New images in gallery

[axg423]

I've uploaded a few new images into the gallery. I'm still working on making them look a little better. I know very little about lighting except that I don't use any but the 2 that come with the new scene. I also would like to learn about special effects after the rendering. Haven't a clue about them either.

[rjandron]

These look very good. The ships blend very well with the backdrops and the composition is quite well done.

I would suggest that you start playing around with the lights and the shadows in your scenes. These will add a bit more definition to the meshes when rendered, and can dramatically change the mood of the image.

What sort of special effects are you interested in trying?

[gmd3d]

Cool work there . Lighting can take a bit of getting use too. I spend ages tring to get it right and mostly fall short ... but the look good Stevew's meshes are great for the detail .....
Looking forward to seeing more..

You have TS ??

[Stevew]

Good start Alan, I told you there were some great people here to help. Keep it up
:salute: :D :Nsalute:

[axg423]

Good start Alan, I told you there were some great people here to help. Keep it up
:salute: :D :Nsalute:
Thanks Steve,
I will keep trying. How is the new job?

[axg423]

Cool work there . Lighting can take a bit of getting use too. I spend ages tring to get it right and mostly fall short ... but the look good Stevew's meshes are great for the detail .....
Looking forward to seeing more..

You have TS ??
I'm using TS 4.3. I've put some lighting in my earlier attempts. I just find it's too bright. I don't think I'm using it correctly. That's what I have to keep practicing.

[axg423]

These look very good. The ships blend very well with the backdrops and the composition is quite well done.

I would suggest that you start playing around with the lights and the shadows in your scenes. These will add a bit more definition to the meshes when rendered, and can dramatically change the mood of the image.

What sort of special effects are you interested in trying?
What I want to do is make the exhaust look like it's exhausting. The exhaust should be 'alive'. I know that there are plug ins & special effects filters, I just don't know how to use them. I've tried a few times & nothing's worked. I have PS 6.

[rjandron]

Engine glows are actually pretty easy to do in Photoshop, or similar image processing software. A little bit tougher to do in 3d software.

In Photoshop, select the engine glow surface using the magic wand, copy this to a new layer, and then apply a Gaussian Blur of 20+ pixels. This gives a very simple glow.

Photoshop also has a filter that simulates lens flares. Create a new layer and fill it with black. Then change the compositing mode for the layer to Lighten. Apply the lens flare to this layer over top of the engines--I'd suggest using the 105mm Prime lens as the settings for the lens flare--this gives a very blue-white flare that is perfect for simple engine glows.

The reason for putting this lens flare on a new layer is that it gives you the ability to adjust the strength of the lens flare by varying the layer's opacity. You can also paint black over some of the more annoying lens flare artifacts.

Here's one of your renders with a simple gaussian blur added to the engines:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1044740/axg002.jpg

And here's a shot of the same render with the lens flares added:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1044740/axg003.jpg

I hope that you don't mind me using these images for illustration purposes.

As far as rendering glows in 3d packages--I would add those using After Effects in post-processing. Most 3d packages have a "glow" option for surfaces that allows you to specify a certain glow size, but I find the After Effects approach is more controllable.

I hope this helps. There are a lot of other options for spaceship exhaust--this hasn't even scratched the surface.

[Stevew]

Alan
There is a plugin called Xenofex that is great and very easy to use for glows
S :)

[gpdesigner]

very nice render axg, very nice indeed, tho I do agree about adding more shadows into the render . . . I am very interested in seeing what you come up with after you tweak it a bit
T

[axg423]

Alan
There is a plugin called Xenofex that is great and very easy to use for glows
S :)
Steve,

Where you you get that plug in? New atlantis looks great.

Alan

[axg423]

Engine glows are actually pretty easy to do in Photoshop, or similar image processing software. A little bit tougher to do in 3d software.

In Photoshop, select the engine glow surface using the magic wand, copy this to a new layer, and then apply a Gaussian Blur of 20+ pixels. This gives a very simple glow.

Photoshop also has a filter that simulates lens flares. Create a new layer and fill it with black. Then change the compositing mode for the layer to Lighten. Apply the lens flare to this layer over top of the engines--I'd suggest using the 105mm Prime lens as the settings for the lens flare--this gives a very blue-white flare that is perfect for simple engine glows.

The reason for putting this lens flare on a new layer is that it gives you the ability to adjust the strength of the lens flare by varying the layer's opacity. You can also paint black over some of the more annoying lens flare artifacts.

Here's one of your renders with a simple gaussian blur added to the engines:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1044740/axg002.jpg

And here's a shot of the same render with the lens flares added:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1044740/axg003.jpg

I hope that you don't mind me using these images for illustration purposes.

As far as rendering glows in 3d packages--I would add those using After Effects in post-processing. Most 3d packages have a "glow" option for surfaces that allows you to specify a certain glow size, but I find the After Effects approach is more controllable.

I hope this helps. There are a lot of other options for spaceship exhaust--this hasn't even scratched the surface.
Thanks for the tip. I will start to use it & see what happens. With lighting, where do you place the light(s) to obtain the effect desired? Will upload a few new images shortly, w/o any additional effects.

[rjandron]

I'll look forward to those images. With lighting, I would suggest that you start with this Betterspace (http://www.ap3d.com/betterspace/betterspace-tut-12.htm) tutorial on lighting tech-based starships. It should serve as a good introduction to the type of lighting you're thinking of.

The tutorial is designed for Lightwave, but you should be able to be translate it over to your particular application.

[axg423]

I've submitted a few new images to the gallery. I guess they will be posted in the next few days. 2 are variations of the battlestar, one is a Tristar & the last is Cylon imperator & raiders.


BTW, I'm still encountering problems when I attempt to upload. Last time I had to login 7 times before I was able to upload. Today, I quit after my 4th login. A few hours later I logged in again & was able to upload. Does anyone else have this type of problem? Is it a problem?

[Stevew]

Got some really great plugins here
http://www.alienskin.com/prod_index.html