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Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => The Modding Workshop => Topic started by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 24, 2004, 11:50:55 am

Title: Some new backgrounds... (image heavy)
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 24, 2004, 11:50:55 am
This is what comes when you play far too much with LunarCell, PS and Lightwave :D

Let's start with the first one I made, the Iceplanet. This one came out quite well and I'm pretty happy with it.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Iceplanet0001.jpg)

Next, the Acidplanet. Nothing fancy here, but it looks good enough.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Acidplanet0001.jpg)

This is the Desertplanet. It isn't very good, and I intend to improve it.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Desertplanet0001.jpg)

And the final planet, the Lavaplanet. Use of LunarCell is pretty obvious but this is still my favorite.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Lavaplanet0001.jpg)

And the final image is my attempt to make a background of a star in its infancy. It's all Lightwave and has not been tweaked in PS. Sorry for the small image, the render times are pretty hefty. I'll render a bigger version later.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Sun0001.jpg)

Opinions?
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Rictor on March 24, 2004, 12:02:19 pm
Wow, those are amazing. You're giving Lightspeed a run for his money in the planets department.

The last one is simply stunning. All of them are, but the last one just has such ambience. Shivan Homeworld?
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: c914 on March 24, 2004, 12:05:39 pm
:eek2:wow:eek2:
that last one planet is Vasuda Prime after Lucifer visit:D
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on March 24, 2004, 01:29:16 pm
on the stellar neb: make it more twirly.

the first planet as some issues with the clouds, they look to much like mountains.

the second one is pretty much the way i imagined Medusa (Basilisk) from the Honorverse.

the third one seems very Mars like

the fourth one would be a nice proto planet if you continued the dark color in the light area.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lightspeed on March 24, 2004, 04:28:06 pm
Your planets lack something... not sure what but they dont feel 'organic' somehow :wtf:

Nonetheless, they're looking pretty cool there :)

Although I don't think the lava one is the best of them, it doesnt look a lot like a real lava planet. I made some groovy lava thingy for Reciprocity that could show you what I mean, but i'm unsure if i'm allowed to post an image here :D
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Solatar on March 24, 2004, 05:11:31 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Lightspeed
Your planets lack something... not sure what but they dont feel 'organic' somehow :wtf:
 


I had that same little itch...but I figured it out. They're lacking atmospheres.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Nico on March 24, 2004, 05:40:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by kasperl
on the stellar neb: make it more twirly.


I like it as it is.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Flipside on March 24, 2004, 06:03:03 pm
I love that nebula! Don't touch it! :D

I've never been a huge fan of Lunarcell, but that Green planet is pretty nice, there's no 'onion peel' feel that you normally get with Lunarcell. The Nebula is great, one day, I'll have to sit down and figure out volumetrics on Lightwave, and looking at that image, it's going to be soon ;)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: .::Tin Can::. on March 24, 2004, 07:34:04 pm
Those planets...

Are just KICKASS! *downloads*
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 25, 2004, 12:00:24 am
Quote
Originally posted by Solatar


I had that same little itch...but I figured it out. They're lacking atmospheres.


Uh, they do have atmospheres. Adding a huge glow around the planet simply doesn't look realistic and is bad anyway :doubt:

Well, I tried to render a new version of the nebula thingy but it had barely finished half of it in 10 hours :eek:  I'll lower some settings and try again.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: ChronoReverse on March 25, 2004, 12:41:15 am
Looks good, but is it possible to smooth out the edges?  It's looking quite aliased.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Arculis on March 25, 2004, 12:44:33 am
Quote
Uh, they do have atmospheres. Adding a huge glow around the planet simply doesn't look realistic and is bad anyway :doubt:


You don't need a huge glow, just a faint one. Like this pic, from the 158th Banshee Squadron images:
http://www.3dap.com/hlp/hosted/the158th/src/041.jpg

Quote
Well, I tried to render a new version of the nebula thingy but it had barely finished half of it in 10 hours :eek:  I'll lower some settings and try again.


I don't know if its worth it. Whats so different between that nebula and the ones I can generate in PSP in a few seconds?
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 25, 2004, 02:09:11 am
Ok, I made a slightly altered version of the Desertplanet. Nothing dramatic, just a slight adjustement of atmosphere and clouds.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Desertplanet0001_v2.jpg)

And a totally new planet. It isn't as good as it could be, so I might tweak it later.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Seaplanet0001.jpg)

Finally, my first attempt at making a gas giant. Looks good, but I think it still needs something. Suggestions?

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Gasplanet0001.jpg)

@TinCan

Heh, glad you like them but I wouldn't suggest trying them out just yet. I can give you the full tga versions once I'm happy with them.

