Books everywhere Thursday, 23 July 2009

Books are something of a theme in episode 6. To celebrate the Lost Book being found and returned we wanted lots of books. We have two scenes set in libraries and a big bookshelf in the Sheep Heid Inn. We managed to resist the temptation to make all the books individual (I’d have really enjoying thinking up appropriate titles!) and instead decided to go for matching bindings in a few colours. Here’s how we made them…

First up, we created a book model in the computer. In fact, there are two versions: open book and closed book.

Next, the book needed a texture map. We unwrapped the model to get a flat, 2D image and added the binding, endpapers, page edges and title page (1). Finally, some gold lettering on the spine was needed – a simple black and white image allows us to specify where the gold should be added (2).

And, there you have it. Books everywhere!