[Ace]

 

The above was an experiment with using the map options within Lunarcell to give the appearance of a scan of a planet.

With some higher res versions of the maps, and careful work on the planet options, you could make a very good tactical display of a planet's surface. Or with layered effects have animated clouds and a sunrise, sunset "simulation" on the map.

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Ace
Staff member FreeSpace Watch
 http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/

[Pegasus V]

Indeed. Nice work!

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'Captain' Nick Brown
Callsign: Pegasus V
E-mail:
[email protected]
m.au

[Ace]

Here's my first serious attempt to recreate a gas giant. (rings would be a minor post production work, so would tweaks on the hues to make contrast more bland like in real life)

 

[Fineus]

Gotta love Lunarcell dude, nice one  

[Jabu]

I wish I could register it.

[Xelion]

The pictures are outstanding even as an experiment, though i tried using Lunarcell and with my familiarity with PhotoShop 6.0 and current experience i can't even achieve a decent planet effect. Is anyone in the community willing to post a small tutorial on how they achieve something similar to Ace or maybe you Ace could post something..

Max

[Fineus]

"Real Clouds" and proper colour is the key my son  

[Setekh]

I render the clouds separately, as it gives me more control over how they come out - and since there are only so many Real Clouds options, it's very useful.  

[Xelion]

Thanx for the help

[Ace]

Every time I've played with real clouds they come out as crap.

The synth clouds are great due to the degree of control you have over them.

But having clouds as a seperate layer, lets you do blurring and touch up effects on rough areas with the clouds. (like when you have a high Coriolis force)

Proper color is the key as Thunder said, you need to keep to a motiff for a planet.

A purple planet with green oceans can come out looking realistic with proper selection of colors, clouds, and atmosphere tones to blend it all together.

My only problem with Lunarcell is that the more I play with it, the more my planets loose their "hard edge" and begin to look like matte paintings...

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Ace
Staff member FreeSpace Watch
 http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/