Planetside Software Forums

General => Terragen Animation => Topic started by: Dune on May 26, 2010, 03:01:26 AM

Title: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Dune on May 26, 2010, 03:01:26 AM
This would, unless I change my mind, be my entry. Regard it as a WIP for the time being. Although the large renders of this project were done with 'real' local vegetation, the pops would be HUGE for the whole park. Too huge for an animation. So I replaced the grass by a simple procedural grass, consisting of two fake stones, and two PF's for color variation. And some 'fake flowers'.
I'm not yet sure about the last standing stones, currently building some more...

Any comments are welcome, of course. There's always room for improvement.

---Dune
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: inkydigit on May 26, 2010, 04:05:52 AM
 8) 8) 8)....super cool, this looks like a place I want to explore, love it!
Edit:  The standing stones, remind of Dolmen like structures, but need another stone ,as these are often balanced on at least three stones...still great textures and design!
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: airflamesred on May 26, 2010, 05:40:06 AM
Fine work
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Kadri on May 26, 2010, 05:49:27 AM

Nearly all of them are good as separate images too , Dune ! You are not making the life easier for the others :)
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Hannes on May 26, 2010, 08:17:15 AM
I second that!  ;D
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Zairyn Arsyn on May 26, 2010, 08:21:30 AM
this looks really good, great scene.  :)

how many populations do you have in it?  ;)
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Dune on May 26, 2010, 09:20:16 AM
@zaai999: There are 4 'normal' trees, one very lowpoly tree for the far distance (just 7 or so angled planes with leaves), and 4 bushes. Oh, and one daffodil. The grass is fake.


@inkydigit: I know. As a matter of fact I have just built a 6 stone dolmen. I might put that in, or some 'modern' monument. Or perhaps something like two large stones balanced on top of each other. Saw that once on a mountaintop in France. Huge stones, with much force to be moved just a centimeter or so.
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: TheBlackHole on May 26, 2010, 03:13:12 PM
AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!! IT'S TOO GOOD!!! ;D
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: FrankB on May 26, 2010, 03:22:26 PM
great storyboard, Ulco! I wonder if you can add in more flowers in some scenes? just in a few places. For example, some dandelions would look great on the meadow of the last shot.
Also, here's one more suggestion: the paths look very straight, or in other words, their boundaries are too perfect. What about warping the blending mask for the paths a little bit. In case you have used real world scales for the scene, I would image that a warping fractal with 1m feature size, and 0.1 smallest size, displaced (for the warp) at 0.1m, could make the path look less straight, and add a little randomness.

Cheers,
Frank
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Seth on May 26, 2010, 06:52:20 PM
impressive, I wait to see where this one is going :D
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Dune on May 27, 2010, 03:29:56 AM
@ Frank: I can add a lot, but I wanted to keep it as low on resources as possible for animation sake. The path of this 'animation to be' covers quite some ground, and I don't want sudden changes in flora. The original renders from this park are much more detailed, and comprehensive, but locally adapted. That wouldn't work in an animation, or you'd need supercomputers. I will try to get some local stuff in, where you go to ground.
I have also made another dolmen, might fit that one in. Like one of these...
The paths are supposed to be quite straight, especially the main Park Lane. But I was also thinking of distracting just a bit, have some grass grow over the paths here and there. Depends on the client  >:( Indeed I'd prefer rougher paths, they might as well.
By the way, never thought of warping  mask... good idea, let's try.

Thanks guys.
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Dune on May 27, 2010, 11:43:27 AM
Small update on frame 6.
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Zairyn Arsyn on June 01, 2010, 08:45:05 AM
the surfacing on the boulders/rocks looks really good,  :) are they procedural or just image maps???
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Henry Blewer on June 01, 2010, 04:58:50 PM
I just looked at the last image. I like the haze at the tree tops. This was done with a cloud layer?
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: MGebhart on June 04, 2010, 03:40:55 PM
Nice work.
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Dune on June 14, 2010, 04:57:49 AM
@zaai999: They're image maps, I'm afraid. But it could be done procedurally, no doubt.

@Henry: Yeah, the cloud layer is localized near the water, also to give the view from above the 'labyrinth' a softer background. You then fly over the mist veiled lakes, then down near the final stone monuments.   
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Dune on June 28, 2010, 08:31:34 AM
I cannot choose which one to use for the storyboard...  ??? Any suggestions? This is near the final monument in the animation, where the viewer flies into the light, and that's the end.
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Henry Blewer on June 28, 2010, 08:43:58 AM
The top render shows the objects off better. But the bottom render has better mystery. I would use the bottom render.
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: dandelO on June 28, 2010, 11:06:20 AM
Wow! Definitely the top one, Ulco, that's the money-shot!
The raytraced atmosphere is lovely and best visible in the first shot. Very good work.
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Seth on June 28, 2010, 03:05:24 PM
Let's say that you need both for camera moves ;D
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: dandelO on June 28, 2010, 03:30:48 PM
Agreed! :D
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Dune on June 29, 2010, 02:42:56 AM
QuoteLet's say that you need both

@Seth: This spiral of stones by itself would yield an interesting animation if properly done, I suppose. Working with the light and darks in the mist, and adding some more mystery by passing cloud shadow (to name something), it can result in an artistic little 'movie'. But the storyboard must have some totally different areas to cover the whole Garden. I also thought the Labyrinth would be great to animate, lots of shots to be made there, even entering and going up a flight of stairs, etc...

