Garden

[solo]

Thanks y'all, the setup I used is here: http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/6097/gardensetupedau1.jpg

[dylan]

Now I understand it a little better now you post that image.

These clip map trees grass and shrubs, do you make these yourself, or are they downloadable pretty much like SU components? If downloadable do you purchase these?

I realy want to start rendering some external shots like this myself, but what was putting me off is not knowing how to get nice looking grass!

I may even purchase Podium.

[solo]

Dylan

The clips are from many places, some from Total textures, some googled and some made. the grass clips are available on the Podium forum. When you get into using Podium let me know as i will send you the grass component of massed grass for you to use in any and every scene (saves you the time to build it)

[solo]

Oh crap!!

I just offered you grass over the internet

[Gaieus]

With Didier's component spray tool you can "populate" your grassy area even easier.

[spadestick]

your grass texture rocks!

[Stinkie]

@solo said:

Oh crap!!

I just offered you grass over the internet

And you posted renders of POTs at TBD Towers. I see a pattern emerging.

[solo]

A close up of the kind i mean.

[Stu]

Pete,

I dont think Coen would mind about the grass...he is Dutch after all...just as long as its nothing heavier.

In fact I wouldnt mind trying what you have got as well!

Very nice Image! The grass does indeed look fine... and is that drive modeled or a texture?...cant find any repetition in it at all! But I'm not truely convinced by the mix of clip maps and 3d components.
Actually, I feel its almost impossible to get away with 3D plant components in a PR render, via SketchUp, and that includes XFrog stuff. Im heading towards PR rendering of the hardscape, maybe with some clip maping, and then adding most of the plant entourage in PS...or my favourite PhotoImpact.

Dylan, good plant clipmaps can be found at Ambient Light http://ambientlight.co.uk/
and Got3D http://www.got3d.com/ and ImageCels is good for masked Tiffs that slip easily into an image in PS etc.

Stu

[solo]

Stu

lol, I found out the difference between a 'caf'e' and a 'coffee shop' the last time I was in Amsterdam
one of them has menu's that could make Jamaicans blush.

I understand you not being totally convinced with PR 2d images as opposed to 3d trees, however you must understand that 'clipmaps' are not PR, they are not .png or tiff, they are 'alpha maps' in reality.
I would prefer to use all 3D components but SU cannot handle it right now, hopefully the next version will make it possible.

The walkway is a bumped texture, an Arroway texture.

The problem I have with adding any structures, trees etc in PS is that it never really fits in, be it shadows, reflections, tones etc to a trained eye it's very noticeable.

Thanks for the links, I will check them out.