CGTalk - Grand Space Opera 3D Entry: James Kaufeldt

JamesMK

12-08-2004, 12:50 AM

Lelantos - Thanks, and yep, Santa and his army are truly a bunch of unreliable bastards....

stork - Oh, I don't know squat about real anchors really (but now I do though) :thumbsup: I will probably scale it up a tad bit just for effect. The house and the fluffians themselves have now been scaled with a factor of 0.7 ... seems to do the trick.

Dimitris - I'm really glad you like it... That means I can safely stick to my gut feeling and keep it as it is for the time being.

overcontrast - Thanks dude!

greentek - I see what you mean, and I agree to a certain extent as well. I think maybe I will settle for the fact that the grandness might not be 'in-your-face' like that... it will be more of an intellectual contrast between simple nature and big high-tech nodes.

artemesia66 - Thanks. The letterbox vs portrait was driving me nuts, so I had to go for one or the other :D

TiTaNiuM sAMuRa - Thanks a lot. I really have focused on the image as a whole rather than the individual components... I'm very glad that you notice that and even appreciate it :)

-------------------------------------------

Couldn't sleep tonight because of a very annoying flu... The best cure was to build a fluffian piece of ground. Update below::

JamesMK

12-08-2004, 12:50 AM

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1102467040_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1102467040_large.jpg)

This is the foreground piece of... er... ground - now with some initial refinement in the form of a very messy procedural material I've been playing with while coughing, blowing my nose and trying to get rid of a helluva headache.

I have also grown a lot of grass, about 75.000 polygons of it, using 'Hair Department 1.85'... Renders rather slowly on my box, but it's still faster than the speed of real grass growing, and it doesn't need mowing.

All of this has 'early WIP' status, but it's rather close to what I'm going for. I will describe the exact components of my procedural shader later on when I've settled for a final version of it, but in short we're looking at an Oren-Nayar surface with lots of blended 3D noise types (Luka, Naki, FBM etcetera) in diffusion, bump, displacement and colour channels.

------------------------

Time left: 40 days, 23 hours.....

terraarc

12-08-2004, 07:48 AM

The ground and grass look pretty cool! :thumbsup:

From this point of view I can't tell about color variations and texture depth in both of them... waiting for more!

PS: I usually give a small amount of gallic potion for energy but due to the flue I'll give a stronger dose! KB of gallic potion..

DimitrisLiatsos

12-08-2004, 07:58 AM

Grass is welcomed ...but maybe needs to be a little shorter 'cuase makes the Fluffians and house look smaller ..imo...maybe also where u have grass by plugin also map a grass texture to that area undernath your "real" grass..so that u cheat to look "more" and also to control any color variation u need to give there :) ..just a thought from one redhat to another:scream:

Lemog

12-08-2004, 08:05 AM

I agree with Dim for the grass a bit smaller...but I like it global look... in total according with the rest... :bounce:

claudiojordao

12-08-2004, 03:46 PM

Hello James... great work you're doing.
I agree with Dimitris and Lemog... but on the other hand, maybe it's not grass... maybe it's carrots :)
Great work my friend.

Crusty_Butt

12-08-2004, 04:21 PM

Nice touch. I agree with making the grass shorter, if you keep that variety. If you switched to thinner (field) grass, you could make it tall like that.

I checked out your web page. Man, you sure do a lot of great work. Inspiring.

Bret

stevetwist

12-08-2004, 05:47 PM

The ground texture looks interesting, and the grass is pretty cool. I have to agree with previous comments that the grass should be a little shorter (IMO) because otherwise the fluffians start to look small again, as opposed to the nodes looking big, just a thought.

Daniel-McMillan

12-08-2004, 06:40 PM

Latest Update: Texturing: Ground test, early WIPThis is the foreground piece of... er... ground - now with some initial refinement in the form of a very messy procedural material I've been playing with while coughing, blowing my nose and trying to get rid of a helluva headache.

I have also grown a lot of grass, about 75.000 polygons of it, using 'Hair Department 1.85'... Renders rather slowly on my box, but it's still faster than the speed of real grass growing, and it doesn't need mowing.

Looking really good JamesMK. Remember to put the power where it tells the most story! I like the lighting on the last WIP. It almost comes across as a real miniature in process (and I sure miss building real miniatures). :D

Hope you feel better.

-DM

arturro

12-08-2004, 06:43 PM

I don't think that the grass is much too long. It should definitely be thinner and less sharp and streight. The length is not bad, maybe a little bit too long... you could only make more different lenghts... more shorter ones... just a hot thoughts:)

JamesMK

12-08-2004, 09:22 PM

terraarc - Thanks... that was the first pre-WIP :D Oh, and thanks a lot for the potion. I really need it...

