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Learning new things...
About Truespace Archives
These pages are a copy of the official truespace forums prior to their removal somewhere around 2011.
They are retained here for archive purposes only.
Learning new things... // Work in Progress
Post by chrisj // Oct 3, 2006, 8:40am
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chrisj
Total Posts: 239
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Well, at the risk of sounding like a total bloke, the only thing I see missing is the drop-dead gorgeous blonde with the skin-tight leather pants!!!
that can be arranged. let me start working from the neck down |
Post by TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb // Oct 3, 2006, 5:26pm
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TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb
Total Posts: 858
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first round of painting done but I think I over-waxed it!
2532
So sent it back to the paint shop and had it dulled down a bit. Still not perfect but getting there. Biggest problem is lighting. I hate lighting!
2533 |
Post by frank // Oct 4, 2006, 3:44am
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frank
Total Posts: 709
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Fantastic work!
As far as the lighting, I'd suggest starting out with a big white plane above the car, with a spotlight pointed up at the plane to illuminate it. This will give the car something to reflect. It's simple but it's the key ingredient to all those shiny car advertisements.
Then I'd go in and add keys, fills, etc, etc...
What kind of shader are you using? I've gotten decent results with the Yamaneko one. You may try layering it with the car paint shader to get the nice specular (from Yamaneko) and the paint flake effect (from paint shader). |
Post by TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb // Oct 4, 2006, 7:13am
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TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb
Total Posts: 858
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Thanks Frank
a big white plane above the car, with a spotlight pointed up at the plane to illuminate it.
Or use the 'constant' shader?
What kind of shader are you using? I've gotten decent results with the Yamaneko one.
It's just Dyna Reflectance in ShaderMagic straight (with the mirror effect turned down a bit now!!). I don't have the Yamenko shaders and they don't seem to be available any more so I can't try those. **edit** Scratch that. After posting this I started tidying up and found my old trueSpace FX book, and guess what's on the included CD! I'll give them a whirl tonight, thanks for the pointer
If anyone's got any good recipes for car paintwork I'm more than willing to listen and give them a go as I don't want to ruin this with a rubbish paint job! |
Post by frank // Oct 4, 2006, 11:21am
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frank
Total Posts: 709
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Or use the 'constant' shader?
You could do that. I like to use a spotlight to give a bit of falloff around the edges instead of a 100% white plane. |
Post by Rareth // Oct 5, 2006, 4:15am
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Rareth
Total Posts: 149
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White? no no no, a smoking hot car like that needs to be RED
Outstanding Job looks really great!
I haven't had time to sit down and model anything in over a month.. |
Post by TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb // Oct 5, 2006, 4:39am
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TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb
Total Posts: 858
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Thanks for the heads-up on the Yamenko shader, Frank - similar results, renders much faster and seems to crash less frequently too!
Here's the latest tests. Still not perfect but getting there slowly. As you can see below, white is proving to be quite tricky to do convincingly so for the time being I'm trying out some other colours, mainly <yawn> cliche red (sorry Rareth!) and black. Any comments and suggestions welcomed.
2550
2551
2552 |
Post by daybe // Oct 5, 2006, 4:47am
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daybe
Total Posts: 562
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Looks great, I like the black one myself maybe a nice pewter type color may work as well, the tan interior works the best for me, I think I have only seen these with red paint myself but it's your car do what you want. Nice job on the modeling by the way. |
Post by Shike // Oct 5, 2006, 5:05am
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Shike
Total Posts: 511
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The white and the black are best :D
Maybe the white one would look better in a darker studio?
....I've never understood why anyone would like to have a red car? :confused: |
Post by daybe // Oct 5, 2006, 5:10am
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daybe
Total Posts: 562
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I agree, more contrast is needed for the background with the white car, also what are your render settings at, I think you need a bit more anti aliasing for the final render. |
Post by TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb // Oct 5, 2006, 5:22am
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TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb
Total Posts: 858
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what are your render settings at, I think you need a bit more anti aliasing for the final render.
Oh, only adaptive at the moment as these are only tests - no point in making them take longer! When I get the shaders/textures, environment, lighting and viewpoint correct I'll crank it up to 4x and set it cooking overnight!
