[Corsair114]

A trio of starfighters I made flying past a disentigrating planet.

Thoughts/comments/suggestions? I'd like to have 3DS Max(or even gMax) for this, but my computer won't run either(at least not more than barely).

Programs used:
Abacus' FSDS Pro 2(for the ships)
Paint Shop Pro 7(for everything else including the blue on the ships).

And if you wanted to get a decent view of the fighters(Class-name "Darkstar") then you'll want to click this link.

[vyper]

I like it, but I'd take the size on the "planet" (SolarCell) down to smallest possible while keeping flare and stuff, and then put a "planet" (see LunarCell) in instead (using composite option).

Oh, and have them fighters flying towards ya!:D

[Corsair114]

So, I read your reply, vyper, and thought to myself, "Hmm, y'know, he's right. this could be a really cool pic with a bit of work." So, I went and did some work, and stuff and came up with that which is below.

"Darkfire"


So... what do you think now?

[Unknown Target]

Too much motion blur, the planet on the first one looks funny, and the explosion looks like it's coming from BEHIND the planet. Add some rays of light coming from inside the planet.

Otherwise, it looks good

[Starfury]

Also, the engines could really use some glow about them.

[Corsair114]

UT:

Too much motion blur

Ok, I'll work on it.

the planet on the first one looks funny

That was fixed in the second image.

and the explosion looks like it's coming from BEHIND the planet. Add some rays of light coming from inside the planet.

Ok, any suggestions on how to do that?

Starfury:

Also, the engines could really use some glow about them.

So how would I do that, then?

Any help rendered (no pun intended) would be most welcome.

[Corsair114]

Engine Glow: Check
Big hole in planet: Check
Significantly lowered motion blur: Check

Anymore suggestions?

[Hippo]

looks like a CD burner gone wrong... Try a smaller hole, and maybe multiple... explosions look good, but that CD in the middle..

[Corsair114]

A quick question:

Does anyone know any good ways for making cracks in the planet's crust?

[IceFire]

Originally posted by Corsair114
A quick question:

Does anyone know any good ways for making cracks in the planet's crust?

Use a paintbrush tool and a burn filter.

[Turnsky]

i'd give the fighters a little more urgency, make thier positions a little more random..

[Corsair114]

Ok, well, trying this again. Hopefully this looks a bit better.

"Darkfire"



Anymore comments/suggestions?(Be detailed! explain how to do stuff if you're going to give suggestions on things to do!)

[Rictor]

Thats good progress there, spiffy image

first of, I would eliminate any sort of glow or flare from infront of the planet. It doesnt make sense that an exploding planet would have a large central flare type thing

secondly, you need to roughen up th edges of the planet, to make it look less like a perfect circle. this can be done by simply using an irregular (you know, with uneven edges) photoshop brush and doing the edges of the planet a bit. dont go overboard though

and lastly, you need to create some "veins" on the planet, to make it look like its falling apart. I tried doing this with a standard "get the poly lasso tool and go crazy, then slide over a few pixels" method but it didnt look good. So I guess you havr to figure out how to do that n your own. The colour that is seen through the cracks should be the same as the colour behind the planet, so it would be useful if you still have the planet as a seperate layer..

[Martinus]

[color=66ff00]I think that the planet is the only thing that needs work ATM, the new fighter orientations and positions are quite good. The planet would look more realistic if it was an elipse (fatter at the equator) and you got rid of that single burst, frankly I have no idea how a planet would look whilst disintegrating but I think it would be a lot more like it's surface was loosing coherence than if there was one huge explosion. More like what would happen to a raw egg if you cracked it than if you microwaved it without piercing the shell (pop, splat).

One step away from becoming a very cool wallpaper.
[/color]

[Corsair114]

I'm not using Photoshop. I'm using Paint Shop Pro 7.x.  So, yes, all help would be useful if it was in the context for that program(sorry for not mentioning it earlier!).

Well, anywho, off to tinker some more... all tips and pointers are really appreciated(so by all means, offer tips and pointers!).

[Corsair114]

Yet another try... I don't think the cracks turned out too well. Meh, I did my best with my next-to-non-existant knowledge.



"Darkfire"

[Tar-Palantir]

I prefer the planet in the second planet to the planet in the last image.

The engine glows to me look to big and a bit static. Try making them smaller and give them a little burr since they will be moving as well.

Try moving the left most fighter down by about it's size. At the moment it looks a like they are still flying in a formation. Also rotate the right hand most one so we can see a different side than the other two.

Just my opinions.

[Thor]

Brighten the planet or use the one in the second image.  then add your lines, except don't make them as thick.  they stand out way too much.  also, make sure they connect in parts.  Try to think about continents and fault lines, and thats where you'll get your cracks.

[Sandwich]

Originally posted by Thor
Brighten the planet or use the one in the second image.  then add your lines, except don't make them as thick.  they stand out way too much.  also, make sure they connect in parts.  Try to think about continents and fault lines, and thats where you'll get your cracks.

Actually, take those lightning bolts from the 1st and 2nd pics and use them as planetary cracks.

[Corsair114]

Originally posted by Sandwich


Actually, take those lightning bolts from the 1st and 2nd pics and use them as planetary cracks.

I'll try that out and see how it works... I tried it once before but got, err, bad results. There's a better way my girlfriend taught me to do, but it takes quite a bit more patience than I've had recently.

FYI: No, I haven't given up, just been on a short hiatus(I will learn this... eventually. Thanks for bearing with me).