This is an idea I came up with a few days ago. I found a nice telescope model and purchased it (Twenty bucks. Not too bad). Working on making a scene out of it at the moment.
I was looking at that dish too. I did not have the 20 dollars though, but it's the cheapest highest quality one I've seen. Looks just like the ones I saw in California.
Kadri makes this scaffolding stuff in LW, and I really want to figure out how to do similar in Blender for ships, and buildings, and stuff like this.
Quote from: WAS on April 10, 2022, 12:21:21 PM...but it's the cheapest highest quality one I've seen.
Indeed.
I guess, this is a model, that's not too complicated, but I didn't want to spend too much time for the building of it. So I thought 20 Dollars are OK.
Great start. Reminds me of Contact (one of my favorite movies).
Quote from: sboerner on April 10, 2022, 12:38:57 PMGreat start. Reminds me of Contact (one of my favorite movies).
Oh, yes.
One of my all-time favourites too, and my dads.
Oh yes, and it will be indeed a lot Contactesque!! ;)
A great prop to start building with. This should be a fun one to watch develop!
Some plants and stuff...
. . . aaaand there's Dr. Eleanor Arroway with her hat. :)
Yep... ;D
Very believable Hannes, and I love the sunset with just the right amount of clouds.
You're really shining with your renders Sir!
That's a very cool Horizon concept. Good luck, Hannes.
Thanks guys!!!
I found a free 3d model of Jodie Foster's face. It was untextured. I cut out just her face, projected an image of her onto it and mixed the face with the character in the scene (Meshmixer).
In one of the scenes in the movie she uses an orange shirt as a head scarf under her hat. I wanted to recreate that, but I didn't succeed so far. I think, I'll just leave that out. It's not that essential, I guess...
If you send me the obj and how it should look I can try making a scarf in Marvelous Designer.
Oh, that would be quite cool. I'll collect some stuff and send it to you. Might take a little time. Anyway, thanks in advance!!!! :) :) :)
That's coming together rather quickly, and very nicely starting to tell a story. It's a sort of minor 'future shock' moment though that there are 3D meshes out there of celebrities heads, and not just heads but whole body scans! Given the latest Meta Humans and Unreal 5 demos, maybe we'll no longer need some of the annoying Hollywood types to make our movies... ;)
Quote from: Dune on April 11, 2022, 07:21:12 AMIf you send me the obj and how it should look I can try making a scarf in Marvelous Designer.
Does that already count as "Team work"? Would be a shame if a picture was rejected because of something like this :o ...just thinking out loud :-\
CHeers, Klaus
Oh, I didn't think of that. Maybe Danny can chime in. Ulco made a wonderful piece of cloth and sent it to me. It looks sooo nice. I found that in the reference images it's actually a shirt Ellie uses as a head scarf, and Ulco made one. Thanks again!!
Actually I think it would be a little bit too picky to call that teamwork, since we constantly use other models that were made by someone else.
My thoughts exactly, but better safe than sorry, right ;)
CHeers, Klaus
Quote from: KlausK on April 12, 2022, 06:54:48 AMbut better safe than sorry, right ;)
Absolutely!! :)
I'd say it's no problem. Otherwise nobody would be able to use any tree or asset purchased or downloaded. Thinking along this line.... it would not be really fair if contestants would buy (or get) high-poly, awfully nice photoreal scans/assets, and just compose their image with those. A bit of sky and you're done. Then you might as well render an imported great photograph ::)
Quote from: Hannes on April 12, 2022, 06:36:38 AMOh, I didn't think of that. Maybe Danny can chime in. Ulco made a wonderful piece of cloth and sent it to me. It looks sooo nice. I found that in the reference images it's actually a shirt Ellie uses as a head scarf, and Ulco made one. Thanks again!!
Actually I think it would be a little bit too picky to call that teamwork, since we constantly use other models that were made by someone else.
That's absolutely fine Hannes. Looks great BTW
It's just an asset, well an addition to an asset. If this were to be too literal you'd think 3rd party assets wouldn't be allowed at all, as it's someone else's work, whether you have permission to use it or not.
