DIGITAL MATTE PAINTING

on

DIGITAL MATTE PAINTING

|| Leong Hui Xuan 0365793
|| 22/09/2025 - 04/01/2026 (Week 01 - Week 14)
|| Bachelor of Design in Creative Media (Entertainment Design)
|| Digital Matte Painting DST60904

Table of Content
  1. Exercise
  2. Project 01 
  3. Project 02
  4. Final Project
  5. Final Outcome
  6. Reflection
EXERCISE -  Fundamentals of Matte Painting

The exercise is to help us to have a better understanding of Matte Painting. 

Perspective Drawing 

F1.0, Perspective Drawing 


Sky Replacement

F1.1, Sky Replacement


Virtual Plain Air
F1.2, Virtual Plain Air

Invisible Set Extention

F1.3, Invisible Set Extention

Colour Exercise

F1.4, Colour Exercise

Compositions

F2.0, Composition 1


F2.1, Composition 2

F2.2, Composition 3


PROJECT 01 - Pre - production

In this project, we need to find a movies for us as a inspiration. Then, need to create a concept art that inspired from the movies. 

Movies : Eternals (Marvel)

F3.0, Eternals

Intrroduction

I chose Eternals as my reference for this project because of its strong emphasis on environmental storytelling and atmospheric design. The film’s artistic direction merges realistic landscapes with fantastical settings, such as ancient ruins, alien structures, and celestial skies, which offer great inspiration for experimenting with composition, lighting, and texture. It allows me to explore both realism and imagination, reflecting how digital matte painting connect the gap between photography and concept art.


References Images from Movie

F3.1, References Images from Movie

Inspiration

My inspiration comes from one of the most iconic moments in Eternals: the emergence of the Celestial’s giant hand from beneath the Earth. In the film, the hand is only shown from a distant, aerial perspective, emphasizing its colossal scale. However, the movie never reveals what the ground-level view would look like from a human perspective. To reimagine this moment, my idea is to create a scene that places the viewer on the ground, looking up at the ancient head which got sealed on the ground and have the celestial on the planet.

Moodboard

F3.2, Moodboard

Sketches

F3.3, Sketches

I draw 7 sketches and choose 3 to details.


Idea 1 

F3.4, Idea 01

For idea 1, I want to create a balanced composition and the iconic celestial head was at the middle of the ocean. The head was half outside the water to create the feel of just awakened from the seabed, then got sealed by the hero. The sea reefs is to show that this place is already many years have passed.


Idea 2

F3.5, Idea 02

Second idea is the another celestial got sent here because the first celestial got sealed. the character is standing at the clidd edge looking far to the celestial.


Idea 3

F3.6, Idea 03

The third idea is the celestial already walking near and the hero character was looking from down to up ready to fight.


Camera Angle Movement

F3.7, Camera Movement

These are the camera movement for each compositions.


PROJECT 02 - Invisible Set Extentions

In project 02 we need to use the 3 composition we do in project 1 and photo bashing it. 


Photo Bashing 01

F3.8, Photo Bashing 01

Moodboard

F3.9, Moodboard 01

Progress

F3.10, Progress 01


Photo Bashing 02

F3.11, Photo Bashing 02

Moodboard

F3.12, Moodboard 02

Progress

F3.13, Progress 02


Photo Bashing 03

F3.14, Photo Bashing 03

Moodboard

F3.15, Moodboard 03

Progress

F3.16, Progress 03


Final Project - Thematic Matte Painting (VFX)


Moodboard

F4.0, Moodboard


Style Guide 

F4.1, Style Guide

Storyboard

F4.2, Storyboard

The First Process (Failed)

At first, I was trying to create the zoom in camera view in Photoshop using Vanishing point and import to AE to edit, but unfortunately after all these attempts I can't do a perfect zoom in view using Vanishing point in Photoshop (heart break). Then I move to Blender.


Process in Blender

F 4.3, Process 1

First I cut to different layers and place with different composition to make it have foreground, middle ground and background.

F4.4, Process 2

F4.5, Process 5

Then I use knife tools to cut the part that need to pop out and drag out or move to side to create a 3D effects. 


F4.6, Process 6

After the edit, I explored with different angle light and atmosphere.


F4.7, Process 7

I also add additional light source like the reflection light and the extra sun light to make the scene more contrast and reality. (I think I add total 9 light source to this scene)


F4.8, Process 8

Lastly, I add camera movement and shoot the scene, then I edit the video with the graph editor to make it more smoothly. I export to AE file with a plugin.


Process in Adobe Effects

F 4.9, Process 9

I explore the script file from Blender, so that when I import to AE it have the camera movement layer.

F4.10, Process 10

I use Roto Brush to mask the part that I need in the online video (from pixel) and adjust the colour to make it blend into the scene.


F4.11, Process 11

For the waterfall, I use Pen Tools to mask the part and adjust the opacity to make it feel more natural.

F4.12, Process 12

F4.13, Process 13

F4.14, Process 14

For the mist, I use Keylight effect to remove the background colour, and add Gradient Wipe effect to adjust the visibility and softness.


F4.15, Process 15

For the water, I use Pen Tool to mark the area that need water effect, and add keyframe in mask path to align with the camera movement.

F4.16, Process 16

Then, I add Fractal Noise effect, adjust the contrast, scale height and Evolution to "time*100" to create the water flowing effect.


F4.17, Process 17

Lastly, I add a new adjustment layer to adjust the overall colour and brigtness.


FINAL OUTCOME ANIMATION





REFLECTION

It was a very HARD TIME for me at all in this module. I was weak at drawing environment staff and background obviously, so this module kinda making me suffer a lot and redo a lot. At the begining we need to do some perspective and colour exercises, from here I still can catching up. But, start from Project 01 the composition making me have the feeling of  "This might be my last comfortable day". For the Project 02 photo bashing I'm still ok with my composition 01, but for 2 and 3.... I'm sorry sir Kanan, I dunno what am I doing. I'm trying to save my composition 3 but unfortunately, it didn't end the way that I expected. The Final Project, the most taking time is the mask point edit in AE, I need to move each of the mask point to its right composition and align with camera movements.

By observing my classmates' classwork, I clearly realized my weaknesses lie in environment and 3D modeling. I will practice harder and strive to improve in the future. I am very grateful for Professor Kanan's guidance and patience; thank you for all your teachings and courses. I have learned a lot from the teacher and hope to do even better in the future.

Comments

Post a Comment