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Ascension W.I.P.
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.
Ascension W.I.P. // Work in Progress
Post by kena // May 12, 2007, 8:42am
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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This is one that I put on hold for 7.5
The idea is a glimpse of the present and future.
A sad little boy sits inconsolably in the middle of a ruined area with a glimpse of his future in the background. Being human, and a child, the boy faces away from his future and it is all unknowing that he mourns his present.
The problem I have is that I really am not sure which ground fog I can use for the foreground.
Opinions?
tetian fog
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gray fog
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pink fog
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aqua fog
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Yellow fog
5902 |
Post by Birdnest // May 12, 2007, 11:25am
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Birdnest
Total Posts: 152
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Nice human modeling! :cool:
Anyways, I like the greyish fog in th foreground. |
Post by kena // May 12, 2007, 12:12pm
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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thank you and one vote for gray. I've been wavering a bit since I posted these between the tetian and the gray.... the tetian looks like ruble dust, but the gray has the maudlin appeal... anyone else? |
Post by W!ZARD // May 12, 2007, 3:54pm
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W!ZARD
Total Posts: 2603
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Grey fog for me too - also I'd be tempted to thin it just a little and raise it's height. |
Post by kena // May 12, 2007, 5:20pm
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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ok how about these |
Post by mrbones // May 12, 2007, 5:28pm
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mrbones
Total Posts: 1280
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I like number 2 pic color composition wise,
Is there any way to add a bit of under lighting inthe front, just to remove the blotchyness on the sitting characters forehead?
Cheers |
Post by kena // May 12, 2007, 5:37pm
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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Yes there is, but then it would defeat the purpose of the picture. The forehead is supposed to look blotchy. It's from him screwing his eyebrows in complete dejection. I put the light behind him because when you are feeling bad, there never seems to be enough light in the world. Whereas in his older self, the figure is surrounded by light as it ascends to a higher level of perception. Kind of a despair/hope thing. The small imperfections of the blotchiness of the forehead and the shadows on the legs is exactly what I was going for. You don't know how happy it makes me that it actually caught your attention! |
Post by mrbones // May 12, 2007, 5:47pm
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mrbones
Total Posts: 1280
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That was the first thing I noticed, Maybee if you make the shadow a little softer that might work.
Cheers
Yes there is, but then it would defeat the purpose of the picture. The forehead is supposed to look blotchy. It's from him screwing his eyebrows in complete dejection. I put the light behind him because when you are feeling bad, there never seems to be enough light in the world. Whereas in his older self, the figure is surrounded by light as it ascends to a higher level of perception. Kind of a despair/hope thing. The small imperfections of the blotchiness of the forehead and the shadows on the legs is exactly what I was going for. You don't know how happy it makes me that it actually caught your attention! |
Post by W!ZARD // May 12, 2007, 9:44pm
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W!ZARD
Total Posts: 2603
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Yeah - that fog looks WAAY better. Especially the grey - I feel it fits your theme better (as I understand it anyway).
Given what you've said about the spiritual, higher self aspect I'd recommend considering brightening up the background figure is some way. Currently the 'higher self' figure seems a little dull for an enlightened soul being. |
Post by TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb // May 13, 2007, 3:04am
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TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb
Total Posts: 858
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That grey fog/mist looks much, much better. Biggest problem I can see is the shadows, or rather lack of, under the sitting person - looks like they're floating. If you can't/don't want to add any extra lights or settings, airbrush them in in post prod.
Did you model the people? The jumper on the sitting one is fabulous, the wrinkles and texture are great. |
Post by Jack Edwards // May 13, 2007, 4:50am
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Jack Edwards
Total Posts: 4062
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I'm not to keen on the yellow light used for the ascension. I think a vertically streaked blue/white light (or volumetrics) would be much better.
-Jack. |
Post by kena // May 13, 2007, 5:10am
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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Yeah - that fog looks WAAY better. Especially the grey - I feel it fits your theme better (as I understand it anyway).
