Candlestick
In this project, I really focused on material transitions and a realistic sense of lighting from the lightning outside. I also learned how to use the cascade particle system in unreal and implemented some particle effects into this project such as the lightning, dust, and rain.
Rendered in Unreal Engine 4
Tools: Maya, Substance Painter, Substance Designer, UE4
Created all aspects of environment.
March 2021
Fly-Through
Pre-Production
I began this project by compiling reference images of vintage Victorian candlesticks to base my 3D model off of. The top left image I used as reference for the cupped bottom look. I thought this added some visual interest to the so I wanted to include something like this. The image to the right I used as reference for the old, rusty, oxidized, and unpolished version of the candlestick and how it will look after the material transition. Beside that image is an image displaying the detailing on some candlesticks which I enjoyed and wanted to add to my design to make the candlestick have a more elegant look to it. The top right image I included in reference because I thought it had a nice overall shape to it which would be nice to replicate for my design.
The oil painting to the left is the complete look for the candlestick which I was trying to replicate. Positioning the candlestick on top of some older looking books heightens the importance of this image and makes it feel powerful which I wanted to include in my model.
State 'A' Materials
The candlestick will have a material transition occur throughout the video. These are the material references for the first instance. In this instance the candlestick will look very polished and clean.
State 'B' Materials
These are the references for state 'B' of the candlestick. For this part I was wanted the brass on the candlestick to look oxidized, worn, and unpolished. These are the references which I used to achieve this look in the second half of the video.
Style Reference
These are the reference photos that I used for the rest of the room. I was going for a Victorian Library style. I got a couple different reference images for how to light the room and how to make the wood pattern on the ground and the ceramic pattern for the ceiling.
CandleStick A
Lit Render
Tris: 5685
Unlit Render
CandleStick B
Lit Render
Tris: 5685
Unlit Render
Material Transition
This displays 5 different stages of the material transition. You can see the polished and shiny brass in the top left. It can then be seen slowly changing to a rusty, oxidized, green throughout the transition.
Mat Function A
Mat Function b
Transition Mask
This is the code that activates the material transition.
Transition Mask UV's
Transition Mask alpha
Blend Shapes
Blend shapes used for deformation - created in Maya.
Morph Targets
I used morph targets in UE4 to create the deformation of the candle melting. The different stages of the deformation can be seen in order from top left to bottom right.
Blueprint for Morph Targets
This is the code that was used to allow me to control the morph targets using sequencer in UE4.