Concept
For Project 4, I wanted to continue focusing on atmosphere and lighting rather than complexity. The idea was to create a quiet, possible world centered around a glowing, low-poly deer, an entity that feels more symbolic than realistic. I envisioned the deer as something calm and slightly otherworldly, existing within the environment rather than actively interacting with it.
My early sketches focused on simplifying the body and exaggerating the antlers so the silhouette would read clearly once the glow was introduced. I planned to keep the model and rig simple so I could spend more time experimenting with shaders and lighting.
Early shader experiments testing emission and transparency to achieve a soft, internal glow.
Iteration
I began with a 3D Model I found for an Anemone Deer. Using that as my base, I created a quad rig that allowed for slow, subtle movement. I saved multiple versions of the model throughout the process to track progress and changes.
Most of my iteration happened in shader development. I experimented with camera filter, emission, and lighting to create a soft, internal glow rather than something harsh or overpowering. The antlers became a key visual element, so I refined them to feel integrated with the rest of the body. Once the deer was placed into the forest environment, I adjusted the scale, lighting, and added subtle particle elements to keep the scene from feeling static.
Quad rig structure that allows for natural, four-legged movement while keeping the animation subtle and controlled.
Synthesis
The final piece brings together the model, minimal animation, and atmospheric lighting into a cohesive scene. The animation is limited to slow head movement, which leaves room for interpretation and supports the calm tone of the environment.
By keeping the forest dark and understated, the glowing deer becomes the focal point of the scene. This project feels like a continuation of my interest in using light as a storytelling tool. Even with simple geometry and animation, the overall mood feels intentional and complete.
Final composition featuring the glowing deer as the focal point within a dark, atmospheric forest.
Citations
Cromar, William. Possible World I: Environment. newMediaWiki, 2024.
Cromar, William. Possible World II. newMediaWiki, 2024.
Cromar, William. Possible World II. newMediaWiki, 2024.