Scribble's scribbles

[Sibyl]

I'm hyper-critical of my own work, and CG in general. Truthfully, I'm a fan of real, physical models and sets and props that you can touch and feel, but I got into CG originally because that's where SFX were going at the time. I eventually gave up on trying to create photorealistic images and even getting into the Biz and started concentrating on modeling for 3d printing. This was before PBR (Physically Based Rendering / Materials). I've only recently attempted photorealism again now that the newer materials and renderers make it so much easier/better.

To be honest, you're right, I do like the black rather than the grey. I'm not sure what I was looking at when I was thinking that they were more grey, but it may have been an old replica or screen-used chair that had faded over time.

I'll be going back to a darker color in my next iteration.

There's just something about the lighting or materials and the way I have them set up that screams CG to me in these latest images.

I've done some pretty damn realistic renderings in the past (my avatar, for instance), but even those have hints of CG to me.

I'll be doing some more tests on the bridge and a couple of other models/scenes, but for the most part, I'll be concentrating on the modeling aspect of the bridge until it's complete. Then I'll really delve into the photorealism aspect.

 

[Sibyl]

TBH, I'm not sure what most people think looks real and what doesn't as far as CGI goes. I'm so skeptical now, especially with all the fake photos passed around on Facebook.

For example, this image:

I mean, it looks decent, but I have no idea if it looks...real.

It was just a practice piece I did tonight trying to figure out my renderer. Finally worked out to get a color-specific, self-illuminated, light-emitting material.

 

[blssdwlf]

Nice test model @Scribble. Yeah it can be hard to not see the CG especially if you're the one that is working on the model. What I've been doing to get around this is to render my model against a filmed backdrop and light it as if it is there. The next day I'll take a look at the render and if I can't immediately tell which is my model and what was actually filmed then I'm happy with the result.

 

[Sibyl]

Nice test model @Scribble. Yeah it can be hard to not see the CG especially if you're the one that is working on the model. What I've been doing to get around this is to render my model against a filmed backdrop and light it as if it is there. The next day I'll take a look at the render and if I can't immediately tell which is my model and what was actually filmed then I'm happy with the result.

Sounds like a good process. I'll have to try that.

 

[Sibyl]

Yup, it was an unintended distraction today, but pretty sure I'll be using this as a prop for something in the future...

And wouldn't you know it, I had always thought that this was the front of this ship!

Back to work...big important business to get to. Someone's STLV 2019 depends on it.

 

[Atolm]

Yup, it was an unintended distraction today, but pretty sure I'll be using this as a prop for something in the future...

And wouldn't you know it, I had always thought that this was the front of this ship!

Back to work...big important business to get to. Someone's STLV 2019 depends on it.

LOL don't feel bad, I used to as well until I got to see the show! lol But I love Blake's 7...I even designed a Liberator "re-imagining" many years back.

 

[Sibyl]

Been without Max for a few days, but have it back as of yesterday and will be working on my various projects, such as my friend's STLV 2019 costume, my TOS bridge, Refit bridge, and Refit, itself.

In the meantime, this was the final image I'd ended up with on that Liberator piece, again, just to figure out materials and render settings, etc. It was lit solely with an HDRI image of an abandoned building interior and of course the light-emitting green material of the engine pod or whatever it is (sorry, honestly never seen the show). It was a total distraction and I'm sorry to be posting a non-Trek image (or series of images) here.

As an aid to others, I'm happy to post some wireframes and progress steps of this particular piece. It turns out I didn't capture as many intermediate steps as I'd thought I had, but I can post what I have.

This may or may not sound pretentious, but I don't know how I ever worked on a small screen before. Hell, I'm not even sure how I'd worked on a 1920x1080 screen before now that I'm using a 4K TV for my monitor. When I've reduced my Max screen to 1920x1080 for some video captures it all just seems so cramped. My individual quad viewports are each close full HD. But don't worry, I got this TV free as an incentive to get a phone. Even then, it's a cheapy LG screen.

 

[David cgc]

Quick thing...while I love what I've done with Octane in Max with this bridge, it is still very much a CG image and not "real"-looking at all.

I had a play with Photoshop with one of my last renders. While it still does not completely correct the CG feel to the image, I think it's kind of interesting.

Out of curiosity, are you using a linear color-correction workflow in your 3D program? I'm not sure about how Max and Octane are set-up (I know Octane is physically-based, but I don't know if that includes color correction, or if that's a separate setting you have to turn on). Looking at the difference between your original and photoshopped render, it looks like you brightened up the shadows, and too-dark secondary lighting is one of the symptoms of working in uncorrected color space.

