SEVEN PERCENT SOLUTION

2010-12-06T04:57:00.000-08:00

In the fall of 2003, to coincide with the release of Imagineer Jason Surrell's book, The Haunted Mansion: From The Magic Kingdom to the Movies, as well as the distribution of the live action movie based on the attraction, Disney released this "book" which essentially is a collection of pieces to construct a small scale paper model of--not The Haunted Mansion--but a form of haunted mansion based more on the production design of the movie.

The ghostly blue nuts and bolts shown in the blister pack attached to the cover are the fasteners for all of the walls, floor, and partial roof.

The availability of the book was short-lived and now it fetches about three to four times the original cover price on the secondary market for a copy in new condition.

It's really geared more for the much younger as is evident in its overall simplicity and the illustrative style of the graphics. Hard core Mansion fans might collect it just because it is what it is, but once it's put together, the result is largely anti-climatic.

However, I decided to scan all of the pieces and take them into the cg realm for a bit of fun. Until an animated fly-through can be rendered out and composited, here are a few stills:

(click images for larger view)

The model was massed using SketchUp Pro 7, then imported to 3DS Max 2009 for materials, lighting and rendering. A bit of post was then done in Photoshop CS2.

2010-11-28T07:53:00.000-08:00

In the early stages of planning for The Haunted Mansion, imagineer Ken Anderson created a series of concept sketches for the original idea of a walk-through attraction.

One of those vignettes depicts an overhead view of a dilapidated parlor with an organ and ghostly footprints leading to it.

Having admired this sketch for many years now, I finally found the opportunity to recreate it in 3D with interpretive finishes and materials.

The model space was created mostly in SketchUp Pro 7, then finalized and rendered in 3DS Max 2009 with post done in Photoshop CS2 (click image for larger view).

2010-06-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

A relatively quick Photoshop exercise using a downloadable coloring page freely available on the net.

Might use it as an avatar for something.

2010-03-14T17:26:00.001-07:00

For this week's Illustration Friday exercise, the topic was "subterranean."

During my first year at Ringling, as a class exercise, I created a series of photo collages using the architecture of a campus building.

One of those collages provided the inspiration for this image (see below).

The image was created using Sketchup pro 7, 3DS Max 2009 and Photoshop.

2010-02-28T15:33:00.000-08:00

In an effort to "stay in shape," so to speak, Brock and I have decided to participate in a weekly challenge based on the ideas supplied by illustrationfriday.com

This week's word was "perspective."

So, here's my run at it using 3DS Max and just a bit of Photoshop.

Soon (hopefully) we'll also have a blog set up to showcase these weekly "workouts." It's just too easy to get lazy about things--especially during down time between projects.

The point is to stay sharp...maybe even push a little.

Though, maybe not this week.

2009-10-15T21:20:00.000-07:00

Using another of Ray Keim's paper model templates, I completed this short animation exercise recreating the animatronic tombstone found outside the entrance to WDW's Haunted Mansion attraction.

I made some minor modifications to the original graphics to animate the eyes and also changed the design of the base to look more like that of the actual installation.

The model and animation were created in 3DS Max.

2009-10-10T19:06:00.000-07:00

A Trial Run

In 2004, graphic designer and animator Ray Keim created Haunted Dimensions--a website tribute to Disney's Haunted Mansions and all things generally spooky. What has most distinguished Ray's website from other tribute sites is his creation of numerous paper model kits available free to download and construct.

Though the models are intended to be printed and cut out for assembly, I thought it might be interesting to simulate that process digitally--essentially creating pieces of mesh based on the shape of the graphics and then assembling them (mostly) according to the original instructions.

It makes for a great exercise in modeling at the sub-object level.

The initial idea was actually to do this with Ray's model kit for the Liberty Square Haunted Mansion, but I thought I'd start a little smaller and see what I might be getting myself into. So I started with one of the less complex models--the Liberty Square entrance pillar.

Anyone with an affinity for The Haunted Mansion, modeling, or both should visit Haunted Dimensions and browse through all of the galleries and look at the model kits.

Ray is also a seasonal designer with Universal Studios Orlando and works on the design team for the annual Halloween Horror Nights event. Check out his blog (The Mansion Observer) for more on his work at Universal.

This model of the entrance pillar was created and rendered in 3DS Max.

2009-10-04T05:18:00.000-07:00

After reading his initial post on the forum at doombuggies.com, I contacted the author of the blog The Zeitgeistarium about using his design concept for a Haunted Mansion-themed theatrical stage set in a 3D modeling and animation exercise.

