FIRE HYDRANT
I set a goal to challenge myself by creating an authentic street prop in Maya, and opting to utilize Substance Painter for the textured finish all while going for a realistic, beaten-up look. I really enjoyed the collaborative workflow between Maya and Substance Painter, finding that my experience was seamless resulting in a compelling and authentic 3D rendition of a fire hydrant.
Rendered in Marmoset Toolbag
Tools: Maya, Photoshop, Substance Painter
PRE-PRODUCTION
I started this project by compiling reference screenshots of old, rusty, weathered fire hydrants. The visual references I gathered really helped set the starting tone for the art style that I was aiming for. The goal was to find the small details on the hydrants and pick and choose what suited the texture style I wanted to pursue. These references also shaped how I wanted the final fire hydrant model to look like. Picking what stood out to me from components like the chains, caps and screws.
State “A” Materials
The fire hydrant will have a material transition depending on the light being broadcasted on it. I wanted to take into account that the rusted look with natural and/or fake lighting will react differently. These are the material references I gathered for this instance.
State “B” Materials
These are the reference materials that I gathered for the second instance of how the hydrant texture could look like. I wanted to capture darker, gloomy lighting scenarios that showcased the oxidized and worn visuals of the object.
STYLE REFERENCE
I gathered screenshots depicting game environments that shared a common theme of dim, somber lighting combined with gritty, grungy settings. Making sure that the overall tone of the final model and texture could be easily recognizable in one of the below screenshots. Various reference images guided my exploration of how light interacts with the material and informed my decisions on the desired level of roughness when illuminated.
3D Renders
Overall this project turned out to be a great learning opportunity for me. Exercising my 3D Modeling & UV abilities in Maya while diving deeper into the world of Substance Painter. Below you will find the final renders of the fire hydrant.
In conclusion, I learnt a ton from this project and I’m very excited to continue creating more environment props in the future.