Digital Matte Painting: Project 1
Ameera Rihana binti Remy Ansara
DMP / Bachelor of (hons) in creative media
Project 1: Invisible Set Extension 1 (pre-production)
INSTRUCTIONS
Project 1: Invisible Set Extension
Recap
Students will apply knowledge from Task 1 to create six matte-painted concepts based on a chosen Google Maps location. They will use painting techniques to depict different times of day within a set theme, aiming for photorealism. The process begins with color bashing and blocking to define perspective, values, color palette, and composition for believable results.
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1) Research & Inspiration
Firstly, we were given a choice to pick any movie reference we liked as our main theme to create a set extension. Therefore, I gathered a few inspiration of my own. The theme that I was specifically looking is heavily relied on forest-theme with high mountains or deserts with temples. Therefore, I tried to looked up for similar references from movies such as Jumanji and Indiana Jones.
Firstly, we were given a choice to pick any movie reference we liked as our main theme to create a set extension. Therefore, I gathered a few inspiration of my own. The theme that I was specifically looking is heavily relied on forest-theme with high mountains or deserts with temples. Therefore, I tried to looked up for similar references from movies such as Jumanji and Indiana Jones.
Fig 1.0 Inspo Board
To have a further understanding about set extensions, I looked up for tutorial videos to learn some additional techniques and facts.
Fig 1.1 Matte Painting Tutorial
Fig 1.2 Matte Painting Tutorial #2
Fig 1.3 Photo Manipulation
Mood board
After I had an idea of what I wanted to do, I gathered some pictures and assets I wanted to use for my matte painting project. I specifically gathered them into two different mood boards to expand my options.
The first mood board heavily implied on forest with big mountains, an overcast sky covered in dense fog with a statue centered in a forest. For the second, it took place in a hot desert, a hidden temple in an afternoon time surrounded by tall rocks.
Fig 1.4 Mood board #1
Fig 1.5 Mood board #2
Sketches
After that, I proceeded to sketch out a layout from each mood board, forming two ideations by choosing certain assets and drew them together into a composition. To ensure that the composition remained stable and not out of balance, I used rule of thirds and cross as guidelines in my sketches.
Fig 1.6 Sketches (grayscale)
Fig 1.7 Composition Guideline
I decided to proceed with ideation #1. Therefore, I chose the assets carefully and import the pictures into Photoshop.
Fig 1.8 Pictures used
Base Edit
For the base, the picture was originally brighter so I decided to slightly darken it by using hue / saturation to set the mood of an overcast sky.
Fig 1.9 Hue / Saturation adjustment
Masking objects
After I set the base, I used the same technique by masking the objects I used and placed it onto the base. I placed the rocks and mountains, duplicated them while placing them in the zone of spaces which are the foreground, middle ground and background.
Fig 2.0 Masking and Placing
I also added a buddha statue in the middle of the composition and chains hanging around the mountain.
Fig 2.1 Adding assets
Erasing and Adding
At a closer look, there are certain parts of an object that I did not want to appear such as negative spaces or excessive lines that are not needed. To do that, I just used the pain brush tool by setting the colors to black and white. Black was often used to erase while white color is to add. This could only be done if the masking layer is selected.
Fig 2.2 Erasing & Adding
The original images differed from one another in terms of colors and lightings. To ensure that the color of the composition and all assets remained the same, I added the hue / saturation to most objects and adjusted the lightness and the saturation.
Fig 2.3 Color Correction
Adding Shadows with brush tool
I also added shadows using the soft brush tool to certain parts of the area especially in corners that are blocked by most light.
Fig 2.4 Adding Shadows
Drawing extensions
In some areas, some rocky surfaces looked out of place so I decided to extend it by drawing more leaves and adjusted the color to make it as accurately as possible.
Fig 2.4 Drawing extensions
Additionally, the forest was supposed to be dense with heavy fog so I added more of them around the composition using a soft brush tool while reducing its opacity. I also added some waterfalls to it.
Fig 2.5 Drawing mists
Fig 2.6 waterfalls
Checking Values
To check values, I used edit and fill thus made the contents to 50% gray. Then i changed the layer mode to color. The purpose of this technique is to ensure that the foreground is darker than the background.
Fig 2.7 edit and fill
Fig 2.8 Values checking
Once I have checked the values, there were certain parts that I wanted it to appear slightly darker so I used the curve graph to adjust the lighting.
Fig 2.8 curve graph
Second Test of Set Extension
The background looked slightly empty to me so I added more mountains that looked faded due to further distance and shrouded in mist.
Fig 2.9 Test 2
Fig 2.9 Final Set Extension 1, JPG
Fig 3.0 Final Compilation Project 1, PDF
REFLECTION
Experiences: Working on this matte painting, I combined multiple techniques to build a dramatic, otherworldly scene. I layered various rock formations, experimented with atmospheric mist, and integrated large chains to add scale and mystery. The central statue was placed as a focal point, drawing the eye into the scene. Using Photoshop’s layer system, I was able to break the scene into manageable parts, making it easier to adjust lighting, values, and depth without losing control over the composition.
Observation: I noticed that the mist played a huge role in pushing the background elements further away, enhancing depth. The towering rock pillars gave a strong sense of vertical scale, while the chains added both perspective and storytelling hints. The central statue stood out because of its placement and the contrast against the lighter background. I also observed that keeping value contrast stronger in the foreground helped the scene feel more immersive and guided the viewer’s attention naturally toward the middle.
Findings: I found that layering atmospheric effects like mist is key to creating a believable sense of distance. Strong foreground elements like the dark rock cliffs and the chain help frame the composition and make it more dynamic. Having a clear focal point, like the statue, anchors the piece and prevents the viewer from getting lost in the complexity of the scene.
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