@ChronoReverse

I don't see any aliasing, but then again I'm half blind :p Maybe it has something to do with the jpg compression?

@Arculis

I'm pretty happy with the atmospeheres as they are, so I won't be changing them too much (unless the public opinion is totally against it :D )

And yes, rendering the nebula is worth it. I'm not good at PS, and I know you can't make anything like that in just a few seconds. And the good thing is that you can make infinite amount of variations of it in LW.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on March 25, 2004, 03:57:35 am
the lvlshot tag gives aliasing too, click the pic for a better version...
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 25, 2004, 05:32:14 am
Here's a high res image of the nebula thingy. Much lower quality settings and no AA and it still took 3 hours to render.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Sun0001_v2.jpg)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on March 25, 2004, 05:36:52 am
now, all you need to do is add a good starfield, and i'd believe it was real.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Setekh on March 25, 2004, 06:16:01 am
The newborn star is brilliant (no pun avoided). With such a substantial body of high calibre, welcome to the highlights. ;)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 25, 2004, 06:31:44 am
Geez, thanks Setekh! I'm on the highlights :D

Here's something for you. It's the same scene, I only tweaked a few numbers and got an entirely new version.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Sun0001_v3.jpg)

It's 512x512, no AA. I most likely won't do any higher res nebulas, this resolution is good enough.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Starks on March 25, 2004, 06:34:37 am
hehe, acid planet...
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Setekh on March 25, 2004, 06:35:51 am
Fantastic. :) Actually, would you mind doing another couple of versions, in either blue/violet/white? If the star is in its infancy, it's likely to be one of those colours, rather than yellow/red (which would characterise it towards the end of its life, I think). :nod:
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 25, 2004, 06:43:07 am
Quote
Originally posted by Setekh
Fantastic. :) Actually, would you mind doing another couple of versions, in either blue/violet/white? If the star is in its infancy, it's likely to be one of those colours, rather than yellow/red (which would characterise it towards the end of its life, I think). :nod:


Hmm... blue sounds nice, I'll do one :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Setekh on March 25, 2004, 06:54:43 am
:yes: That's the spirit! Render time's gonna be a pain though, I suggest setting it to go and then going off and reading a good book. ;)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lightspeed on March 25, 2004, 07:25:05 am
@ Cannonfodder: Should I use the neb image in the upcoming background nebulas ? :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 25, 2004, 07:29:29 am
Quote
Originally posted by Lightspeed
@ Cannonfodder: Should I use the neb image in the upcoming background nebulas ? :)


Sure you can. Are you going to tweak them, or use them as they are? Do you want me to send the tga files?
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 25, 2004, 07:42:41 am
Here's (http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/New Planets.ace) a link to the five planets, if anyone wants them. Have fun! :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Turnsky on March 25, 2004, 08:33:48 am
Quote
Originally posted by Lt.Cannonfodder
Here's (http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/New Planets.ace) a link to the five planets, if anyone wants them. Have fun! :)


mind if i use them in various photoshop projects? 'cause that'd save me from being creative with the wacom;)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: USS Alexander on March 25, 2004, 09:12:32 am
Well, I tried to render a new version of the nebula thingy but it had barely finished half of it in 10 hours :eek:  I'll lower some settings and try again. [/B][/quote]

What are the settings you use in LW?cause 10 hours half of it, for that image:confused: do you got a slow computer?
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: aldo_14 on March 25, 2004, 09:18:22 am
Quote
Originally posted by Lightspeed

Although I don't think the lava one is the best of them, it doesnt look a lot like a real lava planet. I made some groovy lava thingy for Reciprocity that could show you what I mean, but i'm unsure if i'm allowed to post an image here :D


We'll release screenshots once we have finalised the first few missions and artwork stuff (i.e. got the weapons and the new claymore done)..... ;)

(I want to hold off of releasing images - i.e. of test missions or individual art/model elements - cos they're not really a fair representation of the campaign)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: T-Man on March 25, 2004, 11:02:56 am
*Utterly Speechless*

Those screens are beautiful.

Are we allowed to download them (copy and paste them)?
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: karajorma on March 25, 2004, 11:09:08 am
Quote
Originally posted by T-Man
*Utterly Speechless*

Those screens are beautiful.

Are we allowed to download them (copy and paste them)?


CF's put up a link to download the lot further up :)

And yes they are beautiful :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 25, 2004, 12:48:37 pm
Quote
Originally posted by USS Alexander
What are the settings you use in LW?cause 10 hours half of it, for that image:confused: do you got a slow computer?


Ever heard of hypervoxels and volumetric lights? They take ages upon ages to render, but also have the best results. The stellar dust and gas around the star receive the light properly and you can render it from all possible angles.

