Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => Arts & Talents => Topic started by: Stealth on June 23, 2002, 05:43:50 pm

Title: my first render!! :)
Post by: Stealth on June 23, 2002, 05:43:50 pm: lol

I've always been 'awed' by renders by people such as Setekh, Thunder, sanwich and many, many others; but i've never actually taken the time to just sit down and try one myself :)

Only tools i used on this one were Photoshop 6 (which i suck at), and VPView and MODview... i know it's not that good at all compared to everyone else, but everyone's got to start sometime, right? :)

Here it is:

(http://www.3dap.com/hlp/hosted/stealth/render/quietpatrol.jpg)

Let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions, feel free to edit the actual picture and post your 'improved version' :) lol :
http://www.3dap.com/hlp/hosted/stealth/render/quietpatrol.psd

Thanks, and let me know any suggestions you may have, and also any other programs i should get if i want to start rendering.

Regards
~Stealth~

heeey, the lvlshot tags really do work :) jp
Title: my first render!! :)
Post by: RoachKoach on June 24, 2002, 01:30:05 am: ok, heres a short tutorial for u, that u could put on ur site, the basics:

1. use vpview to extract the textures and model from the vp file

2. convert the model (.pof) to .cob by using a convertor like pof2cob or segeltuch

3. get hold of a program called 3D Exploration (3dx).

4. in 3dx, u can convert all the textures from pcx to bmp format, so the model gets skinned automatically. out the models n textures in the same folder for this.

5. in 3dx, after uve positioned the model in the angle/direction u want it to be, click on file and "render to file". i usually set the background white first, and render the ship really big, so that it looks good when u make it 1/4th the size and use it in ur render.

6. load the render file u saved to in photoshop

7. copy it to a new psd, and use the magic wand tool to get rid of the background (just click on the white background once, and press delete).

8. now u can resize the ship for ur requirement, though i normally make the entire render at double or 4x size, and release the smaller version in the end.

9. build ur scene. cut out the jet flames of the models in photoshop, and replace em with lens flares. use axion flare effects plugin for this.

10. use plugins like flaming pear's lunarcell and solarcell to make planets n stars for the background. use glitterato for nebulae n stars.

11. remember me whenever u render :D

thats it i guess
Title: my first render!! :)
Post by: RoachKoach on June 24, 2002, 01:32:16 am: and u can ask thunder for any of the programs/plugins i mentioned. my rendering skills n tools r all from him, and inspiration from setekh, now it is ur turn my young padawan :D
Title: my first render!! :)
Post by: Stealth on June 24, 2002, 11:15:42 am: What i did was opened up any fighters (dragon, etc.) that i needed with MODELVIEW, then put them against a white background in the position i wanted, cut them, then pasted them in the render :)

oh, and i used KPT plugin's "sky effects" to do the red background, then i used the "Lens Flare" filter to do the lens flare :)

so i guess idid it wrong :)
Title: my first render!! :)
Post by: RoachKoach on June 24, 2002, 12:51:44 pm: ok, when i started, i used to take a screenshot of the model in MODView, but ull never get good quality like that, the edges will always be terrible looking, pixillated. i used to overcome that by taking several screenshots of a highly magnified model, and then join em all, and then reduce the size by as much as 8 times
Title: my first render!! :)
Post by: Black Wolf on June 28, 2002, 10:12:05 am: Quote
Originally posted by RoachKoach
ok, when i started, i used to take a screenshot of the model in MODView, but ull never get good quality like that

I don't know if I agree with you there. I made this one here with Modelview 32 and PSP 7, and it's turned out ok so far. It just needs primary weapons fire (if anyone can help me with that, please do!)

(http://tema_al_diablo.tripod.com/images//tyr1.txt)
Title: my first render!! :)
Post by: Petrarch of the VBB on June 28, 2002, 12:16:52 pm: I made quite a good shot with FS2VIEW and PSP7, it involved a red giant (gradient tool) and a few Terran ships, it was quite good. However, my hard disk went down a month or two ago and I lost it. It might still be on my file at school though...

BTW, how did you get Lens Flare in PSP?
Title: my first render!! :)
Post by: Skippy on June 28, 2002, 02:43:43 pm: Quote
Originally posted by Petrarch of th VBB
BTW, how did you get Lens Flare in PSP?

I think it's the Halo effect (situated in ligh effects)
Title: my first render!! :)
Post by: Petrarch of the VBB on June 30, 2002, 02:16:57 pm: < TommyCooperVoice > Thankyouvermuch, ZzZzZz < /TommyCooperVoice >
Title: my first render!! :)
Post by: JR2000Z on June 30, 2002, 05:22:02 pm: How do you do backgrounds?

(I know this is a stupid question....but...I need to know.)
Title: my first render!! :)
Post by: Petrarch of the VBB on July 02, 2002, 01:24:47 pm: Well, you can get a good planet or sun effect by using the gradient tool (sunburst gradient) and setting it in one corner. Stars can be done manually, there are one or two buttons in the PSP7 preset shapes menu that make good planets, but as for nebulas, I don't know. You could just paint them.
Title: my first render!! :)
Post by: RoachKoach on July 02, 2002, 07:51:43 pm: i beleive my 11 step totorial tells u how to make the backgrounds too, incase u havent noticed
Title: my first render!! :)
Post by: Black Wolf on July 05, 2002, 04:28:24 am: I used Glitterato for the background, Solarcell and Axio n for the sun and the lensflare, and axion again for the engine glows. (these are all plugins btw, most of them have free demos available, but Axion costs money...I think it's worth it though.)

I was able to get limited lighting effects using Axion, but the neccesary layers work sort of messed this up.