Week 2

January 12-18, 2026

During Week 2, we received detailed feedback from our mentors and used it to establish a clear work plan for implementing revisions and moving the project forward.

Mentors Feedback

Across all critiques, the main focus was on pacing, clarity, and product communication. Several mentors emphasized the need to slow down camera movement, avoid overly busy shots, and allow enough time for the FX to be read clearly. We were encouraged to be extremely product-accurate, paying close attention to details such as LED lights and internal components of the printer.

Another key point was to shift the focus from simply showing the product to clearly demonstrating what the printer can do. This included highlighting specific details, using more macro shots, varying product positioning across shots, and ensuring the lighting and color choices allow the visuals to stand out against the dark environment.

Additional notes included refining camera movement, improving shot composition, allowing FX to emit light when appropriate, and clearly defining the message we want to communicate through the product.

Week 2 Work Plan

Based on the feedback, we organized a structured plan to address revisions and continue development:

• Previs change by notes given - Itim

• Texture selection (images used for the objects as printer) - Benji

• Shader list - Benji

• Finish printer asset - Riley

• Find object assets - Sofia

• Excel sheet tracker for tasks - Sofia

FX Testing

• Liquid Simulation - Yiqi

• Particle to imge Simulation - Riley

• Objects movement along path for the last shot (find solution to avoid intersection) - Itim

Compositing

• LED light test - Sofia

My Focus This Week

For Week 2, my main focus was creating a test for the printer’s printing laser in Nuke, ensuring it closely matches our visual references and integrates naturally into the shot. This test allowed us to explore how the laser interacts with the surface of the objects and how it reads within the darker environment of the scene.

While the test helped establish a solid foundation, it is still a work in progress. The laser will require further refinement, particularly in terms of lighting balance, glow intensity, and integration with the scene lighting, to ensure it feels cohesive with the final renders. As we continue developing the shots and refining the lighting setup, the laser effect will be adjusted accordingly to better support readability and realism.

With the help of Itim and Benji, we also began discussing lighting direction and decided to work with an HDRI as a base. While Benji will primarily handle lighting setup in the shots, I will assist as needed and adjust elements from the compositing side in Nuke based on ongoing feedback and shot requirements.

source: https://polyhaven.com/a/studio_small_02

Next Steps

Moving forward, our next focus will be on defining and organizing the required AOV passes for each shot and beginning to establish a solid compositing workflow to support the final look of the project.

Review presentation for Week 3