Project Review: Onward Disney PIXAR Feature Animation Key Art 2018

3D logos for Onward feature Animation-A heavy Steel Title treatment with an inward extrusion with added design details inside. A little Middle Earth feel to this title.

3D logos for Onward feature Animation- A wood title with some gold inlay with a motif taken from a staff in the film that held a crystal. 

 

3D logos for Onward feature Animation- An almost Center Bevel with a really heavy bevel in iron. The crystal was a main light source here between Disney's and PIXAR's Logos. 

 

3D logos for Onward feature Animation- An amber Crystal that was based off the Crystal used in the staff in the concept art.

3D logos for Onward feature Animation- a simple wood with softer edges and no sharp bevels was a Sub-D model with 4 levels of turbo-smooth added for displacement.

 

3D logos for Onward feature Animation- an extruded near flat with a lighter edge bevel done in an Indiana Jone like palette. 

 

3D logos for Onward feature Animation- Using the above model with a custom red inset texture map as well as a spline based micro strip this was in a red as steel look. 

 

3D logos for Onward feature Animation- This reverse extrusion inset into the title used a fabric texture sourced in the concept art for the Van back curtains. The film revised the curtains so this was not a match after concept phase work. 

 

3D logos for Onward feature Animation- a combination of wood plates with multiple bevels and a metal face at the top of the stacked design. 

 

3D logos for Onward feature Animation- a Plaid material based on the Character Ian Lightfoots shirt. I did a pillowed soft face in a chrome frame.

 Project Review: Onward Disney 

PIXAR Feature Animation 

Key Art 2018

 

Client:  PIXAR via Leroy and Rose
Creative Direction:  Melchior Lamy 
Project Date:  November 2018.

     Today I am covering a large series of 3D Logos I was contracted to develop for PIXAR's Onward from back in November 2018. I was happy to work on non traditional looks for the 3D Logos with a wide range of looks. My typical fare is in metal logos and glass as the most common ones I am asked to do, so I enjoyed the variety in this gig.

    Leroy and Rose often called me for Feature Animation Key Art. I have a background working in Animation as a Conceptual Designer, Art Director, as well as Layout, Character, and Prop designer in Phantom 2040, and the New Adventures of Flash Gordon. My first full time job was for Hearst Animation Productions, so I love this genre of entertainment.

     Doing anything for PIXAR is an honor as they were trailblazers in 3D Animation. This work I did was before any 3D animation was sent out to vendors so I received some pre-vis and sketches to work off of mostly.

 

    I did this work on Key Art 3D Titles at a development stage, so you can see a wide range of looks. I used textures and elements from the reference in the logos as well as materials like Wood, Crystal, steel, as well as fabrics used in the film environments and characters themselves. I also combine multiple materials as well stacked and inlaid as well in the visual development.

 
    Just one set of vector files provided to us by the client were used to create multiple solutions in the 3D models. Some are flatter and extruded, while others are chiseled with heavy bevels, and some were displaced with high poly count geometry for the wood versions so the wood grain was dimensional in 3D and not merely a bump map fake. One file can be made dimensional in so many ways. Pixar ultimately chose a 2D flat logo with a bevel effect

 

     The three dimensional thinking skills I developed in Industrial Design really gets used for this kind of work. I see many 3D solutions to one file, and here the agency allowed me to explore a bit. Love that!

 

     I am full time doing freelance while I hunt for a full-time place to work at, so if you need a bid for a 3D Illustration or 3D Logo, or a 3D Model feel free to contact me for a quote. I am open to Hourly gig's, Work Retainers, Part-time, and mostly Full Time opportunities [ Open to relocation ] would be best. I have worked remote since 2009, so I am ready to help you on your projects!

                                 Cheers, THOM

Project Review: Behind the Candelabra[Liberace] 2008 PART II The Crystal Logos.

 I did some solid crystal version of the logo for the posters using caustics to get all the light play onto the dark background plate.

 A quick alt with the light dispersion turned on to get the prismatic effect thru the glass. It was deemed a bit too colorful for use.

 

 The first pass at the main focus logo, a gold hollow letter-form filled with various sized Diamonds.

 

 The main focus with the camera 'dutched' a bit with various Diamonds caught in the air utilizing some Depth of Field effects with the camera.

 

 A Ruby red satin bed as the backdrop in this alt. I love the way the colors in the background and the gold letters reflect and reflect thru the various flying diamonds.

 

 A simple white satin version done as well as the final image for the Liberace project called Behind the Candelabra.

 

 The wireframe render showing the build including the satin cloth backdrop.

 

 This polygon render closeup shows the various hand placed gems inside the letter forms for the comps done for the film Behind the Candelabra.

Project Review

Behind the Candelabra[Liberace] 2008

PART II The Crystal Logos.

Client: HBO Films via The Cimarron Group.
Art Director: Joseph Stamper.
Project Date: November 2008.

In the late Fall of 2008 did a pitch for the new Liberace Film being considered, "Behind the Candelabra", and today in PART II I cover the 3D Logos I created for the various comps.

