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choronr · July 18, 2011, 12:28:37 AM

Just a short distance from my home while taking a walk, this is what I see. Now, at the peak of the summer heat, I don't get a chance to take long hikes through the desert until the fall, winter or spring seasons. So, I try to create an imaginary scene trying to remember all the elements, their colors; and, their random placements. The elements used her are:

•   A basic generated heightfield.
•   Four Hero Rocks by 'FrankB' from his Stones Pack available at NWDA.
•   Fake Stones by 'dandelO' available at Planetside.
•   Three individual Saguaro Cacti by 'lightning'. These were created by him in collaboration with me some years ago where I photographed several plants including some close up texture shots; sent them to him where they became the basis for his models.
•   One population of the Arizona Barrel Cactus BY XFrog - Thanks to 'Thelby' for his conversion.
•   Two populations of 'Walli's' Dry Shrubs available at NWDA. These were re-colored using different color/texture files.
•   One population of 'Walli's' grass clumps available at NWDA. These were re-colored using different color/texture files.
•   One population of 'Walli's' Mouse Ear available at Planetside. The flowers were re-colored using different color/texture files.
•   One population of dead bushes. Thanks to 'Thelby' for his conversion.
•   One Arizona Woodpecker. Thanks to 'Thelby' for his conversion. Hardly a day goes by when I don't see this interesting bird.

Come out and visit sometime; I'll show you around. Enjoy,

Bob

Dune · July 18, 2011, 03:12:47 AM

Stunning piece of work, Bob! I really like the woodpecker as well, sitting nicely on the rock. I'm a birdwatcher (the avian kind, mostly), so that appeals to me. The only thing I would do, is to add a darkish 1 color and small scale (0.1/1/0.02) powerfractal to the cactus, to get a little dirt on them (between default and the one underneath, e.g.). They are very clean and you see the repeated texture pattern.

Henry Blewer · July 18, 2011, 08:34:57 AM

Fantastic image. I agree about the cactus, but that was after reading Ulco's crit. I did not notice it on the first glance.

freelancah · July 18, 2011, 10:23:15 AM

Very nice work!

ra · July 18, 2011, 04:19:16 PM

Wow, just wow! Really love the vegetation in this one.

choronr · July 19, 2011, 01:50:43 AM

Quote from: Dune on July 18, 2011, 03:12:47 AM
Stunning piece of work, Bob! I really like the woodpecker as well, sitting nicely on the rock. I'm a birdwatcher (the avian kind, mostly), so that appeals to me. The only thing I would do, is to add a darkish 1 color and small scale (0.1/1/0.02) powerfractal to the cactus, to get a little dirt on them (between default and the one underneath, e.g.). They are very clean and you see the repeated texture pattern.

Thank you Ulco,

If I understand correctly, I should try connecting a power fractal to the attached input nodes (see attached) for color; and, the your suggested small scale (0.1/1/0.02) - I take this to mean putting these numbers into the Lead in scale/Smallest scale/ Noise octaves of the Power fractal - correct? Not sure what you mean saying: (between default and the one underneath, e.g.).

Bob

Dune · July 19, 2011, 03:23:42 AM

Between multishader and stem, or just as input to the color of the stem. See what happens... You might have to change the values, which you interpret correctly, indeed.
For the color input you can leave the colors white and black, for the first method, you should choose one dirty color.

inkydigit · July 19, 2011, 09:48:30 AM

another winner here Bob!
loving the woodpecker too!

choronr · July 19, 2011, 09:19:33 PM

Quote from: Dune on July 19, 2011, 03:23:42 AM
Between multishader and stem, or just as input to the color of the stem. See what happens... You might have to change the values, which you interpret correctly, indeed.
For the color input you can leave the colors white and black, for the first method, you should choose one dirty color.

Thanks Ulco. I'll be trying these things today.

choronr · July 20, 2011, 01:57:31 AM

Here is a test following Dune's suggestions. I reduced his suggested numbers by 30 %; then, reduced the noise from 7 to 5. Also adjusted the color by taking blue from 0 to 108.

Dune · July 20, 2011, 02:16:06 AM

Yeah, great. Much more natural. Most plants and stuff have all sorts of diseases, beetle attacks, fungi and algae to suffer.

choronr · July 20, 2011, 02:20:09 AM

Quote from: Dune on July 20, 2011, 02:16:06 AM
Yeah, great. Much more natural. Most plants and stuff have all sorts of diseases, beetle attacks, fungi and algae to suffer.

Yes, just like me - could make an abstract out of all my surgery scares ...lol. Thanks Ulco; now I'll go back and re-render the image. Your suggestions worked great.

Oshyan · July 20, 2011, 05:43:42 PM

I think the changes are a bit too extreme, or at least with limitations of the technique they appear too rough. But the idea is good. Maybe dial back the settings just a little more. Or perhaps with higher render settings it will look better (less jagged, rough)?

- Oshyan

choronr · July 20, 2011, 07:26:57 PM

I think you're right Oshyan. I wil lower those settings a bit and see how that does ...thanks. You will however, run into Saguaro cacti that have that rough look - it happens to some that are hanging onto dear life. Those appear to have more of a brownish color.

Oshyan · July 20, 2011, 07:32:06 PM

Yes, you'll definitely see some that "roughed up", hehe, but brown bits there would be more accurate as you say. Plus you don't want all your cacti looking sickly.

- Oshyan