Thank you Gaieus.

Podium Render v1.5 :

Indigo render (v1.01):

New shot....
Vray again :

Thanks for that link Gaieus,
Are you refering to that 'wrap around corners' method or to the 'projected' method at the bottom (which I used here)?

@Solo, I'll bring along my friends:

They look quite persuasive

I did my best on re-texturing the arms as tree trunks using the 'projected' method.

I know the technique of using an auxiliary surface to pipet/bucket a projected texture.
It is a different ballgame however on complexer organic forms.
For that purpose I think a new functionality needs to enter the SU core: "wrap texture around object" instead of project it. The projected texture method works well on earth globes and apples....but try that on a rigged body part and you can't avoid those smudged out textures on tangential parts.

If Google reads this (Do they ?): please provide us with new texturing tools

Don't do that to frogs, you raskal..

The apple looks very real. for a moment I thought it was a photoshop job.
That apple skin can't be textured on the mesh using SU right ?

i am having fun Sid ...

Back to Fry, adjusted the 'pea' material to a sort of bronze:

Playing with tonemapping:

Maxwell render version:

pea soup revolution

Fryrender version:

@marked001 said:

lol....this is awesome! you're making me look bad with your quick work

He He....Not at all.
Your christmas renderings look really cool.

Being inspired by Marked001's card I felt Christmas is too soon and halloween just passed...
So here's my 'in-between-halloween-Xmas-card'
Zombie Christmas balls :egeek:

Rendered in VrayforSU.

looking fabulous stuckon !
Just curious:are the render times still between acceptable ranges?

I understand....
and I am sure you will make it great

I quickly tried to photoshop the two different light scenarios we are talking about.
In the right image the focus is on the hotel.

Someone told me that the human eye (read psychological eye) is drawn first to those parts of an image with the 'warmest' colors/light, as those warm colors are considered to be mentally pleasing.

That's the reason why good photographers often choose to shoot images where the object is lit with warm light while the not so important info in an image is left cold coloured. (the 'Chiarro-scura' effect)

In that perspective, I can understand Gaieus reasoning that one would expect the hotel to be center of focus and thus having the 'warmest' appeal.

Those people you added, walking towards the hotel, point out that you want the hotel to be that attraction point. I would expect lighting to follow the same philosophy, but hey, the image isn't finished yet right? ....First see what the genius will make of it

That looks great
Refreshing to see some hand-made art for a change...
I must say that making a 3d rendering is a nice way to configure a 'still life'...and as you prove it can be a very nice alternative to physically place and arrange objects in your painting studio.

Also, your 'clair-obscur' painting technique is wonderful. The contrast between light and dark really is materialised both in color as in texture. Big cloudy brush strokes to mimic dramatic variations in shadow parts, while using a soft and small brush to get that silk feel for the highlights on the statue.

This really breaths your topic of worship.

Great work Nomer and I love it that you posted this 'real' artwork .

Cheers,
Kwistenbiebel

By the way: Is that acrylic paint?

Amazing Stuckon....
It's certainly an adventure to follow your progress on this scene.
Also very cool how you could limit that render time. I guess you are right to add the reflections later to limit R time on the test renders.

Looking very cool....Somehow the scene with that lighting reminds me of a 'going out' night in the Quartier Latin in Paris on a summer night.
It shows that you really are a lighting expert.

Cheers,
Kwistenbiebel

yep...it's a photo

Nice job ...