The Photo Frame That Shouldn't Exist

She found the photo frame in the attic, covered in dust. The problem? We’ve never owned that frame. And the picture inside... it’s of her, in a place she’s never been.

This entire scene—the mysterious attic, the dust particles floating in the air, and that hauntingly detailed photo frame—was created from scratch in 3D. I built this digital world to tell a story that’s been stuck in my head, a story about memory and reality.

In this video, you’ll see my full process:

🎬 The Story Concept: Why a simple object can be so powerful.

🛠️ Modeling the Impossible: Building the intricate photo frame from a single cube in 3ds Max, focusing on realistic wear and tear.

🎨 Breathing Life into It: Texturing in Substance Painter to make the wood feel old and the metal feel cold.

💡 The Magic of Lighting: Setting up the moody, mysterious attic lighting in Unreal Engine 5 to make the frame look like it’s been waiting there for years.

🎭 The Final Reveal: Compositing the render to sell the illusion completely.

This project was a labor of love, taking over [Number] hours of modeling, texturing, and rendering. I create these pieces to push my skills and share compelling visual stories with all of you.
If this short film moved you, or if you appreciate the artistry and effort that goes into creating such a detailed 3D environment, please consider supporting my work. I want to dedicate more time to creating these narrative-driven pieces for you.
Here’s how you can help:
💝 Please Donate to my Payoneer: [email protected]
(Every contribution, big or small, helps me buy coffee, keep the software running, and dedicate more time to creating!)
🛒 Or, Purchase one of My 3D models from my store: https://www.cgtrader.com/designers/karim-2017
(Get professional-grade models like the ones you see in this video for your own projects!)
Your support isn't just a donation; it's a vote for more art, more stories, and more strange little photo frames from forgotten attics.