Category: Uncategorized

Interesting times ahead

Although we are at a time that there is a lot of understandable fear. The Corona Virus will affect most of us. But It is also a great time to set aside a new set of priorities of what can we do to make the most advantage of this opportunity with this isolation.

Most people might think: We can catch up on Netflix, Stan, Finish our video games. And although it might sound great at first, I would instead seek to delve into discovering or re-discovering past hobbies to enter in a more creative realm of making.

These hobbies can be comprised of things such as writing, art, making music, yoga, etc. Me however I’ll see if I can grasp doing art almost as a hobby on my spare time.

There are several learning pathways I will try to focus on these dire times while I also try to find some remote work.

I will focus on learning how to be a Mid Level User with Blender. I think Autodesk with its yearly updates and focus on monetizing products with an emphasis on monopolizing as much creative software as possible has blinded them on being inventive at making their products better. Their software is buggy, slow, clunky, ugly, irresponsive.

Blender instead provides more tools that are better at a much faster rate. And it is free.

The next line of software that I would like to practice and be comfortable with is Speed Tree. Doing vegetation from scratch takes a lot of time and begin able to create procedurally with Nodes is a huge advantage. Considering that you can have multiple versions with the same type of tree, it is no brainer that to be a good environment artist it is almost a requisite.

Although you would think that after Blender and Speed Tree I would have enough to learn, I also have Mari in mind. I think it is important to be comfortable with this package. Also I’ll try to draw and practice anatomy on the side.

Stay safe, look after each other and make sure to wash your hands.

Published on: 23 March 2020
Posted by: Paco Casares

Plane Bakes with High to Low Poly Conventions

Did a very simplistic tutorial. Something that would show the benefits on how Normal maps works using a high poly to a low poly plane. Of course this was very begginers. I did learn that I should keep tutorials to 15 minutes, max 30 or break it up. This tutorial should have probably be broken into two sections, one in creating the High poly objects and another one in bring it in Substance. I would like to do more Intermediate tutorials but for the time being I am happy to stick to Begginers tutorials with an air or making more Intermediate in the near future. Feel free to write any comments for sugestions on how to make better tutorials.
Published on: 14 December 2018
Posted by: Paco Casares

Before After Convent Land

I am doing a 4D app with Phoria at the moment, before and after in the land of Abbotsford Convent.

Might do some tree and bushes cards but after we do some testing and implementing 🙂

Published on: 24 April 2018
Posted by: Paco Casares

COSMOline Infographics

Did some animations for AR for Plattar

I did not texture/model the machine however 🙂 This is just to show how the infographics animate around the model in 3D

Published on: 18 April 2018
Posted by: Paco Casares

Retreat FEB 2018

Wanted to give a bump on talking a bit more about what Paco has been going through in the past four or so months.

I have been incredibly busy all for the right reasons! And I wanted to give a summary of different things that I have been working lately:

Since coming back from Spain in 2017 I…

  • Did render compositions for Library State of Victoria
  • Did a VR Road environment for Vic Roads
  • Worked on a VR Interactive Documentary called: A thin black line
  • Worked in an AR project for a Foam and Shaving company
  • Did a fantastic 4 week project making a Xmas AR experience for City of Melbourne
  • Worked on an VR project for A shoe store in Paris
  • Did two experimental AR projects for HM Group
  • Did a virtual table set for Provincial and Plattar
  • Doing an AR Architecture app for Crown Casino
  • And while in between I have done a Game Jam and also worked on my side project with my team on Time Frame

So I must say it has been a beautiful year and I hope I can give out more updates to keep you up to date.

Published on: 20 February 2018
Posted by: Paco Casares

Hoddle and Swan St P turn VR

Worked on a couple of weeks for a VR project at Snobal. I Mainly did the roads, linework, Curves and Islands. Most work was done in 3ds Max and Unity. Pre-existing project with new changes to the layout.

Published on: 28 August 2017
Posted by: Paco Casares

Quiet, but Busy

In the last few months we have been working on a small game with a couple of programmers and a sound Designer.
And I’d like to show some early progress!

