ASU1 - The End is Near

And so I have finally finished my scene for ASU1. I am extremely happy with what I produced and I am extremely happy with how far my texturing skills have come.
Just quick note for the scene: I rotated the lights so they are facing up. I tried one last time to do the glass textures, it's worked better than previous attempts - but alas trying to get the glass look within UE4 still eludes me.

What would I do next time?
If I was given another chance and more time, I would create more assets for the scene (making the entire kitchen) and also create a video using different cameras within UE4. But all in all, I am happy with what I produced.

ASU1 - Weekly update

This week I focus redoing the UV maps, texture maps, bakes and upping the maps sizes for all of the assets. I also created some windows and skirting boards to be placed around the scene. Next week I need to add the second maps for walls (which I replace with another wall texture I created within Substance Designer) to use vertex colouring, fill scene with assets I have made (if I have enough time, I will create some more), package scene and take final screen shots for hand in next week. But what I have done so far and I really happy with. My texturing skills have improved a lot since practicing throughout summer and I am really happy with the results. Unfortunately, I can't do any more work within UE4 until I can get into uni, as UE4 doesn't want to work on my PC at home. 

ASU1 - weekly updates: UE4 Renders

Updates on scene within UE4. Also added text to the pots.

ASU1 - Weekly Update: Dat Copper Texture

This week I created a light asset for the level. Means this scene is based within the later part of the Victorian period, I can create gas lighting - which is handy as this would means there's a reason for artificial light within the level. Though most gas lighting within the period, the lights were facing upwards, I did find some that faced down. The reason I wanted to find a light that faces down is that light would be facing the floor. Ideally, I would have liked to have the lights facing down but I have yet to figure out how to do glass within UE4. I was told about the Fresnel node within UE4, I tried to use it, however to no avail.

UE4 documents I looked at for the Fresnel node: Using Fresnel in your Materials

Research into Victorian Lighting:
http://www.historichouseparts.com/pdshop/shop/category.aspx?catid=605
http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/lighting/lighting.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_lighting
http://victorianlighting.co.uk/short-history-lighting/
http://www.lucyworsley.com/a-quick-history-of-domestic-lighting/
http://www.1900s.org.uk/1900s-lighting.htm
http://www.stedmundsburychronicle.co.uk/gas/gashistory.htm
http://www.countrylife.co.uk/property/guides-advice/gas-lighting-in-victorian-times-16562
https://www.oldhouseonline.com/articles/guide-to-victorian-lighting
https://www.thevictorianemporium.com/publications/history/article/history_of_lighting
http://www.1900s.org.uk/1900s-lighting.htm
http://www.lucyworsley.com/a-quick-history-of-domestic-lighting/

Also done some research on Victorian household and I found these two articles of interest:
10 dangerous things in Victorian/Edwardian homes
10 Crazy Ways People Accidentally Poisoned Themselves During The Victorian Era

Sketchfab link to the light model: Light

The light model was fully modeled (high and low poly), baked and textured this week. I am really happy with how the copper texture look on this light. The base copper texture is the copper texture I created within Substance Designer a few weeks ago. This made the texturing process quicker.

Spice Boxes: 

Also textured the spice boxes - not happy with the painted metal textures. 

Also done some tests on the Wall textures within UE4 to see which maps would look better and to use with vertex colour:

ASU1 - UE4 Renders

Also this week, I wanted to add the assets I've already made and place the textures on them within UE4. Results seen below. I also forgot to mention within my other ASU1 post this week is that I added a fire particle effect within UE4 for the oven. I tried to create one, but it didn't look too good so I used one from the UE4 starter content.

I also had a slight faux pas with the fire particle effect. I tried to down scale the particle effect, but the particle ended up going wrong and didn't work properly. I tried to go into the particle effect settings and change it to work properly. I didn't want to spend too long on this one little things as I have a lot more work on this project to do. Though it would mess up the scaling I had down within Maya, I scaled everything up within UE4, so the original fire particle effect would look right. Unfortunately, though this has messed up my measurements and scaling within Maya, I had to use this work around due to time constraints

ASU1 - Weekly update

This week I tried and failed to create a texture within Substance Designer for painter metal. Both first and second attempt failed.... Badly. Though second time did come out slightly better than the first, it still doesn't look like painted metal. But, I did manage a somewhat good looking cork, fire wood, charcoal and coal texture. I got several misc items textured too


Let's get the bad stuff out of the way first.

The red textures was the first attempt at creating a painted metal texture. The top two are the second attempt. These haven't turned out well what so ever. But with practice, I will hopefully be able to create a painted metal texture.

Bad stuff out of the way. Now for the good bits: 

Textures I created this week: Cork, firewood, coal and charcoal textures

Also done further research for the project. I looked at influences of Victorian cooking and recipes - as these would influence some of the misc assets
Pages I looked at:
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/s/style-guide-influence-of-india/
https://britishfoodhistory.com/tag/british-empire/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/victorian_technology_01.shtml
http://reframingthevictorians.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/indian-influence-in-victorian-era.html
http://reframingthevictorians.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/victorian-encounters-with-india-and-its.html
https://qz.com/639435/the-indian-curry-is-merely-a-figment-of-the-british-colonial-imagination/
http://www.academia.edu/4429360/Indian_Influences_on_British_culture
http://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/a-spot-of-curry-anglo-indian-cuisine
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8370054.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00bygzm
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDA9CC4EF1C54F5D0
http://upbproducts.co.uk/blog/asian-food-uk-indian+cuisine-influenced-uks-palate/
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/victorian-recipes/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/victorian_recipes
http://www.historyextra.com/article/food/7-victorian-recipes
http://cookit.e2bn.org/historycookbook/index-23-victorians.html
http://recipespastandpresent.org.uk/victoriancooking/

I know from own knowledge of the Victorian era is that during the mid and later part of the era, Victorian food was influence a lot by Indian food and spices. India was regarded within the British Empire as the 'jewel of the crown'.