This render is the combination of a live-action plate and a 3D surfaced model. Inspired by the movie I Vitelloni (1953), the Fiat model above is created entirely from NURBS Surfaces, which are conducive to generating smooth, curved shapes, such as those present in vehicles or organic models. I created the 3D model and materials, placed the camera, and lit the scene with an environment light and HDRi. 

 

After photographing my background image, I worked to match the placement of the physical camera in my 3D scene to accurately composite the images together and maintain the proportions of my model. To find a practical method of modeling the Fiat, I decided to break the model down into specific sections and identify which surfaces were continuous. This allowed me to separate out large forms, such as the hood and the engine cover, as well as identify the size of adjacent elements, such as the side doors, and maintain consistent proportions in the 3D space. After blocking out my initial forms with basic NURBS primitives, I began to examine the profile of each piece of the Fiat. Because NURBS surfaces are manipulated through curve points, I found that correctly understanding the profile of each piece was essential to achieving the same look in a 3D space. This was particular pertinent for the small, wave-like detailing that runs from the engine to the back of the car, surrounding the windows. To maintain this shape across the car, I saved a base profile curve which I would duplicate and adjust for neighboring surfaces as the form of the car body slightly changed (such as when the back of the car widened as compared to the front.) By maintaining the vertical proportion of these points on each curve, I was able to keep a consistent profile for the car, even across individual surfaces such as the doors.