Dimitris - Yup, that texture trick is a good one, I used it in THIS (http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=174320) little image not too long ago, and I'll probably do something similar this time.... Depends though, because as it has progressed I might not need to do it... We'll see :beer:

Lemog - Adjustments have been made :scream:

claudio_jordao - Damn, you blew my carrots' cover...

Crusty_Butt - Thanks a lot, and I've made it thinner now, and slightly shorter. Although fact remains that I'm walking through some rather tall field grass every day here while walking the dogs, and I guess that makes me prefer the taller species... :shrug:

stevetwist - Scale is a constant issue... Annoying stuff...

Daniel McMillan - Thanks a lot, and good point about the story of it all. And, no, I'm actually worse today :D

arturro - I've made some variations for the grass... hope you'll like it.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Been messing around some more with the near ground... update below...

Oh, and I've found the iconic part of it now, which of course has to result in an official logo for this entry :D

http://w1.695.telia.com/~u69502813/gso/official-logo.gif

JamesMK

12-08-2004, 09:22 PM

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1102540944_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1102540944_large.jpg)

Built the damage caused by the anchor and tweaked the ground texture some more. The shader is pretty close to what I want now, so I'll post a detailed description of it very soon.

Generated new grass: slightly shorter, but mostly thinner... and more of it for better coverage. Remember it's not supposed to be a lawn, more like a piece of dry soil previously used for potato plants, though this particular year it lies fallow.

arturro

12-08-2004, 09:28 PM

Yes, it looks much better! but there should be more grass, more, more:twisted: you can try to cheat abd pain the ground under the grass to the colors of mixed ground and green grass...

DimitrisLiatsos

12-08-2004, 09:30 PM

Yup ..u have done it once more...yes this is going great ! :thumbsup: :love: :thumbsup:

Squibbit

12-08-2004, 09:36 PM

now yer talkin ! excellent grass adjustment , sir james!

umm....I think your fluffians are lookin the wrong way ...

JamesMK

12-08-2004, 09:38 PM

umm....I think your fluffians are lookin the wrong way ...
Mwaahaa! I just didn't include the huge node hovering over their heads in the right part of the image... :deal:

Squibbit

12-08-2004, 09:48 PM

I KNOW ! but I just think I wouldn't be watching a node when I was about to be mown over...

u think they're saying like " don't look, it'll go away..."

JamesMK

12-08-2004, 09:49 PM

Yes, you would! :D

Squibbit

12-08-2004, 09:50 PM

well, EXCLUDING me :blush:

flyingP

12-08-2004, 10:33 PM

I KNOW ! but I just think I wouldn't be watching a node when I was about to be mown over...

u think they're saying like " don't look, it'll go away..."

Wahahahahaha

you know he does have a point Wabbit :D

JamesMK

12-08-2004, 10:35 PM

Ah, wtf, it's easy enough to test... It IS however a different thing with the node in place... But I'll test it... I'll test it... :rolleyes: :D

flyingP

12-08-2004, 10:37 PM

Ah, wtf, it's easy enough to test... It IS however a different thing with the node in place... But I'll test it... I'll test it... :rolleyes: :D

that is half the fun of hassling you over these issues :D

Lemog

12-08-2004, 10:46 PM

Very good progress... for me... it's not necessary to have more grass... it's not an english garden... that's only a ground with grass...

...and for the anchor hole -> :thumbsup:

Lelantos

12-08-2004, 11:35 PM

man this is an awesome rendering really great quality no crits really like it a lot.:thumbsup:

lets hope that anchor doesn't hit any flufian:D

uwil

12-09-2004, 12:22 AM

hmm...fluffians should start running right now...lol. ground textures is rendered nicely. awsome job and effort James. :thumbsup:

sbv20

12-09-2004, 12:33 AM

great work so far man, awesome project.

since this is like a collaborative learning process or whatever i would like to bring up a noobish question I have. i don't understand how people, like yourself, make their image out of seperated foreground, midground, and background. are they all different scenes? are they all rendered together or rendered and compiled? anyone who can point me in the right direction, specifically for 3d studio, gets... affection or something.

keep it up!

DimitrisLiatsos

12-09-2004, 12:41 AM

Yes, you would! :D

wahhhaaaaaaaaaaaa :scream: ...man i really enjoy these dialogues...hahahahahah

JamesMK

12-09-2004, 12:52 AM

--- since this is like a collaborative learning process or whatever i would like to bring up a noobish question I have. i don't understand how people, like yourself, make their image out of seperated foreground, midground, and background. are they all different scenes? are they all rendered together or rendered and compiled? ---
Absolutely, good question...

