15 April 2013

Cypress Matte Painting

Here is another matte painting I've been working on under the guidance of Blizzards wonderful David Luong. I'm currently taking his CGWorkshop course: Photo Real Matte Painting, which has been a real pleasure to participate in. David is a patient and generous tutor and I've really enjoyed exploring this new art form with him, and chatting about all things film and genre related. I've really learnt a lot about light and cinematograpy by taking a couple of pieces to a really polished level of realism. I'm sure it will help out the quality of finish in my quicker sketches enormously too.














 
Visit David Luongs personal website to see some real Matte Painting Kung-fu.



13 comments:

  1. Most impressive Matty! The lighting is just beautiful! How long did you spend on the piece if you don't mind me asking?

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  2. Hey Nick! Thanks for the kind words. I spent a really long time on this. The longest I've spent on anything in a while. Adding up to several weeks of full time work. Mainly due to production issues - it's 8k wide and tightly detailed everywhere. Many of the photos were my own, taken with a budget compact, and much of the forest was slightly out of focus - so I had to go back through and clone-stamp or paint in details to sharpen it up, tree by tree. Yikes! That and close attention to cleanly extracted edges, and lots of learning about cameras and export settings in Maya and After Effects. Yes, there is an animated version coming... I learnt a ton making it though, and while infuriating at times, it is satisfying to have done.

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  3. ohh wow this is rad matt! so this is what you have been this whole time instead of getting drunk with bears.
    Whoa you use Maya for this as well? how so?

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  4. I am also curious/furious as to the use of Maya. Is there a 'Create Fucking Awesome Landscape' plugin or something?

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  5. Hey Stucat and ChristianAwesomePearce! Thanks for the kind words. Yeah, those bears drink like animals... gotta watch out.
    Hmmm. Actually not much Maya in the creation of the still for this one - more for the others I'm working on. The animated shot I rendered in Maya, because I know it better than say, After Effects, so it's easier for me to get the result I'm after. I'll post up the animated version - there are several more things I wanted to add in the comp, but I had to move on at this stage...

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  6. Very slick Matte Rodgers! That mountain looks so majestic.

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    2. Thankyou Professor Shaw ;)

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  7. So great to see this Matty. A beautiful image and great balanced composition :) Really awesome to see you expanding and growing over there. Keep it up man, speak soon! Adam.

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    1. <3 this support bro :) email coming ur way...

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  8. Wish I had the time and money to do Davids course, money well spent with this Matte Painting, you have taken a boring photo and made it special. I would like to see more of your work, all the best

    Richie

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    1. Hey Richard,
      CGWorkshops have recently offered his course as an on-demand type class instead of actually in contact with David. Of course having Davids feedback and input is really valuable, but this option is far cheaper and you could do it at your own pace. There is still a lot of good content there.
      I don't actually get a commission on new enrolments, but figured you might not know about the new option.
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  9. Thanks for the kind words guys. I appreciate the encouragement :) More to come soon!

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