#Always 3d clock movie#
#Always 3d clock portable#

Non-organic shapes such as the mechanical parts of a clockwork are good to build with polygons since it is easy to manipulate the edges, vertices and faces, which together makes up the polygon mesh. Since polygons are by far the most forgiving geometry to work with, these are the ones I am using.

There are four basic types of geometry: NURBS, Subdivisions, curves and polygons. This requires knowledge about how the model will be used later, since the typology affects the behavior of the model down the line (Alias, 2007). The first decision to make before the modeling process begins, is deciding what kind of geometry type to use.

In the following, I will go through the workflow process of modeling, animating lighting and rendering involved in creating the animation film for this clock. This means the final animation look realistic, since the individual cogwheels will rotate at the correct speed ratio. This clockwork is of course quite simple, but most importantly is the fact that the proportions and number of cogs on each cogwheel is true to reality. Figure 2 shows the screenshot reference, which I imported as an imageplane into Maya. So, I have used a screenshot of a 2D animation from a functioning online clock. However, given the complexity and interplay of cogwheels I would still need a reference in order make the final animation turn like a real clockwork. Therefore I chose to aim a bit lower and go for a very simple clockwork type of model. Such timepieces are actually insanely complex pieces of engineering. Of course, I did not realize this until after I started researching for timepiece blueprints. Ideation Processįor a novice like myself, trying to create something as comprehensive as the above renditions would obviously have been mission impossible. The purpose of my final animation is meant for web-based presentations – quite thinkable for educational purposes or perhaps just for a general presentation of the model. In essence, I wanted a neutral setting where the only thing, which matters was the clock on display. a short animation with all the focus aimed directly towards the mechanical elements of the timepiece. Right from the get go, I knew I wanted to create a presentation type animation in the same style as L&S’s i.e. I think the animations from Lange & Söhne are quite inspirational since they contain a lot of complex moving parts and stunning texturing. Figure 1 shows a screenshot from some of these animation movies. During this project I got to play around with some clockworks and I was introduced to some truly amazing 3D animations created by the German watch producer A. This fascination and interest for the mechanical clock originally stems from a web project I created for the Danish Watchmaker School some years ago. I guess these mechanics are just appealing to the engineering- geek inside of me. What I find especially fascinating about mechanical clocks is the perfect orchestration of the many cogwheels and parts working in perfect unison. The presented combination of the old technology of mechanical clocks and the modern capabilities of 3D animation is my personal celebration of both of these wonderful technologies. This article is about the creation of a 3D animation featuring the mechanical clock in all of its wonderful glory. The fact that you can generate realistically looking animations from simple bits (ones and zeros), is nothing short of an amazing achievement. What makes 3D special is the way objects can be simulated with its twists, bends and surfaces whilst appearing in a perspective view.

#Always 3d clock movie#

Of course a lot has happened since then, but the basic principles and techniques introduced in this movie still remains the basis for the kind of 3D rendering, which is done in video games and movies today. Allegedly, the first digital 3D rendered film was produced as late as 1972 (Nerdplusart, 2011). In fact, the development of the steam engine and thus the industrial revolution, were explicitly made possible by the precision engineering of the mechanical clock (Scientific American, 2012).Īlthough not quite as old as the clock, 3D graphics is quite fascinating too.

#Always 3d clock portable#

The spring made it possible to manufacture small and portable clocks.

The fun however, really started in the 16th century, when the spring-driven mechanical clocks were invented. Back then, these things where huge contraptions who relied on bells to tell the time. The mechanical clock especially, has influenced society in unprecedented manners, right from the earliest mechanical clocks, which dates all the way back to the 14th century. I love clocks! These fantastic timekeepers are without a doubt one of mankind’s greatest innovations.