How Far is too Far? | A Picture's Worth An ECGA Award

 

    First I saw a huge error in how I had previously modeled the base of the Sparklence. It's not depicted here as I adjusted my mistake, but I had an...n-gon. I was a gasp at this glaring issue but made the cuts necessary to fix it.

    I cut in these dips to accommodate for the wings that would normally close, but as I contemplate the parameters of the ECGA's I'm unsure of how to proceed. This thought would come to plague how I approach this. I can't tell what's too much and too little. I believe it's important to model based upon what you are trying to do as I often tell my peers.

    This led to more questions than answers. How much should I adjust topology and the smooth version of the model if a picture is the soul element up for judgement? Should I even do it at all? Am I to simply model for what looks outwardly appealing with awful topology and edge flow?

    Especially around the wings I find trouble with how I should proceed. It will look good just clipping into each other. I'm not sure if the precision and care I take to accommodate this piece as if it were a film ready prop would aid my chances if at all. I had the base set to crease so it looked as accurate to the show as possible. I don't even begin to know how I should go about rendering a shot. Should I include a half wireframe half final render? I just really want to give myself the best odds of success.

    The wings are translucent and I did the best that I could in order to make it double sided to accommodate for glass texture. Here I have one side smoothed and the the other left to the regular. I don't know if I should bother making this element subdivide or leave it be. Again I want to think about how best to approach this with regards to the criteria. In the show the center just has a glow like an after effect yellow. The base has some textured engravings but the handle is like purple marble.

    I could just move the vertexes to accommodate for the smoothed base. I definitely need some advice on how to proceed.

    As mentioned the center is hardly seen but in this case it's a still image that can be reviewed with heavy scrutiny. Much like the wing I don't know whether or not to accommodate smoothing or just let it be. At the base you won't see the separation but I want to know if I should cut it in together or just make sure it's well hidden.

    I want to get as much advice on renders and topology in order to give me the best odds of graduating with an award under my belt.