Client: Audi | Agency: Loved | Photographer: Kai-Uwe Gundlach | Production: Primate Postproduction
Audi Atlantic Road
work: 3D car integration into photographic backplates, HDRI retouch, lookdev & shading (custom carpaint), particle rain drops, RealFlow water simulations, Krakatoa spray rendering, Arnold rendering, precomp
position: Head of CGI
role: CG Supervisor / Main 3D Artist
Project for the official Audi magazine. Photographer Kai-Uwe Gundlach shot backplates and HDRIs along Norway's Atlantic Road. The provided CAD data of the Audi A7 was prepared for production; backplates and HDRIs were retouched and optimized. Camera perspectives were set collaboratively with the photographer, with grey renderings as initial test compositions. References and moodboards came from Loved and the photographer. The brief called for a stormy Atlantic Road atmosphere with water, spray, and rain, featuring a perfectly staged Audi driving through the scene. All scenes were fully set up with the car as an imported reference. The car was developed in a dedicated lookdev scene with a custom multi-layer carpaint shader including flakes and orange peel. Raindrops on the car were created via a particle system and meshed with a custom script. Puddles, water splashes and waves were simulated in RealFlow. Spray and splashes were rendered with Krakatoa (executed by a colleague based on my scene setup and introduction). The car was rendered with Arnold using on-set HDRIs combined with additional reflection and fill lights. For the cover image, a stormy ocean was rendered into a drone shot using an Arnold ocean shader with custom masks for spray at the coastlines. Tools: Maya, RealFlow, Krakatoa, Arnold, Photoshop.
Case Study
Goal:
The brief was to visually communicate the dynamic driving experience of the Audi A7 along Norway's Atlantic Road — a stretch famous for its dramatic bridges and rugged coastline.
Approach:
Photographer Kai-Uwe Gundlach captured backplates and HDRIs on location. CAD data of the Audi was prepared and the car was developed in a dedicated lookdev scene with a custom multi-layer carpaint shader (flakes, orange peel). Raindrops were generated via particle system and meshed. Water simulations (puddles, splashes, waves) were built in RealFlow. Spray and mist were rendered with Krakatoa. The car was rendered with Arnold using on-set HDRIs combined with additional reflection and fill lights. The cover image required a stormy ocean to be rendered into a drone shot using an Arnold ocean shader with custom spray masks.
Result:
Project was published in the official Audi magazine. The work was also featured in 200 Best Ad Photographers Worldwide.
My Contribution:
Complete project lead and main 3D artist: scene setup, lookdev, shading (custom carpaint), lighting, RealFlow simulations, Arnold rendering, precomps. Krakatoa spray renders were executed by a colleague based on my scene setup and introduction. Post-production was handled by the post team.
