Robotic Firefly

This robotic firefly was a short personal project designed to explore form, material contrast, and cinematic presentation within a compact scope. While small in scale, it became an opportunity to exercise a full end-to-end workflow, from concept to final composite.

The asset was modeled in Autodesk Maya, combining NURBS, polygonal, and subdivision techniques to achieve a balance between mechanical precision and organic curvature. I focused on clean topology and efficient construction, treating it with the same production discipline I apply in real-time and virtual production pipelines.

Texturing was completed in Substance 3D Painter, where I developed layered materials to emphasize subtle wear, emissive elements, and surface variation. Lighting and rendering were handled in Arnold, with particular attention to volumetrics and atmosphere to create a soft, cinematic mood. The scene was composed to highlight scale and motion, using light shafts and depth to reinforce a sense of ascent.

Final compositing and polish were completed in Adobe Photoshop, with editorial and motion refinement in DaVinci Resolve.

Although a personal piece, this project reflects my broader approach as a 3D Generalist: thoughtful modeling, disciplined surfacing, intentional lighting, and a strong focus on presentation. Even within a tight timeframe, the goal was to deliver a cohesive, production-quality result.

For an optimal viewing experience, please feel free to adjust the video quality to 1080p.