Digital Arts and Entertainment: Preproduction1

*The image above is for

illustrative purposes only and
is not a reference for this
assignment.

Assignment 01 ​
- RAW -
In the dim glow of their stone halls, the Dwarves prepare a feast. Thick slabs of fresh-caught fish
octopus or squid, barely touched by flame, lie heavy on the table. There’s no room for refinement
here, Dwarves like their meal big and simple. Your challenge is to capture this rugged still life—a raw
depiction of the Dwarves' untamed and unrefined appetite…

Description
Create a digital still-life in greyscale using your understanding of light and form principles. Apply the
techniques demonstrated in Photoshop to achieve a realistic rendering, focusing on accurate
materials and dynamic lighting
Digital Arts and Entertainment: Preproduction1

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Requirements and limitations

●​ The still life consists of three main elements:

o​ Wooden board, serving as a plate
o​ A tankard of ale
o​ A whole raw fish or squid-like fish
o​ A cleaver or large knife
●​ The lightsource is on the left or right behind the viewer, with a slight bias towards the top
rather than the side. Refer to the lighting guide​
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​
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●​ The background is very limited and is mostly a dark value. Show a slight distinction where
the table would be to apply cast shadows.
●​ The focus is on the objects on the plate
●​ You are allowed to add a few extra fitting elements. This is optional and don’t lose the
main focus of this assignment.

Process
RESEARCH: Collect more reference photos: No concept art!​
​
Read the brief and assignment description thoroughly and make sure you clearly understand
what is expected. Create a mindmap to structure your task and start generating ideas. Create an
interesting set of objects and arrange them in a visually pleasing manner. While doing your research,
focus on interesting materials, shapes and value variation.

VISLIB STUDIES: Visual research​

​
Make Visual Library Studies (VisLib Studies)

SKETCHES

Create a variety of perspective sketches and neatly present the references you used alongside
the sketches.
Already take into consideration where shadow masses and cast shadows will be.
▪​ Use the given template to ensure your sketches are the right camera angle and scale.
▪​ Keep the function of these drawings in mind: they are not an end product, but a tool to
figure out your composition and a guideline during the painting process

VALUE BLOCKING: lay down the basic lighting and value information

Roughly block in the different local values, as well as the main elements of light and shadow.
▪​ Define local values, cast shadows and shadow masses
▪​ Place the center light and highlight taking into account the positioning of your light
source
▪​ Repeat this process with a different light direction and a variety of local values at least 4
times
Digital Arts and Entertainment: Preproduction1

ROUGH SHADING: make your painting presentable

▪​ Choose a final lighting setup that works and shows off your meal.
▪​ Go deeper into the principles of Light and Shadow and add secondary elements
▪​ Pay attention to the center light, highlights. Bounce light, reflections and occlusion
shadows.
▪​ Pay attention to your chosen references and apply their material properties
▪​ Regularly save your project as a JPEG to show your process
▪​ (Optional) Use the layer blending mode to give your still-life some color. If you do, do it on
a thumbnail sized duplicate of your shaded scene.
​

Committing fraud will result in a zero (0) for this module. Don’t use other art to make your own art! ​
Any attempt at plagiarism will not be tolerated and may result in exclusion within Howest!
Plagiarism includes using designs of other artists and IP’s as well as the use of 3D software.
The use of AI for this assignment is also not permitted and will similarly result in a zero (0).

Suggested work and Milestones

●​ Week 25: Milestone 1: Collect and save the necessary references and make visual
library sketches. Make sketches choosing your final setup.Upload the complete process
in your personal Google Drive feedback folder (Feedback 1) for group feedback.
●​ Week 26: Milestone 2: Block in the local values and shadows for different lighting
scenarios . Upload the resulting images in your personal Google Drive feedback folder
(Feedback 2) for group feedback.
●​ Week 27: Milestone 3: Paint your final image based on the previous choices and
feedback. Upload the image and process in your personal Google Drive feedback folder
(Feedback 3) for group feedback.

Deadline
Submit your project online via the assignment’s module on Leho.
This assignment closes on Sunday 23/03/25 at 11:00 AM.

Assignment form
Online hand-in of your assignment (see Howest lesroosters). Use the provided template.

What do you hand in?

Lastname_Firstname_1DAEx_RAW_2425.rar (.rar or .zip) (hereby included 2 folders)

o​ Lastname_Firstname_1DAEx_RAW_2425_Prints (FOLDER)
(Full HD resolution / 4800px x 2700px)
o​ Lastname_Firstname_1DAEx_RAW_2425_Presentation (FOLDER)
(Full HD resolution / 1920px x 1080px)

•​ Lastname_Firstname_1DAEx_01_Intro.jpg
•​ Lastname_Firstname_1DAEx_02_Research_A.jpg
•​ Lastname_Firstname_1DAEx_03_Research_B.jpg
…
Digital Arts and Entertainment: Preproduction1

•​ Lastname_Firstname_1DAEx_04_Sketches_A.jpg
•​ Lastname_Firstname_1DAEx_05_Sketches_B.jpg
…
•​ Lastname_Firstname_1DAEx_06_Values_A.jpg
•​ Lastname_Firstname_1DAEx_07_Values_B.jpg
…
•​ Lastname_Firstname_1DAEx_08_ShadingProcess.jpg
…
•​ Lastname_Firstname_1DAEx_09_Shading.jpg

(Multiple pages per section are possible, at your leisure – clearly marked with A,B,C…)
(In case of multiple last names, write them as 1 word in the normal order)

GOAL​

Testing knowledge regarding perspective insight

Testing the ability to collect and apply references
Testing skills regarding creative thinking and the preproduction design process
Testing skills in understanding and applying material properties

Share in total of this module: 25%

GRADING CRITERIA
Has the student done proper research? 20%
●​ Clearly understood the brief and assignment
●​ Made use of a mind map or other similar technique
●​ Collected a variety of references and done research into relevant subjects
●​ Made visual library studies of relevant references
●​ Considered how the story and setting affect the design​

Has the student properly explored different options before settling on a final image? 30%
●​ Applied the Principles of Perspective in a correct way
●​ Made a variety of unique and creative sketches
●​ Explored different lighting setups to present their sketch in the best way
●​ Clearly marked which of the drawings has been chosen to bring into the next steps​

Has the student understood and applied the Principles of light? 40%
●​ Is there a variety in local values and does it affect the shading in a correct way?
●​ Are the cast shadows correctly drawn and consistent with the light source?
●​ Does the lighting on the different objects interact in a correct way? Are there reflections,
bounce light, contact shadows?
●​ Can the position and direction of the light source be clearly defined from how it affects the
chosen objects?

Has the student presented the document clearly and aesthetically? 10%
●​ Made the whole document clear to follow and enjoyable to view and read.
●​ Followed the proper naming conventions and file organization

Questions / remarks / ambiguities / problems?

Digital Arts and Entertainment: Preproduction1

Email or use the discussion board on Leho to ask and post your questions.
If you cannot submit the assignment on time due to a valid reason, inform your teachers more than 48
hours before the deadline:
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
and [email protected]