You can use the planets in any way you want, as long as I get part of the credit if you make something cool with them :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Flipside on March 25, 2004, 01:06:47 pm
CF, I tend to set my computer rendering when I go to bed, that way it has all night and the day while I'm at work to complete. I know rendering times can be a swine :(
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 25, 2004, 01:09:43 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Flipside
CF, I tend to set my computer rendering when I go to bed, that way it has all night and the day while I'm at work to complete. I know rendering times can be a swine :(


Guess once when do I render 90% of my animations? ;)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Flipside on March 25, 2004, 01:13:58 pm
LOL Then I'm glad I'm not the only one to face coming home from work to find the bastard thing still chugging along at 50% ;)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on March 25, 2004, 01:20:03 pm
if someone could make exe's that work like seti@home to do render tasks, i'd be willing to let my desktop do that instead of searching for Carl's family....
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: .::Tin Can::. on March 25, 2004, 09:36:38 pm
Ack! Can one of you nebula moders do me a REALLY big favor, for me and the community?

Can you come up with a background that is the same cloud color of that "star in birth"? Like, you see how its an orange color, kinda deal. Well, what if we had a nebula effect for that, like, that covered a large area and was that EXACT color of the star nebula around it? PLZ PLZ PLZ tell me if its possible.

If you can get me even a small example, I'll get to work on those HL2 FS2 FPS models! ;7
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Xelion on March 25, 2004, 10:03:50 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Lt.Cannonfodder
http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Sun0001_v3.jpg


Reminds me of the Borg

Some great work :yes: Desertplanet v2 looks really cool
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Setekh on March 26, 2004, 04:32:41 am
Quote
Originally posted by Lt.Cannonfodder
Ever heard of hypervoxels and volumetric lights? They take ages upon ages to render, but also have the best results. The stellar dust and gas around the star receive the light properly and you can render it from all possible angles.


Hypervoxels are indeed awesome. Going to follow through that blue star? :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 26, 2004, 06:18:54 am
Quote
Originally posted by Setekh


Hypervoxels are indeed awesome. Going to follow through that blue star? :)


Here it is. It isn't as good as the others, IMO

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Sun0001_v4.jpg)

I also made another version, this time with twin suns :)

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Sun0001_v5.jpg)

Both are 512x512, no AA :(
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Setekh on March 26, 2004, 06:22:27 am
I like them both, especially the twin stars though. The play of light across the hypervoxels is something that has always appealed to me. Way nice :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 26, 2004, 08:23:42 am
Another version of the gas giant. Opinions? Suggestions?

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Gasplanet0001_v2.jpg)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: karajorma on March 26, 2004, 08:40:50 am
I like it. Makes me think of sweets though :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Flaser on March 26, 2004, 04:40:07 pm
It's nice, but to make it perfect you'd need to place some swirls between the stripes.

This is casused by the rotation of the planet - the suface goes faster at the equator, therfore it leaves the norhern and southern areas behind, creating swirls.

The problem is I have no idead how you could achieve that, or if it's possible at all.

Nice work, especially the nebulas. It's good to see some real fog - that's only illuminated by the stars inside it.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Sandwich on March 26, 2004, 05:04:25 pm
My take on a gas giant from Dec '02:

(http://www.3dap.com/hlp/staff/sandwich/renders/gas-giant.jpg)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Flipside on March 26, 2004, 05:08:18 pm
I think it's the colour that's the problem on that on CF, it sort of looks like a massive gobstopper to me :(
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 27, 2004, 07:38:10 am
First time trying to make totally new textures without Lunarcell.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Jungleplanet0001.jpg)

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Desertplanet0002.jpg)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Gank on March 27, 2004, 08:07:25 am
Very nice. Dont think they're be so much cloud on a desert planet though, not a whole lot of water to evaporate there.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on March 27, 2004, 08:23:26 am
who said that those clouds where H2O?
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Gank on March 27, 2004, 08:47:35 am
what are they so?
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on March 27, 2004, 08:49:20 am
dunno, could be anything, aye?

i mean, a lot of gases/liquids can form droplets, so there are a lot of substances to make clouds from.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Taristin on March 27, 2004, 09:06:55 am
...Clouds, but no atmospheres?

On any of the planets? :(
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 27, 2004, 09:09:27 am
Quote
Originally posted by Raa Tor'h
...Clouds, but no atmospheres?

On any of the planets? :(


Uh, all of them have atmospheres :wtf:  Look closer.

