^Oddly, I like the 2005 render better for the bridge itself, but the planet is better in the 2011 version... It's a shame indeed you don't have time to go back and finish some of these old girls. I too remember and liked your TOS/TNG hybrid bridge, which I would have liked to have seen finished.
I like aspects of the Shield Helicarrier Bridge from The Avengers movie, like the upper level where people are walking around in a semicircle. A two layer bridge might be interesting to look at. Imagine a standard bridge with this set-up where the front viewscreen is a window. Walk up to that and look down, and there is a huge atrium/10 forward type area meters tall where people walk circular hallways below you as well--so the viewscreen in front of your bridge is more an alcove. The actual windo is meters beyond your 'viewscreen' cut out. Nested bridges for a command ship, with something like the Glactica's command center below your bridge for dealing with other ships. This has older tech.
Really great looking models. I'm guessing this is off the shelf software. What software are the CGI models in? What rendering engine did you use for lighting? How long approximately did the 2005 rendering take for 1 image and also for the same image for the 2011 render? and what sort of off the shelf computer CPU, GPU, RAM are we talking to render them?
Thanks, everyone. @Ian Keldon: Interesting. Personally, I was never really satisfied with how harsh the original version's contrast felt. @jefferiestubes8: In both cases 3ds Max, but different versions. The original image used the scanline renderer with manually simulated GI, whereas the newer one uses mental ray and automated GI and self-illumination. Both years used a them-current mid-range computer (the 2001 one is on an overclocked, water-cooled Q6600) and IIRC that set took about 20 minutes in both versions (though the old one was rendered on an old single-core system). @Kaiser: Thanks. Not sure if it's easy to see, but the TMP Miranda actually uses a reduced diameter to make it fit in with the limitations of Project: Potemkin.
Not being an expert in 3d rendering I don't know if I'm explaining what I'm seeing correctly. The 2011 version to me feels "out of focus", whether it's a fuzzy render or a change in lighting that produces the effect. The planet in the 2011 version SHOULD feel a little out of focus because it is a replicated image on a screen, and generally should look least a little less "real" than the "real" set. Does that explain what I'm seeing better?
SeanR? Ptrope might have an idea. After all, he sought SeanR's permission to convert his TOS bridge model into a Poser based prop collection for general distribution. Since the model is available in Poser format, we can reasonably assume SeanR responded to Ptrope's inquiries. Ptrope? Can you shed some light on the subject? Sincerely, Bill
Thanks! About ten years ago I started to take up this hobby, with the occassional pauses in-between (real life didn't leave much time). It's his work during his active phase that has taught me a lot about interiors. Trust me, you don't want to know how much time I've spent studying his bridge projects (the Miranda bridge up there even is a little homage to his ST2 Miranda and ST5 Enterprise bridge sets). BTW: Over at SFM he recently mentioned that he might be interested in getting back into the field again, though I'm not sure how much those years of working in DC have damaged his sanity.
Don´t be so modest. Today you´re so good as Sean. Talking about him, he said will be hard for him to re-learn a 3d software. Truespace was the application of his choice in the old ages. Don´t know today... And, not everybody knows, but Sean built good starships too. Therefore, a lot of them are still unfinished. Right Sean? Back on topic, Willy Jaspers also released a few bridges: http://3dscifi.com/wjaspers/
I've always liked the E-A bridge from the end of STIV http://images.wikia.com/memoryalpha/en/images/e/ee/Constitution_class_refit_bridge_2.jpg I'd've liked to see the V and VI bridges also done up in these colors.
Isn't that sorta what happened, though? The STIV bridge was the same set as the I-III bridge, done up all white and shiny (in the 80s, too - take THAT, Apple patent lawyers!) but otherwise unchanged for the part of it we see. In STV, the new set carried over the white and lighter color palette but added carpet and went all touchscreeny. Incidentally, I'd love to one day see an accurate look at what the original NX-2000 Excelsior could've been. The attempt at EAS et. al. omitted the central platform steps and arguably the notion that the whole viewscreen flowed right into the side consoles with no break between them (as suggested by the production drawing showing thr forward view). It totally doesn't fit with known bridge tech of the time, but would have been awesome to see. Mark
Does anyone have the Constitution class bridge from the Tactical Assault game, Star Wreck The Pirkinning, Starfleet Academy game or Lexington fan series? ie. the TMP bridge with stuff from TOS, IV and V? or what about the VI bridge?
There are so many great pictures on these pages. I cannot believe this thread spans over two years (I didn't notice 'til just know, so I didn't think I'd be able to reply.). I do have some designs of my own (see my one and only thread), but they are all rather two-dimensional. I wonder if we could lay out some guidelines for future bridge designs, such as shape, console positions, colour scheme etc. I had wanted to start my own thread about this, but since that "Dilema" poll I can't start new threads, nor really contact anyone about it.