started digital drafting. 

Environment 1: Moriko in the forest

Outline:

Colouring:

I use Adobe Colour to extract colour. 

 

Then I started to insert colour, using gradient map. I also use other gradient options like linear and free form gradient. I forgot to record the colouring process here; the drawing below has 80% done process. 

I then add in light and shadow. 

Environment 2: Umbra and Furia on the sky 

*This drawing did not become the final idea for submission. So, this is just for recording the process. 

I have drawn out the drawing and started to insert the assets (trees) and colours.

Week 7

Consultation

I showed my progress to Mr.Hafiz in class. I did not follow one of the requirement given, which is we need to find a composition from the book 'Framed Ink' and produce an artwork that follow the particular composition. All of my drawings was based on my own composition, created by using golden ratio and Rule of Thrid. But luckily, I did one drawing that has the same composition in Framed Ink. So, I can still submit that one drawing, which is Moriko in the forest. Mr. Hafiz showed us what to do, he give us an example on following composition in Framed Ink and made a rationale board. I then follow the example to create the boards. 

Besides the composition problem, my first drawing looks good and can continue to enhance it. Thus, I need to produce 2 new drawings based on the composition from 'Framed Ink'.

Progress

I started to sketch again. This time, I get inspiration from the composition Framed Ink. I straight away use the composition to think about the design. I managed to come out with 3 new drawing ideas. But I will choose only 2 of them as I only need 2. 

Below are my sketches:

1. Augry flying in the forest

Reference from Framed Ink:

2. Umbra and Furia escaping

Reference from Framed Ink:

3. Hiding from unknown

Reference from Framed Ink:

I also do a simple rationale board for consultation. After Mr.Hafiz approved the drawing, I started with digital drawing. I choose the top 2 drawings at the end. First, I enhanced my first drawing. 

Environment Drawing 1

I adjust the line to be more clean and add in grainy effect. The grainy effect completes the drawing in my opinion. I add the grainy effect part by part as I want to make sure the grainy effect did looks perfect for all the elements. 

Environment Drawing 2

I start by adding in my characters - Augry. Then, I create outlines for the drawing.

Outline:

I draw some leaves out, and I will use this to create leaves on trees, falling leaves and plants. I added colour for it from my colour palette, created using Adobe Colour. 

Colour palette:

Using the colour palette, I slowly add in the colour to determine the overall tone value and check for depth. 

After I am certain about the colour, I add in gradient by using gradient map, linear and freeform gradient. 

I add in more details like leaves and plants. I adjust the size and number of plants multiple times to make sure that it is just act as an environmental element and will not affect the audience's attention to the main characters and overall environment. I also added shades to blend Augry in different depth.  

I then adjust the outline of the character, so it blends with the environment well. Finally, I add in grainy effect for the environment only. When I was testing the grainy effect, I found out that it does not look nice on Augry. So, I only applied it on environment, except the plants and leaves. It looks well-balanced.

Environment Drawing 3

Outline: 

I add in the character to adjust the scale after completing the outline. 

Colour Palette:

I made a reference board for this drawing. 

Colouring:

Again, I start by adding the overall colour, to review the tone value and depth. 

Then, I use gradient to add in the colour. 

Then, I add in building lighting, lighting and shadow. 

I adjusted the colour of the character, to blend with the environment. 

Final Outcome

Environment Drawing 1 

Development Board:

Final outcome:

Environment Drawing 2

Development Board:

Final outcome:

Environment Drawing 3

Development Board:

Final outcome:

Reflection

In this assignment, I have learned a lot about composition, and the way to create perspective and depth using colours, layers, size of objects and etc. It was a fun learning experience, I get to learn not only the