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Set Design - 3D and Computer Model Making and Renderings using AutoCAD for Pre-Vis for Motion Picture, Television, Theme Park - Kenneth A. Larson

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Most of my first two decades in the entertainment industry were spent designing and building models. I've built models for Visual Effects, Theme Parks, Architecture, Aerospace, engineering, interior design, study, and display. Since 1996 I have worked exclusively as a Set Designer and while mostly doing 2D CAD, I have created many 3D CAD and computer models. I started using AutoCAD for Set Design in 1992, both for 2D and 3D applications, long before most other Set Designers. Unfortunately when the rest of the Art Department discovered		Member: Art Directors Guild Local 800 Set Designers and Model Makers, Computer Specialist. Member: Visual Effects Society.
CAD and Computer Modeling, it was with VectorWorks and SketchUp. I feel that AutoCAD has many advantages over some of the other programs. AutoCAD is far more accurate than VectorWorks and SketchUp and while harder to learn, that is because it has so many more tools allowing more efficient work. AutoCAD also interfaces with other programs better and is better for rapid prototyping than SketchUp. Out of necessity, I have become proficient in SketchUp and am learning other computer modeling programs.

Note: These images are presented here for portfolio purposes only. These images are not available for sale or to be given away in hard copy or digitally in any scale. I will be happy to show hard-copy during a legitimate job interview for Set Designer.

Parts for C.N.C. manufacturing, AutoCAD, 2017
Legion.

Legion.

Tea Store, AutoCAD, 2017
Legion.

Round Monitor, AutoCAD, 2017
Legion.

Justified. Work Bench. Although a simple 3D project, it was still useful. AutoCAD ®, 2004. 2009.

Justified. Stage. AutoCAD ®, 2004. 2009.

This simple rendering was made to show Building and Safety what I was trying to built. It is supposed to be a 7/8 scale miniature mill that would have been my art studio. Building and Safety wouldn't let me build it that size and it couldn't be near the water, so I dropped the project. AutoCAD ® 2004. 2008.

Wisconsin State Lottery. Rube Goldberg like device. Half AutoCAD ® 2002, half pencil. 2004.


A Star Trek like living room interior. AutoCAD ® 2002. 2004. Interior and exterior of the main front door.


A Star Trek like living room interior. AutoCAD ® 2002. 2004. The client and I experimented if the shape of the ribs. Note the differences between the two.

Kitchen cabinet for the above Star Trek like house.


Everyday Life, this computer massing model was not quite finished when the design of the set changed again. AutoCAD ©; Architectural Desktop, 2002. 2005.


Everyday Life, this computer massing model was not quite finished when the design of the set changed again. AutoCAD ©; Architectural Desktop, 2002. 2005.

AutoCAD ©; 2004. 2004.

Rendering of display.	Rendering of display.
Allpro Helmets, Layout one. AutoCAD ADT 3.3/2003, 2004.

Rendering of display.	Rendering of display.
Sexy Hair Products, AutoCAD ADT 3.3 ©;. 2003.

Truss system.	Detail.
Sexy Hair Products, AutoCAD ADT 3.3 ©;. 2003.

Sexy Hair ProductsComputer model of exterior.
Interios

Sexy Hair ProductsComputer model of interior.

Final rendering.	Option for side table.
Star Trek like desk. AutoCAD. 2003.


Star Trek like desk. Rendering of design 9 - final design. AutoCAD. 2003.


Star Trek like desk. Rendering of design 9 - final design. AutoCAD. 2003.


I made this as a sample when interviewing for Stealth. AutoCAD ® 2000. 2003.

My answer to replace the World Trade Center.

West Coast Displays, 3D computer model. AutoCAD ® 15. 2001.

UFO.	We were so busy trying to get the last shot before sundown, we didn't notice the UFO.

Early design.	Later design.
Gabrielle, Waiting Room, AutoCAD ® 2000. 2000.

Tunnel to birth.	Office.
Gabrielle, AutoCAD ® 2000. 2000.

Corridor.	Office.
Gabrielle, AutoCAD ® 2000. 2000.


Pre-vis sample of a western town.

Pre-vis sample of a western town.


This computer model was created to assist in the interior design of a new interior for this existing attic space.


Larson Residence, Interior, as-is. AutoCAD ® Architectural Desktop 3.0. 2000

Interior, as-is.	Full site, showing original garage removed and new garage.
Larson Residence, AutoCAD ® Architectural Desktop 3.0. 2000.

