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Santa Carla Skateshop UE4 Environment

The Santa Carla Skateshop was born out of a desire to learn the Unreal Engine 4 editor. I wanted to produce something that would allow me to explore creating low resolution models with normal mapped detail, pbr shading as well as use light baking, atmospherics and post process/screen space techniques. The goal was to create an immersive, atmospheric environment in an art directed style that lives in the same world as my 2D illustrations.

I originally chose to create a skateshop as is would allow me to heavily re-use a few modular assets and produce an end result quickly - since the main aim was to learn the software. However the skateshop quickly became a passion project where I created dozens of bespoke assets, 2D graphic elements and over fifty unique skateboard designs.

Check out the other galleries in my folio to see the various assets I created for the environment, plus initial sketches.

Also, the nice folks at Experience Points Magazine interviewed me about the Skateshop. You can see the article here: https://www.exp-points.com/santa-carla-skateshop

Santa Carla Skateshop flythrough

The exterior was built as a separate level. The palms were the only assets I didn't model myself, although I repainted them in Substance Painter to match the style of the other props

The exterior was built as a separate level. The palms were the only assets I didn't model myself, although I repainted them in Substance Painter to match the style of the other props

The interior uses baked lighting with a stationary key light to allow for finer control of the shadow falloff

The interior uses baked lighting with a stationary key light to allow for finer control of the shadow falloff

Each prop was built in ZBrush, painted in Substance Painter and then final look dev was done using UE4's material editor

Each prop was built in ZBrush, painted in Substance Painter and then final look dev was done using UE4's material editor

Assets such as the HiFi unit leverage normal maps for almost all the detail

Assets such as the HiFi unit leverage normal maps for almost all the detail

The McFlyer skateboard seen on the rack is a direct nod to Marty's board in Back to the Future

The McFlyer skateboard seen on the rack is a direct nod to Marty's board in Back to the Future

Creating detail was where I had the most fun. Morning coffee and donuts plus some good magazines to read as a customer has their board repaired...

Creating detail was where I had the most fun. Morning coffee and donuts plus some good magazines to read as a customer has their board repaired...

Dozens of carefully placed reflection actors allowed for some nice, shiny surfaces to really pop, like these helmets

Dozens of carefully placed reflection actors allowed for some nice, shiny surfaces to really pop, like these helmets

Some of the graphics, such as the shark and ripper boards were created using traditional  Copic marker artwork (as I needed a break from the computer every now and again!)

Some of the graphics, such as the shark and ripper boards were created using traditional Copic marker artwork (as I needed a break from the computer every now and again!)

This characters on this VHS cover, plus the poster at the rear of the store were taken from my 2D illustrations and Quarter Pipe Kid 3D sculpt

This characters on this VHS cover, plus the poster at the rear of the store were taken from my 2D illustrations and Quarter Pipe Kid 3D sculpt

I created over 50 different deck designs for the shop. Many of them are based on signature designs by artists that I am both a huge fan of, and who have inspired me since I was a kid. The whole environment is basically fan art!

I created over 50 different deck designs for the shop. Many of them are based on signature designs by artists that I am both a huge fan of, and who have inspired me since I was a kid. The whole environment is basically fan art!

UE4 screen grabs showing diffuse only and lighting

UE4 screen grabs showing diffuse only and lighting

Software used on the project

Software used on the project

All 56 skateboard deck maps created for the project!

All 56 skateboard deck maps created for the project!