Another stellar 3D collaboration between Deep Sky and McLanahan. In order to visualize how these enormous industrial machines work - we prep very hefty CAD files, create materials and textures, setup the CGI lighting, animate virtual camera and the product elements, generate liquid simulations, and a lot of rendering. Finally, we composite all the layered passes together. Before we begin working with a model, we collaborate on a detailed animation outline script and schedule several video calls with engineers while we screen share imported CAD files - this way we learn how the product works and what the individual elements are the script calls out.

The Elevated High-Rate Thickener is one of the more intensive visualizations. Working with this model required separating the engineer's file into smaller models and a week prepping these models for materials and animation. Reducing and cleaning up the enormous amount of polys was needed since where simulating mud and water with it. We make it look easy, however, these machines are complex and require months of planning and collaborating with the engineers. Particular attention to detail is giving with mud and water simulations when it's the primary function of the machine itself.