All I can say its a game based around the 1930s in an alternative world, and that we are using a cell shaded style inspired by the traveling posters from 1920. I am however pretty excited and hopefully I can show more of the game soon.

room

piano

fascinatorlady

mansion_hall_stair_pillars

eveningladies1930

tuxedogentleman

servants2

Published on: 25 November 2016
Posted by: Paco Casares

Medieval Lion Tower Door

Paco Casares


Iray Preview

Door In Substance Painter with breakdown
Door In Marmoset

3ds max

3ds Max
Zbrush

ZBrush
Sp icon color

Substance Painter
Topogun2

TopoGun
Toolbag

ToolBag

WirePreview
sculptPreview
TexPreview

About

A lookout in search of a beast, the tower is situated in the middle of the valley to find the Jabberwocky. The goal of the project was to create an environment that sports PBR rendering while maintaining a painterly effect. Inspired by an illustrator artist based in Melbourne.

Methodology
  • Environment Design and planning
  • Asset Parts preparation in 3D Max
  • Digital Sculpting in Zbrush
  • Retopology low-poly parts
  • UV Unwrapping
  • Texture Baking Transfer
  • Texturing in Substance Painter



 

Published on: 24 March 2016
Posted by: Paco Casares

Lion Doors

Rendered in Substance Painter

Rendered in Substance Painter

Showing the different textures on model

Showing the different textures on model

The next sculpt on the works almost ready for the retopology stage

The next sculpt on the works almost ready for the retopology stage

Wireframe using decimation master

Wireframe using decimation master

Published on: 17 March 2016
Posted by: Paco Casares

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD, as a texture artist

Today is a very big date as the game that I contributed back in 2014~2015 is released today and I can finally disclose that I worked on Zelda, Twilight Princess HD as a re-texturer and environment modeller at Tantalus

For the full featured and detailed trailer, click here: https://youtu.be/-CfW2hpHoNI

It has been a fantastic experience, and very unique workflow as well on how to re-create texture that already exist, and also on how to improve a game that was highly acclaimed back in 2006. I worked mainly on recreating the textures for the temples and enlarging the textures with a fantastic team of texture artists. Mainly did work for Arbiter’s Grounds with Dylan Beazley. I also re-made textures for Temple of Time, City in the Sky, Twilight Palace, Re-skinned some of the props such as the Compass and Weapons, And cleaning and up-rezed a lof of the characters, enemies and bosses.

The following screenshots contain my texture work:

This are captured from the trailer.

triforce

Worked on the engravings and alphas

templeArbiter2

Worked on floor and wall textures

templeArbiter

Worked on the engraving and wall textures

shadowCarrior

Re textured the flying enemy (Shadow Carrior)

boar

Re-textured the boar

wheel

Re-textured the Wheel and centre piece

 

12791114_10206156766178450_451354854747195953_n

These are all game screenshots. And the work I did, I did not do the original textures (as they were from the 2006 game) Some of the textures were incredibly small to fit in a gamecube disk. So a lot of love went into it 🙂

Published on: 5 March 2016
Posted by: Paco Casares

Gnomon Live Australia

The first Gnomon Live Outside the US! I shall use this post to edit, add details.

gnomonLiveAustralia

The opening speech was a general introduction and emphasised more on talking about how Star wars made an impact on artists, Some din’t mean much, others when young made somewhat a bigger impact. some made a much bigger impact (Blizzard art director) Cleary defined how episode 1 to 3 art books made him consider more his current Role.

On Saturday morning I will see the Jonathan Berube Demo.

Published on: 5 March 2016
Posted by: Paco Casares

Little update since a while ago

I have been incredibly and crazy busy lately. I must say however that things are going incredibly well. As a summary since the inception of 2015, we outsourced work for a AAA game tittle mainly focusing on doing textural work for an old game to make it new. Did some self training on Substance Painter and Designer. I’ll say it now and I’ll say it again. Incredible. Amazing. No words on how effective these programs are. They make texturing in several maps a breeze. Where designer focuses more on creating a node based texturing system for several maps, Painter focuses more on procedural masking and material assigning in 3d view. While texturing with these guys, I am doing a small tower (in working progress) to show my skills.