I was asked to do the 3D Logos in glass or crystal with Diamonds to showcase the extravagance associated with the man, so I proceeded to do a series of variations on that theme.

I have done logos in jewels before as I did for the Theatrical Trailers for the film, Mean Girls here, as well as plenty of Solid crystal ones as seen for CNN here, AstroBoy here, Beastly here, Nine here, Monsters vs' Aliens here, STARZ here, United Artists here, Green Hornet here, and Twilight here, so I was off to building the comps.

What I was asked to do as the primary logo was to fill a hollow logo made from gold with various sized diamonds and lay it on some satin cloth. I did a few views as well as a few colors to choose from.

As a back up I did two sold crystal ones as well.

You can view the Grand Baldwin Virtual piano I made in PART I here.

Cheers, THOM

3D LOGOS Part IV: Transparent[ Glass Crystal Water ] 3D Logos and Icons for Key Art

 

Sample Image of Transparent 3D Logo Design

[ Click here to view full size 9000 pixels wide]

 

3D LOGOS

Part IV Transparent[ Glass Crystal Water ] 3D Logos and Icons for Key Art

3D Logos Part 4 is my next installment on 3D Logos covering specifically logos and Icons that take great care to ensure legibility as this post covers transparent and translucent 3D logo creation and design. These logos can get lost and loose legibility due to the nature of the materials.

 

I do quite a bit of transparent and translucent logos from the glass and glowing neon work, to sub surface scattering inside an 3D volumetric material that is beyond the surface of the geometry.

It is the most challenging to make them legible as well as a design that can work on a light or dark background. Sometime you need to create multiple versions as glass is both reflective of the environment around it, as well as refractive[ light bending] of what is seen thru the objects. Caustics come into play with transparent materials as well, so you can adjust the setting to get those beautiful light glints inside in and on the surfaces of the logo and the surfaces directly around your designs as real world rendering and GI lighting affords the 3D Designer.

If  you have a need for a Transparent Glass or other look to a 3D logo, contact me for a quote today. Prices are very reasonable.

Part I on 3D Logos: Can be viewed over here.
Part II on 3D Metal Logos can be viewed here.

PART III on 3D Distressed Logos can be found here.

NOTE: Blogger reduces the size of enlarged images, click here to see the very large 5K image from my CG-Society Portfolio Page.

Project Review: Tiberium Logos and Icons PART I

This was the final Design for the first round by Art Director Calvin Sumler using my 3D assets.

A series of 3D Logos.

A DNA strand with a third "new strand" inside infecting it.

A variation on the 3 strand look with a bigger crystal infection.

A DNA strand infected[ early draft].

A Tiberium (R) crystal.

TIBERIUM!
PART I

Client: EA- Entertainment Arts Video Games via The Cimarron Group.
Art Director(s): Matt Stainner[Prod], Calvin Sumler[AD]
 Project Date: Winter 2007.

While at Cimarron I did a few pitches for the small Video Game Division head up by Matt Stainer, and Tiberium was one of the first and few I did. A fun concept to execute with an infected DNA strand and some Logos using the same crystal infection. Fun to do, but ultimately the game was shelved.

Cheers, THOM

To read about Tiberium from the Command and Conquer Series click the Post Title or paste in this text to link over:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberium

Project Review: Behind the Candelabra[Liberace] 2008- PART I The X-Ray Piano.

 The main "Hero" render was done in traditional black and all glass crystal.

 A Liberace Baldwin done in all crystal.

 Here is an exploded view showcasing all the basic parts and wireframe.

 A similar parts view render of the Grand Baldwin Piano I made in 3DSmax in basic materials.

 A Birds Eye overhead view of the piano.

 A Behind the player view of the Ivory.

 I did a few graphic orthographic renders for some comps as well, this was with the lid open exposing the full build-out if the strings and frame inside.

 A close up down the keys on this Virtual Grand Baldwin.

 A close up of the construction details with pads, wires retainers, and key mechanicals. FUN stuff!

 An exploded close up showing the wires off the posts fully wrapped around with the felt supports below.

 Another angle on the piano for a comp for Behind the Candelabra.

Project Review

Behind the Candelabra[Liberace] 2008

PART I The X-Ray Piano.

Client: HBO Films via The Cimarron Group.
Art Director: Joseph Stamper.
Project Date: November 2008.

Back in the late Fall of 2008 the Theatrical Print Division @ Cimarron wanted to do a pitch for the new Liberace Film being considered, "Behind the Candelabra", and what I was asked to build out besides the 3D Logos, was to construct a fully detailed model of the Grand Baldwin Piano used by Liberace. They also wanted to do some versions in crystal[ glass] and a regular black on black look, but they wanted it to show all the parts inside, so that meant a full X-Ray model build out, not just a shell model.

An X-Ray model is one which you build out all internal parts anticipating the fact that they will be seen, and being this is a crystal piano we'd see all the internals. I did this in the past here, and here, and since they had seen my PPK I did for Bond they wanted to do the same for this with my 3D Illustrations.