How you use that asset in your art is the question, is it going to add/take from the scenes artistic composition. That's what is being judged ultimately. And if someone were to help you with the composition, atmosphere, or whatever in your compiled scene, than it's more a collaboration on a art piece.
My interpretation at least.
That's good to hear. :)
Your scenes fan-theme makes it pretty cool imo.
Also, on a side topic to assets, it would be interesting to see a contest in the future with no 3rd party assets. I am poor so I am trying to literally create what I need for my vision. Definitely a challenge. 😂
So, we won't tell you to shift the camera a millimeter for a better POV, Hannes ;D
@WAS : that would indeed be interesting, but less for prize sponsors, I guess. Oops, hijacking now, sorry.
Quote from: Dune on April 13, 2022, 02:40:21 AMI guess. Oops, hijacking now, sorry.
No problem, Ulco!
I just thought the same. A contest with TG as it is with no additional stuff would be quite interesting. But that would probably be a more internal thing, since the NWDA contests aren't restricted to the use of Terragen only.
Quote from: sboerner on April 10, 2022, 08:39:47 PM. . . aaaand there's Dr. Eleanor Arroway with her hat. :)
Was thinking the same thing... :)
Sorry for not posting any other WIPs, but I was so focused on improving stuff, that I forgot it.
OK, here are two possible entries.
It's more or less the same contents except two pedestrians and a dog. Two different light settings and POVs. I'm a little bit stuck at the moment, and I can't decide which one looks better...
Great! Hard to tell which one is best, indeed. The right one is nice because of the details of the car, but the left one is nicer because of the more spaciousness.
Btw. are the rails the right size? They look so big.
Thanks a lot, Ulco!!
Yes, the rails have the correct size, but at a second look I found the cross section (or is it profile?) is too broad. Changing that now.
It's hard to choose which POV is better. Somehow I prefer Version 2. My wife liked the lighting in V 1 better, so after I will have replaced the rails I'll try the POV of the second one with a lighting that's similar to V 1.
Here's a screenshot of the RTP of the latest iteration. Same POV like In Version 2, similar lighting like in Version 1 and adjusted rails.
I agree that the composition of the first one seems less crowded. (When I think of the VLA I picture wide-open spaces and skies.) I do wonder about the telephone/power lines, though. Wouldn't they mess up the radio signals? Maybe one detail too many.
Hmm, that's a good point about the power lines. They probably would try to run underground if they could help it.
Thanks guys! Good point. At least in one reference image I found some poles. (See attached image) But they are definitely a bit farther away.
Anyway, you made me think about it. I'd love to have them in, but I'll see, if I can find some other solution.
Hi Hannes! I know youre trying to recreate the real SETI place, but for all the images you showed, i think only the 1st one really captured the literal and symbolic mean of "HORIZONS". The last ones are great of course, but they looks a little bit overloaded of stuff IMHO. My only advice is keep it simple ;)
Im always looking forward whathever you render out
Hi Ariel,
thanks for your comment! Much appreciated. It's good, that there's still plenty of time, so I can maybe take a break and look at it with fresh eyes. You're definitely right. Less can be more. Actually before I posted the first version, you're referring to, I deleted a load of objects I thought might look nice, but in the end were absolutely unnecessary. I'll see...
Quote from: Hannes on April 19, 2022, 12:11:57 PMThanks guys! Good point. At least in one reference image I found some poles. (See attached image) But they are definitely a bit farther away.
Anyway, you made me think about it. I'd love to have them in, but I'll see, if I can find some other solution.
Maybe just old power lines no longer operational from the old road that used to be part of something else? Could cut a few lines, have them dangle. Maybe even make them older: move the railroad over, or lines to railroad and use old telegraph and switch lines. :3
Super low voltage, and most likely inoperable, and I doubt they would care to even remove them.
Good idea! At the moment I just left them out, but maybe I'll make some old ones...