There are several reasons for this, and I can only speak for myself since I've never worked in a professional studio or anything:

First of all, I have a really lame piece of hardware which makes it difficult to work with really large scenes such as this, so splitting things up in separate layers is pretty much vital if I'm going to have a chance to edit stuff as well as render it out at the intended resolution.

Furthermore, it usually helps when touching up the final image if I have separate layers. In this case I have a depth-based layering (foreground, midground, background) and the advantage of that is for instance the option to postprocess these layers separately. If I split the final image up properly, I can fix a lot of problems while compositing in 2D rather than having to rerender stuff. So it saves a lot of time and headaches.

To make sure everything fits together, I have built a template for the full scene with low-poly proxy objects, and when it's time to render a real pass of one of the layers, I simply grab the proxies from the template file and replace them with the real objects. So in a way it's just one scene, but when I render the finals it is separate scenes. The template file also contains all the lights and the camera and so on, so it's just a matter of copying those to new files.

Usually you will also want to render out separate passes such as diffuse, reflection and shadow passes. You can also render specific lights in separate passes, and everything boils down to the added advantage of being able to tweak things while compositing instead of doing zillions of tweak-rerender-tweak-rerender...

In a professional production workflow, you will find that most of the time those guys will work in a similar way: separate layers and separate passes for various channels such as specularity, ambient occlusion and so on. If something ends up looking too shiny, just lower the opacity for that pass in the compositing app... takes two seconds, as opposed to hours or even days of rendering if it's an animation for instance.

DimitrisLiatsos

12-09-2004, 12:58 AM

Simply well said..... :thumbsup:

sbv20

12-09-2004, 01:14 AM

alright James, thanks a lot for the reply. good solid info. now I need to learn some specifics for 3d studio. I think it involves XRef and Merge. I'm slightly unclear on one thing.

"To make sure everything fits together, I have built a template for the full scene with low-poly proxy objects, and when it's time to render a real pass of one of the layers, I simply grab the proxies from the template file and replace them with the real objects."

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Do you render using your mock-up scene or the scene for the high detail layer? Do you mean that you bring all the applicable proxies into your scene, align the high-detail models with them, and delete them? If so, excellent. Thanks.

JamesMK

12-09-2004, 01:21 AM

--- Do you render using your mock-up scene or the scene for the high detail layer? Do you mean that you bring all the applicable proxies into your scene, align the high-detail models with them, and delete them? If so, excellent. Thanks.
That's basically it. I would assume this is really easy if you're using Max and utilise the Xref thingies... In my case, I just resave my template file with a new name, delete the stuff I don't need for that particular layer, merge the needed high-poly objects and transfer them to the proxies (just giving them the same scale, rotation and positions), then hide or delete the proxies and hit the big renderbutton.

JamesMK

12-09-2004, 01:41 AM

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1102556496_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1102556496_large.jpg)

OK, a big one here with the foreground node in place just to get a feel for the current state of this particular layer.

Aside from small tweaks I've added some mysterious volumetrics around the Lorenz attractor, and generally played around a bit in Photoshop.

The main reason for posting this is a humble attempt to resolve the current debate concerning in what direction the fluffians should be looking :)

Yellow fluffian - "Whoa! Check out this totally huge anchor, dude!"

Green fluffian - "Nah, I'm gonna watch this node for a while longer, bro..."

Squibbit

12-09-2004, 06:06 AM

really good !

Rook

12-09-2004, 06:22 AM

I like the sense of scale. It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

flyingP

12-09-2004, 06:55 AM

yep starting to look good Wabbit :thumbsup:

Versiden

12-09-2004, 07:23 AM

awesome man..

I think some should be looking at the anchor, while most at the ship..

I like the grass you've started on.. did u use a grass plugin or scatter modifier or...? hmm, btw what program u using, my questions are max based.. hehe

cheers m8

tikson

12-09-2004, 07:26 AM

Hello, James,
Hm... yeah, who cares about the fluffians... but let me worry a bit about the anchor? On the image you posted 29th of october, (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/grandspaceopera/image.php?entry_id=16541) it looks really impressive - because it's BIG and it has made some damage, so this thingy really looks dangerous but now it looks pretty harmless.
And here I don't really understand how big is Lorenzo (the attractor). Maybe just because you've not modelled chain, which could give better feeling of distance, but perhaps one attractor could be just on the foreground - I mean that you can see a little part of it, which is hovering just above the house and covering them (houses and fluffians) with a dark shadow... or maybe only a strange shadow that could widen the borders of your picture.