I referenced the Baldwins Liberace played and I began to create the parts inside bit by bit. As a trained Industrial Designer over half of what I do is a form of reverse engineering as I must create the parts to look relativly functional, so I must have some understanding of how the part functions so I study cut away diagrams, and How it is made books. It heped that I have a vintage upright at home so I could lift the lid and take a look up close here as well.

What you see are the various 3D Renders I provided for the comp presentations with the Baldwin.

I will be posting the 3D logos in a future post.

Cheers, THOM

Project Review: Tiberium 3D Logos and Illustrations PART II

A Logo provided by Calvin Sumler in Design as a vector, was then made three dimensional by me and executed in about six variations of metal crystal and a combo.

Here is a two level design with a larger holding device off the back in a cool green crystal material I built.

Using the same vector from above a one layer crystal with the "infection" scatter object technique to infect the lower section of the type.

I did a few ICON marks for Matt Stainner as well, and I "infected" them all with a variety of sizes and shapes of Tiberium crystals.

For this one I used the Molecular files I did for a few projects to give the logo an Electron Microscope POV feel to the executed 3D renders in Print and ready for AV motion Graphics as well.

This Last entry was a File from the Game Company that they wanted to see a few variations in colors on. We went with Orange to compliment the majority of green in all the comps. A Bio Hazard type of feel was achieved.

 TIBERIUM
3D Logos and 3D Illustrations
PART II

Client: EA- Entertainment Arts Video Games via The Cimarron Group.
Art Director(s): Matt Stainner[Prod], Calvin Sumler[AD]Project Date: Winter 2007.

While at Cimarron in 2007, I did a few pitches for the Video Game Division there, headed up by Matt Stainer, and Tiberium, and today I have posted PART II, with additional assets I created for the base pitch.

The game concept and work was very fun to execute, as I got to experiment with growing crystals onto my designs as an added layer of "infection" to the design.

Green Glass was the order of the day, in cool blue green, and lime green warm versions with red reflections as well. A fun time!

Cheers, THOM

To read about Tiberium from the Command and Conquer Series click here.

You can view my first entry on my design blog for Tiberium HERE.

Project Review: Marci-X 2003

A 3D Illustrated Platinum Jewelry Logo than was put around the necks of the main characters for the Poster Comps done for Art Director Coby Gewertz.

A Crystal Logo refracted thru the glassy surface done for Art Director Marcus Almaraz.

The 3D Illustrated Lipstick belts worn by Lisa Kudrow in the Poster wanted comps we did.

The 3D Illustrated Bullet belts worn by Damon Wayans in the Poster wanted comps we did.

I did an ornate silver frame for one idea as well.

Marci-X 2003

Client: Paramount Pictures via BLT and Associates.
Art Director(s): Coby Gewertz and Marcus Almaraz.
Project Date: Fall 2002.

I had a chance to do some 3D Illustration and a few 3D Logos for the film Marci-X back in 2002 while in-house at BLT in Hollywood CA. It was a story of a Jewish American Princess that has to run a Hip Hop Record Company so we had a fun time with some iconic images and even the logos.

It was a small job, at just a day or so, but I was able to make some fun logos with the necklace design above with the huge platinum title on a chain that was eventually put into a few comps over both main characters. I also did the big glass or crystal logo being held up in front of them both as an alternate design presented.

The belts of bullets and of lipstick were for some side by sides where Lisa Kudrow had Lipstick while Damon Wayans got the banditas bullets.

I also did some 3D framing devices for some concepts as well shown above. A small but fun project.

Here is a link to the IMDB page as this was an unknown film with a small release.

Cheers, THOM

Project Review: NINE 2009 PART I-3D Logos.

One of the first ideas from Calvin Sumler that helped bring in the work, a wall of lighted text.

An architectural metal grate idea from Joseph Stamper with light beams eliminating from behind.

A beautiful crystal version of the logo for Joseph Stamper.

A logo built from the scaffolding from the film that was to be filled with all the women done for Joseph Stamper as well.

A logo built from steamer trunks shaped like letters with Danial Day Lewis as the "i" in Nine, done for Chris A. Hawkins.

The logo built from a row of Brownstones for Chris A. Hawkins as well. [ my favorite!]

A "Neon" nine done for Chris A. Hawkins.

Another architectural logo using set props for Joseph Stamper.

A logo made from architectural elements and stage props for Joseph Stamper.

Project Review
NINE-2009 PART I 3D Logos

Client: The Weinstein Company via The Cimarron Group.
Art Director(s): Calvin Sumler ,Chris A, Hawkins, and Joseph Stamper.
Project Date: Spring 2009.

The successful Broadway Play 'Nine" was made into a feature film last year, and I was tasked with some concepts using 3D to illustrate the main title logo.

What a fun exploration to match the lighting and beautiful sets from the film in the logo., I had a great time on this one. I did some made from stage props and scaffolding, and more as architectural elements as well. I even did a row of NY Brownstones spelling out NINE as was done years earlier for Sin City[ See other Post].

Sadly for me, the client went to pure 2D flat white logo for the finish, but it still was a fun ride going through the motions.

Cheers, THOM