Internal Case Study: LEGO NPR

The goal of our NPR Lego case study was to explore more pencil cross-hatching and charcoal techniques that we developed on our internal custom shader plugins for Pixar's RenderMan 3d renderer, in collaboration with 9to3Animation doing the assembly manual and animations.

We wanted to further develop and R&D our technology to work all within the shader in the 3d renderer, without having to "assemble" the final render in compositing packages like Nuke with all the many layers required: this would speed up the rendering process in animation pipelines and give the control to the Look Development artists.

We chose Lego models and animations since there are multiple feature film series utilizing Lego themes, thus having a broad appeal, and we just like Lego.



Inspiration - Cross Hatching Illustrations


A variety of cross-hatching illustrations we found online by various artists, inspiriing our algorithms.




Model - Lego #377




Stop Motion Animation Test


Original Stop Motion Animation by 9to3Animation
(view here if video not playing in browser above)




Renders with Custom Shaders


3-up Comparisons
(Hi-res image)



Split Screen Comparisons
(Hi-res image 1) (Hi-res image 2)





Renders - Movies


Dynamic Hatching based on diffuse lighting with car head and tail lights
(view here if video not playing in browser above)



Dynamic Hatching based on diffuse lighting, with charcoal and albedo color.
(view here if video not playing in browser above)



Dynamic Hatching based on diffuse lighting, with charcoal.
(view here if video not playing in browser above)



Dynamic Hatching based on diffuse lighting, with pencil.
(view here if video not playing in browser above)


Dynamic Hatching based on diffuse lighting, animated light sources.
(view here if video not playing in browser above)



Dynamic Hatching based on occlusion, with pencil.
(view here if video not playing in browser above)



Dynamic Hatching based on occlusion, with pencil and albedo color.
(view here if video not playing in browser above)



Dynamic Hatching based on animated occlusion, with pencil + charcoal + albedo color.
(view here if video not playing in browser above)



Dynamic Hatching based on animated occlusion, with pencil + albedo color.
(view here if video not playing in browser above)



Dynamic Hatching based on animated occlusion, with pencil.
(view here if video not playing in browser above)



Dynamic Hatching based on animated occlusion, with pencil + albedo color.
(view here if video not playing in browser above)



Dynamic Hatching based on diffuse lighting, with pencil.
(view here if video not playing in browser above)



Dynamic Hatching based on diffuse lighting, with pencil + albedo color.
(view here if video not playing in browser above)



Dynamic Hatching based on diffuse lighting, with pencil + charcoal.
(view here if video not playing in browser above)



Dynamic Hatching based on diffuse lighting, with pencil + charcoal + albedo color.
(view here if video not playing in browser above)



Dynamic Hatching based on animated diffuse lighting, with pencil + albedo color.
(view here if video not playing in browser above)




Model - Lego #6695




Renders - Movies


Assemble + Rotate - Hatching 1
(view here if video not playing in browser above)




Assemble + Rotate - Simple 1
(view here if video not playing in browser above)




Assemble + Rotate - Simple 2
(view here if video not playing in browser above)




Assemble - Simple 3
(view here if video not playing in browser above)




Assemble + Rotate - Simple 4
(view here if video not playing in browser above)




Assemble - Simple 5
(view here if video not playing in browser above)





Model - Lego #30285


Original packaging & assembly manual


Initial import of Lego geo into LDraw, 3d render, custom shader with hatching and outlines off geometry





Assembly Manual Prototype


Assembly manual prototype: simplified toon for 3d render for digital and print assembly manuals
Download hi-res PDF




If you're interested in this technology we'd love to hear from you! We're currently custom developing it out for clients on their projects and are open to working with studios in customizing it for their unique non photoreal looks all in 3d. For more info read our new FAQ.