Given what you've said about the spiritual, higher self aspect I'd recommend considering brightening up the background figure is some way. Currently the 'higher self' figure seems a little dull for an enlightened soul being.
I will see what I can do about the light for that person, It's not too easy, since the light is really an inverted cone.
That grey fog/mist looks much, much better. Biggest problem I can see is the shadows, or rather lack of, under the sitting person - looks like they're floating. If you can't/don't want to add any extra lights or settings, airbrush them in in post prod.
Did you model the people? The jumper on the sitting one is fabulous, the wrinkles and texture are great.good Idea on the shadows - I will see if I can get them put in somehow. Both of the figures are imported in thier poses juing DAZ studio. the cloths on the boy are actually from thier Hanzle and Gretel line. :) I liked the wrinkles too.
I'm not to keen on the yellow light used for the ascension. I think a vertically streaked blue/white light (or volumetrics) would be much better.
-Jack. Don't know if I can do that or not. Any sugestions would be helpful. If anyone can send me a few quick pointers via PM it would be appriciated. I tried putting volumetrics on one of the lights, but it washed out the sitting boy until he just didn't look that well. |
Post by W!ZARD // May 13, 2007, 5:26am
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W!ZARD
Total Posts: 2603
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Theres lots of ways to sparkle up that ascension cone. Do you know how to use alpha masking for transparency? Find or make a nice picture of a starfield and use that in the alpha channel so that rather than a semi solid cone you can have a cone of tiny stars which can be made quite bright by upping the ambient illumination in the material reflectance channel. That's one simple suggestion which may give you some ideas - this picture is portraying a lovely idea and you have got a good start with it so far. By continuing to work it until you find the effect or combination of effects that make it really pop you can only end up with not only a great picture but also an excellent learning opportunity.
HTH |
Post by kena // May 13, 2007, 8:51am
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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OK - following your wonderful sugestions....
I've removed the cast shadows from the background and the rock cleft. This allowed the shadow to cast for the boy.
I've increased the Lumonisity and Differential on the ascending future (maybe too much?)
I tried the starfield sugestion, and I'm not sure if that or the split rays look better. |
Post by MadMouse // May 13, 2007, 8:54am
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MadMouse
Total Posts: 1069
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That bottom render is by far the better one IMHO |
Post by TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb // May 13, 2007, 9:17am
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TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb
Total Posts: 858
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For me it's definitely the 'stars' version (could maybe do with a few more), the other one looks like a stain.
Yay on the Boys shadow - now he's earthed! |
Post by kena // May 13, 2007, 1:07pm
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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ok - 1 2 or 3?
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5964
5965
I'm partial to 3, but would love to have your opinions. |
Post by MadMouse // May 13, 2007, 1:15pm
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MadMouse
Total Posts: 1069
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I like one :) |
Post by TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb // May 13, 2007, 2:43pm
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TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb
Total Posts: 858
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Two. It has a sense of motion. One is too static and three is too accelerated! Two is just right IMO
While you're still fiddling with the cone you might want to check the transparancy side and see if you can get rid of the colur blend where it touches the rock at the bottom. |
Post by Methusela // May 13, 2007, 3:19pm
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Methusela
Total Posts: 414
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I think the one just before these last three is best, if you ask me. ^^ |
Post by W!ZARD // May 13, 2007, 9:49pm
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W!ZARD
Total Posts: 2603
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Oh yeah! Now you're getting there! This is shaping up very nicely I think. So far I'm inclined to go along with Methusela - for me it's the starry one, the last image before the latest three.
In that picture the stars look more like 'real' stars rather than the 5 pointed jobs you get on a wizards hat. This suggests the idea of ascending to the heavens better for me than the more obviously stylised stars of the last 3 pics.
Since you've clearly got your head around alpha masking I'd also suggest a more layered texture to your rocks, some smudges of yellow and greens to suggest lichen of moss. It doesn't need a lot but your current texture feels a little artificial.