And I added clouds to the desert planet, 'cause it looks good. I don't care so much of realism, at least in this case :p
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on March 27, 2004, 09:10:29 am
just call them CO2 insteas of H20. :)

would you mind if we used this in FSCZ (formerly Fleetwars)?
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Gank on March 27, 2004, 09:27:48 am
Quote
Originally posted by kasperl
i mean, a lot of gases/liquids can form droplets, so there are a lot of substances to make clouds from.


Well the whole cloud thing is part of a cycle, evaporation, precipitation etc. Theres no bodys of liquid on the planet to form clouds. youy could argue its a gas of some sort I suppose, but it still looks out of place. If you made the clouds a colour more approaching the planets and swirled them a bit to inticate high winds and said they were dust storms, that would look the bizz imo.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 27, 2004, 10:06:44 am
Quote
Originally posted by Gank
If you made the clouds a colour more approaching the planets and swirled them a bit to inticate high winds and said they were dust storms, that would look the bizz imo.


I might do that, let's see what I can come up with :)

@kasperl

As I said before, you can use them as long as I'm credited. It' nice to see someone appreciates your work :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Fineus on March 27, 2004, 11:16:13 am
Quote
Originally posted by Sandwich
My take on a gas giant from Dec '02:

(http://www.3dap.com/hlp/staff/sandwich/renders/gas-giant.jpg)

Damn... now that is a coincedence...

One of mine - from a year or two ago:

Edit: Hang on.. they're identical...:wtf:
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: StratComm on March 27, 2004, 12:17:44 pm
Those clouds on the desert planet don't look bad, there are just too many of them.  Drop the number of them significantly.  And I like the fact that the atmospheres are not absurd; a couple of pixels wider than the planets themselves, which is spot on IMHO.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 28, 2004, 07:36:07 am
Well, this is so far my best one without using LunarCell.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Iceplanet20001.jpg)

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Iceplanet20002.jpg)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on March 28, 2004, 08:00:38 am
dude, that's great!
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Jiggyhound on March 28, 2004, 08:28:37 am
planet tutorial:

http://gallery.artofgregmartin.com/tuts_arts/making_a_planet.html
talented celestial artist, great stuff. Check out his ub3r gallery :P

starfield:

http://gallery.artofgregmartin.com/tuts_arts/making_a_star_field.html

nebula thingy :


http://gallery.artofgregmartin.com/tuts_arts/riven_walkthrough.html
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 28, 2004, 10:21:34 am
Thanks for the links Jiggy, but I've already tried them. They are good for 2d images, but don't fit when you map them on a 3d sphere. The newest planet is made by using real images and it looks pretty cool :D
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Taristin on March 28, 2004, 10:37:43 am
I'd say so...
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: karajorma on March 28, 2004, 01:46:45 pm
I'd agree with you for saying so :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Sandwich on March 29, 2004, 01:14:47 am
Quote
Originally posted by Kalfireth

Damn... now that is a coincedence...

One of mine - from a year or two ago:

Edit: Hang on.. they're identical...:wtf:


That's cuz you borrowed the LunarCell Gas Giant settings from me, remember silly? :p
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 29, 2004, 08:57:17 am
A new version of the iceplanet. The old one didn't seem "icy" enough, so a touch of blue and voila!

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Iceplanet200010001.jpg)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Nico on March 29, 2004, 09:10:44 am
Quote
Originally posted by Lt.Cannonfodder
iceplanet[/LVLSHOT]


...ect etc
Man, one environment planets are one of the worst bane of scifi cliché :p
Your planets look great, but hargh, damn, Hoth, Dune, Tatoine, Endor, enough!!!!!!
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 29, 2004, 09:40:33 am
Quote
Originally posted by Nico


...ect etc
Man, one environment planets are one of the worst bane of scifi cliché :p
Your planets look great, but hargh, damn, Hoth, Dune, Tatoine, Endor, enough!!!!!!


You're right, of course. Any ideas for a new planet type?
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: karajorma on March 29, 2004, 09:51:27 am
Quote
Originally posted by Nico


...ect etc
Man, one environment planets are one of the worst bane of scifi cliché :p


They exist in real life though.

Mars = Dust Planet
Europa = Ice Moon
Io = Volcanic Moon

But yeah. Some mixed enviroments would be nice too.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Fineus on March 29, 2004, 10:48:17 am
Quote
Originally posted by Sandwich


That's cuz you borrowed the LunarCell Gas Giant settings from me, remember silly? :p

Damn my aging mind ;)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Sandwich on March 29, 2004, 11:03:09 am
Quote
Originally posted by Nico


...ect etc
Man, one environment planets are one of the worst bane of scifi cliché :p
Your planets look great, but hargh, damn, Hoth, Dune, Tatoine, Endor, enough!!!!!!