In all news, I also got some new work for an Architecture Firm! Its interesting because I shall learn a tonne of 3ds Max while on the job.

Published on: 27 June 2015
Posted by: Paco Casares

Updating the website

What’s going on! It has been a while that I have touched my website, and I would love to come back stronger than ever! I am updating the site with a fresh brand new WordPress theme that has the same and whistles as the one before, but with a new bang! The site now looks incredible on mobile phones and ipad devices too as it features retina display capacities and responsive layout.

I still have a few things to do with the new template, as id like to recreate a template to show my works, logo, change the css for the colours (I am not a big fan of white screens to show off work) and recreate the works page while uploading the new stuff I have been doing in the last few months.

Talking about the last few months. Id like to put up work I have done this week. I made a 3d model for a client. And a wall decal. My next plans are to make a 3d building of the 17th century. Hope you guys are being well, and I’d like to pay more attention to my site from now on to share my works and findings.

Object topogunned with 7772 triangles

Object topogunned with 7772 triangles

Unity shot with lights to show normals

Unity shot with lights to show normals in action

Shot to show different angles with textures

Shot to show different angles with textures

compiled reference for building

compiled reference for building

Wall Decal

Wall Decal

Published on: 15 March 2014
Posted by: Paco Casares

Work updates

While I am enjoying the gorgeous and fun adventures in Spain, I have done some more modeling stuff. The first image is a set of taps low poly game ready. These have Spec, Normals and Diffusion with AO baked on. Triangles on image.
Next is a open diorama apartment, I hope I can use this bugger here to display the furniture pieces. I would really like to put this scene in sketchfab so I can show my modeling skills and techniques. Last, its another platforming rock, I am prepping up a University Project, and beautifying it so I can show case my modeling skills. Its looking amazing, but, I do not want to put screenshots until, well, until I have done most of the improvements. I am focusing and redoing most of the rocks, plants and environmental pieces. Over and out 😉

 

tapsDone

appartmentTest

platformFun

 

Published on: 11 August 2013
Posted by: Paco Casares

Zbrush new Zremesher!

So, when you just think how amazing and good Zbrush is with all its whistles and bells, they just get better!
I have been playing around with its new 4R6 feature: Zremesher, its the new Qremesher, but improved vastly.

I have been studying out-doors at rocks, and rocks can be quiet hard to make. So I have been doing these rocks here, and used them to experiment Zremesher.

I wanted to polish the platforms made by Estelle at the university project (brave bones), and use this opportunity to learn to do rocks.

I have been wanting to expose Basel bones for a while, and I will when I take the game assets in the project and I give it a new brush polish.

An early version of the rock sculpt.

An early version of the rock sculpt.

 

After reviewing the earlier sculpt, a more rocky defined sculpt with emphasis on platforming design.

After reviewing the earlier sculpt, a more rocky defined sculpt with emphasis on platforming design.

After the sculpt, I did some Zremeshing experiments. However, when doing remeshing several times, I found the final shape does change a little bit, so I did divide the mesh again, and did some projection so put the low div nearer to its high mesh.

Zremesher with 1368 triangles. Too many for an static platform?

Zremesher with 1368 triangles. Too many for an static platform?

The conversion from high poly to having a re meshed platform was fantastic, but after posting this on a FB page ( Lunchcrunch) a good fellow recommend it me to use decimation master, and how boy I was pleased with the results. I have only experimented with decimation master, but again, it made my job from great to even greater but making it 20% of its zremeshed topology.

A wooping diference, from 1368 to 264 triangles. If you ask me, they look pretty similar in shape.

A wooping diference, from 1368 to 264 triangles. If you ask me, they look pretty similar in shape.

If going back, I would maybe make the shape 512 or so triangles instead of 264, but, in a world where we have to constantly look for ways to making assets cheaper to run. It makes more sense to have more assets to cover the triangulation with smaller assets (put some rocks or grass on top) to hide the triangulated mesh. That has a small cull, so it fades away after the camera being 20 metres or so away from the camera.

