Planetside Software Forums

General => Image Sharing => Topic started by: Tangled-Universe on January 07, 2009, 02:22:19 AM

Title: Rock Structure - FINAL UPDATE
Post by: Tangled-Universe on January 07, 2009, 02:22:19 AM
Hi Guys,

Had some fun with displacements yesterday.
The renderer didn't have as much fun as I did, because it took at least GI @ 2/3 to get decent details everywhere. Also I had to disable the soft clip effect which influences the tones pretty much. Other settings were detail 0.85, AA 7 and SS-prepass enabled. It took 6,5 hours to render on my quad 6600.

Hope you like it, feel free to ask and thanks for stopping by!

Martin
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: FrankB on January 07, 2009, 04:08:00 AM
This is looking *great*... but you should get rid of the "splotchy" texture. Do you know what I mean? These dark "dots" that are everywhere. With them gone it will be excellent.

Another thing that could be worth trying is to increase contrast, in render or in post, and also increase exposure on the lit parts.

Cheers,
Frank
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: Tangled-Universe on January 07, 2009, 04:29:30 AM
Quote from: FrankB on January 07, 2009, 04:08:00 AM
This is looking *great*... but you should get rid of the "splotchy" texture. Do you know what I mean? These dark "dots" that are everywhere. With them gone it will be excellent.

Another thing that could be worth trying is to increase contrast, in render or in post, and also increase exposure on the lit parts.

Cheers,
Frank

Thank you Frank.
You're absolutely right on both aspects.

Increasing contrast and exposure on lit parts is a piece of cake of course. Will do that tonight.

Getting rid of the splotchy parts is exactly what I meant with "The renderer didn't have as much fun as I did".
If you look at the link below the renderer still has problems lighting complex displacements like these:

http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=3991.msg41710#msg41710 (http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=3991.msg41710#msg41710) (what an ugly picture, lol)

I've send those files to Matt at that time, but never heared of it anymore.

So I'm not sure if I can improve this aspect, but I'll certainly try. Perhaps you'll find it interesting to take a look at it as well?

Martin
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: Saurav on January 07, 2009, 04:35:13 AM
I actually like the dark splotches. ;D

They remind of of rock structures (Bungle Bungles) found in the Kimberleys, Western Australia.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/400565489_1b762f003a_o.jpg
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: FrankB on January 07, 2009, 05:01:27 AM
Quote from: Saurav on January 07, 2009, 04:35:13 AM
I actually like the dark splotches. ;D

They remind of of rock structures (Bungle Bungles) found in the Kimberleys, Western Australia.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/400565489_1b762f003a_o.jpg

yeah, but the ones on your reference image are higher contrast and seem to have actual "depth", a 3 dimensional appearance, not just color.

Cheers,
Frank
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: Tangled-Universe on January 07, 2009, 05:02:58 AM
Thank you Saurav :)
However, I tend to agree with Frank.

It's boring at work, so plenty of time to think about a solution :P
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: rcallicotte on January 07, 2009, 08:32:20 AM
I was going to say, as Saurav, that the splotches make it look realistic, but I don't like the foggy look.  What is that from?  Seeing something as clear as your red rock wall from about a year ago might be even better...or not?  What are you wanting to do next?
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: Volker Harun on January 07, 2009, 12:59:23 PM
Those splotches are an issue that efflux and I discussed in one of our function threads - and if I am correct, Matt did answer there.
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: Tangled-Universe on January 07, 2009, 03:16:34 PM
Quote from: Volker Harun on January 07, 2009, 12:59:23 PM
Those splotches are an issue that efflux and I discussed in one of our function threads - and if I am correct, Matt did answer there.

Which thread?


I found out that in this case the grey patches are fake stones who went awry, so that's fixed. Nonetheless, the link I posted still matters, that problem hasn't been solved yet as far as I know.

Martin
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: Volker Harun on January 07, 2009, 06:16:54 PM
Hello Martin ...
that shadow issue was first mentioned by Efflux in this post: http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=2616.msg26296#msg26296

The same thread a few pages later is a response by Matt: http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=2616.msg26861#msg26861

Not much help, but at least a hint ...

By the way ... the overall effect is very convincing!
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: inkydigit on January 07, 2009, 06:24:31 PM
I like the fundamental structures here!
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: Tangled-Universe on January 07, 2009, 07:33:23 PM
Quote from: inkydigit on January 07, 2009, 06:24:31 PM
I like the fundamental structures here!

Thanks Inky! An update will follow somewhere next week, when I'm back home :)

Quote from: Volker Harun on January 07, 2009, 06:16:54 PM
Hello Martin ...
that shadow issue was first mentioned by Efflux in this post: http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=2616.msg26296#msg26296

The same thread a few pages later is a response by Matt: http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=2616.msg26861#msg26861

Not much help, but at least a hint ...

By the way ... the overall effect is very convincing!

Glad you like it too Volker!

Don't want to sound rude, but I don't care who mentioned the problems first ;) The fact is: the problems are still there, even with the latest beta-version.

I think I don't get the hint from those 2 posts.
There's in my case from the link nothing really special or extreme going on. No micro-displacements etc. or displacements going under the terrain.
I think it just meets some kind of limit of complexity which can be calculated correctly.