 

[Sibyl]

Yeah, I've never really concentrated on realistic lighting before, so I don't have the first clue what's available in my software yet. That's my failing. Nearly from the beginnings of my 3d modeling, or any serious work at it has been concentrated on 3d printing, so I've not really followed any of the "standard" methods for CG modeling and texturing. As a matter of fact, I've only unwrapped the UVs on a model once, and not very well, at that. This is one area I need a LOT of research and practice at. When I do color-correct in Photoshop, however, I generally move the center node in the Levels dialog. Rarely do I touch the outer nodes unless it's to compress the space a little and bring the highs up and lows down, especially if there are no values in the outer regions.

Funny story about CG modeling and CG imaging, in general: about six months to a year before I ever touched a computer imaging program I attended a digital conference as a representative of the film lighting company I was working for. It was the first time I'd heard of Corel's PaintShop Pro, their photo manipulation software, but I'm pretty sure it was before Corel had acquired it. It was also the first time I'd heard of a Photoshop plugin called Alien Skin. Well, it turns out that everyone that attended was entered into a raffle and I actually WON Alien Skin. I didn't have Photoshop and had no intentions of getting it at the time, so I looked around, held up the box, and said, "Would anyone like this?" and handed it to the first person that had approached. Little did I know...

Oh, well.

 

[David cgc]

^Yep, it's a linear color thing. That's (basically) what the middle arrow in the levels controls adjusts. It looks like this quick tutorial from Autodesk should get you most of the way there in Max. This YouTube video explains what the deal is with working in linear color versus uncorrected. You can google for more information on how to set up a linear workflow in Photoshop and any other graphics programs you use.

 

[Sibyl]

As usual, there will be concurrent projects.

I really want to take part in this month's art challenge as The Phoenix is one ship that I've wanted to model pretty much from the beginning of my modeling "career".

She's a pre-TMP refit of the Hermes-Class ship listed in The Star Fleet Technical Manual. It's a design I came up with somewhere in early high school/late junior high.

 

[Sibyl]

^Yep, it's a linear color thing. That's (basically) what the middle arrow in the levels controls adjusts. It looks like this quick tutorial from Autodesk should get you most of the way there in Max. This YouTube video explains what the deal is with working in linear color versus uncorrected. You can google for more information on how to set up a linear workflow in Photoshop and any other graphics programs you use.

Ah. Didn't know that. I'll check it out! Thanks!

 

[Maurice]

In the meantime, this was the final image I'd ended up with on that Liberator piece, again, just to figure out materials and render settings, etc. It was lit solely with an HDRI image of an abandoned building interior and of course the light-emitting green material of the engine pod or whatever it is (sorry, honestly never seen the show). It was a total distraction and I'm sorry to be posting a non-Trek image (or series of images) here.

Oooh, I love the Liberator!

 

[scifieric]

Dude, your bridge is spectacular! I want to see more!

 

[Sibyl]

Oooh, I love the Liberator!

I've never seen the show, but I've known about it and the Liberator most of my life from all of the magazines and catalogs I've read over the years. I really did think that this was the front!

Oops.

Dude, your bridge is spectacular! I want to see more!

Thank you! More to come.

 

[Pauln6]

I've never seen the show, but I've known about it and the Liberator most of my life from all of the magazines and catalogs I've read over the years. I really did think that this was the front!

Oops.



Thank you! More to come.

The special effects were dire but Blake's 7 is great! You should watch it!

 

[Atolm]

I love Blake's 7!!!!
If you remember, I designed a "futuristic" version of the Liberator some years back.
Scribbles keep up the sweetness! Been needing to see some awesome stuff the last few days!

 

[Sibyl]

Sorry, no more Liberator...if I ever get back to it, I'll do the best I can.

On to this month's challenge as this is a model I've been wanting to create for...well...since I was about 13-14 or so. That's a couple of years ago...

Genesis of my model of the USS Phoenix, NCC-625.

Blue is her humble beginnings.

She's a pre-TMP refit of an Hermes-Class scout from the Star Fleet Technical Manual by Franz Joseph.

 

[Sibyl]

Eh...I'm tired, but it's a start.

 

[Sibyl]

@scifieric, as you might be able to see, I use slightly different methods in Max, but there are some similarities.

Far from done, but making some headway.

I wonder if I'll sleep today...tiredness sure is slowing me down, but at least I'm working.