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General => Contests => NWDA 2015 Theme Challenge - Iceland => Topic started by: Henry Blewer on January 20, 2015, 06:15:26 PM

Title: njeneb's entry. 2nd Test Render
Post by: Henry Blewer on January 20, 2015, 06:15:26 PM
Iceland Challenge WIP.
This might look very different when I get to the final render. Right now, I am working on the plant distributions and trying different lighting setups.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. Very early test render.
Post by: inkydigit on January 20, 2015, 07:01:26 PM
Nice, looking forward to seeing the next one Henry, this is looking good!
:)
J
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. Very early test render.
Post by: choronr on January 20, 2015, 10:21:05 PM
Good to see you back Henry. This looks to be a promising start ...keep on.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. Very early test render.
Post by: Dune on January 21, 2015, 02:33:13 AM
Hey Henry! Great to see you're entering, looking forward to your next iteration. The lighting is nice, and knowing your earlier vegetation work the foreground will get to be ok too.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. Very early test render.
Post by: TheBadger on January 21, 2015, 06:47:48 AM
Really great start! The plants are already looking very nice. And I like the little details in the hills in the back.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. Very early test render.
Post by: DannyG on January 21, 2015, 09:22:53 AM
Great start Henry. Looking forward to this one
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. Very early test render.
Post by: Kadri on January 21, 2015, 09:41:20 AM

Nice start.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. Very early test render.
Post by: Henry Blewer on January 21, 2015, 12:47:15 PM
Thanks guys. I need to model a church. Create some more 'action' and do some wild cloud work for the action. (hint: the action shut down air traffic in Europe one summer)
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. Very early test render.
Post by: Dune on January 22, 2015, 03:43:58 AM
Well, the Icelandic churches aren't that elaborate, luckily. Sounds intriguing.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 2nd test render.
Post by: Henry Blewer on January 25, 2015, 08:19:44 PM
Added the volcano cloud. I also extended the area of the ground cover plants. 
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 2nd Test Render
Post by: choronr on January 25, 2015, 09:31:11 PM
Its coming together nicely.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 2nd Test Render
Post by: Dune on January 26, 2015, 03:47:28 AM
Indeed. I think you should reduce translucency of the plants considerably.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 2nd Test Render
Post by: Henry Blewer on January 26, 2015, 11:16:13 AM
I think the plants are okay. I put a second sunlight light source overhead. It might be causing the translucency issue. It could also be one of the plants, cowbells. They have small white flowers.

I am going to try a different light set up. Also mix the plant populations into the background; and match the distant terrain to the foreground better.

The church object is the next thing. And add a road to the church from off screen.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 3rd Test Render
Post by: Henry Blewer on January 27, 2015, 09:25:23 PM
I think I have the lighting and the POV how I want it.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 2nd Test Render
Post by: Kadri on January 27, 2015, 09:27:56 PM

Looks nice Henry.
I would play a little more with the lower part of the smoke that comes out of the volcano.

Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 2nd Test Render
Post by: choronr on January 27, 2015, 09:54:24 PM
Looking good so far Henry. If possible, maybe taper the lower part of the cloud a little more. The sky/lighting is very nice.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 2nd Test Render
Post by: Henry Blewer on January 27, 2015, 10:24:34 PM
I'll give the tapering a try. Thanks for the feedback.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 2nd Test Render
Post by: TheBadger on January 28, 2015, 01:31:37 PM
Its very cool. Really shaping up nice. I am surprised by how much I like the plume, did not think it would shape so well.
Its a very strong composition too.

Looks to me like the main stuff is done? Just need to detail and tweak until your eyes bleed out.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 2nd Test Render
Post by: kalwalt on January 28, 2015, 02:53:26 PM
I agree with all comments here. It's a very nice picture, wonderful sky and light, yes and smoke from volcano need a bit of tapering in the lower part... it seems a bit strange even if it can be possible.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 2nd Test Render
Post by: choronr on January 28, 2015, 04:12:27 PM
Yes, the tapering is good when the eruption first starts; however, beyond that point, the clouds of smoke and ash tend to spill over the top and up into the air. So, I guess maybe it would look good either way.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 2nd Test Render
Post by: ADE on January 30, 2015, 10:32:23 AM
looks much better on a bigger scale
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 2nd Test Render
Post by: inkydigit on January 30, 2015, 11:10:07 AM
An ominous sight to see in such a beautiful meadow... Great lighting and details here Henry...
Keep on!
J
:)
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 4th Test Render
Post by: Henry Blewer on January 31, 2015, 11:35:26 AM
Well, here's the fourth try. I ditched the volcano.

The church was modeled using Blender. I kept it very low poly since it is so far away. Does it need a steeple or a Cross?

I also added some distant fog, which seems to work well. Since there is not much more to add save a path or road to the church, I am going to try something from a photo. This will require a lot of masking.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 4th Test Render
Post by: choronr on January 31, 2015, 12:06:06 PM
Quote from: Henry Blewer on January 31, 2015, 11:35:26 AM
Well, here's the fourth try. I ditched the volcano.

The church was modeled using Blender. I kept it very low poly since it is so far away. Does it need a steeple or a Cross?

I also added some distant fog, which seems to work well. Since there is not much more to add save a path or road to the church, I am going to try something from a photo. This will require a lot of masking.
I believe the update looks very good. The church should have a steeple and a cross. A path to the church is a good idea.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 2nd Test Render
Post by: Oshyan on January 31, 2015, 01:58:00 PM
I agree, the church model needs at least a steeple or point; it looks oddly cut-off now.

This is a beautiful scene, it's just still missing something that says uniquely "Iceland" to me. The terrain in the distance helps with that, but the hazy golden light is not so typical there in my experience and understanding, and I'm also not sure about the specific foreground vegetation. If it were me I'd try making the sky a bit more blue and then maybe add some rocks in the foreground with moss on them for visual interest and Icelandic-feel.

- Oshyan
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 2nd Test Render
Post by: Henry Blewer on January 31, 2015, 09:21:16 PM
I'll try lowering the glow in the fog. I am also thinking of moving the church to slightly higher ground and flooding the low areas. I agree that the plants, other than the grass, needs to be cut back.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. re-start
Post by: Henry Blewer on February 01, 2015, 11:35:34 AM
I put this together last night before work. I think it looks more Icelandic.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 2nd Test Render
Post by: TheBadger on February 01, 2015, 05:07:53 PM
They are all cool. I was partial to the volcanos though.
Title: Re: njeneb's entry. 2nd Test Render
Post by: choronr on February 01, 2015, 05:13:28 PM
I agree. You have that prepared to an extent where there are a number of ways to enhance the image including changing the sun position.