Enceladus (disappointing)

Violoncello · July 08, 2011, 10:42:08 PM

OK, not sure why I started the Enceladus project, but I'm ending it. It's boring. Rings are never visible. And with exception of craters, it's flat (with bumps).

The land is generally ice and powdery stuff like snow. I can't really call it snow because there's never clouds to precipitate snow. This is a night scene, where Saturn provides all of the light source.

TheBlackHole · July 08, 2011, 10:46:00 PM

That looks pretty good, IMO. I'm guessing you're using TG1 for Enceladus? Maybe you could photoshop (or even ms paint

) a line across Saturn's equator where the rings would be.

Henry Blewer · July 08, 2011, 10:59:17 PM

Actually with some more subtle coloring on the ice this would look pretty good. I am not sure where the rings are, but try putting the sun behind ringed planet, off to one side. They may show up then.

Violoncello · July 08, 2011, 11:06:04 PM

Quote from: njeneb on July 08, 2011, 10:59:17 PM
Actually with some more subtle coloring on the ice this would look pretty good. I am not sure where the rings are, but try putting the sun behind ringed planet, off to one side. They may show up then.

I did this intentionally... Enceladus is exactly on the saturn's plane so that you never see the rings. Most moons in this solar system are on or quite close to their planet's equatorial plane. Our moon is kind of an exception. The really distant moons also have more deviations.

The ice is generally white. Did you notice the golden colors? (Reflection from Saturn.)

Kadri · July 08, 2011, 11:06:54 PM

"Boring" ?

"One of the most spectacular demonstrations of these tectonic movements are rift valleys (called fossae on Enceladus) which can reach near 200 kilometers long and 5 to 10 kilometers in width on one kilometer deep."
From here:
http://www.astronoo.com/en/enceladus.html

If you search for Enceladus images on the net there are many nice ones.

It is up to you. If you want you can make a boring looking subject in a very artistic looking one.
I would change the Saturn texture and try with more cracks and maybe Ice Fountains too.
You are on the right way. Keep it up , Violoncello

Violoncello · July 08, 2011, 11:17:41 PM

Quote from: TheBlackHole on July 08, 2011, 10:46:00 PM
That looks pretty good, IMO. I'm guessing you're using TG1 for Enceladus? Maybe you could photoshop (or even ms paint ) a line across Saturn's equator where the rings would be.

Approximate location of rings (in red).

Henry Blewer · July 09, 2011, 08:30:16 AM

Can you animate this? It would be cool to start from a location where the rings are visible. Then move the POV to this shot.

Violoncello · July 11, 2011, 12:14:12 PM

Quote from: njeneb on July 09, 2011, 08:30:16 AM
Can you animate this? It would be cool to start from a location where the rings are visible. Then move the POV to this shot.

I would like to animate... will consider it if time allows. As far as animation on Encleadus, I have checked with NASA simulators, and rings are never visible on Enc. I'll have to hop to another moon to see rings of Saturn.

Unfortunately, my computer crashed so I have to borrow a computer to run Terragen. And in the General Discussion, I'm asking for help.

Thanks

Draigr · July 11, 2011, 01:03:47 PM

If you don't mind my pointing it out. The only people who will care whether or not you can see the rings of Saturn from Enceladus are the people at NASA and in similar fields. If it's going to look better, don't you think you should just make them show up?

Also, sometimes distance between your camera and the surface helps. You're trying a specific camera angle and positioning that only works when the shot in the centre looks stunning. That's no insult to your work. Everybody has to start somewhere, and the most amazing space renders started as nothing more than a few balls hung in right positions.

Additionally, stars help. As would the inclusion of that big ball of gas in the centre of our solar system, better known as the sun. Because that is also a source of light in this scene, however dim.

Violoncello · July 11, 2011, 01:25:42 PM

Quote from: Draigr on July 11, 2011, 01:03:47 PM
If you don't mind my pointing it out. The only people who will care whether or not you can see the rings of Saturn from Enceladus are the people at NASA and in similar fields. If it's going to look better, don't you think you should just make them show up?

Also, sometimes distance between your camera and the surface helps. You're trying a specific camera angle and positioning that only works when the shot in the centre looks stunning. That's no insult to your work. Everybody has to start somewhere, and the most amazing space renders started as nothing more than a few balls hung in right positions.

Additionally, stars help. As would the inclusion of that big ball of gas in the centre of our solar system, better known as the sun. Because that is also a source of light in this scene, however dim.

Yeah, I realized that I forgot the stars. I have other renders where the rings show up. When I find a computer for Terragen, I'll revisit this (maybe a similar snowy world) that will see the rings, where the planet won't generally be in the center.

I do have plans to spice up that gassy giant. I can't type anymore, because I'm experiencing computer corruption in typing.

Thanks for ideas