I'm still looking for a decent shot between the entrance and the Labyrinth, but it's mainly dark wood with boulders and little paths, so I might even skip that for the storyboard's sake.

And I am still haggling with the client, as he wants things to be feasible in reality as well. To really build it physically. If the waterways (e.g.) are too narrow they'll grow full of weeds, and they don't want maintenance once the Garden is there.
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: domdib on June 29, 2010, 05:23:19 AM
It would be good to use both, but the bottom one is my fave. Excellent work! Where, if I may ask, is this Garden going to be? Somewhere in Holland?
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Dune on June 30, 2010, 11:41:07 AM
It will be in Holland, but it's still initial stages. They need sponsors, then purchase terrain and build it. So don't hold your breath...
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Dune on July 06, 2010, 12:50:49 PM
Done. No time anymore, so here's a teaser. The story board is on its way to Frank.

---Dune
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Dune on August 02, 2010, 04:20:51 AM
I decided to keep the dark forest out, and replace it by a low shot when you fly across the lakes towards the final 'Threanta' with it's monument. Added  a pair of swans.
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Kadri on August 02, 2010, 04:24:06 AM

I didn't read the rules , but if you can , would you please post these as separate images and bigger too , Dune ?  :)
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Oshyan on August 02, 2010, 04:32:48 AM
Wow, the swans are gorgeous. Looking great!

- Oshyan
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Dune on August 02, 2010, 04:50:16 AM
@ Kadri: I rendered these images especially for the contest at the precise size needed. I did do a number of other big renders for the client, but I cannot show these at top resolution. They differ anyway, in number of populations and amount of detail, as they were not to be animated. For the animation renders I eliminated all 'memory consuming' stuff, and had to use the same lighting all over, and restrictions like that. But here's a reduced crop of a larger render of the Labyrinth, which I like very much.
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Kadri on August 02, 2010, 05:00:52 AM

OK! I understand you , Dune  and thanks :)
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Hannes on August 02, 2010, 07:23:10 AM
This is really beautiful! Superb details!
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: domdib on August 02, 2010, 08:09:15 AM
This looks fantastic - I really hope the garden does get built.
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: MGebhart on August 07, 2010, 09:28:10 PM
Dune,

You are a creative wild man.
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Dune on August 08, 2010, 03:07:13 AM
Thanks, guys. I do my best.
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: dandelO on August 14, 2010, 08:49:03 PM
The storyboard is dreamy! I love it all. It's a pleasure to view your work, Ulco. Good luck, Sir!
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: otakar on August 18, 2010, 07:35:39 PM
Congratulations! Can't wait for the movie and making-of story!
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Dune on December 22, 2010, 03:06:17 AM
It's been a while, but there's news about the animation. Due to several circumstances, like data loss, it has taken some time to get things going for Oshyan, but I just saw a first rough. Very promising! So hang in there!

---Dune
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Oshyan on December 22, 2010, 03:26:53 AM
Thanks for updating the thread Dune. I'm sorry that I neglected to earlier! All is well now though, and moving forward quickly. I think you'll all really enjoy this when it's done. It will be a little while yet as we need to finish the sequence and then of course render it, but soon enough you'll all be able to appreciate this great scene in motion. :)

- Oshyan
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: dandelO on November 18, 2011, 11:24:38 AM
Any word on this animation yet? I'd love to see Ulco's scene rendered out, it's coming up a year since the last post.
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: Oshyan on November 18, 2011, 09:42:48 PM
Yes, it's far past time for an update, sorry about that. Essentially all that remains at this point is rendering. Unfortunately it's a very demanding scene and was originally cut rather long (over 2 minutes) so a lot of time was spent paring it down, and render times at 720p are not ideal (not unreasonably by any means, but remember this is donated render farm time!). So basically I just need to settle on optimized final render settings and submit it for rendering. There are issues of whether to go with GI, motion blur in render or post, etc. that still need to be settled. Truth be told I've just been very busy with other things. But it's a real shame to have let this go so long and obviously that wasn't at all my intention at the start. I will push it up the priority list.

- Oshyan
Title: Re: Garden of Eternity
Post by: dandelO on November 18, 2011, 11:04:42 PM
Cheers, Oshyan. I just thought it had maybe been forgotten, I'm sure everyone would love to see it. I can imagine how render intensive it is, though! :)