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Ball and chain
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Ball and chain // Work in Progress
Post by Nez // Jun 13, 2007, 4:23am
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Nez
Total Posts: 1102
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Think this is my first WIP!
Anyway, I'm working up several options for a poster for a local event to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery. Obviously there will be various bits of text etc outlining what's happening, but this was one of my (simpler!) concepts.
This is only supposed to be a rough version so I can present the basic concepts - if this is the favoured design I would aim to improve it some. On that grounds, I'd be grateful for any suggestions you might have on improving the image/modelling. I won't take any offence (hopefully!) - as I said, this is only supposed to be a rough and ready version anyway. It's also the first time I've attempted to use Image Based Lighting - I'm quite pleased with the effect, but would be happy to have suggestions on improving the lighting (I've used a white to black top-to-bottom gradient as the image, although it isn't visible).
Do you think the manacle part needs more geometry, egde bevelling etc? (It's not supposed to be comfortable!) Texturing?
One final note - the final image is almost certainly going to be greyscale to keep printing costs down, so don't get hung up on colour issues..
Thanks for any feedback.... |
Post by Tugar // Jun 13, 2007, 4:57am
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Tugar
Total Posts: 68
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Nice work! It all looks great. The only thing I see wrong is that the shackle and the earth are size reversed. The 'ball' ( nice planet btw) should be much larger than the shackle. |
Post by kena // Jun 13, 2007, 5:20am
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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Also, if it has been 200 years, you would expect a bit of rust and that would cause rounding on your chain and shackle. It also jumps out at me that the hinge seems to be welded open. need to separate the two halves a bit and put in a convincing hinge arrangement. The hinge should go outside, not inside. |
Post by Nez // Jun 13, 2007, 5:49am
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Nez
Total Posts: 1102
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Thanks both of you for your comments.
Tugar - the ball is a moderate amount bigger than the shackle, but the viewpoint/prespective distort that somewhat I guess. Looking at reference photos/images on Google, the ball is often not all that big relatively. I could maybe increase the ball slightly but don't want to skew the balance too much...
Kena - good point on thehinge - I did actually model something but it hasn't shown up too well and is maybe a bit small. Like you say, there needs to be a bit of separation between the two halfs to actually reveal the hinge. The rust is a fair point, but wasn't sure how well that would show up once I turned greyscale.
Attached version below has ball size increased 25%, hinge opened up (and hinge 'cylinder' scaled up slightly too) - does that look a bit better? Haven't done the rust as yet (I am supopsed to be working after all! :rolleyes: ) -as the IBL makes it a bit slow to render I've just included a screen grab... |
Post by W!ZARD // Jun 13, 2007, 6:41am
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W!ZARD
Total Posts: 2603
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Good grief! They've abolished slavery? I got a couple of old bosses and an ex-wife who need to be told!!
Sorry mate, couldn't resist. It's something very worthy of celebrating. I just wish they could abolish idiocy....my own included!
I'm wondering about your earth textures and how well that will translate in greyscale. It may be worth thinking about going for a stylised planet texture that uses a lower colour range. I'd be tempted to work with a greyscale texture on the globe.
I don't know what version of tS you have but if your using 7.5 you may be able to use the displacement mapping tool to give the shackle a beaten and rusted finish. Otherwise a strong bump map may be sufficient.
Kena is on the right track with his comments about the hinge - I'd be tempted to make it bigger still. Slavers aren';t known for subtlety.
Hope this helps |
Post by chrisj // Jun 13, 2007, 7:53am
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chrisj
Total Posts: 239
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I think this is going well, good concept, good execution. Size relationship is fine, as it enhances the scale of slavery on a global level. Maybe include a broken lock, or pin, and, of course, texturing. |
Post by Tugar // Jun 13, 2007, 8:01am
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Tugar
Total Posts: 68
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Much better perspective. I have to agree that the shackle should appear to be worn, but maybe not rusted. Metals get polished with repeated and constant use. Scratches would be a good idea. You might even think about including a picture with a small sledgehammer and a metal chisel. Put a human foot in there with the hand around the chisel trying to break the shackle. |
Post by kena // Jun 13, 2007, 10:39am
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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the hinge is almost correct, but most of it needs to be on the outside..
here is a quick picture I did to demonstrate. I'm at work, so excuse the crude nature.
6842 |
Post by Nez // Jun 14, 2007, 4:24am
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Nez
Total Posts: 1102
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Thanks all for your suggestions.
I'll definitely look at the hinge and make some adjustments there; I'll have a fiddle with textures/shape of the shackle, but want to keep it fairly subtle - wil lhave to have a bit of an experiment. Nice ideas about locks/ankes/chisels etc, but the intention was to keep it as 'clean' and uncomplicated as possible (a rarity for me) - don't want to add much else to the scene, just improve what I've got. Plus there's no way I could model a decent ankle/foot... Interesting ideas though.
W!zard - good point about my planetary texture - the level of cloud may be rather too much for it to be clear. I'll maybe try a cloud free version and see how that looks, although I wanted a bit of cloud to make it a bit less stylised... The only cloud map I have that I can use is rather busy so may have to try to make one... And sadly, I'm only on TS5.1 so no displacement mapping - I wish! |
Post by W!ZARD // Jun 14, 2007, 9:42am
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W!ZARD
Total Posts: 2603
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I'm only on TS5.1 so no displacement mapping - I wish!
There's still plenty you can do without displacement maps. tS 5.1 will produce very decent bumps. You could try taking your planet texture into photoshop or the GIMP or whatever you use for 2d work and reduce the number of colours - try a 'posterize' filter or an emboss filter. If the continental outlines are defined enough you may still be able to use an alpha mapped cloud layer.
HTH |
Post by prodigy // Jun 14, 2007, 6:16pm
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prodigy
Total Posts: 3029
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Nice work.. i only have 2 sugestions for your work..
1) make the earth a little bigger (if you try to simulate those balls from the jail).. i think is to small .. Sorry my poor english :D
2) Add SDS to the earth.. in the first render i can see the vertices from the sphere..
Nothing else.. Good Work..:) |
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