Alienware Challenge

[riki]

Any wavers enterring this months challenge?? Here's my concept sketch.

[mattbolton]

I'm certainly going to give it a shot.. Not sure if I'll get up to speed with LW soon enough though. The modeling, I already have a handle on; but I have only begun exploring LW's surfacing and rendering options. All I can say is "WOW", LW has more features than I can exhaust in a years worth of experimenting.... And LW8 is coming out in less than 3 months which adds even more. :D

[Lude]

were do i find it?

[dmg3d]

Originally posted by Lude
were do i find it?

http://www.cgnetworks.com/alienware/index.php

[dmg3d]

Originally posted by riki
Any wavers enterring this months challenge?? Here's my concept sketch.

Could be interesting... and you get 3 months...

I like your concept sketch too. Painter and wacom tablet?

-Dave

[riki]

Shoud be a good one this time 6k worth of Dual Intel Xeon to the lucky bugger who wins. Plus 3 months, so I have no excuse for not finishing :)

Hi Dave, yeah I started off in Painter then moved to Photoshop, just using a circular shapped Apple Mouse which was obviously never designed to draw with. I don't mind the results but impossible to get fine detail.

[camdoggz]

Yeah,

It sounds good and I will be entering.:D
That computer would look nice in my room :rolleyes:

So stay tuned for my wip thread in here cause i will need alot of C&C.

P.S. Your concept looks great. I love the atmosphere it has, cant wait to see more.

C.

[riki]

Hey C great to hear your going for gold :) Would be good if a waver could win it. It's really difficult to draw with a mouse, plus PS keeps crashing on me. I might have to invest in a wacom or some sketch paper.

EDIT: Deleted Pix

[Rory_L]

Riki, your original sketch is gorgeous: don`t mess with it! Reminds me simultaneously of sumi-e and Turner. If you can transpose this loose treatment to 3D you`ll have a winning entry, for certain!

Good luck!

R

[camdoggz]

True dat. The first one rocks... makes me wonder and look for detail...too explain it.....

The location where you stand seems to be moving and it is difficult to comprehend its function or intent

TAKEN FROM THE CGNETWORKS INSTRUCTIONS (http://www.cgnetworks.com/alienware/challenge.php)

both cool tho....just that the first one has something.

C.

[hrgiger]

For a $6,000 computer? Does a bear ***** in the woods? Sometimes.

Yeah, I'm glad to see I have a few months before deadline...

[camdoggz]

HAHA for a $6000 (12000 nz) Ill $h!t in da woods, :D

[riki]

I like my original skecth, just not sure how well if fits the brief. I really want to come up with something that nails it on the head. I guess there's plenty of time so I might try a few more ideas.

EDIT: Deleted Pix

[riki]

Here's another attempt, different direction to get the format right.

The Three Seasons

[bloontz]

Nice sketches, the earlier ones kind of remind me of Eves Tanguy. That round mouse has to be one of the most ill designed pointing devices ever. Maybe try a cheapo tablet like the graphire?

[riki]

Yeah a tablet is definately on my shopping list. I'm not going to worry about it too much this time.

[riki]

A tentative start, obviously a long way to go yet :)

[riki]

Feels like I've got a long way to go. I think I'll be pushing this in a new direction.

[Jimzip]

Thanks for the link!

Hrgiger, this is right up your alley!
And yeah. I thought bears did sh*t in the woods.. They do don't they?
No, seriously?

Why are you laughing? Oh you think I'm stupid?
I honestly don't know!
Do bears sh*t in the woods.. I'll have to ponder that over dinner..
:rolleyes:
I have no idea why I just wrote all that..

Heheh..

Jimzip :D

[Dick Ma]

I've seen that challenge.....but I got no luck to win and get the prize.

The machine isn't useful for my personal project. I cann't delay my schedule to wait the machine come to solve my machine problem. (I don't expect that I am the winner.....keen competition ya know....)

No way out for me....

[nerdyguy227]

I'll give it a shot and hope for the best

[sammael]

Great work Riki, yours is one of the more original works in the challenge.

I have also entered this challenge, my thread is located here (http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=100658) if anyone is interested to have a look. C&C very welcomed.

[riki]

Heay Sammael, just checked your thread again. It looks like it's going well, you've done heaps of work. I agree the bottom comp looks much better.

Anybody else submitting work?

[Ade]

Looking good Riki, I wont be able to enter as Im swamped down with architectural 3d work...

[riki]

Thanks Ade, hopefully if I put in enough work, I should be able to come up with something half decent. Well that's the plan.

[riki]

So back to my original question and the bear in the woods fetish, any wavers still in this comp??

[knuckles644]

You know, I think I'll join the competition. Even though I don't have a rat's ***** chance of winning or even coming close, I need a project and I think this is perfect. More of a learning experience. Now, off to order my Waacom (sp?) tablet, I have a few good ideas!:)

[cuse]

hey riki...