Habitable planet, right. But uninhabitable rocks can be all one environment easily, 'cept for maybe some Mars-like ice at the poles. Maybe.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Nico on March 29, 2004, 11:43:26 am
yeah, but astonishilginblygly ( stupid word :doubt: ), they all are with breathable atmosphere and the animals and plants that come with it :p
O, I didn't say cannonfodder ones were like that, but those kind of planets are just overdone imho.
But I'll shut up because otherwise you'd have only barren rocks or earth like planets :p
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 29, 2004, 01:11:27 pm
And on our series of galactic phenomeons (sp?), let me present to you... A generic spiral galaxy!

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Spiral_Galaxy0001.jpg)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Flipside on March 29, 2004, 01:16:47 pm
Very nice indeed! Maybe just a little bit more 'foggy' near the centre if possible, but that's just personal opinion :)

Good stuff!
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Flaser on March 29, 2004, 02:38:00 pm
Your work is definitly improoving.

NICE!
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 29, 2004, 10:14:17 pm
Getting there?

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Spiral_Galaxy0001_v2.jpg)

If anyone's interested, the galaxy has 60 902 individual stars or star clusters. Count them if you want ;)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: StratComm on March 29, 2004, 10:34:41 pm
That's not nearly enough :p.  And besides, if you're ever in a position to see a galaxy like that, you're well outside the realm of plausibility.  Unless your galaxy is a couple of millinea from colliding with it, which means that one way or another you (or your descendents) are pretty much screwed.

Looks ok though; needs more nebular matter.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Nico on March 30, 2004, 01:24:14 am
Quote
Originally posted by StratComm
you're well outside the realm of plausibility.


Then it's perfect for FS2 :yes:
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Setekh on March 30, 2004, 06:03:18 am
It would indeed look better with some more nebula material on the galaxy's periphery. The effect is generally quite convincing though, well done. :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 30, 2004, 12:27:17 pm
Ok, added some reddish nebula. I think it looks pretty fine.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Spiral_Galaxy0001_v3.jpg)

Hmmm.... what should I do next? I was thinking of a Earth -like planet, green continents, a few deserts and beautiful blues seas :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Sheepy on March 30, 2004, 01:20:43 pm
yes yes yes
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on March 30, 2004, 01:34:10 pm
is there anyway a human could percieve the rotation speed of a spiral galaxy?

and yeah, earth like would be very cool....
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: ChronoReverse on March 30, 2004, 02:10:49 pm
Not within a life-time, but it would look cool...
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on March 30, 2004, 02:19:48 pm
that's what i meant. it might be worth doing an ani, though you'd be limited to 256 colours (same pallete throughout the anim.)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 30, 2004, 10:27:05 pm
Quote
Originally posted by kasperl
that's what i meant. it might be worth doing an ani, though you'd be limited to 256 colours (same pallete throughout the anim.)


It is possible, but I doubt it would work. The rotation would have to be very slow and require thousands of frames. And with ani format being what it is, you could end up with a file well over 100Mb... :nervous:
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 30, 2004, 11:28:56 pm
First continent finished...

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/PlanetWIP.jpg)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Ulala on March 31, 2004, 12:33:17 am
Can't wait to see the whole planet. :yes:
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Trivial Psychic on March 31, 2004, 01:10:11 am
Here's something that knocked my socks off!  I was soon calmed down somewhat when I discovered that this was in fact an artists rendition, but it is still impressive none-the-less.  It's an impression of a recently discovered location of hyper-intense stellar formation some 12 million light years away (IIRC), near the Lynx Arc galaxy cluster.  Keep in mind, that the Hubble main site (from which I located this image) has significantly higher resolution versions of this and a number of other celestial objects, most of which either true color, color adjusted, other spectrum, or combined, and with some skilled alteration could make impressive backgrounds and skyboxes... especially once env-map gets standardized.  Well, prepare to drop your collective jaws.

(http://imgsrc.hubblesite.org/hu/db/2003/32/images/a/formats/web_print.jpg)

This and other images can be obtained from Hubble's main site (http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/).

Later!
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Nico on March 31, 2004, 01:19:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by kasperl
that's what i meant. it might be worth doing an ani, though you'd be limited to 256 colours (same pallete throughout the anim.)


would be much smarter using a pof. can use alpha chanel with the TGA, right? there's the illu map, and you can make a rotating subobject. Easy as hell.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Turnsky on March 31, 2004, 01:39:06 am
Quote
Originally posted by Lt.Cannonfodder
First continent finished...

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/PlanetWIP.jpg)


how'd the feck did you do that?:eek2:
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Nico on March 31, 2004, 01:41:31 am
easy way: you take an earth map, you pick a land part you like, you draw coasts around it
complicated way, but you can do what you want: you spend some time painting it.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 31, 2004, 02:51:02 am
Quote
Originally posted by Nico
easy way: you take an earth map, you pick a land part you like, you draw coasts around it
complicated way, but you can do what you want: you spend some time painting it.


