SF spaceships...
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In another thread I mentioned I started using SketchUp about a year and a half ago and I use it primarily to render my own SF hardware and spacecraft designs. I have an Intel iMac from 2011, use SketchUp 8 and Maxwell Render. I use Photoshop to put my models into fictional screencap scenes. I thought I'd share a few samples.
A far future starship.
An earlier far future starship.
The Flash Gordon Rocketship from the 1930's serials.
Spaceship Friede from the 1929 film Woman In The Moon.
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Very cool!
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Awesome work Raymond.
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One thing that's noticeable right off to me is my progression in proficiency from model to model. The topmost images are more recent while the lower images are older. Over time you simply learn how to do new things and how to do things more effectively. One thing I've noticed with SketchUp and Maxwell Render is you need a lot of sides or facets to your curves and circles to eliminate the visible fragmenting. It's very apparent on my two cylindrical designs (including the Flash Gordon rocketship) and less apparent on my more recent works. The last two models I've been working on the fragmenting is hardly noticeable.
If you look at this model you really can't see the fragmenting of curves..or at least it's rather hard to see.
At some point I will revisit some of my older designs and remake them with what I've learned.
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Yeah great, brings back memories of that Flash Gordon ship the noise the dodgy effects and smoke trail. I suppose this is one case when you didn't want to smooth the geometry.
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@chedda said:
Yeah great, brings back memories of that Flash Gordon ship the noise the dodgy effects and smoke trail. I suppose this is one case when you didn't want to smooth the geometry.
I did smooth the geometry, but something between SketchUp and Maxwell wouldn't translate. I've since learned the solution is simply to have a curve with more facets or sides. The main body on the Flash Gordon ship was done with 120 sides. For a large surface and a tight radius that's not good enough. Even 180 sides will show facets. However, doing a large cylinder or saucer like object with 360 sides will work.
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