It's just an opinion... in fact, your stuff (idea and realisation) is really impressive.
aand... some smilies here:
=> :):scream::cool::surprised:) <=

Kaksht

12-09-2004, 07:53 AM

Hi there James!

Absolutlie great effort man, the render looks awesome! Just dunno about the flufians, maybe the yeallow one shoud be quite falling from the shock of the anchor or smth like that and the green one should be running home, just dunno :shrug:

terraarc

12-09-2004, 07:57 AM

It's shaping up great! :thumbsup: You surely can tell this thing is big! Although the fluffians look rather big comparing to it, I can't tell the depth of the image. Maybe adding some fluffians on the edge of the hill, to the farthest visible point of the front hill, would help on the scale. Another way may be to diminish a little the fluffian civilization... :p

Great and inspiring work as always!
Waiting for more!

:wavey:

jddog

12-09-2004, 12:36 PM

james WoW this wonderful :applause: + :buttrock: Especially the kind of lightness that you have here is really cool...

jdd

JamesMK

12-09-2004, 01:03 PM

Thanks guys for your comments :thumbsup:

Some minor changes can still be made without too much trouble. More sense of scale will probably come once the node is textured and so on, and in this last render I did exclude the more distant nodes because I can't actually render everything at once now that the grass is in place.... not enough RAM here. So you will probably not get to see the full scene ever again (until final renders and composition of course, but aside from minor tests there's no point for me to waste time doing that too often)

Some Q&A:

Versiden - Um, nah, no scatter modifier in C4D that I know of. To generate the grass I've used a neat little free plugin called Hair Department... can't say I've ever made hair with it though, but it's great for grass. It basically generates a lot of polygonal straws based on parameters such as width, length and overall shape (including random variations of course), then distributes them over the selected geometry.

tikson - Yeah, that image you're referring to was an early test and I have to agree it looks very destructive... it has proven a bit hard to get that particular view of it to work well in the overall composition though, mostly because it's an aerial perspective. There will be large traces of destruction on the slope in the midground though, so hopefully that will cover it. The chain is not done (this is just a placeholder, simple spline). A strange shadow from an off-screen node or something is a good idea.

terraarc - There will be more fluffians and more houses. I'll add lots of stuff on the far-away ridge of the foreground bit, and more in the midground valley and slopes.

To the rest of ya, thanks a lot for your comments and encouragement.

hoaxi

12-09-2004, 01:09 PM

Hi,

Just popped in to say "This looks ridiculously good!" :applause:

My favorite entry in the challenge. Keep it up!

JamesMK

12-09-2004, 02:43 PM

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1102603378_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1102603378_large.jpg)

Made some textures for the house and added a few more fluffians.

There are 4 of them now, and it's time to play FIND THE FLUFFIANS!!!

Yes! Find out where the fourth fluffian is hiding, and win great cash prizes!!!

terraarc

12-09-2004, 02:50 PM

What was this poor poor guy doing under the dirt? :sad:

Texturing looks good, maybe the lighting is a bit to bright.....waiting for more.. :bounce:

tikson

12-09-2004, 02:53 PM

hahaa... I just pressed 'reply' when you loaded your image... so I think I'm pretty quick to answer. That's MUCH better I think, but I still guess that anchor should be slightly bigger. It's up to you :p.
Before I wrote, I didn't mean changing your view, but just organizing scales and such. Now it looks very good, and if there are more general view on the backround which can give some idea about overall action and destruction, then it'll be superb... I'm sure.

Some buddies here again:
:drool::banghead::cry:

Good luck...

DimitrisLiatsos

12-09-2004, 03:11 PM

TRhe 4th Fluffian is in the dirt pile in front of the anchor...yes? :bounce:

flyingP

12-09-2004, 03:20 PM

:applause:

I saw him too

what do I win? what do I win? :bounce:

I'm still waiting on my blasted lollipop from that Greek too by the way

jddog

12-09-2004, 03:34 PM

I can't actually render everything at once now that the grass is in place.... not enough RAM here.

Grass are splines? Solid spline pro ? I made a hudge ammount of it in my image to avoid to kill all my ram... just if u got it...

I saw this poor 4th fluffian... you bastard :D did you imagine the pain of this little gs have in this uncofortable place and position ? haha :bounce: I won nothing (too late) but I preserve the life of fluffians :scream:

jdd

Squibbit

12-09-2004, 04:19 PM

the fluffian's not hurt . it's a sport they do every year when the big machines
turn the fields. A fluffian jumps into the pile of dirt collected by the anch..I mean plow
and waits for more dirt to pile around him until he rolls merrily downhill , safely inside a
dirtball.