He graciously gave his permission and here is the final visualization.

The first big obstacle was the spiral staircase, which is always a little tricky whether you're working in SketchUp or 3DS Max.

The next challenge came in the animation stage with reproducing the ghostly footprints effect as seen in the recent enhancement to the attraction. I'm sure there are multiple solutions, but mine was essentially a series of keyframed planes with instances of an image sequence and alpha channel sequence.

Then came Constance, the ghostly bride. Using an edited video sequence from an excellent fan video (martinsvids.net), the video loop was applied to a couple of bent planes with an alpha channel and many tweaks to self-illumination and RGB output to make her visible. And since the source video was shot only from her waist up, I had to figure out a way to "fudge" the lower portion of her gown as she walks to the balcony railing (just don't look too closely, please).

I'm still not happy with the lightning effect at the end, but it will do for the purposes of the exercise. Keyframing a light to simulate lightning is--quite literally--a nightmare. I had to go to the Graph Editor in Max and use a waveform, but even with that there is a problem with variance because of the uniform wavelengths.

Laying the audio tracks was probably the most enjoyable part of the video compositing.

Special thanks to Kenneth Macleod for the use of his concept and design. See more of his projects at The Zeitgeistarium

2009-07-13T04:34:00.000-07:00

A visualization of the classic Lakeside board game The Haunted Mansion, based on the Disney attraction. Created using SketchUp Pro and 3DS Max; rendered and animated 3DS Max.

2009-04-06T17:28:00.000-07:00

If you were a kid around 1975 and ever passed through the toy section of the local pharmacy or discount store, you may have seen a display of small boxes adorned with the graphic of an old manor-style house and printed all over with the description of its contents, "Pet Ghost."

No doubt it made its way into the impulse buy market on the coattails of the Pet Rock, only it was a much cooler concept. Essentially a small styrofoam ball wrapped in tulle, the tiny "ghost" came with stickers to give it a face and necktie and with the option of making yours a boy ghost, or a girl ghost. A line of thread was attached to the ghost so it could be controlled to appear to float, fly, dance, or whatever else you could make it do.

I, myself, never had much luck successfully puppeteering my ghost, but I did love the graphics of the house on the outside of the box.
Now, years later, I thought it might be fun to visualize those great little graphics in 3D. The model was built using SketchUp Pro and 3DS Max with a little post done in Photoshop. Pet Ghost was created and distributed by FunStuf of Orlando, FL.

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UPDATE: A recent discovery has revealed the graphics used for the packaging of Pet Ghost were actually a near-direct copy of an illustration by Phillipe Fix used for the book Alexander and the Magic Mouse by Martha Sanders, copyrighted 1969--well before Pet Ghost appeared on the market.

Although disappointing after being intrigued by the Pet Ghost box for so many years, it was still a valid modeling exercise and will continue being based on a favorite part of childhood.

2008-10-24T12:37:00.000-07:00

Yes, another posting of a lamppost. This one may be recognized from Disney's Animal Kingdom park.

The signage may date the photo reference at about 2005 or so.

The scene was modeled in SketchUp 6.0 and 3DS Max 2008 with some post work in Photoshop CS2.

2008-10-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

Self Portrait

Nothing more than a quick and simple Photoshop job, but in the spirit of the American Halloween season, here is yours truly among the undead.

Created as a profile picture for MySpace.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

2008-09-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

One post-rendering technique used for still images in 3D visualization is to overlay an ambient occlusion layer to deepen the shadow spectrum created by global illumination.

That was the general approach here, but rather than using an AO layer on a CG rendering, I used several instances of the same photo at varying grayscale and opacity levels with a few different solid colored multiply layers and finally a number of subtle adjustments to brightness, contrast, hue and saturation.

Why? Sometimes we just have to play.

Taken at the Ca'dZan in Sarasota, the original photograph by Brock is available for viewing at ElectricSynapse.com in the Photography section of his online gallery.

The alterations were completed in Photoshop CS2.

2008-08-16T00:04:00.000-07:00

On the grounds of Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris stands a lonely gazebo where presumably the Manor's resident ghost, Melanie Ravenswood, once enjoyed summer afternoon tea. Approaching the Manor, as you pass Melanie's gazebo, you'll hear the sound of an unseen music box playing a haunting melody (in fact, the very music you hear when visiting this blog).

The images were created using SketchUp Pro 6, 3DS Max 2008, and Vue 6 xStream with post done in Photoshop CS2.

