Research
Since starting university I have leaned towards 3D creation over 2D, sketching, or character animation. So for my final project, I have decided to create some game-ready 3D environments, to improve my 3D skill and allow me to research and push my portfolio more towards the game industry. As I am a big fan of open-world RPGs and enjoy the visuals of Red Dead Redemption 2, the narrative of my project is an abandoned Wild West Saloon gets a modern-day renovation in a Las Vegas or New Orleans vibe.
To focus my industry materials on this, more specifically my project advertising poster and accompanying business cards, I need a poster that shows two contrasting periods but reflects the fact it is the same saloon. This would prove to be challenging as I would need to consider narrative, an appropriate title, how to convey both environments, etc.
The following are my notes on previous students’ posters. I have looked at the posters before examining their work to try and see can I work out the narrative of the project from the poster design;
- Lovely cartoon style – would not suit me as my project style is realism
- Curves are drawn well to show the scale of a big slide, makes the character seem like she’s on top of the world, shows how the character feels about the height of the slide
- Blue splashes around the title seem to blend into the background, I would have chosen a different blue
- Assuming the project is 2D
- Love the silhouette, gives detail without using a full image
- Ghostship and the title gives the impression the project is pirate-themed
- Dark colours suggest a dark tone to the movie and the stains on the poster suggest aging, so a period piece
- Can’t tell if the project is 2D or 3D
- A 2D film aimed at children
- I like the poster’s concept, but the art styles don’t blend for me. The background looks like a photo while the cartoon itself is heavily stylized especially with the black outline. This may be to highlight the characters but it doesn’t work for me. Smoke from the rocket isn’t outlined like the rest of the cartoon so it stands out.
- From the poster I assume this is mixed media, where it is primarily 3D animation and the 2D beast is from the storybook, so it is an adventure scene or narrative on kids’ imagination
- Think the shots work well and each character’s personality is displayed by their facial expression
- 3D objects look amazing and I like the soft lighting of the fire
- Background is faded to keep the attention on the foreground
- Character peering into nothing gives a sense of waiting or deep thought which conveys the title well
- Greek Structure shown well so can easily place location and period, looks like a possible action shot
- Peering into the sky with an alien creature, sci-fi theme? are they waiting for the character to go home or waiting for more aliens?
- Style of car and scenery conveys an American theme, possibly Nebraska
- Title is visible but not overpowering, blends in well with the stars
From the examples shown it’s clear that the main overall purpose of a poster is to convey the narrative without spoiling the project plot. So get the audience curious in a clear way. I like softer lighting and darker posters, as I find bright colour overwhelming and distracting.
Examples I’ve found of posters
As my project is a Wild West town, with the main focus being the Saloon in both environments, I need it to be the highlight of the poster.
- Love the sunset vibe and colours
- Good positioning of buildings and room for titles
- Stylized not realism
- Cartoon art style is very old fashioned with harsh oil paint style brush strokes, dates the piece but might be difficult to introduce modern bar
- like the sunset but the blue sky is a bit washed and too bland
- my project has no characters so not the best example
- Same as Vento just a good example of a suitable colour palette
- Large hotel in the front-facing frame is a good way I can position the saloon on the poster, takes up room, and draws the eye
- However colour palette doesn’t suit and is too washed, nothing stands out and titles are hard to read
- One of my favourite examples – love the bold coloru palette, all sunset
- Western-style font but easy to read, if cowboy and horse was removed it would still obviously be a wild west poster
- Rubbed out patches show aging
- Classic bar poster that would advertise modern bar well, like the palette
- title is easy to read and bright drink in the foreground captures the attention, not a fan of the background as it seems basic and boring.
Example 7, Example 8, Example 9, Red Dead Redemption 2
- Good posters to base off as I’m going for a game environment in the same thing
- 7 has 3-4 main colours but includes all the detail needed, realism photos with a red wash/filter
- 7 conveys all the information, gang, scenery, main character, serious mood of the game, big open space
- 8 is brighter with more character detail and has that hand-drawn/painted look. Like the subtleness of the other poster better.
- 9 I like this poster for the game in general but focuses too much on characters and wouldn’t suit my project. Looks more like a movie than the game poster.
- Great movie poster in general, light illuminates character while leaving the location a bit of a mystery, eery vibe
- Doesn’t suit my location as its indoors a big building, colours might work if I’m creating a dark gloomy mystery theme
- Favourite poster, looks like a Wanted poster, blends extremely well with my environment
- Colour palette is great and looks very western-like weathered old paper
- 3D elements combined well with photos, should be able to be put in 3D renders easily
- Challenge will be to represent new bar as old theme is very clear
- Gun directs peoples eyes