Strum Guitar Shop

Strum is based off the annoying music shop Guitar Center.  Also check out the brand of amps.

Body & Bath Boutique

New mall store model based on Bath & Body Works.

Jems Jewelry

New mall shop based on Zales Jewelry Store reference.

Mikes Shoe Store

This passed week I have been assembled and lit a new shoe store for a mall project at work.

Chicago Mental Ray Seminar 2010

We had a great company trip the 3DS Max Chicago user group Mental Ray seminar put on by Autodesk with featured speaker Jennifer O'Connor.  She took 15 minutes to break down each chapter in her new book Mastering mental ray: Rendering Techniques for 3D & CAD Professionals.

Some highlights were:

• Discussing a linear workflow with Gamma and Exposure Settings
• Going over the new Slate Material Editor in 3DS Max 2011 
• Getting a better understanding of BSP (Binary Space Partition) and BSP2
• Looking a performance settings in Caching, Sample Qualities, and Processing Render Settings
• Explanations of Final Gathering, Caustics, and Global Illumination settings with information about the new Importions and Irradiance technology

Definitely check out Jennifer's website at www.mastering-mentalray.com and pick up a copy of the book.  You won't regret it!

Other nontechnical highlights were the free breakfast and lunch provided by Autodesk, an AREA T-shirt and a free copy of Autodesk Maya 2010: The Modeling and Animation Handbook. 

2010 Lighting Demo Reel

Dan Bruce 2010 Lighting Demo Reel from Dan Bruce on Vimeo.

Have a Good Ones

Cigarette brand I thought up and made for an Australian Nicabate (Nicorette in the US) ad. 

Goin' to the chapel of love?

Hallelujah! It is finished. Done modeling and texturing a one room church for the work library.

Goodnight Forest Moon

My sister, Katie, sent me a link to a new children's book designed by Noah Dziobecki which combines two of my favorite childhood memories: Star Wars and Goodnight Moon.  The book titled Goodnight Forest Moon is the story of a Stormtrooper heading to bed on the Death Star and saying goodnight to the things around his room.  You can download the PDF file of the entire book from his website here.

Dangerous

This week I have been pulling some late nights lighting an animation scene for my good friend, Drew Covert.  While working on the project I have also been looking at Mentalray render settings an trying to get a grasp of what is going on under the hood. Here is a my first pass using accurate Anti Aliasing BSP and Mentalray gamma settings along with revisions on Final Gather.

Dangerous from Dan Bruce on Vimeo.

Campsite

Setting up a campsite in 3D isn't the same.

COOOOOOOKIE CRISP

COOOOOOOOKIE CRISP from Dan Bruce on Vimeo.


Exploding 3D cookie I have been working on for the PD3D demoreel.

We have clearance, Clarence. Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor?

We have clearance, Clarence. Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor? from Dan Bruce on Vimeo.

Old Cloud test I did at work with a Boeing 787.

Cheers!

Working on demoreel stuff at work. Here is the product shot of a beer that I have been working on for the past week.

Starting a new year and the first full year of my Animation Career. 2010 is going to be a good one! That's what I keep saying to myself but I'm not just going to let it float on by. I was given the book Your Career in Animation by David B. Levy this Christmas by my dear grandparents and I can't wait to put it to good use. Also working out a list of things that need to be done to propel my career this year. You could call it a very long New Years resolution list. Here is what I have so far!

• New Blog! (Check!)
• Draw more and post on this blog! (keep a look out for this!)
  
• Update my website, resume, and demo reel! (www.danbruce3d.com)
• Take more photos with my Nikon!
  
• Tweet more! (www.twitter.com/danbruce3d)
  
• Keep in contact with my contacts (seem self explanatory) and try to network more!
• Write more and keep pushing forward on the projects I'm working on!
• Enjoy what I'm doing!
• Exercise more! (Well it wouldn't be an official New Years Resolution without it.)
  
• Try to use less exclamation points!