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General => Image Sharing => Topic started by: Lucio on September 06, 2007, 09:43:10 AM

Title: Raindrops
Post by: Lucio on September 06, 2007, 09:43:10 AM
This is my last work, tried something different

I experimented a system to fake water transparency in TG2, it's a bit complicated but in this case gave some nice result.

Postwork (DOF and little color correction) in Photoshop

(http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/6848/raindrops2wi8.jpg)

Regards,

Lucio
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Kevin F on September 06, 2007, 09:47:12 AM
Amazing! One of the most realistic images I've seen in TG. Well done.
And the secret is?...........
Kevin.
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: N810 on September 06, 2007, 09:50:42 AM
 :o :o :o :o :o :o ???
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Volker Harun on September 06, 2007, 09:53:33 AM
The drops look a bit pale (opaque) at some spots. Else a very good concept and execution.
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: nvseal on September 06, 2007, 09:54:50 AM
Very interesting. Nice displacement on the leaf too.
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: cyphyr on September 06, 2007, 09:58:44 AM
wow, care to explain your process
Richard
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Saurav on September 06, 2007, 10:05:29 AM
Very original, the DOF is not entirely realistic but the concept and execution of the leaf (displacements) and the raindrops are superb.
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: old_blaggard on September 06, 2007, 10:15:37 AM
Very clever!  Nice job :).
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: rcallicotte on September 06, 2007, 10:27:20 AM
Very nice, Lucio.  You're an amazing artist.
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: efflux on September 06, 2007, 09:31:15 PM
Cool work.
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: NWsenior07 on September 06, 2007, 10:15:13 PM
Wow, I hadn't even considered the possibility that TG2 could do this... Well done.
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: chefc on September 06, 2007, 10:20:56 PM
Very interesting wasn't expecting this to come from T2 so soon great job lucio 8)
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Lucio on September 07, 2007, 04:23:23 AM
Thank you all for your kind comments and critics

@Kevin F: the method consists in appropriate use of geometry, textures and Lambert shader. Every drop was modeled with MAX over a duplicated mesh model of the leaves. I converted it in a editable poly, then I subdivided every area into little edges, I extruded the resulting faces once or twice to create little 'bubbles' over the surface and then meshmooted it. Working on a textured leaf model permitted to preserve map coordinates: in this way the texture that goes to 'cover' every drop gives also the illusion of refraction. Clever, huh? ;D  Waterdrops have their own shader in TG2: it consists in a default shader with a Lambert shader that regulates translucency and luminosity.

To get a good leaf closeup I downloaded a very high res map from mayang.com. From the original image I've created a greyscale bump map, a translucency map and a luminosity map. I applied very low displacement values, in order of a tenth of millimeter.

@Saurav: That's true, some edge in the background is not realistic. This is because I applied DOF with a 'custom-built' Z-depth map :) I'll post an update with improved results

I'm re-rendering now a new version with improved waterdrop colors, making them a bit less 'opaque' (I suppose, at least :)), I'll post it here soon

Thank you again for comments,

Lucio
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Lucio on September 07, 2007, 04:34:16 AM
Quote from: NWsenior07 on September 06, 2007, 10:15:13 PM
Wow, I hadn't even considered the possibility that TG2 could do this... Well done.

This the beauty of TG2, that is much more than a simple landscape generator. The power and flexibility of such a render engine will take a very long time to be completely explored.
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Will on September 07, 2007, 05:50:37 AM
great job, it will be even better when we get transparency/translucency and or SSS.
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: efflux on September 07, 2007, 08:07:44 AM
QuoteThis the beauty of TG2, that is much more than a simple landscape generator. The power and flexibility of such a render engine will take a very long time to be completely explored.

I agree with this for sure. Imagine where we will be in even just a years time.
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Lucio on September 07, 2007, 08:38:25 AM
I tried to follow your hints and here's a new render with different color settings on waterdrops shader, to give a more believable transparency. I made a subtle work over levels to make drops shadows over the leaf surface a bit brighter. Also tried to improve DOF a little. Full render at 800x600, no cropped

(http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/609/raindrops5yg2.jpg)
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: efflux on September 07, 2007, 08:59:07 AM
Water droplets are much improved. The DOF looks post processed but it's a hard image to apply this effect to. Maybe if you could somehow render the foreground separately from background then it would make the DOF easier to create. Superb result none the less.
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: rcallicotte on September 07, 2007, 09:57:29 AM
Yes, superb...as Efflux so profoundly clarified.

Or "eeetsah ni-i-i-i-i-ce...uh." to quote Borat.   :D
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Tangled-Universe on September 07, 2007, 12:40:54 PM
Really amazing work Lucio!
You always seem to push the limits/raise the bar.
You could consider applying a DOF using a depth mask generated by TG2 itself.
Here's a link to the topic:

http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=1959.0

I'd really like to see the rest of the plant/tree, must look great with those high quality textures and maps!

Martin
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Harvey Birdman on September 07, 2007, 05:30:05 PM
Holy crap! That's excellent!   :o   :)
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Lucio on September 07, 2007, 06:23:48 PM
Oh thank you so much Martin, this thread is a real lifesaver!

I'll try to rework DOF using this technique and I'll post the results
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Saurav on September 07, 2007, 06:39:11 PM
Lucio, the technique using z depth export out of Terragen for the depth mask should give yo much better results. You will need to add those nodes to the end of your multishader for the object/s surfaces as well. I also like the revised version better.
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Lucio on September 07, 2007, 07:01:32 PM
Yes Saurav, I'm rendering a test map right now :)
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Lucio on September 08, 2007, 04:24:26 AM
Ok, last version

DOF is now based on correct Z-depth data, should be better now

(http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/5298/raindropsfinalprocessedxp8.jpg)

Thanks for all your helpful hints and comments!

Regards,

Lucio
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Seth on September 08, 2007, 05:04:03 AM
it's really amazing  :o
congrats !
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Harvey Birdman on September 08, 2007, 05:31:42 AM
I swear, he must have sold his soul to the devil. His real name is Mephistopholes, I'm a-tellin' ya.

;D
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Saurav on September 08, 2007, 07:08:00 AM
Looks tops now. :)
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Lucio on September 08, 2007, 01:18:05 PM
Quote from: Harvey Birdman on September 08, 2007, 05:31:42 AM
I swear, he must have sold his soul to the devil. His real name is Mephistopholes, I'm a-tellin' ya.

;D

AH AH AH  :D

Oh no Harvey, I don't feel something like that ;D
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: rcallicotte on September 08, 2007, 01:41:25 PM
Good job, Lucio!
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: sjefen on September 08, 2007, 01:56:20 PM
Great job Lucio ;)
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: nvseal on September 08, 2007, 03:43:51 PM
Looks amazing. How does it look from farther away?
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Lucio on September 08, 2007, 06:20:49 PM
Oh, farther away it look surely much worse :)

It's a very simple plant, the difference is made by the maps

The background is made of randomly distributed simple vegetation models, to get that blurred-green atmosphere
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: inkydigit on September 08, 2007, 08:02:15 PM
very excellent work Lucio!!impressive indeed!! :)
Title: Re: Raindrops
Post by: Tangled-Universe on September 09, 2007, 05:53:18 AM
Oh that new DOF looks really sweet! Glad to see it turned out very well.
Again, great work Lucio!

Martin