ABOUT

Noise and Damage

This project was designed to showcase damaged and otherwise worn down materials. As a result, I have developed three new types of material wear. They are as follows - exposure to the elements, debris accumulation and damage by contact. These three types were then mixed accordingly to enhance existing materials. The results were used to create a battle damaged endurance racecar.

The car itself is a revamp of an older project. Originally in black, the mesh geometry has been optimized, a few details tweaked and every material redone.

The set around the car is based on the Cerro Pelón Ranch, designed by Tadao Ando and formerly owned by Tom Ford. While far from a one to one, the inspiration should be clear. It was remade to better display an automobile.

The post processing may appear close to non-existent. This is the result of the denoiser pushing my equipment over the edge, were it to be used. I don’t think I have ever mentioned that all renders posted to this portfolio thus far have been done on aging laptop hardware. The limits of which I have been constantly aware of. May the image compression of each platform serve as a denoiser.

As for the choice in damaged areas, there is quite a lot to be said. Every surface of the car is broken down into one of three categories - hit by debris head-on, scraped by debris, clear of debris damage. Meaning that each surface had a material and parameters specifically set for it.
There are 7 distinct materials applied to the different areas that bear painted bodywork. The front clamshell alone bearing three. All of which show accumulated dirt and grime characteristic of a car which has been through an endurance race and cleaned just enough to where it still shows its scars - a popular way to showcase endurance race cars.
Metal surfaces show dirt accumulation and scuffing in exposed areas. Carbon fiber shows deep scratches in areas where debris would have hit it. Rubberised plastic bumpers show deep grooves and cracks. The glass in the main headlights and the reinforced plastic over the supplementary high beams in the middle both show damage adequate to their properties and position in the car. The front lower grill bears the results of a 24h challenge. The two hooks show their use and wear.

To put it bluntly, this was made to show that, even with limited hardware and a slow rendering engine, I am able to develop damaged, dirty and otherwise worn materials. Most of my cars look pristine as a choice, not as a limitation.