2008-08-07T03:57:00.000-07:00

Revised cover design for Sheryl Brennan's novel, Celtic Sacrifice. The raven is the final of three major symbols in the storyline--the other two being the Celtic knot and the dagger.

The book is currently available from Underdog Press.

The revision was completed using Photoshop CS2.

2008-07-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

A Museum of the Weird

Among the many early show concepts for Disney's Haunted Mansion attraction was an idea hatched by WED designer Rolly Crump dubbed Museum of the Weird.

Mr. Crump envisioned a parlor area filled with a fantastic menagerie of exotic and unusual artifacts as well as a cast of character props including a talking chair, a melting candle man and even a full-sized gypsy cart which would suddenly come to life every few minutes.

Though somewhat ridiculed at the time by his peers who told him his ideas were too far off the map, Mr. Crump's Museum concept got through to Walt Disney who planned on using it as a "spill" area for guests entering and exiting the Mansion.

Unfortunately, the idea was dropped when the decision was made for the Mansion to be a ride-through attraction. Neverhteless, Rolly Crump's idea, in the form of his drawings and scale models, lives on in the history and mythos of The Haunted Mansion.

This visulalization was created using SketchUp Pro 6.0, 3DS Max 9 and Poser 6. The images were rendered using Mental Ray and post was done in Photoshop CS2.

2008-06-17T14:55:00.000-07:00

I debated posting this one simply because it's not the most successful marriage of 3D and digital paint, but I pretty much nailed the color palette. So on that merit alone, here it is.

The image is intended to mimic a small illustration by Disney artist Collin Campbell created as part of a larger mosaic of illustrations used for the 1970s Lakeside board game, Walt Disney World Haunted Mansion Game (which, interestingly enough, bore the Mansion design of Anaheim rather than that of Orlando).

The skeletal figure was posed and exported from Poser 6. The trunk and its periphery were modeled in SketchUp Pro 6.0. Everything was textured and lit in 3DS Max 9. And post was done in Photoshop CS2.

2008-05-11T05:30:00.000-07:00

Another Friday night decompression session. All right, so I'm probably getting a little carried away at this point with the whole coloring book page thing.

Barring the emergence of anything more notable related to The Haunted Mansion, this will probably be it.

But more than continuing the Haunted Mansion theme, it was a chance to work on a scene with a single light source.

In retrospect, I missed the needed correction on the top of the lantern and probably should have spent a few more minutes with shadows on the dog. And that dialogue bubble still bothers me because it remains the "brightest" part of the image.

But it is, after all, just a coloring book page.

2008-05-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

To go with the other digital coloring of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion, here is its Walt Disney World counterpart.

Scans of these original coloring book pages were posted in the forum over at doombuggies.com and there is a little informal exhibition going on of renderings by some of the community members.

Again, a great way to unwind after coming off a very challenging and stressful work week.

2008-04-26T20:18:00.000-07:00

Remember the joy of getting a new coloring book and a fresh box of crayons? What better way to unwind on a Friday night than revisiting that experience, but with the added twist of doing it through your currently preferred medium of choice?

The only downside is the absence of all those little torn bits of crayon labels and that great, waxy aroma.

Obviously I can't take credit for the original line work of the drawing--seeing as how it is truly a coloring book page--but the coloring, texturing and lighting effects were done using Photoshop CS2.

The original image is from an old Disneyland Golden Book coloring book.

2008-03-29T12:51:00.001-07:00

The duelist gag in the ballroom scene from Disney's Haunted Mansion attraction.

The mesh was first modeled in SketchUp Pro 6.0, then imported into 3DS Max 9 where texture maps and scene lights were applied.

The ghostly effects were added in post using Photoshop CS2.

2008-03-20T17:56:00.000-07:00

Another Lamppost...

Concept for a themed lamppost based on the design of the small gazebo vignette located just inside the entrance to the grounds of the Phantom Manor attraction at Disneyland Paris.

2008-02-23T18:21:00.000-08:00

Cover art created for a novel by Sheryl Brennan titled, Celtic Sacrifice.

The cover image was originally commissioned by the now defunct Tiger Publications and was never published.

The image was created using Poser 6, SketchUp Pro 6.0, and 3DS Max 2008 with post done in Photoshop CS2.

2007-12-11T17:19:00.001-08:00

Cover art created for a novel by father-son writing team Jefferson Dane titled, Phlogiston.

In the age of Beowulf, a damsel and dragon detective team wind their way through clues as to who scorched the body of a murdered noblewoman found alone at a crossroads. Did the dragons break their own treaty?
Not only do our heroes face many fierce species of dragons, but sorcerers, goblins, trolls, and unearthly creatures from the chaotic outer realms beyond our own dimension.