I'm doing it more or less the easy way :D I have this pretty big Earth color map from NASA (1,4Gb file for the east hemisphere :eek2: ) that I use. It's just a matter of creative use of Photoshop :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 31, 2004, 03:59:36 am
Update... almost finished. I just need to fix a few things here and there, plus add some islands.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/PlanetWIP2.jpg)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lightspeed on March 31, 2004, 05:53:08 am
Cannonfodder, you're getting the hang of it there ;)

You're starting to do things just like I do them, except that you actually render your images later (I wish I could do that :sigh: ), whereas I use pure Photoshop for creating them.

Very good work lately :yes:
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 31, 2004, 07:23:22 am
Thanks, LS :)

Hmmm... not there yet. Needs something.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Earth2WIP0001.jpg)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Setekh on March 31, 2004, 08:00:45 am
You sure are maturing with your work here. Keep experimenting. :nod:

I actually like the planet as it is. Could be cloudier, but that's a matter of instances. It really is excellent.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on March 31, 2004, 08:23:48 am
Quote
Originally posted by Lt.Cannonfodder


It is possible, but I doubt it would work. The rotation would have to be very slow and require thousands of frames. And with ani format being what it is, you could end up with a file well over 100Mb... :nervous:

AFAIK you can adapt the time an ani frame is shown...


edit: Venom is right, make it a pof, with a rotating subsystem, FS will do the animating for you.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on March 31, 2004, 08:28:29 am
i think in this instance the atmospheric glow could be quite a bit bigger, showing that if truly was a breathing world.

and add some space stations in orbit....
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Nico on March 31, 2004, 08:32:01 am
Quote
Originally posted by Lt.Cannonfodder
Hmmm... not there yet. Needs something.


looks much ok to me.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 31, 2004, 10:01:20 am
This thing is ready as far as I'm concerned. I might change a few minor things, but here's the final version.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Earth2WIP0001_v2.jpg)

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Earth2WIP0001_v3.jpg)

Now, tell me what I should do next. I want to make something nice, but my imagination is depleted for now ;)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Fineus on March 31, 2004, 10:08:53 am
I'm a huge fan of forming planets (that is, lava all over the shop... big red glowing balls of magma in space) but that's not for everyone.

Excellent job on that planet btw, very very nice indeed!


Gas giants, black holes, binary stars... there's a lot of other neat stuff that could be done.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on March 31, 2004, 10:21:50 am
if you can model too, i'd suggest high poly 'roids....
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 31, 2004, 11:13:22 am
Quote
Originally posted by kasperl
if you can model too, i'd suggest high poly 'roids....


Trust me, I can't model anything :D

I think I'll try to improve my gas giant. It needs a lot of work.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lightspeed on March 31, 2004, 11:54:33 am
Next thing to work on is the lighting. Your planets look a bit cut off. The shadow is a larger and smoother gradient, normally.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 31, 2004, 12:03:29 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Lightspeed
Next thing to work on is the lighting. Your planets look a bit cut off. The shadow is a larger and smoother gradient, normally.


Actually, the shadow on my planets is much smoother than it would be on real planetoids. You can't see it very clearly, but the gradient almost starts from the point where the light is the strongest. And I like the shadow the way it is anyway :p

Bah, I'm in a dead end with this gas giant. I'll have to think of some other way of making the texture...
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: karajorma on March 31, 2004, 05:16:24 pm
Wow CF. That's just brilliant :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: aldo_14 on March 31, 2004, 05:19:26 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Lt.Cannonfodder


Actually, the shadow on my planets is much smoother than it would be on real planetoids. You can't see it very clearly, but the gradient almost starts from the point where the light is the strongest. And I like the shadow the way it is anyway :p

Bah, I'm in a dead end with this gas giant. I'll have to think of some other way of making the texture...


Maybe just render a circular volumetric foggy cloud with suitable noise, etc, settings?
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 01, 2004, 12:56:47 am
Quote
Rebuttal originating from the wisdom of aldo_14


Maybe just render a circular volumetric foggy cloud with suitable noise, etc, settings?


