The power of meditation

A Project that I’m currently working on

I’m in the production phase for this project ( 1 month 1 week)

Lighting is crucial in my 3D animation process, and I like to start with a soft, neutral lighting setup to give me flexibility. I test placeholder backgrounds to see how the lighting interacts with the 2D space before refining the 3D lighting. Keeping shadows and highlights subtle allows for more control during the compositing phase, where I can make final adjustments like light wraps or color grading. When my 3D and 2D elements are separate, I focus on rendering the 3D animation first, which helps streamline my workflow, especially when the 2D elements are more of an overlay or decorative touch.

One thing I’m working on is maintaining consistency in lighting exposure across scenes, which can be tricky. Figuring out the right type of light for each scene takes time, especially when trying to match the lighting to the scene’s mood—calmer scenes benefit from soft, diffused light, while intense ones need stronger, directional light. I’m also learning about lighting contrast ratios, which will improve my ability to create a cohesive lighting blueprint with consistent direction and tone. Using reference lighting from films and nature helps me stay inspired, and Unreal’s lighting presets and post-production tools allow me to fine-tune everything for final consistency.

Incoporating 2D Design

I'm using render images from my 3D animation for poster design. This will not only add variety to my project but also help me improve my graphic design skills through poster creation. Also, it gives me a better idea of what to do when I composite 2D animation later on in the process.

Some rough sketches in Photoshop to keep the visualization flowing

Doing these 2D sketches motivate me to learn more about the beauty of incorporating 2D and 3D elements together