"Secret Synphony" ( 3D MAX 4, Photoshop 5.5)
June 2001

sketch for groupshot
please scroll down for further drawings and renders

This is the cd case cover I designed for my final year personal project. The brief I set for the project was to create a 3d animated short using studio max as this was the programme we were being taught at South Bank University and therefore the programme I was most familiar with.

The characters and set were created in 3d StudioMax 3 and 4, the animation was done in Max 4 as the improvements made to version 4 are considerable, all the textures were creatied in photoshop 5.5 then edited and compiled in premier 5.0. However all the developement work was done with paper and pencil and numerous storyboards, scripts and a long time spent on research for the choreographed dance moves,.

I enjoy 3d modelling and animation, I spend hours at my workstation producing ideas and exploring new aspects of the programme as well as honing my modelling skills. I find the visual potential of 3d programmes exciting as they allow, ideas, sketches, stories etc that swim around the imagination to become realised.

sketches for dance poses - Barry Tone and Trebelina
sketches for dance poses - chorusline dancer
This and the following stills are test renders to check for Lighting, shadows and colour balance.
The above still shows the lights are in the wrong position producing good strong shadows on the floor but creating half lit figures.
With the lights better positioned the subjects are now more fully lit, the shadows are softer and better situated.
The character behind the ballerina (Bari Tone) doesn't reflect any light as the torso texture has not been applied yet. The mood of the scene is getting there but the lighting needs more adjusting, especially to show the background a touch more.
©nick fusco june 2001