Sunset Session #1

[moodflow]

Here is an example of the image projection technique I've been working on.  With this, you can take a standard photograph, painting, or even another TG2 image, and have it blend nearly seamlessly into a new TG2 scene.  In other words, one can take an image "plate" and then add standard TG2 elements, like mountains, rocks, foliage, surfaces, etc. to spice up the original photograph or image.  TG2 will light it and color it perfectly to fit the scene.   There are some prerequisites to make it work properly, but if those are met, this technique is pretty sweet!

Here is an example.  The image only took a few hours to render.

A few days ago, I took some photos of the surf and a surfer off my deck, and assembled them into a panorama in Photoshop.  This became the "plate" image, and I based the rest of the TG2 image off of that.  I simply projected the image onto the standard flat plane, then added mountains, islands, and rocks, loaded in a pre-made clip of the sky, clouds, and background, and rendered it.

Unfortunately, there was to be a lot more to this image.  The water was supposed to have reflectivity, but the reflectivity crash bug won't let me get a full render out of it.  Additionally, soft shadows had to be turned off, as this also caused the image to crash about halfway into the render. 

[moodflow]

Additional information:

On the actual plate image, I did use displacement.  This actually made the white water pop out some for additional lighting sweetness.  TG2's lighting was able to get up into the bumps for more realism, even though it still looked nice without it.

If the reflection and soft shadows had worked, it really added more life to the water.  I can't wait for the new update.   

I did do some minor color correction, contrast, and sharpening on the final image in Photoshop.

[dhavalmistry]

I am sorry I dont understand the technique but these look really amazing!

[rcallicotte]

Good work, moodflow.

[Seth]

i didn't understand the technique but the first image is just... wow !!!
great job man !

[j meyer]

Interesting technique!
Through camera projection on a horizontal plane?

[moodflow]

Interesting technique!
Through camera projection on a horizontal plane?

Yes.

You have to have an image that will match TG2's perspective 100% (or close). 

So lets say you have a photo of a beach and water (as in this image).  Try to set up a similar perspective in TG2, though it won't be 100% yet.  Then render this blank image in TG2.  This will be your reference image.  Then take that rendered image into Photoshop.  Now load the the photo and layer it over the TG2 image and align the horizon and then flatten the image.  Don't worry about the sky - if the horizons are aligned, the sky won't be rendered.  This will be your "projection plate" image to project.

Now open TG2 and create an image map shader and load your new "projection plate" image.  Keep the projection as "camera" projection.  The image will now project out onto the flat plane perfectly.

Now here are the caveats:

-You can no longer reposition the camera in the scene without going back and readjusting in photoshop.
-Lighting effects already in the image will be amplified, or cancelled depending upon the light direction and intensity, and how it differs from the original photo.  So try to keep the lighting similar.  Better yet, use images with more diffuse lighting and less shadows, such as those on an overcast day.
-Haze on the horizon of the original photo will be amplified by any haze TG2 adds, so keep that in mind.

With those caveats out of the way, its a fun way to modify current photos or even other rendered images in TG2.  We all know TG2 has the best terrainscapes out now, so why not?   

[schmeerlap]

Thanks for this explanation; a fascinating technique indeed. Btw, ignore that ignoramus WeeLaddie from Renderosity.

[Mr_Lamppost]

Interesting technique BUT:

• The additional landscape features are not reflected in the sea
• The sun is not reflected in the sea
• The light on the breakers and Surfer is coming from a direction not consistent with the visible sun.

I am noting that you mention problems with the water so I may be being too critical    :)then again I am one of those people who automatically looks for plastic drainpipes in "Period" film and TV   

And they are nothing compared to FAKE Victorian lampposts.    Sleepy Hollow represented inverted gas mantles at least 100 years too early 

[moodflow]

Interesting technique BUT:

• The additional landscape features are not reflected in the sea
• The sun is not reflected in the sea
• The light on the breakers and Surfer is coming from a direction not consistent with the visible sun.

I am noting that you mention problems with the water so I may be being too critical    :)then again I am one of those people who automatically looks for plastic drainpipes in "Period" film and TV   

And they are nothing compared to FAKE Victorian lampposts.    Sleepy Hollow represented inverted gas mantles at least 100 years too early 

No problem Mr. Lamppost.  I think critical comments are just as helpful as the others.   

As for the reflections:  You are correct.  I did have reflections on, but it seems to crash TG2 each time.  From what I saw of the reflections before it crashed, it looked alot better and more realistic with them.  Hopefully the new update will resolve this.

As for the lighting on the breakers and surfer.  Yep, the sun in the photo was coming from the left, about 70 degrees from the center and about 45 degrees up I would say.  I used displacement on the image so the white breakers would "stick up" and collect TG2's lighting more.

[inkydigit]

nice work MF...be good to see more like this!

[Mr_Lamppost]

Interesting technique BUT:

• The additional landscape features are not reflected in the sea
• The sun is not reflected in the sea
• The light on the breakers and Surfer is coming from a direction not consistent with the visible sun.

I am noting that you mention problems with the water so I may be being too critical    :)then again I am one of those people who automatically looks for plastic drainpipes in "Period" film and TV   

And they are nothing compared to FAKE Victorian lampposts.    Sleepy Hollow represented inverted gas mantles at least 100 years too early 

No problem Mr. Lamppost.  I think critical comments are just as helpful as the others.   

As for the reflections:  You are correct.  I did have reflections on, but it seems to crash TG2 each time.  From what I saw of the reflections before it crashed, it looked alot better and more realistic with them.  Hopefully the new update will resolve this.

As for the lighting on the breakers and surfer.  Yep, the sun in the photo was coming from the left, about 70 degrees from the center and about 45 degrees up I would say.  I used displacement on the image so the white breakers would "stick up" and collect TG2's lighting more.

Sorry if I came across as overly critical  that was not my intent. 

I have locked Mr Picky in his box for a long lie down 

I would like to see the correctly rendered version if you can get it to work.

[moodflow]

hey Lamppost, actually, I was saying the critiques are a good thing along with comments.  I appreciate both, so its no problem.   

[Mr_Lamppost]

Appreciated; but I still think my original comment could have been phrased a little better