Turning dreams into reality for the film industry, by 3D modelling and animation

Do you remember the days when monsters and goblins in films would have to be crafted manually by hand, as props? Neither do i, and we have 3D modelling and computer-generated imagery to thank for this. Even though stereoscopic filmmaking, which forms the basis of the 3D technology which has allowed us to enjoy Avatar, Toy Story 3 and Gravity was first demonstrated in 1922, for a long time, the two-dimensional nature of film reels ensured that props and designing by hand reigned supreme.

That era has long since passed, but the exact technological principles which inspired the revolution are still little understood. Terms such as CGI(Computer Generated Imagery), CAD(Computer Aided Design), meshes and polygons are thrown about by modellers with ease. But as a budding Steven Spielberg or Woody Allen, do your creative skills need to transcend to the realm of technology? Will you have to master dozens of widely differing software?
There’s both good and bad news for you. The bad news-a very basic understanding of the hows and whys of 3D modelling and animation is necessary. The good news? This article, by Eclipse Technoconsulting Global (P) Ltd., a leading 3D modelling and animation company in Kolkata India, seeks to do exactly that.

Another bit of good news-THE most important ingredient which you need in order to produce high-end visual effects is a fertile imagination. Davy Jones in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise could’ve looked like just another ordinary monstrous villain, perhaps a human with red eyes and filed teeth. Yet, the Ctulhu-like horror evokes in us an instinctive fear and revulsion. Davy Jones’s otherworldly appearance reinforces in us the belief that he is an alien, supernatural creation bent on turning our world into a benthic nightmare replete with voracious tentacle-bearing undead.

Such characters initially take root not in computers, but the human mind. Of course, a number of excellent 3D modelling techniques needed to be used in order to turn Davy Jones into an octopus-headed monster instead of a clownish looking villain with a tentacle up his nostril. And for that, a 3D image needs to be created. 3D modelers need to possess an excellent understanding of the conceptualized anatomical proportions.
Davy Jones would’ve been a lot less intimidating if his head was square-shaped, of course. Coming to squares, they do sometimes fulfill an important role, as do all other polygons. Yes, that old high school geometry term again-polygonal structures are used in the overall process of Box Modelling, whereby a very basic “mesh-the vertices and faces which define the overall shape of the character-is created. Sometimes, Edge Modelling is preferred over Box Modelling. In Edge Modelling, polygonal faces are looped around each other, and then the intermediate regions are filled up. Procedural Modelling, in which designing proceeds via algorithms, allows for objects to be created efficiently and quickly.

But at this stage, the model is still limp-which is where “rigging” comes in, in order to give your sock puppet a skeletal framework. A few finishing touches via shading and texture design, and voila-your hand-drawn character looks real and lifelike.

At times, however, hand-drawing characters tends to be too much of a chore; especially in large projects with cramped deadlines. The producers of Iron Man 2 faced exactly this quandary while trying to design Tony Stark’s hi-tech suit. Then they resorted to the new kid on the block: 3D printing. All that the Iron Man 2 team needed was a pre-set character sketch. They would then first create a small model out of the sketch, before scaling it up to meet their specific requirements.
Looking real and lifelike is just part of the work, though.
Animators need to make sure that the characters move and act as they do. Davy Jones’s tentacles can’t be stiff; perennially dangling from side to side provides a far more lifelike appearance. Premier animation companies, such as ETS, use a variety of tools, such as Autodesk Maya and 3D Max. The very best platforms are all-round systems which allow for 3D modelling and animation on the same software.

The difference between the real and virtual worlds is increasingly getting blurred. 3D Visual Effects(VFX) projects are increasingly incorporating Virtual Reality(VR) platforms, as well as ever more advanced CGI tech aimed at producing better mimicry of human gestures, especially facial features.
Very soon, you can have your very own Davy Jones in your own movie!!! Thanks to the massive developments in 3D modelling and animation which companies such as ETS have incorporated into their range of capabilities, almost every imagination of yours is about to come true.