3D Animation and Lighting
For the final rendering, I designed the lighting to replicate a warm, inviting atmosphere typical of a cozy tea shop. I combined natural lighting by simulating sunlight streaming in through the windows with artificial indoor lighting, such as a soft overhead bulb. This created a believable environment where shadows fell gently and surfaces appeared evenly lit without feeling flat. The sunlight added a touch of realism and warmth, while the artificial light helped illuminate specific areas of interest, such as the countertop where the products were displayed. Utilising the lighting setup helped me understand how different types of light interact and contribute to the mood of a scene.
The animation itself was designed to simulate a customer experience: being inside the tea room and watching a new product collection being unpacked. To achieve this, I animated the boxes sliding smoothly onto the counter, each one opening as if by magic to reveal a product. Items like the acorn teacup or travel mug emerged one by one, rotating slowly to allow a 360-degree view. This approach was both practical and immersive, giving the viewer a clear understanding of the design, material, and form of each object.
From this project, one of the key things I learned was how to time the movement of multiple objects onto a scene in a way that feels fluid and polished. I also became more confident in using camera placement and motion to keep objects hidden until the right moment. This exercise helped me deepen my understanding of staging, lighting, and animation timing.
References:
veneratio (n.d.). Digital watercolor painting of Stunning colorful vibrant evocative Autumn Fall foggy forest landscape. Available at: https://stock.adobe.com/uk/Library/urn:aaid:sc:EU:635a89c2-95a0-442f-b3ac-8f566919f53d?asset_id=290235594 [Accessed 15 May 2025].
Rabia (n.d.). Teapot silhouette vector art. Available at: https://stock.adobe.com/uk/search/free?filters%5Bcontent_type%3Aphoto%5D=1&filters%5Bcontent_type%3Aillustration%5D=1&filters%5Bcontent_type%3Azip_vector%5D=1&filters%5Bcontent_type%3Aimage%5D=1&filters%5Bfree_collection%5D=1&filters%5Border%5D=relevance&k=teapot+silhouette&order=relevance&limit=100&search_page=1&search_type=autosuggest&acp=0&aco=teapot+silh&get_facets=1&asset_id=653226552 [Accessed 11 May 2025].