Script to Screen: Practicing @ Sketchbook Pro

Experimental Character Design Sheet

Here are some experimental character designs I have done in preparation for my actual characters. I am still not sure what style I am going for. Regarding realism. However I feel that these characters give a broader look at what works and what doesn't when in comparison to my story.

I personally prefer numbers 1, 4, 6, 7, 11 & 13 as I felt that these were the most fun to create. I intend to use these sketches for influence on my future characters and helpful to reference from later on during the project.

I created these ideas in Sketchbook Pro and Photoshop.

Script to Screen: Like-For-Like Storyboard

Portal 2 Coop Trailer
(0:00 > 0:45)

Here is my finished, rough story board of the game Portal 2 Coop Trailer. I really liked the various camera angles and simple colours. This was quite experimental, however I personally think this was a success for what it is. I used Sketchbook Designer and then Photoshop to add finishing touches.

I referenced from 0:00 to 0:45 seconds exactly.

Secret Lairs: Runic Archway Symbols

Quick Ideas for Archway Textures

Quick Photoshop pages about what could be the symbols on the archway within my secret lair digital set. Would be grateful for any feedback regarding further ideas.

I prefer the idea of them having a meaning or a purpose. Demons history or future, etc.

Secret Lairs: Basic Lair Orthogrphic

Basic Lair Orthographic

To understand the 'space' within my scene I have created a very basic orthographic views (Left side, Top view) of my secret lair. This is just the stage before complexity starts within Maya.

I want this to make sense however still look very well presented Over the rest of the week I will be designing the 'props' within the lair more accurately and more importantly visually.

Secret Lairs: Staircase Orthographic

Staircase(s) Orthographic

As my scene evolves 2 stairs, upper and lower, I needed to just quickly plan how they would look like from the top and side viewing point. 

As my lair in going to many be black and white I have created them with the colour variations of the two.

Secret Lairs: Runic Archway Orthographic

Runic Chamber Orthographic Views

Within my secret lair, I have two rune-ish archways supporting the stairway seen in my concept art, so to help me build them I have created very basic orthographic views to help model them in Maya.

As my lair in going to many be black and white I have created them with the colour variations of the two.

Secret Lairs: Lair Concept - Colour Changes

New Secret Lair Concept
Colour Changes

From looking at the reference from my OGR Feedback, I have changed my final concept to replicate a similar style to create better and more dramatic atmosphere.

I overlaid the first layer after converting the original to a black and white image. This is where I used a large gradient brush to highlight key areas around my hero prop.

Secret Lairs: Hero Prop Orthographic Views

Hero Prop Orthographic Views

This is my very first attempt at any Orthographic views. I wanted my working/developmental ideas to be as colourful and as striking as possible. To be visually appealing.

I found the top viewing point hardest to recreate as I struggled with knowing 'which point is which?' etc.

Secret Lairs: Development & Final Lair Concept

 Final Lair & Development
Hyperborean Demon

This was my build up to my final lair concept for my Hyperborean Demon. I wanted to create a very dramatic scene with eye catching colours and perspective.

I created my final using Hue/Saturation, Overlay/etc layers and adjusting the Vibrancy.

Secret Lairs: Development // Secret Lair

Picking Out The Detail

As I created the basic layout shapes using mark making on the thumbnail page before, I now have began to draw over my favorite design in many ways to see whether there is a potential lair within them.

I can see an archway in the marks that have lead to the idea of this 'Secret Lair' being a hidden chamber of some kind; undiscovered for thousands of years. This is still a working progress and after today's film I will start creating colour thumbnails with more development.

Secret Lairs: Development // Lair Mark Making

 Practicing Photoshop

Currently working with Photoshop, I find creating a digital thumbnail difficults in terms of perspective and recognisable scenery in realistic terms. Jordan recommended I push what he feels I am most strongest at; which is creating ideas from within the marks I make on a page. So, I have created a page of very basic, rough marks on a canvas to work on top of and push the ones I think I could see a potential scene from.

My favourites so far are;

146, 149, 150, 155 & 157

These thumbnails I did while in between of looking at my influence maps and other concepts.I can definitely see a difference and how I can open up the world for my character so much just from using my mind to create ideas from within the marks.

Secret Lairs: Further Development // Hero Prop

Colour Comparing

Completing my hero prop concept art has given me a broader approach to colour, therefore I would really appreciate any feedback about which colour is / would be the better choice of the 9.

My favorites are; 

Dark Red/Pink, Turquoise/Blue, Bright Yellow and Lime Green/Yellow.

Secret Lairs: Development // Hero Prop

Step by Step // Hero Prop

I had a basic idea of what my hero prop would look like, but over the course of experimenting with Photoshop I found a lot of other nice techniques to create many other ideas.

 

This is still in development, however I would not mind any feedback regarding the process or any other ideas from these designs.