Tried that, ended up with a very odd-looking blob :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Ulala on April 01, 2004, 01:33:16 am
Quote
Rebuttal originating from the wisdom of Lt.Cannonfodder

Now, telleth me what I should do next. I want to make something nice, but my imagination is depleted for now ;)


You could make a 1337 moon that's like all broken and cracked down the middle like in Titan A.E. or something... might be cool. Whew, my imagination is depleted too.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Setekh on April 01, 2004, 03:57:25 am
That's a very polished job, CF. A lava planet would be another typical but fun exercise. :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on April 01, 2004, 04:33:18 am
ice planet with those orange lines as on Europa.

or, alternatively, play around with creating a ful dust ring around a gas giant and adding moons.

and see if you can use the old 'roid models, together with particle trails and stuff, to create a real, flyable dust ring.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lightspeed on April 01, 2004, 06:05:05 am
huge ball of subspace energy ;7
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Fineus on April 01, 2004, 06:18:34 am
Quote
Rebuttal originating from the wisdom of Lightspeed
huge ball of subspace energy ;7


http://www.hawkstudios.net/tutorials/making_of_chi_orb/

:thepimp:
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 01, 2004, 10:44:09 am
Quote
Rebuttal originating from the wisdom of kasperl
ice planet with those orange lines as on Europa.

or, alternatively, play around with creating a ful dust ring around a gas giant and adding moons.

and descry if you can use the old 'roid models, together with particle trails and stuff, to create a real, flyable dust ring.


Another iceplanet might be nice. Dust rings I can do, they are pretty simple.

A cracking planet would be interesting to do. It's a bit of a challenge, as it requres modelling. And I suck at anything modelling related :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lightspeed on April 01, 2004, 01:21:46 pm
Quote
Rebuttal originating from the wisdom of Lord Kalfireth Of Chichester


http://www.hawkstudios.net/tutorials/making_of_chi_orb/

:thepimp:


doesn't look subspacy enough, its round, but it should have some cool explosions and electrical arches :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Fineus on April 02, 2004, 02:07:37 am
It's a basis though, thats my point - you could easily use it as the template for something far more elaborate.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 04, 2004, 04:26:24 am
After about a dozen failed attempts with the broken planet, I gave up and made a Europa style barren planetoid.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Iceplanet30001.jpg)

Doesn't look much but that's the way it's supposed to be :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: karajorma on April 04, 2004, 04:35:36 am
Looks nice CF but maybe a little too regular.

Happy Birthday BTW :D
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lightspeed on April 04, 2004, 07:48:38 am
That doesn't look like europa at all...

but nice nonetheless.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Setekh on April 04, 2004, 07:52:32 am
Europa is covered in ice, I think - shiny ice. :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on April 04, 2004, 10:05:22 am
is there a download link too all of this in one pack?

i would love to use this in FSCZ, i mean it.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 04, 2004, 10:16:44 am
Quote
Originally posted by kasperl
is there a download link too all of this in one pack?

i would love to use this in FSCZ, i mean it.


I'll release everything once I get bored and feel like not working on these any longer. I might make one or two more, and then you can have them.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: jdjtcagle on April 04, 2004, 10:22:56 am
yes pack up them all :) :yes:
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on April 04, 2004, 11:53:43 am
ooh, more goody's......
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 04, 2004, 12:05:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by kasperl
ooh, more goody's......


If you have any favorite planets I can make several pics of them from different angles.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on April 04, 2004, 12:06:18 pm
could you post the models?

/me has an idea about putting a slowly rotating pof ingame.

edit: i love the earth like one, could you do some of those with different landmass formations?
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 04, 2004, 12:45:56 pm
Quote
Originally posted by kasperl
could you post the models?

/me has an idea about putting a slowly rotating pof ingame.


The models I use are far too high-poly to be used ingame. But if anyone is willing to make a sphere I can send him the planetary map he needs.

Quote
edit: i love the earth like one, could you do some of those with different landmass formations? [/B]


New landmasses would require a totally new planetary map. It's possible, yes, but will take some time. I'll do it at some point.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on April 04, 2004, 12:59:42 pm
if you could include the maps in the pack, that'd be great.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 04, 2004, 01:08:04 pm
Quote
Originally posted by kasperl
if you could include the maps in the pack, that'd be great.


Well... I'll consider it. I'm not too keen on giving up all my work, but I might do it anyway.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on April 04, 2004, 01:14:05 pm
off course, we will credit you completely.

i'll even make you an honorary member of the FSCZ staff if you want to.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lightspeed on April 04, 2004, 02:43:55 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Setekh
Europa is covered in ice, I think - shiny ice. :)


large plates of ice with cracks between them.

surface looks like this:

(http://www.macknife.org/planets/jpeg/jup/europa.jpg)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Xelion on April 05, 2004, 12:04:04 am
Some great work CF :yes:

btw LS the bluer part of Europa looks better :nod:
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 05, 2004, 12:06:21 am
Hmm.. maybe I should get a high res image of Europa and use some of those cracks on my planet.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on April 05, 2004, 05:06:02 am
mmmm, excellent
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lightspeed on April 05, 2004, 10:02:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by Xelion
Some great work CF :yes:

btw LS the bluer part of Europa looks better :nod:


bluer part?

