Something I left rendering over Christmas night.
I was trying for the sparkly effect that was mentioned in this thread... http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=8350.0
By using fractal specular functions.
2x Walli's Grass patches. 1x TG grass clump.
Not perfect but still something I'm working on. (I'm not at home so I don't have any postwork tools here, no usual sig', either, these are just raw TG-outs)
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Thanks for looking! :)
p.s. Some other tester images will follow in the replies...
Test 1...
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Test 2...
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Interesting approach using the specular function input of the default shader (at least, I think).
On the first image it looks really good, almost there, just a bit brighter :)
On the 2 test images I'd say that the scales should be reduced a bit.
However, the big problem with this in general is clearly shown in test 2 on the far right. In TG2 you just can't get specular's all over your image beside giving it a huge spread and increased strength, but that looks ugly.
I think if you really want to achieve the result you're after you can try to use the fractal function as luminosity and play with that. Or like me, use tiny luminous fake stones, but that's also not that easy.
I really would like your thoughts on this and what you thought about it so far :)
Cheers,
Martin
What I think might be an idea, Martin, is to use your fake stones idea and add fractal specularity to them.
Nice, there'd be no overall reflection-spread because the spec' would only appear where stones were. A high IOR on little, sparse stones might be good, I'll try...
I'm not keen on using luminosity for this, although, the image I posted first in this thread uses some but in a different way. The pinkish hue of the snow is added to with faint pink luminosity, it isn't just the atmospheric effect creating the colour there.
Off to play... :)
Why a high IOR? Does that "force" specular reflection?
If you still use specularity to achieve the effect you still have problems with having specularity only "under" the sun (image-wise).
Unless a high IOR results in specular reflections with less amount of light needed?
The way I understood it, a high IOR creates more reflection, I want to capture spots of sunlight on only specific areas, where the small stones describe it. Adjusting specular roughness is a way to make the specularity sharper/rougher but I wanted to make them really 'glint' by reflecting the sunlight. I'm still playing... :)
Interesting experiments - just wanted to say I LOVE the clouds in the first one.
Quote from: dandelO on December 27, 2009, 05:01:43 PM
The way I understood it, a high IOR creates more reflection, I want to capture spots of sunlight on only specific areas, where the small stones describe it. Adjusting specular roughness is a way to make the specularity sharper/rougher but I wanted to make them really 'glint' by reflecting the sunlight. I'm still playing... :)
That's where our goals differ a bit. I strongly don't want to have specularity only where my sun directly lits the terrain. I want it almost everywhere, very gently, like you see in many photographs.
Difficult difficult difficult.
But, you showed me carrot ;D
Another test, I'm having trouble with AA bloom, though. It appears too strong, giving a plastic look to sparkly areas, disabling it gives unwanted black reflection outlines...
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The sparkle is very apparent and, the way I see it, the glint from the snow in life is refracted sunlight through water crystals of the snow. If they're recieving direct light rays, they'll reflect/refract and give a glint according to your POV. It will be all over the surface but only show up where light will shine through it. Reflected light should also be creating rays to light up areas out of direct sunlight.
This is a tricky problem but we usually figure things out here when we all chip-in with different ideas.
This image uses your tiny fake stones idea(they're 0.00025m scale/0.025 spacing), no tallness or pancake effect so, they're simply spots, all over the surface of the snow layer.
Rather than using specular functions like I did before, these have a completely flat, zero scale, transparent water shader as their surface shader.
EDIT: Stone coverage is too high, this is making it too reflective and plasticy, the bloom is working beautifully with a lesser sparkle coverage(0.0025).
WIP...
With high GI settings, but probably at insane settings, you should also get sparkles in shadowy areas. At least that's something you see in images on the net.
I'll try to post some links to show what I'm after.
I think you need more roughness to pick up more specularity by the way.
I don't know how you will do it TG2, but I think the effect you are after is simular to 'Sub-Surface Scattering' in Vue. Is there any type of way for anything like that in TG2???
This is probably more what you're after... don't mind the landscape, that was just plain out of the box. Some snow added and the sparkles.
---Dune
Quote from: Dune on December 29, 2009, 03:36:56 AM
This is probably more what you're after... don't mind the landscape, that was just plain out of the box. Some snow added and the sparkles.
