[Setekh]

I was just scratching my head over a few renders and I thought of something.

"The Perfect Render Series". It'd be a series of articles I write, basically going into the details of what makes a good render. Things like lighting, camera angles, story elements, but in huge detail.

Anyway, what I need to know from you guys is, would you value it? Would you guys read it with intent or chuck it in the trash? Because I've got a fair workload on my hands at the moment, and I won't start going off on my crazy idea streaks if my target audience doesn't give a toss.  

So: basically, gimme a yay or a nay on this. I don't need reasons particularly, but they'd be nice. Yay or nay for The Perfect Render Series.

[Xelion]

Very Interesting   Yes I would...I do with your renders, okay I admit I question a few of your duplicate renders; but thats what brought me back to Freespace2; Your renders did, it was the inspiration  .


And of course all the effort you put in to them as well...so yes, I would be keen on reading such an in depth guide to the msyterious creation of renders.  

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Max
Flash Developer
Ps6 Editor

[Nico]

well, I already know about all this, anyway, it could be worth a read  

[Fineus]

Sounds like it's a good idea - so long as you point out that the perfect render is subjective. Everyone likes different things  

[Kamikaze]

I'd read it Just make sure it's an interesting read.

[Dark_4ce]

Yeah, sounds like a good idea! I wouldn't mind reading that! I wanna know ALL you're rendering secrets! MWUHAHAHAHAHAA!  

[Fineus]

From what I can tell - you don't get the secrets, you just learn what he feels will make a render good - besides, his methods can't be used by you...custom program remember?  

[mikhael]

Do it.

When it comes to rendering, a lot of people, myself included, mess up badly on the lighting (be it the angles, the intensity, the shadows, etc). Other people make mistakes by misusing (andother subjective term) features of their renderers where they are not appropriate (the abuse of radiosity come to mind).

It should be a good read.

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--Mik
http://www.404error.com
ruhkferret on ICQ/AIM

"Your guy was a little SQUARE! You had to use your IMAGINATION! There were no multiple levels or screens. There was just one screen forever and you could never win the game. It just kept getting harder and faster until you died. JUST LIKE LIFE." --Ernie Cline

[Dark_4ce]

 

Originally posted by Thunder:
From what I can tell - you don't get the secrets, you just learn what he feels will make a render good - besides, his methods can't be used by you...custom program remember?  

Oh yeaah...
*shucks*  

[mikhael]

 

Originally posted by Thunder:
From what I can tell - you don't get the secrets, you just learn what he feels will make a render good - besides, his methods can't be used by you...custom program remember?  

Custom program, but rendering is rendering is rendering. Its all about how the artist uses the tools at his disposal. There's nothing on the Array that can't be done in Lightwave or Truespace or 3dsMax by someone who knows the tools.

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--Mik
http://www.404error.com
ruhkferret on ICQ/AIM

"Your guy was a little SQUARE! You had to use your IMAGINATION! There were no multiple levels or screens. There was just one screen forever and you could never win the game. It just kept getting harder and faster until you died. JUST LIKE LIFE." --Ernie Cline

[Stryke 9]

Sure, go ahead. I've never properly learned anything I didn't learn by futzing around on my own, but it might be a helpful...

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Purveyor of spurious wisdom.

[KillMeNow]

yeah that would be good - if i put my mind to an effect or somethign i can normally work it out but having a some hints on lighting and stuff can never hurt

[Fineus]

 

Originally posted by mikhael:
Custom program, but rendering is rendering is rendering. Its all about how the artist uses the tools at his disposal. There's nothing on the Array that can't be done in Lightwave or Truespace or 3dsMax by someone who knows the tools.

True - but to counter (and because I like argueing  ) it'd be pointless for our resident Steak to tell us how he made things like his planets and so on - because every other method of doing it will be different, so the only sensible thing would be to say how to make it look good - and leave the method up to the individual...

Thats how I see it anyway - but I'm rambling, attempting to avoid an essay - you know how it is  

[Stryke 9]

Of course, you never know... I have my doubts that Spire is quite as complex as you think. Never know for sure unless I see what it's got for an interface (or coding in the lack of an interface), but I've got a few guesses running on what exactly it can do and how based on the renders I've seen...

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Purveyor of spurious wisdom.

[mikhael]

 

Originally posted by Thunder:
True - but to counter (and because I like argueing    ) it'd be pointless for our resident Steak to tell us how he made things like his planets and so on - because every other method of doing it will be different, so the only sensible thing would be to say how to make it look good - and leave the method up to the individual...

Thats how I see it anyway - but I'm rambling, attempting to avoid an essay - you know how it is    

No, I don't know how it is. I never avoid the essays. You know that.  

Technique and process are different things. The use of an array of spotlight type lightsources to simulate the soft shadows created by sunlight in atmosphere is a technique. The process by which Lightwave and Truespace and--I dare say--Spire, go about creating such an array are very different.


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--Mik http://www.404error.com
ruhkferret on ICQ/AIM

"Your guy was a little SQUARE! You had to use your IMAGINATION! There were no multiple levels or screens. There was just one screen forever and you could never win the game. It just kept getting harder and faster until you died. JUST LIKE LIFE." --Ernie Cline

[This message has been edited by mikhael (edited 02-05-2002).]

[Corsair]

Go for it!
I'd definitely read it, especially since I have almost NO IDEA what the heck I'm doing when I try to make a render...using Photoshop and 3D Explorer demo.
Value the Steak? Absolutely

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"But for my own example, I'd never believe on little kid could have so much brains!" - Calvin (& Hobbes)
"Why'd you do it, Biff? I mean, I always knew car chasing was in your blood - but the president's limo?" - one dog to another
"Very few of life's problems cannot be solved with high explosives." - Navy SEALs motto

[Fineus]

It's not called Spire anymore guys  

Oh and good points - I'm still looking forward to this  

[Setekh]

 

Originally posted by mikhael:
No, I don't know how it is. I never avoid the essays. You know that.    

Technique and process are different things. The use of an array of spotlight type lightsources to simulate the soft shadows created by sunlight in atmosphere is a technique. The process by which Lightwave and Truespace and--I dare say--Spire, go about creating such an array are very different.

Heheh, thanks Mik. I think you're the only person on this thread who actually understands what I'm saying.   It's all going to be about technique - I realised from the outset that it would be pointless for me to write about ways to create particular effects in any program. Obviously, with Spirit, no-one else can use that. But even with LW or 3DS or TS, if it was program-specific... bleh. It's just got so little practical application. This is something... different.  

Anyway, I kind of went off on a tangent while explaining that, so... well, I guess there's enough support.  

[wEvil]

I think its a great idea.

Are we going platform-specific or just a general art-theory kind of thing?

[Corsair]

I think Setekh meant general art theory since none of us have his program (what was it called again?). And anyway, it would be a serious pain for him to write articles on Photoshop, Max, Truespace, etc. If he did platform specific he would only write about one platform, which would not be very useful to people unless they were using that platform.  
Hey Setekh! When are you going to start doing this (if you are)?

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"Very few of life's problems cannot be solved with high explosives." - Navy SEALs motto