Don't want to simply end this discussion, interesting as it this, but I prefer to keep this topic on topic. So we might continue this elsewhere if you people don't mind :)

Martin
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: C.A.C. on January 07, 2009, 08:09:11 PM
I think this is a gorgeous rock structure. There is much detail which i have to focus in a lot and that is always fun.    ;D
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: choronr on January 12, 2009, 01:53:21 AM
From what I see, I think I'm looking at 99.9% reality ...nice work Martin!
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: Tangled-Universe on January 12, 2009, 04:03:51 AM
Quote from: choronr on January 12, 2009, 01:53:21 AM
From what I see, I think I'm looking at 99.9% reality ...nice work Martin!
Quote from: C.A.C. on January 07, 2009, 08:09:11 PM
I think this is a gorgeous rock structure. There is much detail which i have to focus in a lot and that is always fun.    ;D

Thank you guys :)

I've brewed a new render last night with pretty insane settings:

Detail 0.9, AA 8, GI 4/5(!) with SS-prepass.

The fun thing is that this is rendering really fast for these kind of displacements with voronoi functions and 3 or 4 strata shaders.
The render took only 2,5 hours on my Q6600.
Unfortunately I didn't have time tomorrow to post the image, so you'll have to wait about 8 hours from now.

Martin
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: Tangled-Universe on January 12, 2009, 12:26:13 PM
Ok, here's the update! I personally like this one quite much. Especially all the details.
See info about this in the message above or quote below:

Quote from: Tangled-Universe on January 12, 2009, 04:03:51 AM
Quote from: choronr on January 12, 2009, 01:53:21 AM
From what I see, I think I'm looking at 99.9% reality ...nice work Martin!
Quote from: C.A.C. on January 07, 2009, 08:09:11 PM
I think this is a gorgeous rock structure. There is much detail which i have to focus in a lot and that is always fun.    ;D

Thank you guys :)

I've brewed a new render last night with pretty insane settings:

Detail 0.9, AA 8, GI 4/5(!) with SS-prepass.

The fun thing is that this is rendering really fast for these kind of displacements with voronoi functions and 3 or 4 strata shaders.
The render took only 2,5 hours on my Q6600.
Unfortunately I didn't have time tomorrow to post the image, so you'll have to wait about 8 hours from now.

Martin
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: Seth on January 12, 2009, 12:50:30 PM
good surfacing and good displacement ^^
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: old_blaggard on January 12, 2009, 12:55:37 PM
Very nice work - great detail and realism!
Title: Re: Rock Structure
Post by: rcallicotte on January 12, 2009, 12:56:09 PM
Now that looks real.
Title: Re: Rock Structure - FINAL UPDATE
Post by: Hannes on January 12, 2009, 04:56:11 PM
I like it!
Title: Re: Rock Structure - FINAL UPDATE
Post by: inkydigit on January 12, 2009, 05:00:28 PM
perfect!
Title: Re: Rock Structure - FINAL UPDATE
Post by: RArcher on January 12, 2009, 05:07:11 PM
Great work!  Now... when can we see these techniques in a fully fleshed out scene?
Title: Re: Rock Structure - FINAL UPDATE
Post by: Seth on January 12, 2009, 06:16:38 PM
Quote from: RArcher on January 12, 2009, 05:07:11 PM
Great work!  Now... when can we see these techniques in a fully fleshed out scene?


hehe i was about to say so ^^
Title: Re: Rock Structure - FINAL UPDATE
Post by: Tangled-Universe on January 12, 2009, 06:34:14 PM
Thanks to all guys!

Quote from: RArcher on January 12, 2009, 05:07:11 PM
Great work!  Now... when can we see these techniques in a fully fleshed out scene?

Well, what are your wishes? ;D

Martin
Title: Re: Rock Structure - FINAL UPDATE
Post by: choronr on January 12, 2009, 06:40:29 PM
A clip file would be nice; my opinion is the the first image has a certain light that seemed to show more variance of highlights and shadows than the second. Both images however show great expertise.
Title: Re: Rock Structure - FINAL UPDATE
Post by: Tangled-Universe on January 12, 2009, 06:43:36 PM
Quote from: choronr on January 12, 2009, 06:40:29 PM
A clip file would be nice; my opinion is the the first image has a certain light that seemed to show more variance of highlights and shadows than the second. Both images however show great expertise.

Thanks for your comment Bob! I agree with you.

After a bit of investigation tonight it seemed I have exaggerated the GI settings a bit. The strength is set at 2 for the surfaces, which I lowered to 1.75. Then I reduced the GI rendersettings from 4/5 to 3/4 and the result looked more vibrant and contrasted already. The important thing is to keep the lines of the cracks just visible in the shadows :)
Title: Re: Rock Structure - FINAL UPDATE
Post by: FrankB on January 13, 2009, 04:01:53 PM
Excellent stuff Martin. I wish I could come up wth some structure like that, too.

Cheers,
Frank
Title: Re: Rock Structure - FINAL UPDATE
Post by: Saurav on January 13, 2009, 05:15:03 PM
Nice work Martin, the 2nd version looks great.
Title: Re: Rock Structure - FINAL UPDATE
Post by: Volker Harun on January 13, 2009, 06:50:42 PM
Good effort with very convincing results :)