Diablo IV is an “action RPG (Hack ‘n’ Slash)” video game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment and whose release date is in 2023. The game refers to the universe of angels and demons, and offers players to explore a story through an open world populated by various creatures, through a character with abilities that depend on the chosen class.

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The project aimed to develop a scene through the assembly of several artworks – one representing a location and two others featuring characters – all taken from the video game Diablo IV, integrating a 3D effect, adding special effects, and animating certain elements (characters, vegetation, …).

In order to realize this project, I went through several well-defined stages.​

Realization of the scenarios (3D, VFX, Animations, Editing) in order to clarify the direction of the project and to know all the elements to be produced.​

Creation and configuration of the composition within After Effects: dimensions of the production (1920x1080 px), choice of the number of frames per second (60 FPS), duration (30 sec.).​

Cutout of all the elements through After Effects in order to constitute the plans of the 3D part. Deletion of elements, additional adjustments and retouching were necessary to perfect the plans, using Photoshop.​

Insertion of the plans previously cut in the 3D space then configuration of the camera and its path.​

Color correction of the characters for their good insertion in the environment.​

Creation of the different animations.​

Design of the visual effects (VFX) using plugins.​

Editing of the production: Intro & Outro, thumbnail, general color correction and details enhancement.​

Assembly of the production on Premiere Pro: Insertion of the composition, research, addition and editing of the soundtrack and sound effects (SFX).​

Production export (H.264): 1 video file (.Mp4); 2 cover pictures (JPG & PNG).

Dimensions: 1920x1080 px.

Frames per second: 60 Fps.

Duration: 30 seconds.

Composition: 3D editing with a shot by 2-nodes camera.

An adaptation of the scale linked to all the artworks was carried out in order to insert them within the composition. The number of FPS has been set at 60 for the sake of fluidity when watching the production. Finally, the principle of “looped video” excluding intro & outro was used in order to appreciate the 3D effect.

Deletion of some parts of the vegetation and ruins

Deletion of trees

Reconstruction of certain parts hidden by elements in the process of creating the various plans for the completion of the 3D rendering

Moreover, significant color corrections have been made to creatures and the necromancer, which originally reflected a reddish coloring. The intention behind this operation was that they could fit into the environment of the scene – in dark, virid, grayish and bluish tones – on the one hand, and that they find a more realistic appearance – the whitish-colored bones of the skeletons, outfits and armors in dark and black tones, and the darker blood of the golem – on the other hand.

1. "Diablo IV" logo (out of 3D)

2. The two skeletons in the foreground

3. The corals and objects (on the left and the right)

4. The skeleton on the right holding his sword and shield

5. The pillar with its vegetation on the left, the head of a demolished statue on the right and a part of the ground and the watercourse

6.1. The law wall with the gate, its demolished pillar and the dead tree just behind, in the center

6.2. The demolished pillar on the right and a part of the ground and the watercourse

7. The dead tree on the left

8. The head of the skeleton that protrude from the low wall, on the left

9. The skeleton holding his two-handed sword, on the left

10. The dead tree with a part of the ground, on the right

11. The specter to the right of the necromancer

12. The specter to the left of the necromancer

13. The necromancer

14.1. The facade and entrance to the building behind the necromancer, and a part of the ground and the watercourse

14.2. The tree behind the pillar of the low wall, on the left

14.3. The first tree (whitish / grayish) in the background on the left

15. The golem

16. The skeleton standing above the entrance to the building

17. The interior of the building entrance

18. The ruins above the building and a part of the vegetation in the background on the left

19. The background facades of the ruins

20. The building in the distance on the left and its mountain on which it rests

21. The mountains and the sky

The cutouts within this production were particularly numerous and demanding, especially those related to the vegetation (trees, foliage, …). This was the part that required me the most significant time of realization.

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All the elements and effects were made in After Effects by hand and using plugins.

I have also reworked the basis of a visual effect created by myself in order to obtain several different versions and updated, to dedicate them to the casting of the specters summoning spell by the necromancer.

Camera

The skeletons

The golem

The specters

The arms and weapons of the necromancer

Some parts of the vegetation

Appearance of the Logo

 

All the animations were made by hand, some of which required additional cutouts in order to animate a very specific element without hindering other elements (eg: the right and left arms of the necromancer).

Light rain

Thunder rumble

We will agree to affirm that the immersion is different with and without the dimension of sound. I thus took the liberty to insert below the soundtrack a sound effect of a light fall of rain accompanied by the rumble of thunder coming from a few kilometers where the shot takes place.

"Mistral woods" from Blizzard Entertainment | Diablo IV (Original Soundtrack).

The completion of this project confronted me with patience and high standards. On a personal level, I particularly appreciate the Diablo universe and I am admirative with the quality of the work provided by Blizzard Entertainment in the realization of Diablo IV. Thus, I had to respect this same quality in the development of this production, despite my level, the equipment, and the tools at my disposal.

The cutouts were numerous and painstaking, the color corrections were tricky to adjust – I was also able to deepen my practice related to this stage within this project –, the visual effects were complex to achieve and adapt, then the animations were meticulous to establish. Finally, a significant amount of time was required for the exportation of the composition.

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The realization of this type of project allows me to learn more about myself, since confronted with different stage sometimes difficult to accomplish, I explore my ability to always find solutions to achieve my goals and to demonstrate my perseverance. This leads me to commit myself to ever more ambitious projects to materialize and thus to sharpen my skills and approach my approaches from different angles.