HANS PALACIOS
Pipeline Developer / CG Generalist
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Alternate Portals: Augmented Reality VFX App

Final rendition of augmented reality application documented with video.

Physical interaction with tracked target in augmented reality environment with emerging VFX.

Physical interaction with tracked target in augmented reality environment with emerging VFX.

Procedural modelling strategy in Houdini to generate the low-poly geometry assets and their corresponding UV layouts.

Procedural modelling strategy in Houdini to generate the low-poly geometry assets and their corresponding UV layouts.

Snapshot of the node networks created to generate the geometries. Networks spawn from a single node at the top of the hierarchy that defines the shape and parameters for the specific variation (square, circle, triangle, n-gon, etc.).

Snapshot of the node networks created to generate the geometries. Networks spawn from a single node at the top of the hierarchy that defines the shape and parameters for the specific variation (square, circle, triangle, n-gon, etc.).

Low-poly assets integrated into Unity 3D & coordinated with VFX using the target points as the source for the particles. Point cache is exported from Houdini and used in Unity's VFX graph.

Low-poly assets integrated into Unity 3D & coordinated with VFX using the target points as the source for the particles. Point cache is exported from Houdini and used in Unity's VFX graph.

VFX uses attractor setting for aligning blast from one moving target to another independently moving target.

VFX uses attractor setting for aligning blast from one moving target to another independently moving target.

User interface prototype developed with Figma and progresses through the screens that one is intended to go through when using the AR application.

User interface prototype developed with Figma and progresses through the screens that one is intended to go through when using the AR application.

AR environment development in Unity 3D.

AR environment development in Unity 3D.

Application UI development in Unity 3D.

Application UI development in Unity 3D.

This is a mobile application that guides a user through portals into augmented reality to enable an interactive and dynamic visual effects experience. This SCAD course project aims to respond to the question "How might a static, physical surface be transformed into a dynamic, interactive experience?"

This project was awarded both the Highly Commended Award and Excellence Award in the 2021 Rookies Awards for Immersive Media.

In the app, a clear and concise user interface launches users into an active space battle that is user-driven by physically manipulating the augmented reality environment assets. This emerging visualization strategy opens up radical and unique opportunities to showcase digital content and interact with it, all at the fingertips of everyday users.

Application was developed in Unity 3D, geometry generated in Houdini with HDA, and VFX transitioned from Houdini to Unity VFX Graph. Augmented reality application filmed with an iPad Pro and video/sound editing processed in After Effects. All work was completed entirely by myself.

A brief overview of the project documentation is outlined in the following images. A breakdown of the entire project with detailed documentation is located at the following link: https://www.notion.so/Dynamic-AR-Experience-cfd6bb670da94d97a187b89a2284f89f

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