3D interiors in Blender

[Rekkert]

I've finished the last commission I was doing, and while I'm anxious to show you the results, they won't be available for several months.

Now I've already started my next one, and it's comprised of a record four interiors, for @Rusty0918. I'll be doing the four of them in a row because three of them are redresses of existing sets, while one is a completely new room. The sets are all from the USS Galaxy:
-Main bridge, as it looked by 2365 (TNG season 2)
-Main bridge, as it looked by 2376 (Post-DS9)
-Battle bridge, as it looked by 2365 (A redress of the Constellation bridge)
-Transporter room, also as it was by 2365

For the first two sets, I needed to bring the 2360 Galaxy bridge I did last year up to spec. This included changing all the materials to the newer versions using Principled shaders, plus changing the meshes to updated iterations I made for the Enterprise-D bridge, and overhauling the lighting and color management settings to take advantage of Blender's latest updates. Here's the result:

Spoiler: Before

Spoiler: After

I might re-render all the shots of this iteration of the bridge, so that once the other two versions are done, a direct comparison is possible.

 

[Rekkert]

I couldn't help myself, I ended up redoing the renders, plus updating the cutaway to my new style (I'm sorry if someone thinks it's a step back as it has less info, but I prefer the cleaner style).

Now that the 2360 version is properly updated, I'll start working on the 2365 version of the bridge, which is a pretty minor modification, mostly mirroring the changes the Enterprise-D bridge had in TNG's second season. After that, I'll work chronologically, so I'll be doing the transporter room next, then the battle bridge, and finally the 2376 bridge.

In other news, Scragnog finished another video showcasing an interior set on Unreal Engine: the Constellation. This time he worked in conjunction with Jeff_The_Sloth (who was the main lighting artist in Stage 9) on the conversion.

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[Michael]

In other news, Scragnog finished another video showcasing an interior set on Unreal Engine: the Constellation. This time he worked in conjunction with Jeff_The_Sloth (who was the main lighting artist in Stage 9) on the conversion.

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That's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! I especially love the “handheld” shots at the end. Very realistic!

 

[Rekkert]

@Michael: Why thank you very much, I'll make sure they get the compliment!

On the Galaxy's side, I've started converting the bridge to the 2365 version by changing the LCARS to the late-TNG Enterprise style, plus I've done the new side panels and replaced the conn/ops stations with the late versions.

Spoiler: Images

 

[Lt. Washburn]

I don't know why, but videos never display for me here. Is there a direct link?

 

[Rekkert]

@Lt. Washburn: Sure thing, here are direct links to both the Bradbury and Constellation videos.

I've added a little isolinear bank below the tactical console, and two vertical displays at the side of the viewscreen. This particular modification of the Galaxy bridge is almost completely done (like I said before, I took these four requests at the same time because of how quick the bridges were to do, given all the assets I already have created )

Spoiler: Images

 

[TrekMD]

Some fantastic work in here. Great bridge designs!

 

[Rekkert]

@TrekMD: Thank you very much!

I've added another step to the Captain's chair, which I think means the 2365 bridge layout is now done.

Spoiler: Images

My ISP had a massive outage for the past 24th hours... Fun. That meant I couldn't properly start working on the transporter room as intended, as I was left with no access to most references. Thus I started working on the other bridge modification, the 2376 version.

This bridge is based mostly on the Astraeus, but with the unique elements and colors of the Galaxy. There's still several things to change here, including the LCARS to a Nemesis style color pallet, add keypads, extinguishers, etc.

Spoiler: Images

EDIT: Oh, I almost forgot (damn outage!), Scragnog posted another video yesterday, of the USS Anchorage bridge:

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[valkyrie013]

Very nice sir!
Its nice that you can do this fast since you have the assets made already!
Really going to have to try to do a bridge.. or interior piece..

 

[Rekkert]

@valkyrie013: Thanks! I'd love to see what you can come up with.

Here are all the finished renders for the 2365 Galaxy bridge. If my ISP manages to keep my connection stable, I should be able to start work on the transporter room soon-ish...

 

[TrekMD]

Love it. Looks great!

 

[Rekkert]

@TrekMD: Thanks!

Sigh... Internet kept coming and going. I got some references for the transporter but if I can't just search for something at any time while working, progress would be painfully slow. It's been stable today so far, but just to avoid more frustration, I started with the "no reference required" bits on the Galaxy's new battle bridge. The conn/ops area has been widened, and the ceiling replaced by a Brattain/Zodiac-style piece.

A lot of stuff's still in progress of course, all the old TMP era lables will be replaced with the blue TNG style ones, colors might get changed, and the railing will probably be replaced by the style we saw on the Enterprise-C.

Spoiler: Images

 

[Rekkert]

I've kept working on the battle bridge, I think I'll finish this one before moving on to the transporter room. That'll give my ISP time to fix the bloody thing properly, I had micro-outages the whole day.