I'd almost like to see a far away shot of this scene, really open up a big sky.
That's a good idea, I too find it a wee bit overcrowded and busy. Perhaps some early afternoon stars, so it's really about horizons?
Maybe she's insane, and likes to sit on top of a dish, with the antenna array scaling off in the distance behind her? ;D 8) Lol
Actually I took Ariel's advice and got back to the very first image I posted and used this POV. I threw out a lot of stuff and focused mainly on Ellie and the telescopes (which somehow sounds like the name of a 50's Rock 'n' roll band ;D ;D ;D ).
I have the feeling, that this image is finished. Maybe that's it. But since there's still a lot of time left, I might try some completely different ideas...
This looks way better! I like it, first prize from me ;D
And btw, "Ellie and the Telescopes" also sounds a bit horny :P
I love Terragen being used on the laptop. That's a really charming touch.
Quote from: Dune on April 26, 2022, 01:16:39 AMAnd btw, "Ellie and the Telescopes" also sounds a bit horny :P
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Thanks Ulco!!
More or less one minute after I wrote, that this image might be finished I started to make the clouds a bit more interesting. ::)
Quote from: WAS on April 26, 2022, 01:32:14 AMI love Terragen being used on the laptop. That's a really charming touch.
Ah, you spotted it... ;)
A screenshot of the RTP with some (hopefully) better clouds.
For some reason I feel like their should be some sort of booming (dark) stormfront on one of the horizons. Like a window of opportunity for her, or maybe it just past and the first opportunity to get out? I dunno.
Could be interesting to try an advancing stormfront, could be quite dramatic. Or a tornado...
Actually I thought about that too. Is New Mexico an area where such stormfronts exist? Or is the sky more or less clear most of the time?
Seems they have the fronts exactly like I imagined.
Probably seasonal no doubt, fall and spring.
I think the stormfront idea was great. Although the sky isn't that open and wide here anymore, it seems quite interesting I think. And the horizon is even more emphasized.
Pretty awesome! It now has an added Horizon, time will tell what it is....
Btw. do I recognize the windgrass I shared some time ago? The light on it is beautiful.
Quote from: Dune on April 28, 2022, 01:25:51 AMBtw. do I recognize the windgrass I shared some time ago? The light on it is beautiful.
:) Yes, you're right. There are four veggie populations in the foreground, but your windblown grass was the one that really made me happy. Thanks again for it. :)
Oh that looks nice. The cloud line plays well with the satellite angles.
This looks really good!
I wonder if the clouds would make a more dramatic appearance if the were "fading" out less at the upper edge.
More compact brooding front line, bigger shapes overall.
The picture attached shows a free 3D model from NASA. This is a DSN70.
They have some nice stuff on their site. For another time perhaps.
And I hope you do not mind if I post it in this thread.
CHeers, Klaus
Here is the link:
https://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/
Don`t forget to read the "Usage Guidelines"
https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/guidelines/index.html
CHeers, Klaus
Thanks a lot, Klaus!! :)
I'll do some more tests with the clouds, although I'm already quite happy with them.
Thanks for the link to the satellite dishes! Actually I keep to use the ones I purchased, because they look quite like the original ones at the Very Large Array, but the NASA ones are great nonetheless.
Quote from: KlausK on April 28, 2022, 03:08:16 AMAnd I hope you do not mind if I post it in this thread.
No problem. I think, this is exactly the thread, where it belongs.
A screenshot of the RTP with more compact clouds.
This is looking SO good. Beautiful light and clouds. (Vega is calling!)
The NASA 3D archive is a terrific resource, btw.
Thanks, Steve!!
I made the clouds even more compact.
This is absolutley gorgeous! Terrific sky. I must say that I was a bit hesitant about your first stormfront version (too wild and hard), but this is very realistic.
SO good!
That is the look I was trying to describe.
I think, these clouds add to the narrative (oh boy, sounds fancy , right :P ::) )
CHeers, Klaus
Thanks a lot, guys! :)
I'm still not done with the clouds yet. At the moment I'm trying some things, that make them look even more dramatic, and I like it so far. I'll post it, when it's done.
