Semi-OT: making planets.

XenoTheMorph · #1 September 28th, 2004, 06:51 PM

Hmmm nice new cloud syle!

Seriously very nice. Much kudos.

geoschmo · #2 September 28th, 2004, 07:02 PM

Those are very cool. The landscape effects and clouds give it almost a 3d effect.

One thing, the lighting angle looks very neat for pictures, but if your intention is to use these in the game you may want to reconsider. It's been done before and the look is a little odd in the game. Because your lighting could end up on the wrong side depending on where the game sticks the planet in the system map.

Unless you are planning on only using that light angle for the large images that show up on the planetary detail screen. If you used a straight on lighting angle for the small pics that go in the big planet.bmp file then this could work. But that means you have to make two renderings for each planet, instead of just resizing. But if your software is fairly user friendly maybe that's not such a problem.

Timstone · #3 September 29th, 2004, 05:29 AM

Geo:
First of all, these are true 3D images. I just took a snapshot of it.
The atmosphere is a bit too thick, I agree. I'll fix that, that's a minor thing.
My goal is to be able to make nice 3D planets for use in SE V. So the lighting I used in this pic is only to show you guys and girls the planets themselfs. I just hope the planets can be used in SE V.
So things to do:
- reduce atmosphere
- make atmosphere a bit more glossy

The next thing I'll try to make are suns.
That should be pretty easy to do.
Thanks for the comment guys! Like Xeno said: Much kudos!

Kamog · #4 September 29th, 2004, 06:20 AM

Those planets look good!

Slynky · #5 September 29th, 2004, 08:48 AM

I think those planets look pretty darn good! Looks like all your efforts are paying off.

Timstone · #6 September 29th, 2004, 11:28 AM

Thanks Slynky!
In the meantime I've been fideling around with different suns and more planets.
The only planets that seem to be a little bit more difficult are the gas giants and the planets without an atmosphere.
The gas giants will be more "real" with just a little bit more work. I'm getting there.
When I got some more pics to show, I'll post them here.

Timstone · #7 September 30th, 2004, 09:44 AM

Okay, here's your daily update on my quest to make nice 3D planets.
This time a lavamoon. I added lightning to dramatize it a bit. Makes the lave come out very nicely.
Like it?