Café Nowhere

I am excited to share my latest work inspired by Lofi tracks. Created with Autodesk Maya for modelling, Substance Painter for texturing, and Niagara for simulations. Rendered in Unreal Engine 5 for the final touch with a focus on composition and lighting.

💡 Key Features:

🖌️ Autodesk Maya for modeling

🎨 Substance Painter for texturing

🌌 Unreal Engine 5 for rendering

For this project, I aimed to evoke a sense of enchantment, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in a captivating world. Beginning in Maya, I modelled assets while ensuring a consistent UV texel density. Subsequently, Adobe Substance Painter was employed to texture each element, infusing them with depth and detail.

I utilised Marvelous Designer for simulations, allowing me to evoke natural wind movements and seamlessly loop animations. Transitioning to Unreal Engine, I leveraged its real-time capabilities to continually refine and iterate, honing the aesthetic until it matched my vision.

I incorporated Unreal Engine's native simulation system, Niagara, to infuse the scene with further vitality. I used simulations to add dynamic elements like fireflies and falling leaves, making the scene more immersive. Additionally, the Megascans library was instrumental in enriching the environment, imbuing it with vitality and authenticity.

The glowing fireflies scattered throughout the forest symbolize the presence of life and magic within this serene setting, enhancing the enchanting atmosphere.

The cherry blossom tree behind the teahouse serves as a reminder of the beauty and impermanence of life, a theme deeply embedded in Japanese aesthetics and philosophy.

The teahouse itself, bathed in warm light, represents a sanctuary or refuge, a place where one can find peace and solace away from the complexities of the outside world.

The use of lighting is critical in this piece, with careful attention given to the interplay between natural and artificial light to create a harmonious and immersive environment.

The teahouse is positioned centrally to serve as the primary focal point, framed by the soft silhouettes of trees and the glowing lanterns that lead the eye towards it.

The lanterns along the pathway not only provide depth to the scene but also create a rhythmic pattern that guides the viewer’s journey through the forest towards the welcoming teahouse.

The signpost in the foreground adds a touch of narrative, hinting at paths and stories yet to be explored.

Modelled Assets

Texture maps for the house were imported from Substance Painter. I used Udims for flexibility. I created different variations of the maps in unreal using instances for further control.

Low poly wireframe

The predominant use of soft, cool colours in the background, such as blues and purples, creates a tranquil and mystical ambience, suggesting the quiet of dusk or early evening.

The warm, inviting glow emanating from the teahouse contrasts beautifully with the cooler tones of the surrounding forest. This intentional use of warm light draws the viewer’s eye towards the teahouse, making it the focal point of the piece.

The pink cherry blossoms add a touch of vibrancy and life, symbolizing renewal and the transient beauty of nature, which is a central theme in Japanese culture.