And I'd like to say some more things. Having this WIP area is such a fantastic thing! It helps so much to improve the work. Without all your great constructive input, I wouldn't be at the point I am now.
Thanks so much!! I really appreciate all your ideas!!!!
I'm working only on this single project for almost four weeks now, and usually I would get tired of it after this time, but it's still so much fun to improve things (and to learn some more things as well).
So, I would encourage everyone, who's planning to participate in this contest, to create a WIP thread. And I hope, there will be more... ;)
Quote from: Hannes on April 29, 2022, 05:04:15 AMWithout all your great constructive input, I wouldn't be at the point I am now.
So, now you have to share your first prize with us ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D
This progressed rapidly. Love it !
I edited the clouds again, and I think, this is better. A bit more drama, and to me it looks a bit as if the clouds are eating the background... ;)
It is! No Horizon left ::)
Honestly, after I had looked at the image for quite some time, I thought about deleting the mountain range completely and only keeping the flat ground. But first, there is a mountain range where the Very Large Array is (as far as I can tell looking at reference images), and secondly I like the idea of the forces of nature concealing the mountains and showing only the straight horizon line of the flat ground.
Now, that was almost philosophical, wasn't it??? ;D ;D ;D
Yeah, it's good that you kept the hills, though you can't win AGAIN, can you?
Actually, I'm not doing it for winning. I want to make my image as good as possible, because I love the process of adding new ideas, skipping old ideas and taking the constructive input of the guys into account.
It's so much fun!!! :)
Same here :)
I think your concept was better stated with the earlier images where the sky horizon was more distant. The storm front on top of the mountains now dramatically reduces the sense of space, leaving only the function of the deep space arrays to 'tell the story'. Perhaps you could have both your mountains and your storm front if the cloud cover was lifted, allowing the sky and a sense of distance to be restored? Regardless it's a really fine image and once again raises the bar for the rest of us! Good Luck! (though you rarely need it!)
Thanks for your kind reply!! :)
Although I'm quite happy with the result so far, there's still enough time to try things. Who knows, what it's going to look like in the end?
Yeah, I love that lighting and haze under the clouds. Definitely looks like something brewing.
To me the clouds actually give depth to the scene. Makes the distant hills believably far.
The array is already massive and sprawling and the distance between the arrays and hills wasn't sufficiently "highlighted" imo. Was hard to tell what distances were being looked at..
Actually I decided to keep my last version for now. I did some tests with different cloud settings, but I like it as it is. So, I think, it's good to leave it for a while and to do something else, and maybe return to it later to see it with fresh eyes.
Wow nice progression! Personally, the clouds in the background like me a little bit more, create "hope" in terms of color and symbolism and also correctly drive from left to right the view in terms of composition, but of course, this is all on you, the last one also have similar feelings.
But what it really gave me "Horizon" vibes, is seen Terragen running on that laptot...
Quote from: Ariel DK on May 03, 2022, 06:33:08 PMBut what it really gave me "Horizon" vibes, is seen Terragen running on that laptot...
Yeah that really is a great touch. Breaks the fourth wall, but in a good way.
Thanks again, guys!! :)
Ariel, I didn't get, what you mean by "the clouds in the background like me a little bit more, create "hope" in terms of color and symbolism and also correctly drive from left to right the view in terms of composition".
Quote from: Hannes on May 04, 2022, 04:40:16 AMThanks again, guys!! :)
Ariel, I didn't get, what you mean by "the clouds in the background like me a little bit more, create "hope" in terms of color and symbolism and also correctly drive from left to right the view in terms of composition".
I was going to download the image, make some doodles with lines explaining things about composition, but im on work now, so i gonna say that it was just a way to argue that i like more "VLA 173" haha ;)
EDIT: I mean, both last ones was great renders. With "drive the view" i mean that there is a compostion "rule" that said it is OK to put the Vanishing Point horizontally centered to the right side of the image, for western people like you and me, usually used to read from left to right, cuz this also indirectly affect the way we observe things, including images. However, just a personal thought i had.