---Dune
Ah yes...almost there, say 90%!
It would be nice if there are some more sparkles, smaller and a tad less bright.
Did you do this using the reflection function + specular roughness function or just plain clever specular settings?
Yes, that's pretty close. I agree that the sparkles should be a little bit smaller, but imho they should not be less bright.
Great sparkles Dune!
Quote from: Hannes on December 29, 2009, 05:06:43 AM
Yes, that's pretty close. I agree that the sparkles should be a little bit smaller, but imho they should not be less bright.
On second thought, you might be right.
Aye, this looks nice now. I have about five different .tgd's on different methods now and I can manage to get similar results, with luminosity laid over the snow, or child-layered.
I can't do it with proper specular methods, making actual refracted highlights on the snow. Are these actual reflections? If so, pray show! ;)
It's frustrating but this is how I'd go now, too, with luminosity. If that's what it is...
Cheers for coming in, Dune, you always have great input.
I'll have another go at the sparkles today (or tomorrow), and explain how I did it. Fresh snow has fallen tonight, so plenty of reference...
The black outlines without Bloom are caused by the AA filter. Use a different filter and you won't need AA bloom.
- Oshyan
My sparkles work quite nicely, I think, although the snowscape can be better. No sparkles in shadowed areas. This was done at detail 0.5 and AA 4, GI 2/2/8, one low bluish fill light (strength 0.4) near the camera/opposite the sun, no whatsoever.
I was thinking of trading this at NWDA, but on the other hand, here's a tgc (snowy surface layer + sparkles).
---Dune
Very impressive. I had to download this one! Looks like the real stuff. Get out the snow shovels! ;D
QuoteI was thinking of trading this at NWDA
This is what I'm thinking for my Ice Cream shader, too, got some nice ideas for snow-piling etc. For the moment, I wouldn't even show this disgrace to you lot, until it's really tidied up and universally compatible with any default scene, in general ;)
I was considering updating the ol' public library files to 2.1 standards for this purpose but I'd feel like a charlatan selling these, you can do what you like with those. I've already given their basis away for free. I've decided: I'll never sell anything I've given away for free before, it wouldn't be right.
I don't think I'll update the library into specific volumes again, either.
Anything else I have to add to
dandelO's Public Library(and there will still be lots in the future) will still be posted to this link... http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=4922.0
There are also still some items in there that aren't in my library packs so far, too.
This image is amazing and the results are beautiful.
Nice work :)
Kadri.
I agree with your words about selling stuff, Dandel0,that's why I decided not to put this at NWDA. IMO it's 'not right' to sell ideas that partly consist of ideas that others have dreamed up. Perhaps in a totally different setup, but still... Like, I cannot put this 'fake-stone-sparkle.tgc' into TU's snow, and sell it. Everyone can do as he/she likes, but I would not feel totally good about it.
Hi guys,
you can still put this up on NWDA CS for a 0 price. I would actually recommend doing it. The structure in the shop will make it easier for future users in search for such a preset to locate what they need. Please help making NWDA CS a useful place full of useful presets - free or fee, you always have that choice.
Thanks,
Frank
That may be a good idea, but aren't you afraid that your site will be swamped by ideas (and half-ideas)?
Another example of my fake-stone-crystals. The original was too big to upload, so here's a crop. Although the crystals are not as shiny as I wanted them to be, so I'll have another look at it.
Quote from: Dune on January 02, 2010, 02:52:54 AM
That may be a good idea, but aren't you afraid that your site will be swamped by ideas (and half-ideas)?
That might happen, but there are two ways to keep this under control. On the one side, we have a top list, so people can see what others have bought or downloaded most often, and secondly, I rely on user feedback about the quality. You can rate each and every product, and in the future I will also find a way to sort by rating.
As a last resort, products will be removed if they fail to provide a minimum quality, or are not functionable - in which case the creator can continue to improve its quality and then upload again.
Regards,
Frank
Quote from: Dune on January 02, 2010, 03:05:37 AM
Another example of my fake-stone-crystals. The original was too big to upload, so here's a crop. Although the crystals are not as shiny as I wanted them to be, so I'll have another look at it.
My only suggestion here is to reduce the size of the stones, nothing more. The shiny-ness (:)) is just fine with me.