Good point on the background for the white version guys. Maybe a really deep, dark blue for the infinity arc? hmmmm... |
Post by frank // Oct 5, 2006, 6:46am
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frank
Total Posts: 709
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Wow - it has been fun to watch this thing go from a wireframe to a nice, shiny car! You are moving along very quickly, too - especially for someone who only recently picked up PolyTools and decided to model a car. Fantastic!
I like the black one out of the three.
Also of note, camera angle has a lot to do with making sure the shine/reflection shows at its best. |
Post by brianalldridge // Oct 5, 2006, 5:47pm
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brianalldridge
Total Posts: 397
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personally, I liked it untextured, looked like your other clay models :) |
Post by Vizu // Oct 6, 2006, 2:12am
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Vizu
Total Posts: 628
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Now 6 of 5 stars :) :banana:
I like the black version. |
Post by Rareth // Oct 6, 2006, 3:20am
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Rareth
Total Posts: 149
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The white and the black are best :D
Maybe the white one would look better in a darker studio?
....I've never understood why anyone would like to have a red car? :confused:
Red stands out period, granted the lamborgini stands out regardless of color, and I don't mean a bright red, and anything but white for that car. a deep shade of metalic blue would work, as would a deep forest green (tan interior)
but its not my car. it still looks awesome. the black needs to be a tad more glossy to show detail. |
Post by hemulin // Oct 6, 2006, 10:52am
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hemulin
Total Posts: 1058
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It's looking good! |
Post by Jack Edwards // Oct 6, 2006, 8:57pm
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Jack Edwards
Total Posts: 4062
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Looking good here :)
Some quick crits and comments:
Reflective things usually need something to reflect. Have you tried doing any envirionment mapping, IBL, or maybe just sticking some background images off camera? You could do a hemisphere mapped with a panoramic image just far enough above in the scene that it doesn't show on camera. Just some ideas.
The chrome on the wheels seems a bit dull, dunno if you've gotten to that yet.
Also I noticed in the render of the black car that there is more detail on the tires showing that I can't see on the white and red. Maybe the tire shader could use some tweaks so we can see the work you did on them?
-Jack. |
Post by parva // Oct 7, 2006, 11:00am
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parva
Total Posts: 822
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Fantastic work!
Funny as I watched today the Fryrender forum I saw and thought "hey didn't you know this car?!" :D
link (http://www.max3d.org/fryrender/car_renders.jpg) |
Post by W!ZARD // Oct 10, 2006, 12:59am
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W!ZARD
Total Posts: 2603
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The white and the black are best :D
Maybe the white one would look better in a darker studio?
....I've never understood why anyone would like to have a red car? :confused:
It's a well known fact that red cars go faster than other cars. In fact in France it's impossible to get insurance cover for a red car because they also have more accidents than cars of other colours!
Great work Witchy in any colour! |
Post by Nez // Oct 10, 2006, 1:49am
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Nez
Total Posts: 1102
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Wow, fantastic model - looks great. My only query is when viewed with the doors up, the interior side of the door is visible and this looks to be a bit lacking in detail when compared to the rest of the model. I've not actually seen the interior detailing of a Lambo door, so maybe it is like this, but I think it detracts from the overall quality very slightly. With the doors down (as in the black version) this isn't an issue.
Personally, I like the black best of the versions shown - I don't think I've ever seen the Countach in dark blue or green, but you might try bright yellow - personally I hate it on cars but it is a popular choice on supercars, so would be in keeping. Orange is common on new Lambos, but may not have been used on the Countach. I prefer the red to the white, but maybe that's just because I've never been a fan of white cars (or red interiors!).
When you're done, maybe you'd consider 'loaning' your model to someone here you trust with TS7 to try out the HDR rendering, just out of interest?
Anyway, fantastic work - would be interested in learning a bit more about the tools you used but am guessing they probably won't work on my antique TS5.1.... |
Post by TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb // Oct 21, 2006, 12:11am
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TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb
Total Posts: 858
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Been away but now I'm back and determinded to get this finished! Black seems to be the favourite (and certainly easier to work with!) so I've darkened/glossed it up a bit more as suggestedby Rareth. I have to agree with Brian, I preferred the untextured one, much easier to light!!! All the renders are within skydomes and this one is in one painted with black and white panels which I think works. The wheels aren't chromed which is why they don't look chrome! They were plain steel colour, not quite there with that yet. And I'm not happy at all with the tires so am not showing any more detail on those than I have to!