A swashbuckling whodunnit!

The cover image was originally commissioned by the now defunct Tiger Publications and was never published.

The image was created using Poser 6, Autodesk ADT 2006 and 3DS Max 9 with a little post in Photoshop CS2.

2007-07-20T15:52:00.000-07:00

Cover art created for a novel by author Michael Bret Hood titled, Jericho's Walls.

The story focuses on a writer kidnapped by a fledgling serial killer named Jericho Sampson and held captive in a dungeon-like basement to chronicle his murderous exploits. To complicate her situation even more, the main character is experiencing writer's block and must hide that fact from her captor to avoid becoming his next victim.

The cover was originally commissioned by the now defunct Tiger Publications and was never published.

The image was created using Poser 6, 3DS Max and Photoshop.

2007-07-02T17:44:00.001-07:00

Ah, yes--my pet passion when it comes to design. I would sit and sketch lamppost designs all day if I could get away with it.

Why the fascination? Even I don't know for sure, but I love 'em. Take me to Disney World and I'll photograph every lamppost and themed light fixture in all the parks--twice! Can't get enough of them.

This one was created for an intro page in a portfolio flip book that was part of my display for the Senior Interior Design show at Ringling in the fall of '06.

Granted, the image doesn't have much at all to do with interior design, but--then again--neither do I (he said with a smug grin).

2007-07-01T14:42:00.001-07:00

A character lighting study for the Macbeth production concept.

Not a great deal of personal creativity entered this image. The character figure was modeled, costumed, lit and rendered using Poser 6.

2007-07-01T14:36:00.001-07:00

Part of my own "unfinished symphony," as it were.

In the last semester of art school I had begun a senior thesis project which included the concept design of a theatrical stage set for Act IV, Scene I of a production of Macbeth.

Here is a concept image of the cauldron used by the three witches to conjure the prophetic apparitions of the scene.

The cauldron was designed and rendered in 3D Studio Max and composited with lighting effects in Photoshop.

2007-07-01T14:26:00.001-07:00

Another image based on the early work of Collin Campbell for the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disney.

This particular crypt with its self-interring occupant can be found in the graveyard scene toward the end of the ride.

The image was created using 3D Studio Max and Photoshop.

2007-07-01T14:20:00.001-07:00

A digital reconstruction of the conservatory scene in Disney's Haunted Mansion attraction at WDW.

More than a literal recreation of the attraction scene, this image is largely based on an early illustration by Disney artist Collin Campbell.

The image was created using Autodesk VIZ and Photoshop.

2007-07-01T14:11:00.001-07:00

This is a layered image using two daytime photo plates (one of the Mansion at Disney World and one of the clouds) composited with brush effects in Photoshop.

The idea was to create an original appearance of the Mansion exterior unlike the attraction's actual nighttime show lighting, but just as eerie.

2007-07-01T12:11:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Seven Percent Solution: The Darker Art of Dale Ankrum!

Since childhood, I've been fascinated by the dark and scary--ghosts, haunted houses, stormy nights, essentially all things Halloween. Later that affinity grew to include the fantastic and the historic--particularly the more sinister aesthetic of the Victorian era (readers of Doyle will readily understand the Holmsian allusion in the name of this blog).

Where and why we (particularly in the U.S.) crossed over to an egregious surplus of gore in our movies and so-called "haunted" attractions, I really have no understanding, but we did. Personally, I think it's an affront to the spirit and original intent of constructing a haunted experience.

I think the inclusion of the occasional stray eyeball, bloody handprint, or dismembered appendage is appropriate, but violently immersing audience members into how the eye was extracted or the hand sliced off robs each of them of their unique mechanism for experiencing a benign horror. All imagination with its inherent psychological safety features is gone.

The monster no longer reaches out from the shadows and simply grabs you. Now it slices your Achilles tendon with a scalpel, shoves an ice pick up your nose and into your brain, and then proceeds to cut through your neck with a dull hacksaw so it can do unspeakable things to your severed head.

That's not haunting. In fact, I don't really know what to call it, but you won't find it here.

I have discovered in my work that tendency from childhood toward the dark and witchy is very much alive. I actually prefer to create an image which is dark or low-lit rather than one portraying day lighting. None too good for diversity.

I guess it's my graphic junk food.

So, I've created this blog as a sort of repository or reliquary for those kinds of images arising from my workstream.

Hope you enjoy!

DA