Dictador Peyote
Studio: Epilog Creative Studio
When the Dictador brand approached us with a request to create something unique, we had no doubt that this was a project for us.
Dictador Peyote is a collection of limited edition alcohol bottles that reflect the ancient traditions and cultural heritage of Mexico. They have been carefully adorned with delicate glass beads, and our task was to recreate their unique arrangement in the digital world. Thanks to advanced 3D scanning techniques, we managed to replicate the bottles on a 1:1 scale, capturing every minute detail. We then proceeded to produce an animation that would depict the bead arrangement mechanism.
Scope of Work:
• Development of the concept and animation execution process
• Recreation of product materials based on physical samples
• Creation of CGI animation
• Preparation of promotional materials
Dictador Peyote bottles have been carefully adorned with delicate glass beads by the Wixáritari craftsmen from the Mexican Sierra Madre Occidental mountains, who wove into them prayers, intentions, and respect.
They believe that art is a sacred channel transforming universal energies into tangible forms. They are also known for their deep spiritual connection with nature and the sacred peyote plant.
Although the client had previously used traditional video formats, the potential of 3D animation allowed for a much deeper representation of the process.
Achieving this was not easy. Simulating the bead arrangement with accuracy reflecting the techniques of traditional craftsmen was a significant challenge. To achieve the desired effect, we decided to apply reverse engineering. We studied the finished product and recreated the process of its creation step by step. One of the key techniques we used was tyflow. With its help, the beads on the bottle were arranged based on hexagons. Although the final effect showed an explosion of beads, when reversing the animation, we gained the illusion that the beads were sticking to the bottle.
As a result, we obtained not only a technically flawless animation but also a visual representation that combined the dynamics of an explosion with the subtle and delicate process of adhering the beads.
Using advanced 3D scanning technologies, we accurately replicated each bottle in full scale. However, their glossy surface posed a challenge for our devices. The use of polarizing filters allowed us to reduce unwanted reflections, resulting in precise scans. Next, having the digital counterparts of the bottles, we moved on to the texture application stage. Advanced software allowed us to faithfully transpose the bead patterns onto the numerical models. This process was equally intricate, requiring meticulous adjustment of each detail to the three-dimensional form of the bottle.
It's also worth emphasizing the importance of color - each of the eight bottles from the Dictador collection had its own unique color palette. The specificity of each shade required a particular approach during the photography process.
