Project Review: Virtual Photo shoot-2009 Honda Accord Launch PART III

Here is the last of the dozen colors for the Honda Accord rendered out in a darker Metallic beige with the wire frames showing thru for reference.

The base Quad Poly Mesh model provided to our production from Honda.

Once disassembled, renamed, smoothed, and grouped, I then apply textures and as seen here add on the Polygon Subdivision[ Turbo smooth] to the Mesh.

The virtual set is similar to an actual automotive set with a 3 three wall cyclorama background with the rounded corners to blend the light up from floor to wall, as well as using a panel above for the lighting.

This side view Polygon[cut-away] view shows the set and reflective panel surrounding the car with just the front open to the outside world.

Here is a screen grab of the 3DSmax scene showing the reflective panel is texture mapped so I can have greater control over the actual bright reflection on the car itself.

Project Review
Virtual Photo shoot
2009 Honda Accord Launch
PART III

Client: Goutam Mitra
Art Director: Myself
Lighting Consultant: Jerry Garns.
Project Date: Fall 2008

In Late 2008 I was tasked with helping launch the newly styled 2009 Honda Accord, and in PART III today I have some Behind-the-Art 3D Images showing the build, as well as some of the key factors in laying out a Automotive Virtual Stage set-Up.

First and foremost is that in order to get a more photo real render you must use a GI, or a Global Illumination renderer to achieve this. There are many out there and ultimately they all will allow the designer to achieve a good look, however the ease of use, and especially the speed in which it renders is a very important key for commercial productions. It is one thing to have an open ended time frame and budget, but in production there must be compromises to get the job in under budget and on time every time. I prefer Cebas' Final Render

I have built out a few cars myself, but thankfully Honda provided an excellent 3D asset when you do work for them, and this is what we were given.

During the project I had a special locked down server at work to keep the 3D scenes and 3D renders off the main network, so only I using a password could access these assets. When a new car is launched confidentiallity is a big piece of the production process and must be accounted for in pipelines and any modifications for privacy.

I had the privilege of meeting up with a fellow ACCD grad who specialized in Automotive photography Jerry Garns, and this help he gave to the team translated perfectly over into the GI virtual automotive world.


You can view PART I here,
You can view the 3D Logo work here.
You can view PART II just below in sequence to this post, or click here.

Cheers, THOM