This week, I finished creating the model of the project’s boat in Maya, as well as adding materials and textures to it in 3D Substance Painter
The first version of the boat texture
Then I put the boat model into Unreal Engine 5 to test the texture and create the materials, I also made some changes to the texture to make the boat fit better in the scene.
SHOT 01
The camera passes through the canyon in the distance
SHOT 02
The camera zooms in from the water on the left side of the gorge in the main scene
SHOT 03
The scene turns to some buildings around the pier
SHOT 04
Concept art image of a small boat sailing out of the harbor towards the middle of a mountain gorge, the sky is clear, there are a few clouds floating in the sky, two giant statues stand on either side of the gorge, and there are some waterfalls and courtyard lofts in between the mountains
SHOT 05
From the perspective of the boat, look up at the giant statue on the right as the boat moves.
SHOT 06
Looking over the shoulder of the giant statue at the boat that is about to pass by
SHOT 07
The camera slowly sweeps over a pavilion in the mountains
SHOT 08
The camera slowly sweeps over the trees and a waterfall in the mountains
SHOT 09
The camera looks down on a small boat sailing through a waterway in the middle of a mountain gorge, with some puffy clouds floating on the top and bottom sides of the frame, while a flock of flying geese slowly skims across the frame
SHOT 10
The boat sails alone towards the calm and open sea
During this week, I made a series of modifications to the landscape I created in Unreal Engine, including making the height of the mountains on both sides of the river more balanced and adjusting the coverage area of vegetation and the texture of the mountains. At the same time, some adjustments have been made to the size of the waves on the water’s surface to make the overall environment look more balanced and harmonious.
This week I finished the port deck, little cabin, and cargo carrier model for the scene
In the conception of my “Journey to the Baidi City” project story, I hope that the boat will gradually leave a small port. The style and appearance of the port are more ancient. There are some cabins at the back of the port. There is smoke rising from the cabins, and the boat is sailing. After a while, you will pass through a gorge. On both sides of the gorge stand two giant statues of ancient gods. Temples and courtyards of different sizes are located throughout the mountains. At the same time, waterfalls pour down from the mountain stream.
I first referred to a lot of the landforms of the Three Gorges area in China, which is where my story begins, and then started to restore the landscape of the Three Gorges in Unreal Engine 5 which the scene includes mountains, trees, grass, river, and lake.
The name of my final major project is Journey to the Baidi City. The story background is inspired by a poem written by Li Bai in 759 A.D. from the Tang Dynasty of China, one of the greatest poets in Chinese history. The original poem is called Leaving white Emperor City at Dawn.
Full Text of Leaving white Emperor City at Dawn
At dawn amid colored clouds, I left White Emperor City.
A thousand miles to Chiang Ling I was there in a day.
Chattering apes on the cliffs, no end to their bawling.
So, the light boat slipped past the ten thousand mountains.
The background of the creation of this poem is that the poet was exiled for committing a serious crime and was pardoned by the emperor when he was passing through Baidi City. As a result, the trajectory of his life changed and he started a new chapter in his life. This poem also became a part of the poet’s life to record turning points and proud moods.
What I’m trying to do is to use Unreal Engine 5 to recreate the scene in the poem where the poet’s boat crosses the gorge, to create an epic scene, and at the same time to add more detailed artwork on the sides of the gorge, adding palaces and giant stone statues of the gods to increase the element of metaphysical adventure.