Sandstorm Arch - Finished

[old_blaggard]

Hey everybody! It's been a long time since I've posted an image. This one has been in the making for quite a while now, and it's finally to a point where I'm ready to open it up for critiques . This image took so long because some of the techniques here are new (at least to me). The dust storm was definitely a challenge to get looking proper (and it's still not *quite* there yet, in my opinion). The arch is all procedural displacement, which allows me to put some nice textures and bumps on it, and will allow me to get the sand and rocks to lead up to its bases when I get around to working on that bit. I also want to share an example of a technique that I will be using to get the sand to push over the rocks to simulate wind. I've attached a test render of the technique but due to reasons explained in this topic I haven't implemented it into the main scene yet.

Anyways, all kinds of comments and critiques are appreciated, as I think that this image can still go quite a ways and become quite good .

[CCC]

The sandstorm looks mean and fairly good to be honest. Can you make the arch more prominent? For example make it more a hero object. I'd also make some parts of the basin slightly elevated just to give a feel of more loose parts of dirt. Maybe clamping certain areas where hard meets soft ground?

[choronr]

OB, I wish you could be here in the Phoenix area when we have our sandstorms during July through August. Google Sandstorms/Phoenix and you'll see what I mean. You've done excellent work here to simulate the wall of dust ...it really looks like this (and, later a real mess for us to clean up). I agree with CCC regarding the main arch. Making it larger and moving it a bit to the left so that it is about 1/3 to the left from the right edge of the scene. This should balance the scene a little better. Love the colors here too. Looking forward to seeing the final.

Bob

[inkydigit]

looking really nice OB....cant wait to see this finished!

[domdib]

The sandstorm is very impressive. Something is bothering me about the lighting, but I'm not sure whether it's the angle or the strength (most likely a combination). Great scene, and I look forward to further developments.

[Henry Blewer]

The sand 'cloud' is too dense. I would put the sun so it shines through the dust. It could make a really nice light effect.
The arch is also interesting. If it were larger, the dust could seem to blow through it.

[Volker Harun]

I agree with domdib about the lighting, it looks like two stitched renders ... quite flat. Only in the middle area left from the arch (which is wonderful) is an area where I can feel the depth of the storm.

The sandstrom itself is very good ... I would go for more grain as a next step (do not ask me whether cloud or atmosphere samples).

Keep on going!!!!!

[old_blaggard]

Thanks for the input, everybody. I absolutely agree that the lighting isn't where it needs to be yet, and I really appreciate all of the rest of the advice. Luckily, this doesn't take too long to render on my machine (about 2 hours for this), but the trick will be finding time to sit down and work on it a little, especially considering that school starts for me next week.

[Seth]

very good sandstorm
i agree with Volker though, you will need more grainy look.

[FrankB]

I've attached a test render of the technique but due to reasons explained in this topic I haven't implemented it into the main scene yet.

would this technique get you started? http://en.tgblog.de/?p=40#more-40

Regards;
Frank

[old_blaggard]

After a very, *very* long pause, I've revisited this scene. I'm much happier with it now, but there are still a couple of things that don't quite work for me:
- The image maps are being stretched oddly on the underside of the arch
- Some of the fake stones (bottom left for example) have weird shadows on them
- The plant at the base of the arch is just a placeholder; does anyone know of good small cacti (or other more desert-like plants) that aren't too saturated?
Anyways, any ideas about these issues or other comments about the image are much appreciated.

[mhaze]

Superb work! I find the hardlower edge of the arch a bit off putting The texture streaking under the arch is as I'm sure you know a mapping problem. If the archis procedural you are going to have to find a way of wrapping the texture.

Mick

[old_blaggard]

Thanks. Yeah, the image mapping is a little weird. Because the arch is, indeed, procedural, TG2 doesn't seem to like the way that the coordinates are stretched in some places. I've tried through-camera projection, but that just looks plain bad (although it does help to soften that edge you mentioned).

[Henry Blewer]

If your arch is an object, give each face direction a different material. You can then plug the various procedural node structures into each material. This should make the mapping of the various areas look right.

[Linda McCarthy]

Awesome work!  Would like to see the arch much larger.  Linda