I've changed the ceiling lighting to a light blue, which was seen on the Ent-D for this kind of ceiling fixture. It also corresponds with the ceiling lighting seen on the Ent-D battle bridge.

I made the consoles on the bridge pit a lighter grey, while keeping the darker tones the wall consoles had (which are the same the BoBW Enterprise-D battle bridge had).

I went for the same material I used on the Constellation consoles/walls, rather than the grey I'm using on this bridge's walls, which is taken from the Galaxy. The reason is not only the different shade, but also the roughness and texture of the materials. The material from the Galaxy has a very thin layer of grain, similar to the one used on the Enterprise-D and ships of that era; while the Constellation has a much thicker layer, which reflects light in a much more interesting fashion, like the consoles on the Enterprise-B did.

As for the railings, I replaced the aft-most bit with the tactical/security consoles, as they now have the same struts that were seen on the DS9 Saratoga, so they stand a lot closer to the pit.
The middle one wasn't really needed, as the now extended conn/ops platform makes that area a simple step that officers can use to take their stations.
And for the front bit of railing, the Enterprise-C style of handrail can be combined with the Saratoga style of strut to make them fit in better with the rest of the bridge. That way it's not a simple reuse of the TMP railing, plus it keeps the straight lines of the Enterprise-C handrails (which when looked from a top view, combine perfectly with the straight lines of the TNG consoles) without looking like cheap set dressing.

Spoiler: Images

 

[Sibyl]

Looking good!

On the matter of micro-outages...I had those recently that corresponded to some upgrades and new software installations. I retraced my steps and could not find a single issue that would account for my problems. My internet simply dropped out for a few seconds every couple of minutes. It turns out that I had a bad ethernet cable and once that was replaced, I haven't had a single dropout.

Just something to think about.

 

[Rekkert]

@Tinsel: Thanks for the suggestion, but this is an issue affecting several blocks, it's not just my connection. Unfortunately being in a low income neighbor with mostly old people, it seems we're not really a priority... Services usually start failing here around December and January, as the high temperatures and humidity wreck havoc on the old equipment used by most companies...

Most of the LCARS are now in place, plus nearly all of the TMP era labels have been replaced by the TNG era ones.

Spoiler: Images

 

[Kaiser]

such awesome bridges Wish Holodecks were real so i can sit in the chairs and push buttons and walk around with a cold soda can while admiring the details

 

[Sibyl]

@Tinsel: Thanks for the suggestion, but this is an issue affecting several blocks, it's not just my connection. Unfortunately being in a low income neighbor with mostly old people, it seems we're not really a priority... Services usually start failing here around December and January, as the high temperatures and humidity wreck havoc on the old equipment used by most companies...

Most of the LCARS are now in place, plus nearly all of the TMP era labels have been replaced by the TNG era ones.

Spoiler: Images

Ah, well, it was a thought. I'm sorry your local infrastructure is so flaky and predictable.

such awesome bridges Wish Holodecks were real so i can sit in the chairs and push buttons and walk around with a cold soda can while admiring the details

I'll join Kaiser's sentiments.

Or, at the very least, some sort of physical feedback gloves to go with VR goggles to give the illusion you're actually touching them.

 

[Spaceship Jo]

The lounge itself will be a fusion of the Rec Room from TMP and Ten Forward, while incorporating several new elements like the aforementioned balcony and a main staircase to access it. I've started work on the side walls which are based on the aforementioned Rec Room, though each segment will be longer.

When did Two Three Fore become Spacedock Lounge? It looks great either way!

 

[Rekkert]

@Kaiser and @Tinsel: Thanks very much! Oh, how I wish those were real hahaha Visualization would be a lot better

I've added the MSD style graphic on the back of the bridge, for the general status console; plus the little fabric access panels at the back. I've also replaced the fabric material on the walls with the same one used on the main bridge, to tie them together a bit more. I have added the little bit on top of the viewscreen from the earlier battle bridge as well.

Spoiler: Images

In other news, (and as @Spaceship Jo alluded to ) Scragnog released another video! This one's a modified version of the Quasar Two Three Fore lounge. We had been working on adapting the lounge for usage in Stage 9, serving as a new starting area for the players. You'd start on the lounge, which would be located inside the 'arm' of a drydock, and from there you could transport yourself (or take a shuttle) to the Enterprise. This would've given players a better first impression of the ship, seeing it though those windows (which would've been enlarged somewhat); and a grand entrance, TMP style, if they chose to go with the shuttle.

Alas, we didn't get to do all that, which probably would've required a couple more versions to be ready. Still, here's the remnants of that idea, with the lounge now located in a drydock style structure.

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[Jedman67]

TBH @Rekkert; the pale gray with pale blue and green highlights just doesn't work for me. Maybe properly rendered and lit with spec et al, but as is, it just feels bland, I'm sorry. I usually love your work, and of course the attention to detail is fantastic!

Edit: I love the lounge video!!
Wish the stage 9 folks would make animated shorts featuring the impressive sets!