Background made in Photoshop from personal astro slides and a purchased image of earth. AutoCAD ®, 1998.

Earth side.

Stereo renderings. Put your nose about 4 inches from
the screen and stare at these renderings, left eye on left
image, right eye on right image, then cross your eyes
until the images merge at center .

Reverse side.	Close up view.

Space Station, AutoCAD ®. 1998.

Alien Empire, Safe house. Bird's eye view, AutoCAD ©; R12. 1997.

I worked for an architect for a year and spent half my time on 2D and half on 3D using . While employed by R. F. McCann and Company, Theater Architects, Pasadena California I made dozens of renderings of several theater projects. All were made in AutoCAD ©; R14 with materials and some touch-up made in Photoshop.

Inglewood mercantile and theater center.

Sacramento Theater Company.

Sacramento Theater Company small studio theater.

Sacramento Light Opera Association.

Sacramento Light Opera Association, tent interior.

Sacramento Light Opera Association tent.

Sacramento Light Opera Association, site.

Sacramento Light Opera Association tent interior.

Sacramento Light Opera Association, concourse.

Sacramento Light Opera Association.

Sacramento Light Opera Association tent.

Sacramento Light Opera Association.

Sacramento Light Opera Association tent.

Deaf West Theater.

Sign

Shrek

Originally Shrek was to be CGI characters in miniature landscapes and buildings. I was hired to Set Design the miniatures, but later it was decided to do the entire film in CGI. I designed the scenery in a variety of mediums including 2D AutoCAD ©;, 3D AutoCAD ©;, traditional drawings, and physical models.


Two of the many landscapes I developed in 2D, 3D, and physical models.


Model of Duloc Street for Shrek. Physical model at left, virtual model at right.

Aerial view.	Street rendering.
Two of many models of Duloc Street for Shrek .

Last rendering. Intended as a massing model.

Preliminary on Fiona's bed.

This is a 12 sided variation.

This is a 12 sided variation with a different ceiling.

This is a 12 sided variation with a different wall design including niches.
These computer renderings are massing models. They were not intended to be detailed.


Two of the many variations I made of Fiona's Room in the Dragon's Keep.


Two of the many variations I made of Fiona's Room in the Dragon's Keep.


Two of the many variations I made of Fiona's Room in the Dragon's Keep.


Dining Room in Farquaad's Castle. Computer model and Rendering in AutoCAD ©;.


Dining Room in Farquaad's Castle. Computer model and Rendering in AutoCAD ©;.

Rendering of the front exterior.

Rendering of the interior.

Early 3D in wire frame.

Final 3D in wire frame.

I built two models, this one, the first, I built in four hours for a presentation.	Rendering of the exterior .

Rendering of the exterior of the Cathedral from the final scene.

Rendering of the interior of the Cathedral from the final scene.

Perspective on Throne Room from Shrek.


Renderings of the Throne Room from Shrek, with and without a window.

Rendering of a house from Shrek.

Massing model of an apartment building. 1997

I worked on Batman Returns and Batman Forever, both as a Visual Effects Model Maker. For Batman Forever, a miniature helicopter crashed into a break-away sign. Because the three copies of the faceted iris of the Eye Sign were made of tempered glass, it was decided to lay the parts out in 3D. I used the 3D capabilities of AutoCAD ©; to generate an accurate drawing of the 11 different planes of glass. We didn't use the third copy and it was used for a full size optometry store sign in a scene from Batman and Robin two years later. By this time, I was a Visual Efects Set Designer on that feature and I made a new, smaller, miniature layout for a matching miniature of the store.

2D projection of a 3D drawing of the Eye Sign

"Eye Sign": This miniature sign forBatman Forever is about ten feet across. I didn't build the model, I just did the 3D drawing.

Miniature layout to match the full size sign that was a left over large miniature break-away sign from Batman Forever. The task was easier since I still had the original drawing, AutoCAD © R12, 1997.


Ramayan, fantasy Aircraft. AutoCAD ®. 1996.

Another aircraft rendering.	Budhist temple. AutoCAD ©;
Samples for a small film that I withdrew from, 1994.

I did this as a demo in the days before starting Outbreak, to show the possibility of doing more of the Set Design work in 3D. It was determined that 2D was sufficient. Sample ship model. AutoCAD © R12. 1992.

This page last updated: Wednesday, 18-Sep-2024 22:35:14 CDT