Defining a Diorama?
When looking into dioramas, I first need to be able to define exactly what it means; in terms of the official dictionary definition, this is defined as ‘a model representing a scene with three-dimensional figures’, this means a diorama to me could be either a 2D or 3D creation, with multiple objects that reflect that of a 3D dimensional level or scenery.
Different types of Dioramas:
Miniature dioramas: Miniature dioramas are much smaller creations that can usually be hand-painted, they are typically much smaller and used for landscaping when creating scenes. Gaming dioramas often use miniature versions for fictional scenes, so that they can visually see what the end product is going to look like on a much larger scale, including both characters and environments. Further examples of miniature diagrams can be seen in Games such as Warhammer, in which they use small scale characters that are hand-painted, as well as items such as snow-globes.
Life sized/Full sized dioramas – Often used for museums, but also for people, houses, or other structures that need to be realistically proportionately created to a realistic size. In addition to this, historical dioramas which are based of real historical events, are usually produced in full size due to meeting its historical accuracy.
3D/Computer generated dioramas – These dioramas are used when creating a digital diorama within a game engine, or using a computer programmed software. Because of this, level designs when creating mechanics for a game, or blocking-out a model, are created this way using engines such as Unreal, Auto-desk Maya, and even art software such as Photoshop for generated 2D dioramas and textures.
The Daguerre and Bouton diarama – This diorama was created by Louis Daguerre, after he used light forced perspective to turn paintings into moving scenes. These dioramas are large paintings with that in-cooperate special lighting effects that were manipulated in a large spectacle.
The Gottstein diorama – This was an historical diorama used to represent historical miniature items within a museum. They represented different battles and wars through miniature characters, and environments that were hand-painted and sold to collectors later to date.
The Frank Wong diorama – These dioramas were created by Frank Wong who made dioramas that depicted San Francisco’s Chinatown. Including places such as his grandmothers kitchen, living room, herb shop etc. Usually, although these were based of real places, they were created using miniature dioramas.
2D/3D specific genres
Modern Culture dioramas – These dioramas are more likely to be made using different forms of art, including both digital and hand-made. For this, diorama scenes are usually made in miniature sizes, (smaller dioramas that can be easily hand-painted). When being created, these different art forms can include being:
- Painted
- Sculpted
- Modeled
- 2D created (Pixel or conceptual)
Lego dioramas – this is used when people are creating Lego versions of dioramas, they can be used well when creating a cubic or voxel environment, as is usually created in a miniature diorama so again it can be easily seen on a smaller scale to its design.
When developing my knowledge on the different types of diorama and level designs used within my Western project, I gathered a range of primary and secondary research focused around developing my thought process, and allowing me to use the visual representation as reference and inspiration. For my contextual process, I looked into collecting these images for all three specialisms, including 2D and 2D concept art, 3D modelling, and general game design. In addition to this, videos, tutorials, and photographs can also be used as other forms of research, associated with finding an array of examples that fit not only this project, but further projects with different genres and themes.
2D/3D Diorama Ideas Mind-map:
Brain-storming ideas for a diorama in general, I looked into the different types of dioramas, such as Full-sized, modern culture, dioramas within games, museums etc, and what they are specifically used for within the diorama. Further to this, I began to research different genres that would be shown through the dioramas texturing or art style, as well as the items that would be featured within the scene itself. An example of the different types of dioramas, allows for a specific look, perspective, or purpose, for example, a a life sized model is used to depict the actual size of people, in places such as small houses and bunkers, this gives off a more realistic design. Whereas miniature dioramas are more likely hand-painted, and they represent a much easier diorama, usually less detailed, and much easier to transport around.
Gaming Dioramas Mood-board:
Exploring elements of different diorama types mentioned within my mind-map, I began by researching video game dioramas, that combine the use of 3D generated scenes, as well as miniature hand-painted table-top dioramas. These all explore different variations of scene designing, and the different types of perspectives and benefits of using these techniques. I like miniature table-top diorama types, such as the use of character and scene creation in ‘Warhammer’, as its easy to see, maneuver, and develop with paintings. These images, would help me to create my own diorama, as it allows me to gain a good perspective of how I want to design my 2D works. Although, it would be much more effective for me to create a 3D generated design like some of these diorama examples, specifically for concept art, as I would be able to model my designs, and recreate them within my artwork. Whereas miniature designs would provide me with less detail, and no reference perspective.
Miniature Dioramas Mood-board:
Miniature dioramas are used to present scenes that are much smaller, and not accurate to the default sizing. Miniature dioramas are largely used to present fictional scenes, although many of my examples collected within this mood-board depict real life structures. This would be extremely helpful for creating 3D dioramas, as well as paint-overs for 2D creations mentioned previously. As presented below, these miniature designs are mostly created using non-digital art methods such as sculpting, or modelling, which allows for an easy way to see the model from all angles and perspectives. Within these mood-boards, I particularly like this method, as its easy to see everything used within this diorama, and can be adapted to a digital form on a much larger scale for reference and inspiration when making my own. I Particularly like the outdoor scenes, as well as the room designs, as these represent a very clear theme, and setting depending on genre used.
Modern Culture Dioramas Mood-board:
Modern culture dioramas typically focus on using either miniature or full size dioramas, the consistency with these types is both use traditional modelling and sculpting, rather than 3D computer generated digital art used for 3D modeled or 3D orientated designs for a computer game. To me, modern culture dioramas are interesting, as they explore different types of art you can do, and the variety of ways this can be presented rather than the standard. Some images here show evidence of manipulating light using dark glass boxes at their base, while other dioramas use multiple materials including stone, wood, paper, and glass bottles or vials. I explored these dioramas due to its creativity, although to me this wouldn’t be effective for me to use, as it would be hard to gain perspective, or inspiration considering i’m creating my diorama digitally.