Nez - Yep, the door panels really are that uninteresting! The car is from the early seventies so the luxury/aesthetics we're used to today just didn't happen back then! (trivia time - the very first production model off the assembly line is green!). And I'd be more than happy to let someone else light this beast for me! I find lighting is a real pain! :)
Anyway, here's the latest mini update. Too dark? Also, should I go for a bog-standard brochure/studio type shot or showroom/motor show type setting, I can't decide.
2656 |
Post by trueBlue // Oct 21, 2006, 6:48am
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trueBlue
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Congratulations on making into the Best of Forums! Very well deserved. I would also like to thank you for sharing your techniques for I know this takes a lot of time and effort, and I am very grateful. |
Post by Shike // Oct 23, 2006, 12:12am
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Shike
Total Posts: 511
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I second that ! Congratulations ! :D |
Post by Rareth // Oct 23, 2006, 9:12am
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Rareth
Total Posts: 149
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congratulations!
car looks great |
Post by TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb // Oct 23, 2006, 3:41pm
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TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb
Total Posts: 858
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Thanks guys. 'twas a nice surprise. And thanks to TomG for considering my efforts worthy.
Had a bit of a eureka moment today. Fiddling with things and found that the shader has a setting to adjust the distance that reflections are accepted at (or something like that - if anyone's got a manual for the Yamenko shaders...! :) )
Anyway, the upshot was, a vastly improved paint job! spent the evening fiddling with this, that and the other, fixing the alpha maps on the windscreen, faffing around with lights and stuff and I think it's starting to look a lot better! The whole point of this project was to learn some new things and I'm still learning new bits even this far down the line!
Soooo, here's how it stands at the moment. Any crits, comments, recommendations or general input greatfully accepted.
2681 |
Post by Steinie // Oct 23, 2006, 4:20pm
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Steinie
Total Posts: 3667
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Well one thing is Hogwash....you don't need our help lighting your scene! I like the way the right door window is reflecting the light too. The improvements over your last render is really making the vehicle come alive. Very nice work.
I always prefere the wet look myself. Makes the car look like wet eye candy! |
Post by Tiles // Oct 23, 2006, 9:45pm
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Tiles
Total Posts: 1037
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Great stuff :)
A little suggestion for the front part, which is a bit too dark for my feelings: one more small light maybe. This would define the shape of the car more clearly.
And/or something to mirror in the front part of the car. Like a primitive. A guy in front of the car for example :D |
Post by Jack Edwards // Oct 23, 2006, 10:02pm
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Jack Edwards
Total Posts: 4062
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Much improved over previous render. Starting to get that glossy look to the paint job. :)
The glass still seems too clear to me. Maybe you could apply a transparent mapped texture to give it a bit more character? Maybe even use a fresnel or dielectric shader so that there is more reflection and less transmition the closer the view angle is to 90 degrees relative to the surface. Could also be that the index of refraction is off. Reference I have, puts glass at 1.44, but this table might be useful as well:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/tables/indrf.html
Also the door seems a bit thin, like it's just a texture on a plane... might be that the glass being thin is part of the problem with the look of the glass too...?
Of coures interestingly this article here says that car windshields are made with parrallel glass surfaces so that the light isn't bent when it comes out the other side.... so maybe all it really needs is a fresnel effect?
http://madsci.org/posts/archives/jan2000/948485279.Ph.r.html
Good luck!
-Jack. |
Post by MadMouse // Oct 23, 2006, 11:09pm
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MadMouse
Total Posts: 1069
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Very impressive Kate. I've been away from this forum (due to a pooter crash) for a little while and now I'm back....Boy has this project come a long way!!!
Looks really great! If your after suggestions... I've always liked cars sat on a reflective surface i.e. a highly polished floor. But this can play havoc with render times and requires the underside of the car to have more detail that is perhaps necessary. Just an idea.
Congrats on the 'best in forum' BTW. Well deserved.
Steve |
Post by Rareth // Oct 24, 2006, 6:11am
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Rareth
Total Posts: 149
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wow most impressive.. the change to the shader really made the car look alot better.. and I agree about the wet look. cars look good wet. |
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