Real Virtuality for Androids

[Kevin F]

Here's a picture I made recently for the Terragen Masters contest on "symmetrie" (came 2nd).
Just an exercise in obtaining good symmetry really. The right hand side is a refective vertical plane, with the camera as close and as parallel to it as possible.
Interestingly the reflected models/objects show the faceted features of the model. Switching normals off gave a black reflected object.

[Henry Blewer]

Try importing the objects in a 3D modeler. Then move them to one side along the x axis. Select all the objects vertexs, and then use a mirror function along the x axis. Select all the vertexes and then save the objects as a new object. This will give you the symmetry you are looking for. Blender is freeware and does a good job with this.

[Zairyn Arsyn]

i actually like how one of the figures has flat shading and the other has smoothing.

but i think the background looks kinda plain.

[Oshyan]

The faceting is actually due to lower detail in raytraced reflections. I'm not sure the smoothing is taken into account, but even if it were this effect would be visible. You can actually see that it shows up in the water and other areas too. The only way to improve the quality is to raise detail.

- Oshyan

[dandelO]

I like this as an image, it kind of reminds me of an Escher picture... http://www.love-hate-relationship.com/images/escher_monkeymen_mirror.jpg

Shame about the reflections but you could always just flip one side onto the other in postwork if the contest is over now. I like it like this anyway, though.

[Kevin F]

Thanks for the comments guys.
The reflective differences are not a problem as far as I'm concerned either. In fact I think it enhances the surreal aspect, and hence the title i.e. even the virtual world of androids is imperfect.
As for the plain background, this was deliberate and is supposed to add to the bleakness of an android existence.