2D/3D Generated Art Diorama and Level Ideas Mood-boards:
I began my contextual diorama research by looking into a variety of internet sources that fit both 3D and 2D scene designs. Different layouts include a variety of genres, varying from fantasy, science fiction, naturalism, Industrialism etc. These will allow me to take aspects within the designs I can use and develop within my own project, as well as allow me to create my own pieces using parts within these images. These sources vary for both professional and student designs, meaning I have an array of different styles, and abilities I can apply to myself with sketching, photo-bashing, and creating my diorama. Further to this, other designs have different types of textures, meaning I can use this to decide whether I want my designs to be stylized or realistic, whereas others show only the base model or sketch alone, so I can decide where I want to place certain objects within my scene, and how I want them to be presented.
Stylized Painted Game Scene Tutorial:
I found a tutorial that outlines a painted 3D scenery created in Blender, it represents the fundamentals of a diorama, simple and safe, following a cartoon-like art style. The scene works very well together, as it demonstrates a high quality scene, using very little assets, such as an animated portrayal of fireflies that fly around the bridge, which compliments the scenes aesthetic effectively. This would be a successful design for a simple diorama, although I could consider adding more objects within the scene, so that it becomes less simplistic, and fits the diorama approach more realistically. Further to this, not only could this be a great example for 3D modelers, but also 2D concept artists, as a basic 3D model such as this, could be painted over, and drawn to gain an accurate perspective for the design.
Low Poly Bedroom Diorama in Auto-desk Maya:
When researching tutorials directed towards a 3D diorama, I wanted to ensure that it was relate-able to the software I would be using, being Maya. This is again very simple, but reflects more of what a diorama should be, as its clearly a scene based project Further to this, again, the shapes can be used as a tool for 2D artists to paint over their modeled designs, and then re-create it using Photoshop. The same process can be used when modelling in Unreal Engine, which is equally an effective way of gaining perspective for 2D artists. This video is simple to follow, and would allow me to gain knowledge and practice when I make my own themed diorama.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH5_7HwE3Mg
Pixel art Isometric Diorama Scenery Tutorial:
I researched multiple pixel art tutorials so I could have a clearer picture of what type of style within my diorama I would want to create, either being conceptual or pixel art. I found a video that clearly demonstrates a very simple scene imitating that of a 3D perspective. Although for a clear diorama there would need to be more evidence of other items around, I wanted something simple that would highlight the basic foundation of what an isometric diorama could look like. It also represented how something quite simplistic could still be effective overall, so I would mostly be looking to create something that visually would be interesting, without necessarily having to overcrowd the scene with multiple structures or objects.
Unreal Engine Tavern Diorama:
Looking further into the final production of a diorama, I took this video example that represented a high quality medieval tavern modeled in unreal engine. This is not only a clear example of how a 3D artist could model a diorama ready for texturing, but also again showing the purpose it could show for 2D artists looking to gain an accurate 3D perspective. Further to this, this introduces light manipulation, that has been built within the engine, meaning this is something that would save 2D artists a lot of time trying to represent how light falls within their artwork.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4FDcaEBoeQ
What is a diorama used for within games development?
The purpose of dioramas within games development, allows someone to express both their conceptual and 3D visual ideas. An environment not only must match the theme of the game, but the props within it, and for this purpose, dioramas can be used to gain a rough idea of where these props should go, and how effective they will be to a player within that area. For 2D artists, diorama’s again represent their style, and a diorama will allow them to gather different ideas, and prop location sketches, both digitally and hand drawn, when creating their own inspired world or scene.
What certain things are included in video game dioramas?
Video game dioramas are primarily digital versions of both 2D and 3D art, mentioned in my gaming dioramas mood-board. The variety of both props, environmental styles, as well as diorama presentation, is important both testing a scene in level design block-outs, giving developers ‘time to play’ so that they can test and run the game smoothly, and for artists, its used to test the art style, to ensure that art style matches the theme of the game. They can use this, as a way to see if certain props work well together, what position they work best in, and if it matches the art style of the game as a whole. Examples of these commodities are:
- Buildings
- City Landscapes
- Characters
- Levels
- Boats
- Diorama and Level lighting
Primary Book Research:
To gain some personal primary research, I gathered different types of books from the library, that in my opinion, demonstrate how dioramas could be created. The ‘Harry Potter Pop-up Book’ represents a 3D looking diorama using paper, this is a clear example of a modern cultured representation of a 3D scene. In addition to this, I began by looking into an architecture book, as this focused on different perspectives and layouts that have been sketched in a 3D dimensional viewpoint. They also show the process and development used when drawing the diorama, showing how an artist would build from basic outlines, and expand in detail using shapes or primitives like you would if you were blocking out digitally.
Primary work examples of dioramas:
These are some examples of 3D dioramas made in Auto-desk Maya and Unreal Engine 4. These block-outs are a prime example of how you can use modelling to create a diorama scene. My first image is an example of a Western Saloon with a power line, while my other project consists of using Unreal Asset packs to create a simple yet effective living room. The purpose of these primary work images, will allow me to gain ideas on the different types of software I can use, and how they can effective towards making both a 2D and 3D diorama myself.
Morgan Clark: Games Development L3 Year 2 