I think I see what he means. In 173, the clouds are a little lower than the dish, which, at least to me, helps with the towering nature of the dish in the foreground. While I like the clouds in the latest, the elevation peak of the clouds in 173 is better imo.
Maybe could scrunch them down a wee with a scalar as a depth mod input (or multiplier to whatever you have going) set a little lower than 1.
Thanks a lot for your input, guys!! Very much appreciated! :)
I'm sure, I need a break from that a while. I'm really happy with the clouds at the moment, but I have to take a look later. Maybe I will still be happy with them, or I'll change things...
Phenomenal clouds, would love to see an animation between those two renders (storm front rolling in)!
I just submitted my entry. It's actually the last image I posted here in my thread. I called it "Listening".
Is there any place we can see the already submitted entries?
Yeah, I'll add it [to the contest page] as soon as Danny CC's me. I don't have access to the contest email.
Edit: looks like Danny already got you up on the page.
https://nwdagroup.com/theme-challenges/
Your picture is awesome, very realistic.
Did you buy the car object? The reflections are something i would like to learn.
If you bought it how much, where did you get it, it comes with materials, UV's or whatever?
Did you have to do anything to the car, or did it fit into the scene right away?
Thanks
Doug
Quote from: Doug on May 14, 2022, 10:32:00 AMYour picture is awesome, very realistic.
Did you buy the car object? The reflections are something i would like to learn.
If you bought it how much, where did you get it, it comes with materials, UV's or whatever?
Did you have to do anything to the car, or did it fit into the scene right away?
Thanks
Doug
Thanks a lot, Doug!
Actually I don't remember, if I bought the model or if it was a free one. I think, it was free, since I very rarely buy models.
I strongly recommend to take a look at my materials thread:
https://planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,22695.0.html
On page one you'll find a set for the legacy renderer including reflective car paint and chrome, and on page 6 there's a set optimised for the path tracer (those were the ones I used for this image).
I think, I never found an object I could use straight away in TG. Most of the time they have the wrong scale, the pivot is not where it should be, and the materials have to be reworked always.
In this case, I replaced the wheels by better ones, since the tyres were quite edgy. Apart from that the wheels weren't positioned correctly.
Holy guacamole Hannes! This is looking fantastic (Jodie Foster always does) and very photorealistic.
Quote from: pixelpusher636 on May 14, 2022, 07:45:12 PMHoly guacamole Hannes! This is looking fantastic (Jodie Foster always does) and very photorealistic.
I always thought Jodie Foster was a very elegant beauty growing up. Not to be all on the "don't sexualize women" thing, just even as a kid I could see she was very attractive. I think she knew this too and specifically took more plain-jane roles besides the odd scene or two.
Quote from: WAS on May 14, 2022, 10:58:26 PMQuote from: pixelpusher636 on May 14, 2022, 07:45:12 PMHoly guacamole Hannes! This is looking fantastic (Jodie Foster always does) and very photorealistic.
I always thought Jodie Foster was a very elegant beauty growing up. Not to be all on the "don't sexualize women" thing, just even as a kid I could see she was very attractive. I think she knew this too and specifically took more plain-jane roles besides the odd scene or two.
Agreed. I've always taken a shine to Jodie Foster, classy beautiful.
Agreed as well, and apart from her beauty, she's one of the best actresses at all to me. Recently I watched "The brave one" for at least the fifth time so far, and I was still impressed by the richness of her acting (I don't know, if "richness" is the right word. Each time I watch a movie with her playing, I see details in her acting I hadn't noticed before).
Hannes you are right, she was outstanding in "The Brave One". I can't think of any movies off the top of my head that she wasn't fantastic in. Though a few immediately come to mind where she was stellar. "Nell" and "Little Man Tate".
By the way, I just saw you were the 1st place winner of the New Horizons contest, Congrats on the win and all the perks!
Thanks a lot!!!!! :) :) :)