HCR MINI-Challenge #43: Magic Door -Meeting the Queen of Hearts

#1

Hi, nice to meet you guys! I’m Marco and this is my first partecipation in a challenge (and my first post/topic too :D). I recently completed a six months master in CG, so I’m just a rookie…but I’ll do my best to make a good impression (at least!).
I love Disney’s classics and Alice in Wonderland is one of my favourite movies so I dediced to recreate that moment when the Cheshire Cat opens a door in a tree that leads Alice to the Queen of Heart’s reign. “OFF WITH HER HEAD!!!”
…Fingers crossed!

My references:

#2

HI AGAIN!
I started with the tree model. The basic mesh is done, I’ll sculpt it with Zbrush.
I’m also doing some lighting and framing test.
(Sorry if my english is not perfect).

#3

Great idea!

Good work so far.

#4

Thank you Roberto, now I need to choose between a cartoonish/minimalist design or a semi-realistic style for the tree/bark…I’m doing some research :).

#5

Here my tree as it looks like in Zbrush. I’m sufficiently satisfied with my work but I’m having some trouble with the normal map…I’m using Xnormal…What software do you use?

#6

Yah I think that style is the good one. Look good :slight_smile:

#7

TY Scott :D!

#8

Hi guys!
Today I finished the tree :).

I still have problem with the low poly version :/.
This is my best attempt to create a low poly mesh so far…I don’t know what kind of detail can I expect out of Zbrush export…

#9

Hello Marco,

perhaps can this tut-links you help.

ZBrush 4R6 ZRemesher

Zbrush Transfering details

My most workflow, i work to devide 5 and Transfeing the lowpoy in devide 1.

#10

I’ll watch these videos, TY!

P.S. Sorry but I didn’t understand your workflow…Are you saying that you devide your mesh for 5 times?

#11

Divide 5. He work at Subdivision 5. Doesn’t mean much if you don’t know the amount of polygons

#12

Time for a little update :)!!!

-I put a specular map and a diffuse map on my tree model…now I like it! :stuck_out_tongue:

-I finally choose the material of the steps. I opted for the stone. I experimented with different solutions and logically speaking the steps should have been made of wood (they were within the tree) but if you take look at the original frame…they don’t look like made of wood at all.

  • I dediced to enhance the scene by putting some grasses/plants that you can see in other parts of the movie. I’m really happy of that because I can honor the amazing work of Mary Blair and other Disney’s artists.

Here a super-basic concept I made.

  • And this is my actual wip :)! Even if the environment is not completed, I think that my next step will be Alice.

Bye!!!

#13

----UPDATEEEEEEEEEEEE----

Alice in almost completed. I’ve to fix some little things here and there.I sculpted her hair so many times…and this is the result I liked the most:

Am I satisfied or not? Maybe I’ll try to use real hair later…but I liked this result.

Here another screenshot of the entire model:

This is my last render:

I added a little “glasses-bird” in the foreground (you can see it in the movie too).

I wasn’t sure of it before but I think that I’m going to model/light up the elements within the tree separately.

BYE :)!

#14

Little update ;).
I’m experimenting with the scene inside the tree. Here the solution I like the most so far…

#15

Ok, I think that I’m near to the end :). I added the mischievous cheshire cat as a little bonus :).

I’m totally reconsidering the lights and the atmosphere of my scene. I’m just expmerimenting :)…Here my two last renders with a little bit of compositing…

Mmmh…which one?

#16

Good Progress!

#17

Wonderful , Progress - composition.

I am for the last one with more Blue.

Small question: is the one scene a “pass rendering”?

Good luck!

#18

TY Chala!

TY! Yeah…I haven’t dediced yet…but I prefer the blue one at the moment :).
I used a color/beaty pass and an occlusion pass for my scene. I’m wondering if it could be nice to have a fresnel pass too…

#19

Ok, I think that my work is completed :).
Here some screenshots of my viewport:

This is my last comp:

#20

Looks good! I like this composition and lighting, great models too. Gives a very nice overall feel to the piece :slight_smile: