Digital Matte Painting - Exercises & Project

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24/04/2025 - 31/07/2025 / Week 1 - Week 15

Lim Pei Jiun (0372548)

Digital Matte Painting / Bachelor of Design (Honor) in Creative Media

Exercises & Project

TABLE OF CENTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Exercises
3. Project 1: Invisible Sei Extension (Pre-Production)
4. Project 2: Invisible Set Extension
5. Final Project: Thematic Matte Painting
6. Feedback
7. Reflection
INTRODUCTION


EXERCISES

Perspective Studies 

I found some tutorials about perspective online and also referred to some past student work provided by Mr Kannan.

Fig 1.1 One-point Perspective


Fig 1.2 Two-point Perspective


Fig 1.3 Three-point Perspective

Sky Replacements

For this exercise, we need to find a landscape photo and use PS to replace the sky to different times. In different weather conditions and at different times of the day, the ambient light received by the object will also be different. Therefore, after replacing the sky, we also need to adjust the object to make it present the correct ambient light.

Fig 1.4 Sky Replacement (PDF)

Composition

For this exercise, we need to compose our image using grayscale values. The main goal is to create a sense of depth by adjusting the brightness of each element. Objects that are closer to the viewer will appear darker, while elements that are further away will appear lighter.

Fig 1.5 Composition_1

Fig 1.6 Composition_2

Fig 1.7 Composition_3

Value Studies

This exercise is for us to study light and shadow. Learn what kind of shadows will appear when light is lit from different angles.
Fig 1.8 Value Studies_1

Fig 1.9 Value Studies_2

Visual Plain Air

For this exercise, we need to select three landscape photos to copy, the more similar the better. During the painting process, we cannot directly take colors from the original photos, but can only judge the colors with our eyes to train our color sensitivity.

Fig 1.10 Visual Pain Air

Final Submission

Fig 1.11 Exersices Fundamentals of Matte Painting (PDF)

PROJECT 1: INVISIBLE SET EXTENSION (PRE_PRODUCTION)

For Project 1, we need to choose a film and gather references in the form of a mood board. Extract information about the theme, style, genre, timeline, etc. Then create a proper art direction document and some sketches to show our ideas for scene extensions.

The movie I chose is The Lord of the Rings.

Fig 2.1 The Lord of the Rings

Fig 2.2 Mood Board

After choosing film and completing the mood board, I started sketching. I drew three sketches of the same scene from different angles.

Fig 2.3 Sketches

I decided to go with the third sketches.

Fig 2.4 Progression

Fig 2.5 Project 1: Invisible Set Extension (Pre-Production) (PDF)

PROJECT 2: INVISIBLE SET EXTENSION 

Project 2 is continue what Project 1 do and add more details.

Fig 3.1 Assets

Fig 3.2 Progression

Fig 3.3 Project 2: Invisible Set Extension (PDF)

FINAL PROJECT: THEMATIC MATTE PAINTING

For Project 3, we need to use the final invisible set extension to edit VFX in Adobe After Effect.

Fig 4.1 Final Project: Thematic Matte Painting (VFX)

FEEDBACK

Week 5: The sketches can draw with different angles. The same scene but presented from different angles.

Week 7: The color saturation of the castle is too high and does not match the overall color. The texture of the rock is too obvious, the things in the distance will not be noticed with the naked eye.

Week 9: The areas not illuminated by light need to be darker.

Week 10: Refine further as the outline and the details on the mountain wall can be covered with mild fog and rim lights over the outlines.

Week 12: Adding some texture to the sand and rocks.

Week 13: The eagle on the left is too big. The rock texture appears to have been pasted directly on,  adjust it.

Week 14: Can download the green screen on youtube and put it the After Effect. The speed of moving the scene is too fast.
REFLECTION

Digital matte painting was a new challenge for me, and scene painting was unfamiliar to me. I faced the challenge of making the painting appear realistic, and the play of light and shadow, as well as composition, were also crucial. I spent most of my time adjusting the lighting and shadows and tweaking the rocks to make them look more realistic. This is also the most difficult part I think. Through this assignment, I learned a lot, and it will be of great benefit to my future development.

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