2012 Scrabble Animation Project – WIP

3D rendered image from using IBL

3D rendered image from Maya using IBL

In anticipation for the new year (2012), I have been wading in ideas for an 3D image, animation or motion piece to close 2011 and start the new year. I had a similar idea for Christmas, which sort of ignited this pursuit, and I was able to finish the piece, but I felt it was lacking something. I will probably put it up sometime in the new year.

At any rate, the image to the left is hopefully going to be part of a motion piece for my new year’s message. I am in the process of finishing up the word pieces for the animation. My only concern (obviously) is if the rendering will be completed before the new year arrives. On a side note, while I was preparing the UV layout for the board in Photoshop, I was getting a little bored and distracted with creating the DW (Double Word), DL (Double Letter) scoring pieces that I created a movie animation and a Gif animation from Photoshop.

I have to admit, switching my frame of thought for just a couple of minutes to create the animated board gif was a project saver. Why? because after creating the gif, I was more energetic towards finishing the 3d component piece. I’m assuming it’s because it has sort of a Christmassy (if that’s a word) feel to it… .

Typically, whenever I work on personal projects, I tend to hit a wall (Get bored) after some time, and the project ends up in (what I call) the Personal Project Graveyard (PPG).

I also learned when adding animated gifs to a post, you can not edit it’s size. You have to import it at full size, or it wont work.

So, hopefully, this project will not become one of those that ends up in the PPG. More to come…

I’m not sure if this might be helpful to anyone, but the PSD file I used is available for download here  Download

**Disclaimer: This project is not endorsed by Hasbro