Looks like a good start, im in but too swamped to start anything but concept sketches. Im to stressing over it though cause itll be nice to get some scene started and finish once someone else has won ;)

Plus paid work comes first ey.



cuse

[riki]

That's my problem, paid work never comes first :)

I think most ppl just enter for the fun. A lot don't even bother to read the brief. But that aside I've learnt heaps each time I enter.

[riki]

Just to give some idea where I'm going with this. So can I get some honest C n C, I don't care if it's harsh just fire away.

[Ade]

Looking good riki... Reminds me a little of the world from dark crystal.. Hey can i have your old computer when u win..ehehe

[riki]

Thanks Ade, Oh God I wish!! :D

I've gotta keep pushing it in any case.

[muzzer]

Bugger the lightwave stuff I like your sketches!:)

is there a competition?

[riki]

yep yep it's the latest CG Challenge, they normally run each month. But this one is running for three months.

re: http://www.cgnetworks.com/alienware/

Would be good to see more wavers in it.

[riki]

DELETE

[nerdyguy227]

That one is good

[riki]

Thanks Nerdyguy are you really 12??

[nerdyguy227]

Yes, I am really 12.


Is this okay?
(Please tell me if you have comments, seggestions, etc.)

[riki]

Wow I wish I started 3d back when I was 12.

I can see some square polygons, that aren't smoothing properly. Try this tutorial it might give you some ideas.

http://www.hades-studios.com/infinitelandscape

[nerdyguy227]

Thanks a lot!!!

I'll try it when I get done with my homework:mad: or tomarrow when I have more time.

on yours you can see the squares on the white part on the left.

[nerdyguy227]

arround the brighter area:

(sorry if it is too small)

[riki]

yep I know what you mean, It was just a quick test render to check the composition. I have to finish modeling, before I get seriously on the surfacing side of things.

[knuckles644]

Hmm...still working on the concept art...(yeah I know, I'm a procrastinator :D)...should be done this weekend and I'll post some of it. Got a few trippy ideas... :)

[knuckles644]

Be gentle, I'm only 14 and I haven't quite developed my motor skills:D

Ok, I started this one a while ago, but, really I did all of it in 4 days. I know there are several things I can improve on. The main concern is the detail of the profile on the coral structures, adn the detail of the image as a whole. That's often a problem with my 2-D art, the colors are blocky and there's not enough variety. I am going to add more structures and increase the complexity (chips, cracks, nooks and crannys)...I know it's rather rough, so I'm going to break each of the main parts of the image down and do an independant concept for each one...

Aside from that, I think you get what I'm going for...weird sky, weird water, weird coral stuctures etc. ;)

[riki]

It's looking good.

I'm trying to find a good GI tut, any recommendations??

[knuckles644]

I'm sorry, I'm not very good with acronyms, what's a GI tut? I've probably read one...:p

More conceptual art...this is more of the style I was going for, maybe in the finished prodect it will be a little lighter or metallic looking...I think next I'll do the sky..not sure though. Before I start the modeling (which won't take that long to do) I want to have at least six or seven pieces of concept art. When I surface my model I think I'll be using a lot of bump and procedurals...most definatly:cool:

[riki]

GI is Global Illumination

PS you can click on the image to see a larger version.

The white stuff isn't meant to be snow, but I kind of like it anyway.

http://www.suture.net/files/cg_challenge/alienware/007_sm.jpg (http://www.suture.net/files/cg_challenge/alienware/007.jpg)

[nerdyguy227]

I think you should try to make the terrain extend further, or put the camera lower. Then it won't look like the terrain stops. Posably you could put stares in to make it look more like its on a planet. Of course, it is up to you

[knuckles644]

I think he's still modeling and texturing the landscape, stars and the sky will come later;)

[riki]

I will add a bdg, I have some ideas, it's a WIP though at the moment.

[nerdyguy227]

What is a "bdg"?

[riki]

sorry just short for 'background'

[nerdyguy227]

That is what I thought.

[pauland]

I am 12 so I'm sorry for spelling mistakes.

Hey, it wasn't your spelling mistake this time. It should have been Bgd.

Paul

[nerdyguy227]

That makes sence


I smoothed out the terrain, here:

[nerdyguy227]

I also posted it in JPEG format. It seems to have a lot less grain.

I'll render an AA one over night

[knuckles644]

If you use weight maps for your terrain it will look a whole lot better:)

[nerdyguy227]

What are they?

[knuckles644]

http://newtek.com/products/lightwave/contests/dec-02/winners/tutorials/model/Jason_Pieper/Landscape.pdf

Basically, a weight map is a gray scale image that affects the shape of a set of polys. The tutorial above should explain it in detail. The link that riki provided a while back will help you achieve results beyond a simple weight map, though.

