For Week 1, I focused on coming up with a couple different ideas for my project. Once I narrowed it down to three ideas, I found some reference images that helped me better express what I was wanting to create. I then presented the three ideas. 

For Week 2, I started off by searching for more reference images that would help me create the park sign that I have in my mind. I ended up with 6 different sign concepts. I really like the style of 2, 3, and 5 but I'm not entirely happy with them so I will continue concepting some more at the beginning of Week 3 before I started blocking out anything.

I didn't have nearly as much time as I would have liked to work on this project this week so I didn't achieve all of my goals for the week. 

I used the frame style that I liked the most and iterated a couple of times to come up with the best sign style.

Once I created the perfect sign style, I moved on to working through some color schemes. While the idea was to have a cozy feel, I included a couple of color combos that I wouldn't really associate with cozy just in case those ended up looking good. They did not. Of the color schemes that I worked with, I believe either 1 or 5 looks the best. When the actual sign is created, the text and graphic on 5 would be lighter and brighter to fix visibility issues. 

This week I started modeling in Maya. I originally just started working on building the main sign that is above. After I received feedback about the previous assignment, I decided to increase the amount of models that I am making to make more of an asset set rather than just a single sign. The final product will consist of the main sign, a trailhead sign, an information bulletin board, and a "park closes at dusk" sign. 

For modeling, I focused on following my concept art design. I added in a few more curves to the base posts and the horizontal bar that holds the sign up so that it would be more interesting to look at rather than the original straight lines of those posts. In the right image above, you can see a smaller sign attached to the left side of the main sign. I wanted to add a little place where I could say " no vacancy" for the campground. I made sure to make it removeable in case it doesn't end up looking that good for the final products. 

Below are some closeup renders of some of the more refined details that I am happy with as they are such as the chains and the bolts on the sign. 

As previously mentioned, I am adding in a few more models that will go well with the main sign. I didn't do as much concepting since I already had a solid idea about what I wanted each to look like. Below are the few concepts that I drew out.

For modeling these items, I was only able to get finished modeling the trailhead sign. Once it has materials, the flat panel on the front section will be glass to allow the viewer to see the map that details the trail path underneath. This map will be the same one that is included on the bulletin board/ information station model but with a red line showing the trail path.

My first priority starting next week is to finishing making the base models of both the bulletin board and park closing sign. After those have been completed, I will focus on adding in smaller details to each of the models. 

I finished making the base models of all the assets that I planned on including. I am still working on getting details added so there will be more of an update on those next week. The "Parks closes at dusk" sign is what took up most of my time this week because I found it very difficult to create the crescent shape the way that I wanted it. 

For the information bulletin board/map stand, I finished making the base model and haven't added any details to the actual model except for a few little things on the roof covering section. For the bulletin side of the stand, I added a simple sign that I'll add some kind of text to later. On the side that is going to have the map behind the glass, I added a little box that will hold paper maps that people could take.

For the large map, I created a thumbtack that will act as a "You are here" indicator. For the sake of the render, I left the thumbtack larger than it will be in the final product.

Next week, I'll continue adding details to the various models that I am working on. While the goal is to have all of the details done, I can definitely commit to having the details complete on at least two of the assets. 

I forgot to include in the video that I also worked on UV unwrapping for some of the models that were duplicated a lot like the bolts and leaves. I unwrapped them before duplicating so that I don't have to go back later on and unwrap each one individually. 

I didn't get quite as much as I would have liked done this week. The UVs were giving me a hard time on some of the parts. The worst UVs were the legs on the park closing sign (the one with the moon) and the name plate on the trailhead sign. Even though both of those looked like they would be simple, they were probably the worst part but I eventually figured it out. I also got both of these models into Substance Painter to start painting and adding textures. Since UV unwrapping took longer than I thought, I wasn't able to finish in Substance but I am at least happy with the way the wood parts of both models are. The metal support pieces on the trailhead sign still need a little bit of work but I like the galvanized metal look that they have now. 

About the Main Park Sign:

Since there are more complicated pieces on the main park sign, it is taking me longer to unwrap. I wanted to at least have something to visually show for this week so I went ahead and continued working on the extra pieces (trailhead sign and closing sign). However, I will have the main park sign in Substance Painter and working on it this coming week.

What still needs to be done on the Trailhead Sign:

The light brown parts of the trailhead sign are not finished. The same goes for the name plate part. I'm going to make a png of the trailhead name and use it as a stencil in Substance Painter to put the name on the model. There will also be a map on the indented part of the trailhead sign but that map isn't finished and it won't be difficult to add to the model when it is finished. 

What still needs to be done on the Closing Sign:

The big orange section still needs the words on it and a better color. I am going to make the words in Illustrator and save them as a png to bring into Substance Painter. I'll use the png as a stencil for the sign. As the model is now, I think the moon and orange section of the sign is too shiny so I also need to adjust that. 

This week, I worked on getting the UVs done so that I could move my model into Substance Painter. Most of this main sign was easy enough to get the UVs done but the inner cross bar part of the sign that the chains go around and the hanging park name sign were giving me a hard time. I ended up spending all day last Monday trying to fix the model so that the UV would work correctly. Once I thought I was done with the UV, I moved the model into Painter. I started by adding base colors to all of the different materials and then layered on other colors and textures. I found a couple spots where I need to go back to Maya and fix the UV but I haven't had time to fix those just yet because they were on the parts of the model that gave me trouble. 

There are still more details that need to be painted on but the basics are mostly finished. 

Although I did spend quite some time on this project throughout the week, I don't have much to show for it. Originally, I was going to use 3D text on all of the sign. The text was the last thing that need to be fully unwrapped before I could start texturing it. After spending far too many hours trying to unwrap the text models, I ended up scrapping them. Instead, I decided to make the text in Illustrator and import it into Painter to use as a stencil. I used the stencil with the words on a fill layer with a mask then adjusted the height on the layer to make it look like the text was raised. I believe it looks better now than it would have with the 3D text. 

With the little bit of leftover time that I had, I also added a little bit of messiness to various metal pieces on the main sign by painting a dark gray on top of the existing texture.

I got the main sign and closing sign finalized this week after adding some more things based on feedback that I received. For the trailhead sign, I only need to make the map and that will be finished as well. Given that I have already started on the map, I don't anticipate that taking very long. Next week I am going to start working on marketing materials as well as getting all of the models in one scene for the final deliverable. 

I made a lot of changes to my model this week so it was quite busy. I also worked on getting more stuff onto the official project Behance. Besides the things that I added onto the model, rendering has taken the most amount of time. Pending any feedback, the Behance is mostly done. I want to do a little post processing on some of the renders which I will do this upcoming week and add those to the Behance. Other than adding the additional renders, I will be working on the promo video throughout this next week.

Marketing Behance: https://www.behance.net/gallery/194580863/Maple-Wood-National-Park