Looking better all the time Kena - well done. |
Post by TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb // May 14, 2007, 1:38am
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TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb
Total Posts: 858
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If we're also allowed to choose from earlier ones then I agree with Methusela & W!ZARD that the earlier stars version is the better of the bunch. |
Post by kena // May 14, 2007, 4:55am
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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It's kinda hard to mask symbiont... will have to check it out. |
Post by kena // May 14, 2007, 6:44pm
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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OK - It took a bit of effort, but I think I've got it.
What do you think? |
Post by mrbones // May 14, 2007, 7:08pm
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mrbones
Total Posts: 1280
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Looking nice,
Color and composition are great.
I would use more bump on the rocks in back, less on ground. maybee a puddle or stream in front, tree or bush on side,
Volumetrics for acesnsion figure.
Sweet, good start so far.. |
Post by kena // May 14, 2007, 7:21pm
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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nope, no organics or water... would take away from the "stark" outlook of my forlorn boy. It would be Good Idea to be able to change the mood though. Don't want to get too much fancier, or I might loose the whole purpose of my picture. It needs to be slightly disturbing and slightly hopeful.
I also wanted to emphasize the rough outlook of the boy and the softer, hopeful outlook of the ascendant future.
Please note that the man in the background is not ascending to heaven, but to a better outlook in life. He is surrounded by shape, color and interest, whereas the boy is surrounded by the hard, abrasive and hopeless reality that he perceives.
I thought of putting plants with the "future" version of life, but it just distracted from the boy and became too busy. |
Post by kena // May 15, 2007, 4:58pm
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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ok - sometimes you just cannot leave it alone until you figure out what is bothering you.
Special thanks to my Friend Twi-lite who kept giggeling about the "floaty figure's" Pants - said he looked like he was wearing a mini-skirt.
And I had a shadow that just kept bothering me... finally figured out that the cone of stars was casting a shadow. Light specks should not cast a cone-shaped shadow :D
so here is version number 25 in my long list - I kept giving letters to each version, but this one is 17s which is my 25th try.
:jumpy: |
Post by TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb // May 16, 2007, 4:03am
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TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb
Total Posts: 858
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Looking better each time. If you're still after suggestions I'd say fiddle with the rock texture. Looks like an easter egg! It looks like you've used a 'dried mud' shader which, in my opinion, doesn't work for rocks. Something a bit more 'granite' than 'mud' would, I feel, work much better. Lastly, soften up the sharp hairline of sitting boy in post. Where his hair meets his forehead makes it look like a helmet!
As someone said to me recently, "it's the last five percent that takes the longest" - well done for sticking with it. |
Post by W!ZARD // May 17, 2007, 12:36am
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W!ZARD
Total Posts: 2603
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Looking better each time. If you're still after suggestions I'd say fiddle with the rock texture. Looks like an easter egg! It looks like you've used a 'dried mud' shader which, in my opinion, doesn't work for rocks. Something a bit more 'granite' than 'mud' would, I feel, work much better. Lastly, soften up the sharp hairline of sitting boy in post. Where his hair meets his forehead makes it look like a helmet!
As someone said to me recently, "it's the last five percent that takes the longest" - well done for sticking with it.
Yep! Just what Kate said - she's summed up my thoughts exactly (again :D ). You might want to think about some scattered bits of dead vegetation around the pessimist and some live flowers around the optomist but that may also be belabouring the point you've already made! |
Post by Nez // May 17, 2007, 2:24am
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Nez
Total Posts: 1102
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I agree on the rock issue - I've done a moderate amount of geology and that does look a bit strange...
Most rocks are formed and appear in layers (they may no longer be horizontal) although sometimes they can look kind of 'blocky' instead. Try a quick google images search on 'rock formation' and you'll get a couple of good reference pictures.
I have to laugh also about the mini-skirt comment - I was a bit concerned about the attire, but nobody would call me fashionable, so I can't criticise!
But I really like how this is coming along... |
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