Asset Textured

Asset Textured

Textured and placed in Unity with Difusion, Normals and Specularity. All done using dDo. An Amazing Photoshop plugging used for High to Low Poly texturing.

With all these self discovering techniques, I have also been learning UV Layout, a program that makes UVS prety good and pretty fast! With dDo, UVLayout and now Zremesher, I am willing to focus more time on the sculpt and the shape of the object. And to make assets faster!

 

A list too big?

A list too big?

With the massive amount of platforms I want to make, does it seem illogical to do it this way? Yes at first. I was thinking: wow, I got to retopologize, do the uvs and texture by hand? for each of the assets? If I have learned the bad way in the last few weeks, its the following. An asset when made, most people will look at it for just 0.3 to 3 seconds. At times just 5 or 10 seconds if they are artists them selves. Is it worth spending more than 3-4 hours for a single asset? depends on the importance in the game or environment, and depends of its purpose. Now with dDo I can save a preset, and I press a button, textures done. With Zremesher and decimation master, press a button, Done. And with Uv Layout, its like a puzzle origami game. Pick edges, drop, and expand. I can focus on the art looking like art. And I can focus on giving the assets its actual purpose!

For some more reading, check out what I mean by reading this Naughty Dog article

 

 

 

 

Published on: 17 July 2013
Posted by: Paco Casares

Crates, Sofas and more

While I am having a very chilaxing holiday in Spain, I am not wasting my time without learning some fresh stuff 🙂

I have done a crate for experimenting workflow (and I must say, workflow in game assets its everything haha, there is like 5 software’s that I am becoming adjusted in using!)

In all this workflow, I have also had a play around with a new software welcome: UVLayout.  And its great! I recomend it in a heartbeat. Making UVs becomes really visual.

(more…)

Published on: 9 July 2013
Posted by: Paco Casares

dDo and Toolbag Test

dDoInterface

 

In the last two days I had a play with dDo and nDo2. I must say I am very happy with what it can do! Its a very automatic process however, and many users suggest to use this as a base or just to learn how materials work.
I modelled a wall rock two weeks ago and I decided to experiment with dDo, I am very happy with the results. It automaticly places details depending on both the OS Normals, Normals and Occlusion and what kind of material is it, hence why dDo recommends highly to make a colour map, to mask the areas of different materials by using colour. By just using the OS Normals, Normals, and Occlusion it spit 4 maps automatic with the press of a button.

Here is where dDo can be checked out:
http://quixel.se/ddo/

This video, even do its very long, its worth checking out, because it explains very carefully how dDo is used:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hncqbwkGbM4

And last, a little screenshot using Marmoset Toolbag, another delight to check out!

 

zbrush10x10x05dDo2

And the Maps that it spit out! With a wireframe.

 

stoneBlock_dDo03_d_MAPS2

 

Published on: 26 February 2013
Posted by: Paco Casares

Handplane Tool

Handplane tool. Posting this to make sure I check it out later 🙂handplane

Published on: 15 February 2013
Posted by: Paco Casares

Web Changes

In the next week or so, some big changes are going to take place to the page, and it will have a strong under construction feel.
I want to have a shorter banner than before.
A simpler banner and a less detailed background (maybe even just a gradient or just dark grey).
An overhaul on what works to display, and how to display them.
Freshen up the works I have done. And display the works after pressing on the link in its own HTML 5 Page with full screen images.

Published on: 15 January 2013
Posted by: Paco Casares

Bubble Popper

Bubble Popper

An old project that we did first year in RMIT University 2010! Bubble Popper.
Special thanks to everyone that worked in this Exertion game in Floyd’s class.
The video should explain enough 🙂

Daniel: Flash Programming
Luke & Nicholas: Technicians and Further Programming
Luke: Video Editting
Paco: Initial design and concept
Sev: Graphic and Web design preparation

Published on: 5 September 2012
Posted by: Paco Casares

Vertex

If you have not downloaded this juicy and amazing 300 page PDF yet, you should, like now! Specially if you are into making 2d and 3d digital art 🙂
It contains amazing tutorials and how to do’s in many different department and areas, for free. Catch it before its too late!
Vertex

Published on: 5 September 2012
Posted by: Paco Casares