PDA

View Full Version : Chrome Letters for a Flying Logo

Tom Wood
03-21-2004, 10:34 PM
Hi All,

I'm making some titles using the 'logo' plug-in as shown below. I'm using the chrome preset and reflection map from the included LW content library. No textures, just basic surface attributes. And then in Surface Editor; Environment-Reflection Options-Spherical Map, and; Reflection Map-chrome.jpg. This is applied to the entire object, so all surfaces of every letter is treated the same.

The words fly into place and the curved surfaces of the letters show off the chrome surface well as they move. But the flat faces don't show the chrome surface (reflection map) unless I either bevel them out, or increase the smooth threshold to greater than 90 degrees. In both cases I then get errors in the chrome surfacing as shown in the attached image.

How do I make the chrome surface on all faces of the letters without these errors?

Thanks,

TW
Bytehawk
03-21-2004, 11:42 PM
add a light fractal bump map
Bytehawk
03-22-2004, 12:04 AM
before bump
Bytehawk
03-22-2004, 12:05 AM
after bump
cyphyr
03-22-2004, 12:16 AM
Three things spring to mind, firstly the crome needs something to reflect so take an image (practically anything will do) desaturate it and use it as an image world, it dos'nt have to be visible in your scene (just put put a black bitmap as the background in your composition tab). Seccondly use blury reflections, these are at about 7% but it will depend on your image and thirdly use a very slight bevel. Hope that all helps.

Also it mayhelp if you seperate your crome surface into three, the face of the numbers, the body of the numbers and the bevel of the numbers, that way you can control the smoothing inderpendantly.

http://www.avalonarts.co.uk/2004_sample.jpg
Bytehawk
03-22-2004, 12:41 AM
you could also animate the reflection...

just a thought
Tom Wood
03-22-2004, 01:44 AM
Thanks All,

What I've discovered is that if I do a simple bevel out with the front and back faces of the letters, then the -sides- of the letters properly reflect the chrome reflection map, but the faces remain distorted. If I then cut and paste the faces off and on, then I get back the smooth face. It's not a bad looking letter, so I may go with it. Adding the bump map didn't give it the polished look of chrome, but thank you for the suggestions.

TW
AndréNozawa
03-22-2004, 12:43 PM
Hi Tom,

I have done some stuff a while ago and I thought you would like see it.It was very easy to do.I hope this help.
CGTalk Moderation
01-17-2006, 08:00 PM
This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.