Visual Assets
The Sandbox
In my design, this story will happen in the temperate rainforest in Australia. One night, an adventurer is walking in the night forest along a creek, everything looks normal, it's harmonious and peaceful, with the sound made by the creek, cricket noises, and little wind sound. When the adventurer walks toward an open spot, something lurks in the shadow, its silhouette seems like a Specter from 66 million years ago, I called it 'Terminalovenator'. When Terminalovernator saw the adventurer, it shouted at the adventure to warn the adventure out of its territory. After it was found the adventure did not pose any threat to itself and its chicks the dinosaur turned away and back to the deep of the forest. After that, the forest returned to its harmony scene. To support the story, I have designed the background of the story in this sandbox based on the rainforest environment in the Dandenong region. In my project there are 4 major visual assets will be presented. These are Terminalovenator(Dinosaur), Rock, Plant and Tree.
The scene in the Sandbox
I used 'blender' software to make design for all of my visual assets in this project .At the first step, I have imported a skeletal diagram of Australovenator draw by Ashly Patch in 2020 as the base, The main reason since the Australovenator is the most completed theropod fossil ever discovered in Australia and it is a member of the Megaraptor family. Base on this diagram, I have made the prototype of the visual asset of 'Terminalovenator'.
Asset 1: Terminalovenator
Skeletal diagram of Australoventor
Early stage of the design of Terminalovenator
In the second step, I designed the shape of the head of Terminalovenator based on the diagram of the Australovenator. When making it into 3D model, I have designed it based on current reconstructions of Megaraptoridae head.
Early stage of the head design
Once the body protype designed, I have start the detail modification for each part of the body to align with the design of the project objects. The modify steps was started from body, head, limbs and teeth.
Detail adjustment of the body design
Side view of the body after modification
Top view of the body after the modification
Design the eyes and months by the foundation of extract, side view of the head.
Use the foundation of 'extract' to modify the head design for eyes and mouth.
Side view of the head
Front view of the design of Terminalovenator
Limbs of the design of Terminalovenator
Final Design & Texture of Terminalovenator
After portfolio 2, I have fixed several gap issues on this model and made modifications to the limbs of this dinosaur. The claws on its fore and back limbs are added. In addition, more detailed parts such as tongue and teeth be designed.
Visual Design of Teriminalovenator
When making the texture of the dinosaur, I have referenced several different Australian animals with a close relationship with non-avian dinosaurs including the Eastern Water Dragon's body pattern and red chest. Also based on the study for australovenator, paleontologists suggest that it would kick its prey as modern-day cassowary and emu. brown crest and killing claw on its first toe from cassowary.
Front View of Terimalovenator
Head of Terimalovenator
Feet of Terimalovenator
Assets 2: Rock
The background of my story happens in a valley, in the valley there are scatted sand rocks rolled down from the mountain aside the valley. Considering that the story taken place in place in the temperate rainforest of southern part of Australia. In my opinion those rocks are fall decades ago. After decades of exposure to the elements, a weathered layer has formed on the surface. Due to the high humidity in the forest the rock is covered by moss. But in some corners due to lack of nutrients or excessive dryness, the original color of the sandstone is exposed.
Reference image of the Rock
I used two major stages to complete the design for the rocks. The first stage to design of the appearance of the rock, since the rock near the creek, the shape is relatively blunt. The second stage is to perform the texture design for the designed rock model.
Front view of the rock
Back view of the rock
Texture design for the rock
In order to reach the objective of the design I have draw an unique texture pattern for my rock, on the top of the rock due to the accumulation of nutrient and soil there are a thick layer of deep green moss covered the top side. For other sides the moss are tend to be in light green and due to lack of nutrient, there are exposed areas showing the original color of the rock.
After Portfolio 2, I made several minor changes to the Rock, including a more detailed surface and some minor changes to the texturing, especially for areas covered by moss.
In addition, I have added white spots representing quartz exposed on the surface of the sandstone.
Rock Modifications
Assets 3: Plant
The story takes place in the temperate rainforest of the southern part of Australia. The forest floor is covered with plenty of plants, so I have designed a plant to fill the gaps in the area.
In my original design, I would use tree ferns to fill the gaps on my page. However, after the observation of tree ferns and some simulations made in the Blender by using cylinders instead of plants, I found due to the long stem, the tree fern would bring a strong sense of fragmentation of the image and damage the perception of the dinosaur. So, in the final portfolio. I have changed the tree fern into another kind of plant, it is better at filling the gaps in the sense.
The plant has two layers of leaves and those leaves around the stem. And I have added a leaf with only the remaining of its petiole to manipulate the real plants in the wild.
Plant without texture
Plant side view
Plant top view
Assets 4: Tree
Based on my observations the white-topped box has taken a large percentage of trees in the forest in the southern region of Australia. Thus, I have designed the tree model based on it.
Also, I have made a special texture and model for a single tree with claw marks and coagulate tree gums. I have designed this based on inspirations of how bear mark their territory and the defense mechanisms of eucalyptus trees. In my project, when the player sees the claw marks on the tree, it means the traveler has entered the territory of the dinosaur and needed to stay caution.
Ordinary Trees
Tree with claw mark and coagulated gums
Reference
Deviantart.com. (2020). Australovenator wintonensis Skeletal by PLASTOSPLEEN on DeviantArt. [online] Available at: https://www.deviantart.com/plastospleen/art/Australovenator-wintonensis-Skeletal-862124422 [Accessed 30 Aug. 2024].
White, M.A., Bell, P.R., Cook, A.G., Barnes, D.G., Tischler, T.R., Bassam, B.J. and Elliott, D.A. (2015). Forearm Range of Motion in Australovenator wintonensis (Theropoda, Megaraptoridae). PLOS ONE, 10(9), p.e0137709. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137709.
White, M.A., Cook, A.G. and Rumbold, S.J. (2017). A methodology of theropod print replication utilising the pedal reconstruction of Australovenator and a simulated paleo-sediment. PeerJ, 5, p.e3427. doi:https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3427.
Aranciaga Rolando, A.M., Motta, M.J., Agnolín, F.L., Manabe, M., Tsuihiji, T. and Novas, F.E. (2022). A large Megaraptoridae (Theropoda: Coelurosauria) from Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of Patagonia, Argentina. Scientific Reports, [online] 12(1), p.6318. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-09272-z.
www.parks.vic.gov.au. (n.d.). Sherbrooke Falls walk and picnic area. [online] Available at: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/dandenong-ranges-national-park/things-to-do/sherbrooke-falls-walk-and-picnic-area.