My first semi-serious project(tm)
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Hi all. I am working on a SU project with a somewhat unique setting. Picture a middle eastern city during the crusades time period and that something close to what I am going for here. (The real setting is Dark Sun if any fellow mega nerds out there care.)
Anyways I am going to post some shots of what im working on. I would very much like some advice on how to make the buildings less boring. I made the buildings early on in the project and I am now wishing I had spent more time on them. Can anyone link some other SU projects that could give me some inspiration. PLease keep in mind I am a total noob (as my screenshots will indicate). My saving grace here is that I am very good in Photoshop and I can dress up some pretty shoddy SU projects a bit.
Blah blah blah its easier just to show you so heres some links:
http://www.wiijii.com/vizier50/DnD%20files/Maps/City%20of%20Tyr%20back%20drop%203.jpg
http://www.wiijii.com/vizier50/DnD%20files/Maps/City%20of%20Tyr%20battle%20map%20Finalweb.jpg
http://www.wiijii.com/vizier50/DnD%20files/Maps/City%20of%20Tyr%20back%20drop%202.jpg
http://www.wiijii.com/vizier50/DnD%20files/Maps/Elven%20Market%20v2.jpg -
Very cool, I think you're off to a great start. If you want to start thinking about how to add detail, check out this thread:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=10549&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
Silvershadow does a great job showing his process. His first images are very low in detail, but you can see what he adds with each new image. Its a good way to understand how to take a simple block building and add the kinds of detail that make it believable as a building.
For most purposes, he has gone overboard on the detail (which was the purpose of the model - to push SketchUp's abilities and to prove that high detail is possible). But you might not need to go into such great detail on every aspect of your model.
Anyhow, start with that. Also, think about if you are planning on using a rendering tool - like kerkythea, podium, irender, vray. Some are expensive, some are inexpensive and some are free. I think you should try the podium evaluation software first, just to get a good taste for rendering. Its a powerful tool, but also simple enough to start with. (rendering is how Silvershadows was able to get the type of image he produced - you could call the white and grey ones "clay renderings" and the full color one a photoreal rendering).
Chris
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wow ..great work..looks like GTA San Andreas with that big sun
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Chris - OMG that guys work is amazingly and unbelievably awesome. Thats way out of my league sadly
The good news is my Dr. Suess models are just fine for what I use them for so even a small bit of help here and there will go a long way.As far as rendering proggies goes assume price is no object: WHat is the easiest one to use?
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Oh thats a difficult question. First off, I don't often render anything and I really have not tried most of the renderers because I use mental ray in 3dsmax. Not the best option for ease of use.
But It just depends, people pull off very impressive renders in any of the rendering packages. V-ray is the most prestigious renderer with a SketchUp plugin. But I think most of the other renderers are very very good. I find that I always am recommending Podium. Lightup is also a VERY interesting one too, because it renders your model inside of SketchUp. Like it actually renders the model, so you can walk around in real time in your rendered model. It doesn't just render an image of the model. Its way cool.
Most of the renderers have a free trial (or are completely free). So just try them all.
If you are insterested in game design, you might think about working out a workflow to take your models into a standard game engine - like Source (Half Life2, Portal, Team Fortress, and many more). They are working a plugin that links sketchup and their map editor so that you can export from SU right to a format that go straight into the map editor. That is currently high on my interest list (though I have not had a chance to try it).
Anyhow, that was probably more info than you wanted.....good luck!
Chris
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Though im not doing the gaming idea now I will likely go with Lightup for the ability to do so in future sometime. THanks again!
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