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VFX Senior Thesis: Myrah's Tiara

  • Oct 12, 2025
  • 3 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

Concept:

An episode opening sequence for a television series based off of an unpublished novel series by Scarlette Masons, "The Elemental Kingdom Chronicles"


***Updated as worked on***


UPDATE 1


10/11:

  • Base of tiara

​

Moving Forward:

  • Working on final model of tiara (metal-working)

  • Modeling gems

  • Texturing


Original Concept:


Base of tiara:


UPDATE 2


10/12:

  • Update on Model

​

Moving Forward:

  • Working on final model of tiara (metal-working)

  • Modeling gems

  • Texturing


UPDATE 3


10/14:

  • Update on Model

​

Moving Forward:

  • Working on final model of tiara (metal-working)

  • Modeling gems

  • Texturing


UPDATE 4


10/20:

  • Research conducted on gemstones for this tiara, the goblet, and Azalea's crown

​

Moving Forward:

  • Working on final model of tiara (metal-working)

  • Modeling gems

  • Texturing


Click here for post on Gemstones, Research, Modeling, and Shading:


UPDATE 5


10/26:

  • Improving model for tiara to the point of haulting until gemstones are done

​

Moving Forward:

  • Working on final model of tiara (metal-working)

  • Modeling gems

  • Texturing

























UPDATE 6


11/01:

  • Working on delicate aspects

​

Moving Forward:

  • Modeling gems

  • Finishing model

  • Texturing


UPDATE 7


11/07:

  • Finalizing animatic model placeholder gems and base of tiara

​

Moving Forward:

  • Modeling gems

  • Finishing model

  • Texturing


UPDATE 8


11/09:

  • Finalized Base model

​

Moving Forward:

  • Modeling gems

  • Texturing

UPDATE 9


11/11:

  • Animatic Prelim Texturing

​

Moving Forward:

  • Modeling gems


Base Metal Texture:


Texturing in Maya for Animatic (Including Gem Placeholders):

UPDATE 10


01/10:

  • Finding/researching real world reference for metalworking

​

Moving Forward:

  • gems

  • inlay

  • final metalworking


UPDATE 11


01/11:

  • Prepping and beginning final stage of metalworking update to tiara

  • Bringing the model into a more delicate form, embracing the more organic inlay wire/metal work on my references

​

Moving Forward:

  • gems

  • inlay

  • final metalworking

Prep:


Beginning stage of transferring base model into more wired framework:

UPDATE 12


01/12:

  • Finished, clean, water-tight, retopo base

​

Moving Forward:

  • gems

  • inlay

  • final metalworking


UPDATE 13


01/14:

  • Continuing WIP final model of tiara

  • Starting to place gems, inlaying with texture tests for accuracy, get maintaining the organic-handmade feel with manual placement

​

Moving Forward:

  • final gem placements

  • final metalworking

  • finalization of completed model


Placement and texture testing (without imperfections for now):


Completed baguette placement on base:


UPDATE 14


01/15:

  • Continuing WIP final model of tiara

  • Finishing bottom layers for placement of gems and metal bar creation. Still needs fastening and hooks for gems to metal bars.

​

Moving Forward:

  • final gem placements

  • final metalworking

  • finalization of completed model


Placement, no texture:


Gem textures:


3-pt lighting:


UPDATE 15


01/16:

  • Continuing WIP final model of tiara

  • Finishing next layer of gem placement

  • Fixing normals and texture issues/malfunctioning

​

Moving Forward:

  • final gem placements

  • final metalworking

  • finalization of completed model


Tiara model no texture:


Shader malfunction (see right side vs. left: transmission without set to do so):

Also backside view of crown "metal"working:


Final texture and gem placement so far:


Side and details:

UPDATE 16


01/17:

  • Continuing WIP final model of tiara

  • Completion of gem placement

​

Moving Forward:

  • Modeling of metal leaves/placement

  • final metalworking

  • finalization of completed model

  • metal texture (white gold)


Front View:


3/4 View:


Current Rear View of Wirework:


UPDATE 17


01/18:

  • Completion of prongs

​

Moving Forward:

  • Modeling of metal leaves/placement

  • final metalworking

  • finalization of completed model

  • metal texture (white gold)



UPDATE 18


01/19:

  • Completion of metalworking

  • Metal leaf and leaf placement

  • Completion of model

​

Moving Forward:

  • metal texture (white gold)




UPDATE 19


01/20:

  • Temporary white gold texture with Cocoa Beach HDRI (from live plate filming)

​

Moving Forward:

  • Final texturing

  • Pillow and camera animation in environment for final shot


Front:


Back:


UPDATE 20


01/21:

  • Test render



IMPLEMENTATION TO SHOTS




 
 
 

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