Planetside Software Forums

General => Image Sharing => Topic started by: Jonathan on September 22, 2011, 05:18:46 PM

Title: Forest Glade
Post by: Jonathan on September 22, 2011, 05:18:46 PM
Hi All - inspired by RArcher, I have produced this and rather like it - not sure about the misty foggy stuff though - any comments, as always, are very welcome! Jonathan
Title: Re: Forest Glade
Post by: TheBadger on September 22, 2011, 08:55:25 PM
Good mood. This image would be great if you added the arm of someone (battered and bleeding) reaching for the light. Almost made it out of the darkness, almost.
Title: Re: Forest Glade
Post by: Dune on September 23, 2011, 02:54:34 AM
I like it too (had to shut the curtains to have a proper look, though). The misty fog is a bit too smallish, perhaps larger (warped) ridges would be better. In Holland we call them 'Witte Wieven' (white wives) for some reason.
Title: Re: Forest Glade
Post by: Jonathan on September 23, 2011, 05:00:20 AM
Sadly I have no bruised and bleeding arm ;) I have changed the fog and lightened the scene though :)
Title: Re: Forest Glade
Post by: Hannes on September 23, 2011, 12:26:15 PM
Well done. I hope you keep on improving this scene. Imho you should decrease the smallest size of the PF or whatever you used for the density of the mist to get more detail.
The other thing is a must!!!!!!! Turn on "receive shadows from surfaces" in the quality tab! This image needs those typical rays. The rendertime will be a lot longer, but it's worth the waiting.
Title: Re: Forest Glade
Post by: Jonathan on September 23, 2011, 12:35:53 PM
Hi Hannes, I will try the receive shadows etc etc. I will give it a try soon (working on another render....that may also require receive shadows!
Title: Re: Forest Glade
Post by: Oshyan on September 23, 2011, 06:09:45 PM
As far as I recall, Receive Shadows From Surfaces only affects shadows from *terrain*. Shadows from objects should be automatic.

- Oshyan
Title: Re: Forest Glade
Post by: Dune on September 24, 2011, 03:01:49 AM
I agree with Hannes. And while you're at it; why not try to blend the cloud fractal by horizontally stretched ridges, a bit warped. You might get these wavy fog layers dancing through the trees.
Title: Re: Forest Glade
Post by: inkydigit on September 24, 2011, 07:53:06 AM
agree with all..keep going, this is going to be a winner!
Title: Re: Forest Glade
Post by: Hannes on September 24, 2011, 08:14:33 AM
@Oshyan: really? Have to test that. I always thought it affects object shadows as well. Especially since the mist in this image doesn't seem to receive shadows from the trees at all.
Title: Re: Forest Glade
Post by: Hannes on September 24, 2011, 08:32:13 AM
Ha!!!! It's also affecting object shadows.
Here's a quick and dirty example:

(it really feels good to be a genius! ;D)

Title: Re: Forest Glade
Post by: dandelO on September 24, 2011, 12:34:48 PM
A quick read of the rt shadows checkbox note(... terrain or other surfaces...) in atmo and clouds nodes explains this. It's one of the main problems for long render times that loads of new users come across, or used to when the option title looked more important and the warning note wasn't displayed. I think Oshyan must have just been mixed up, I'm sure he knows this.
Clouds will cast shadow in atmospherics, including other clouds, but any solid surface won't unless you tick those boxes in the atmo/cloud node you want the shadows to appear in.
Title: Re: Forest Glade
Post by: Jonathan on September 24, 2011, 01:13:19 PM
I am going to have a try at playing with the mist a bit and see what happens - still a bit of a newbie so a lot of the more clever ways of using shaders are beyond me...more reading and experimentation to do yet! But thanks for all your assistance! I'll be back when re-rendered the Forest Glade....
Title: Re: Forest Glade
Post by: Jonathan on September 26, 2011, 05:29:07 AM
Second attempt at the Glade and have taken on board all suggestions  - slight changes to the mist and lighting - maybe too subtle, but here it is!
Title: Re: Forest Glade
Post by: Hannes on September 26, 2011, 04:44:27 PM
Way better, although I don't know if you switched on "receive shadows...". Still no rays. Maybe try to decrease the smallest scale in the density shader of your mist. What's your actual value?
Title: Re: Forest Glade
Post by: Oshyan on September 26, 2011, 07:27:34 PM
Thanks for testing it Hannes, I must have been confused. Still, I have seen lots of circumstances where there are still no such shadows/rays when one thinks there should be. ;)

- Oshyan
Title: Re: Forest Glade
Post by: Jonathan on September 27, 2011, 04:42:52 AM
Hi Hannes - I did indeed turn on Receive Shadows - as you rightly say, there aren't any extra shadows - I wonder if that is because the mist is too dense? Maybe there need to be more gaps in the mist - not sure, but will have a further play once my next project has finished rendering :)