Actually it's white with brownish cracks.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Xelion on April 05, 2004, 10:21:48 am
Oh no :p heres the proofs, it off APOD (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html) btw which u may or may not of heard of. An image of Europa (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030919.html)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 07, 2004, 11:12:44 am
BUMP! :)

I finished the second Earth-like planet. The surface map is loosely based on Devonian period Earth. But only very loosely, it can be used as any generic planet.

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Earth3WIP00010001.jpg)

(http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Earth3WIP00010002.jpg)

And now for the good news, at least for kasperl. I've packed all the planets and nebulas, make something cool with them. Sorry, no surface maps yet.

DOWNLOAD (http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Backgrounds v1.1.rar) (uploaded to gamespy account, I hope Goober won't mutilate me :nervous: )

NOTE: I haven't tested these ingame, so I can't be sure they work as they should. If any problems arise, please let me know.

Also, please credit me if you use these in any missions or images. Thank you :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: .::Tin Can::. on April 07, 2004, 11:15:27 am
Combined with Lightspeed's nebula's I would say it would make a perfect match, these worlds and nebula's side by side showing off all of HLP's hard work and dedication... :D:yes:
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Fractux on April 07, 2004, 11:16:48 am
That's a realy nice planetary background. I like it. :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Singh on April 07, 2004, 04:35:18 pm
and ive got it! :D

Thanks LtCannonfodder :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Singh on April 07, 2004, 04:45:42 pm
question: how do i use these? there appears to be no .tbl entry for FRED to read.....
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: jdjtcagle on April 07, 2004, 04:49:22 pm
Did you not use a TBL entry for them??
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Singh on April 07, 2004, 04:58:15 pm
you mean we have to make our own .tbl entry? O_o
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 08, 2004, 12:18:40 am
Quote
Originally posted by Singh
you mean we have to make our own .tbl entry? O_o


Yes, you have to do something yourself ;) It isn't too hard :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Singh on April 08, 2004, 07:02:19 am
pfffft..fine then ;)
is it ok if i merge both yours and lightspeeds stuff into the same table and put it up? makes the thing a lot easier for everyone I think :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Fineus on April 08, 2004, 07:11:01 am
You know what would be really neat for intagration?

A list of SCP sanctioned backgrounds / enhancements / maps etc that are all supported by the project. This would make compatability much easier since all user made missions could take advantage of the same table and effects pack plus any additions that the mission creator makes. These maps could be placed up for download alongside a pre-written .TBL file for them so all you need to do is plug and play... this could even be packaged into a VP file...
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on April 08, 2004, 07:13:48 am
yeah, that is being worked on, by the media vp as well.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Singh on April 08, 2004, 07:59:31 am
umm...how do i get these to work? I put in the .tbl entries and the stuff is in the effects folder, but FRED gives me an error saying it cant find the bitmaps and none of it shows up in the drop-down menu :?
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on April 08, 2004, 08:20:51 am
FRED needs a dds or a PCX to work from.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 08, 2004, 08:26:07 am
Quote
Originally posted by Singh
umm...how do i get these to work? I put in the .tbl entries and the stuff is in the effects folder, but FRED gives me an error saying it cant find the bitmaps and none of it shows up in the drop-down menu :?


As kasperl said, you can't see the tga's in FRED. Hmmm... I think I should make some pcx versions.

Oh, and don't use the nebulae thingys. They don't look half as good in FS2, due to some transparency problems. I'll have to look into it.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Singh on April 08, 2004, 08:33:17 am
ok. ill notepad this into the mission for the moment then :)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: JarC on April 08, 2004, 08:53:51 am
Quote
Originally posted by kasperl
could you post the models?

/me has an idea about putting a slowly rotating pof ingame.

edit: i love the earth like one, could you do some of those with different landmass formations?
here's one with dds textures up to 2048x2048

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,19747.0.html
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 08, 2004, 12:30:00 pm
Ok, I updated the rar with new pcx versions that can be used in FRED. Linky:

DL Updated Version (http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Backgrounds v1.1.rar)

If you have a slower connection, you can download only the pcx's.

PXC Only (http://3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/LtCannonfodder/Backgrounds PCX.rar)
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: kasperl on April 08, 2004, 01:23:31 pm
LtC, you and LS are fantastic.
Title: Some new backgrounds...
Post by: Setekh on April 09, 2004, 11:14:16 am
Quote
Originally posted by .::Tin Can::.
showing off all of HLP's hard work and dedication... :D:yes:


This sure is a great community, huh? :)