RGB Den: A Real-Time Environment Showcase
My capstone project, RGB Den, is a real-time rendered game room environment built in Unreal Engine 5, featuring a collection of custom props that I created. From reference gathering and 3D modeling to UV mapping, surfacing, and final integration, each asset was developed by me to support a polished, atmospheric space brought to life through dynamic lighting and a unique camera perspective. The final deliverable is a short cinematic showcasing a mix of day and night lighting scenarios, RGB accents, and subtle environmental storytelling. This project highlights my skills in environment design, asset creation, lighting, and real-time rendering while balancing creativity with technical execution.
Final Composition
Pre-Production
I began this project by blocking out proxy models in Maya and bringing them into Unreal Engine to establish scale and layout. From there, I refined each asset and created textures in Substance 3D Painter. Once most surfacing was in place, I moved into lighting passes, making iterative adjustments to models and materials until the scene reached the look I envisioned.
Post-Mortem
Successes
I’m proud of how the RGB effects came together on the keyboard, mouse and mousepad, which served as the hero objects for this scene. The custom material work, synchronized color transitions, and detailed UV mapping helped these props add a strong visual identity to the environment. These elements anchored the aesthetic and contributed significantly to the final look and feel of the project.
Revisions
If I were to revisit this project, I would start by refining the scale of several objects in the room. The desk reads slightly too tall and deep, and the shelves extend farther than necessary for the number of items they hold. I would also push the ambient occlusion in key areas to strengthen contact shadows. These adjustments would help the space feel more grounded and cohesive.
Beyond Scope
With additional time, I would enhance the RGB light spill across the desk and improve synchronization between the keyboard and mousepad materials. Their UV layouts made unified color transitions challenging, and refining that system would elevate the overall effect. I would also expand the project with additional lighting scenarios and narrative variations.
Special Thanks
Special thanks to Timothy Lewis, an associate professor at UT Dallas, for his unwavering support throughout this journey.