[nerdyguy227]

Okay

[knuckles644]

Ok, my browser is screwing around with me...disregard:rolleyes:

[nerdyguy227]

I am asuming you mean the attachment post for the image, but I changed it to "okay" becayse you posted at almost the same time as me and my attachment didn't post. anyway if it wil post now, here is my close t final image:

[knuckles644]

:D

[nerdyguy227]

:mad: :confused:

[knuckles644]

If you're having trouble posting the image, send a .jpg to me via e-mail at knuckles644@hotmail.com and I'll put it up for ya:)

[nerdyguy227]

It wouldn't attach to the e-mail.:confused:

[riki]

Made a start on the Bgd

http://www.suture.net/files/cg_challenge/alienware/008_sm.jpg (http://www.suture.net/files/cg_challenge/alienware/008.jpg)

[nerdyguy227]

Wow!

a lot better
It looks more realistic with a full envierment.

[riki]

BTW if you click on the image it'll take you to a larger version.

I'm working on the background still. I've decided that it needs something other than hills or canyons. I'm thinking of making some kind of ribbed like structure that fades into the distance and gives the impression of being in some sort of pit, lit from above. I also need to play around with DOF.

Just to give some idea of where I'm going and what I still need to do. I have to work on the water, maybe add some bubbles from a thermal vent and ripples on the surface. I've started scunging things up with HV on the waterbed, I want to continue this further, mixing a variety of HV types. Whatever works. maybe scunge on the water-surface as well.

With the snow-like terrain, I've started to experiment with other sufracing options, hoping to stumble across some happy accidents. I want something to contrast with the metallic looking clay in the centre.

I'm going to change those antenna like spikes on the shells and add some variety to each shell so that they don't look like three clones. I might use an alpha map to break one of the shells up a bit and surface with weight maps. I also purchased a copy of 'Wrinkle' but so far have had more success adding detail by hand.

I like the current leathery surface, but it's a preset that I downloaded from a previous Newtek Comp. I guess there's no laws against using presets in the CG Challenge Comp but I may mess with it a bit. I wasn't too keen on the bump.

I have to spend some time on the lighting, which isn't my strong point. I tried using radiosity and set the scene up to render overnight but made little in the way of progress by the following morning. I guess I need to check 'Respower' if I want to go down that path. Any lighting suggestions would be great. To my eye the current setup looks okay.

PS fill me in if you have any tips. Is it possible to use HDRI? using Policarbs technique with the normal res images. Obviously a hdri with a blue sky and a green field isn't going to work well here.

I'm thinking about having a few thermal vents on the surface that will emit light and smoke and help add to the errie feel. Eerie is good. People like that. I can't see myself winning the comp, but I'd like to have an extra image to add to my folio and maybe contend for the Alienware Coffee Cup ;)

I'm also going to redo those spline like structures and add more detail, extra layers etc. maybe throw a few more new elements into the mix if I can find the room. Maybe an egg-sack, suspended from above or some kind of urchins on the waterbed.

I do want to go mad with the scunge and cobwebs (for want of a better word). Basically I mean layers of crusty looking dirt and grime, that's been building up over time.

Any suggestions please add. If it sucks please let me know.

[nerdyguy227]

I think you should try making the bone-like structure in the back (see attached image) a dark green textured surface. Then it won't look like bones as much.

Maby you could try making things a dark color.

[riki]

Thanks Nerdy, I will add a darker colourred scunge ayer as I go, which will blend some of the elements in more.

Here's a small update, the render times are getting larger and larger. I think this took about 4 hours and I've already redone the glacier surface. (a better version than shown here) I have done another version with ripples on the water, but still tweeking it to get it right.

Viper doesn't seem to show transperancy which makes it hard to tweek.

Okay back to the grind, coffee grind that is :)

http://www.suture.net/files/cg_challenge/alienware/009.jpg

[nerdyguy227]

That is one of the coolest LW images I have ever seen!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

[riki]

Thanks Nerdy, I've been training myself to wake up at two hour intervals during the night to check my renders. :)

Merry Christmas, lets hope for a great New Year.

[nerdyguy227]

:p

I wish I could do that but then when I get back to school (On a skool night I would usaly go to bed 11:00 and wake up at 6:45) I would get even less sleep.

It would probably look cool if there was a light in the cube like figure with lens flars turned on.

[knuckles644]

eh...lightweight...

On a school night i usually go to bed 1-2 A.M. and get up at 6. But it's winter break so now I go to bed at 11 PM and usually wake up and 2 PM...:)

Anyways, I'm not going to make the deadline...I give up...concept art done, I'm in the modeling but it's wayyyyy too much...especially since I got finals coming up...*shudder*

oh well...:(

[nerdyguy227]

I was going to wait for LW 8 to come out beforeI really got into this, but now I don't know what to do.

to wait or not to wait?