matte painting critique needed

Malibu most wanted · **matte painting critique needed -** July 9th, 2009, 04:27 PM

Hello, I need some critique for a matte painting I put together,
I used PS4 and was looking for a realistic, hope full future city feel.
I added islands, and bldgs to a beach scene.

thanks, Bruce

metalrahul · July 9th, 2009, 11:42 PM

Check your scale first, for your current scale the windows have to be a lot smaller and secondly match direction of your light with the real background plate.

I think these two will put you in right direction...
Good luck,
Rahul

Malibu most wanted · July 10th, 2009, 04:52 PM

thanks for the great input Rahul,

Bruce

1501VFX · July 10th, 2009, 05:26 PM

Hmm the island underneath the main skyscraper looks really fake and the skyscraper does as well(is it a 3d model?)

krizard · July 10th, 2009, 07:18 PM

lower the specular on the skyscraper, and remove the specular on the island, and try position your light in the 3d aplication on almost 40-60 degree (relative to the skyscraper) to match the light source on the image (by looking to the couds shadow , it looks like its almost 16 o'clock or 8 o'clock....) and it will stay mutch better if you reduce the scale of the skyscraper or increase the numbers on windowns on the skysraper like METALRAHUL said....
cherrrsssss

Malibu most wanted · July 11th, 2009, 06:52 PM

thanks for the great input, the bldg is real, and there is no 3d used. Here is an updated and more interesting fixed version.

Bruce

RiKToR · July 11th, 2009, 08:47 PM

I very much try not to offer input on forums that I have just joined. I don't like offending people at all nor do I like to critique something like art, where taste very. But since you are asking for opinions and believe I can offer some advice I guess I will make an exception.

Firstly though I have to ask some questions of your intentions with this work. I assume clearly that this and exercise to work with the basics in CS4 and matte painting. I also see that the images you used are from Dylan Cole's Advanced Matte Painting Techniques DVD. So my main question is if you watched the DVD why did you abandon the first step? I am not trying to be argumentative nor rude just trying to understand. Matte painting is a very analog work flow, as its namesake says its a painting. Most people leave out the painting portion because they dont have a tablet but a mouse can be used in a pinch. Pencil and paper can be scanned in as well. I have done some earliey painting work with a mouse, it takes 3 times as long but it works. With that said, alot technical things are worked out in the painting stage. I sense of scale, perspective. Starting with a good foundation means when you start integrating photos you know what the scale of buildings should be and whether you can use the whole thing or you have repeat textures of pictures used.

Also you have to be pratical with certain things or you'll reach that uncanny valley, like the building. Im not sure how practical the building is on a island that small. There are certain stability issues that would come with that. To certain extent a matte painter does have to be a little bit on an industrial designer. The closer even alien objects are rooted into the real world the more believable a matte will be.

Lastly for selling the matte over the plate you have to match the grain of the original photograpy or remove it. That image is pretty grainy.

I dont say any of this to detour you, just to focus you priorites on your next attempt.

Malibu most wanted · July 11th, 2009, 09:32 PM

Cliff, not a bad critique! Yes, you called me out on the first step and you are correct I cannot sketch and therefore the sense of perspective was lost. I did intend the building to be on an island to shake things up,however in an industrial sense not a great idea if there were no transportation elements included. Thank you for pointing out the grain of the plate matching with the bldg. and I will try to get that worked out. Yes, all these elements are from the Dylan Cole dvd including islands and I basically am not a sketcher and do not yet have a tablet. I did try to absorb what I could from the dvd, (pretty advanced) and this was my first matte after only working with photoshop about 2 weeks. I am realistic, enjoy honest criticism and know that this type of feedback will make my work better.

Bruce

RiKToR · July 11th, 2009, 11:34 PM

By all means keep working at it. I understand starting out, we all have to do it. While your trying to pick up the technical side though dont forget the traditional side. And if you need any help, drop me line and I will be more then happy to give what insight or tips I can.

Malibu most wanted · July 12th, 2009, 11:30 AM

Thanks Cliff, I looked at your portfolio for inspiration, and enjoyed the ships hovering above the clouds the most (big scifi fan). I see a great deal of freehand drawings, something I will need to work on to become better.

Bruce

4faher · 08:15 PM

Hi!

Let's concentrate on the top photo!

It is always smart to let all the details you add to a matte meet at the middle by letting them interact with each other. Often one adds details that are not really needed for the scene just to tie everything together.

In this case have a few clouds slightly cover part of the scraper at one or two places. You don't have to draw these clouds or cut and paste, but just erase a bit here and there and let the clouds behind the scraper come forth.

You may also add a simple mirage at the bottom of the kind you see in the dessert. It's one of many sneaky ways to cover up details you don't do well or have no time to work on.