Lemog

12-09-2004, 05:16 PM

mmmmh... I think that the 4th flufflian is currently in the toilets, in the small hut at right, his desire was too pressing, it couldn't wait until James take the photo :shrug:
Then ? I'm sure that I win the carot's kilo... no ?

uwil

12-09-2004, 05:20 PM

heheh....rolled like a chocolate pudding:applause: tha'ts cool...awsome job.

DenialK

12-09-2004, 07:08 PM

Looking good and stuff but theres like this one stuff i dont understand, do you like make this stuff in a computor? I have read some of the words i could understand in like som post stuffs and i get confused cuz i thought this was like not done in a computer?

JamesMK

12-09-2004, 07:50 PM

OK, free carrots and cash for all who spotted the 4th guy :D

jddog - The grass is not splines (I deleted the generated splines, but even if I kept them, I still don't have Solidspline Pro... Thanks a lot for the suggestion nonetheless)

Squibbit - That actually made me laugh out loud (for real I mean) :D

Lemog - Mwahaa! A pressing need, eh? Always the nut...

DenialK - :rolleyes:

Pigs, potatoes and assorted vegetables - Thanks for stopping by :thumbsup:

Deadlyforce

12-09-2004, 09:07 PM

Mmmh, those fluffians guys are really in deep trouble !
Those ingineers are all the same...a cup of coffee spilled on the stabilizer controls and we end up with a bunch of dead fluffians at the bottom of the ravine...:D

JamesMK

12-10-2004, 02:44 AM

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1102646674_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1102646674_large.jpg)

Added some wrecked house parts around the anchor hole. Added two more fluffians (see if you can find them :).
Made a material for the anchor too.

Aside from the need to make some subtle textures for the fluffian raincoats and backpacks, it seems like I'm almost done with the foreground, which means I can move on to texturing the close node and fix the anchor chain and so on.

Time left: 38 days, 21 hours....

-------------------------------------------- edit ------------------------

Deadly Force - Yep, they're truly cannon fodder them poor farmers. Even if Lord Panzerpants drives the node very carefully, without spilling any coffee, we'll still end up with heaps of dead fluffians. It's like a conversation between a nazi dentist and a patient I once overheard: "If I make a mischtake, zis might hurt a little..." "And if you don't make any mistakes?" "Zen it vill hurt A LOT."

Squibbit

12-10-2004, 02:54 AM

ngghrr..can't find the other new one..other side of dirt ball ?

Climax

12-10-2004, 06:43 AM

• Very impressive James, but be carefull with yellows in the scene they wash the fluffians away a bit, even so this layer is amazing, keep 'em comming you are very close to finish!:beer:

rattlesnake

12-10-2004, 06:53 AM

Poor fluffian ...please tell me that hes taking a sun bath ...
about your work...is an amazing work...and i can see youre having lots of fun dealing with fluffians...i have no crits sir!

Lemog

12-10-2004, 06:58 AM

I like your lighting man... you're a master... :thumbsup:

It's always a great pleasure each time I see a Fluffian... They seem too much simpathic...
How is possible to have the same nationality that them ? the yellow/green card ? :bounce:

ace4016

12-10-2004, 07:03 AM

Nice update you have. I only see one new fluffian, your pulling our cahin when you say two (mangled fluffians don't count). Why aren't the other fluffians running? Headlight syndrome(but with an anchor instead of headlights)?

Virtuoso

12-10-2004, 11:36 AM

Is'nt that a fluffian laying on his back on that rock right in front of the anchor?.................Do i get the JamesMK prize......:cool: :cool:

......................James I like your progress,it's cruise time for you,kind of.......;) because is it ever?

Perhaps you can create some patches of grass,break up some areas.....I dont; know,just thinking of something to help this oh sooo very close to finished project..........I know I know,lots more to do..........Anyways,really a cool entry with fun and real nice execution from design to models to textures..........It is a Fluffian right......?:cool:

Squibbit

12-10-2004, 11:51 AM

whazzat about prizes ? I got no prizes but i do have Quiz of the Day !
come see my 2d thread and take part in the quiz ! can u solve it ?

Derferic

12-10-2004, 02:40 PM

Hello JamesHK,
You made a superb work, I especially like your picture of 01/11/04. It reminds me pictures of John Harris. He painted structures so enormous so that they confound with horizon. Good luck!

JamesMK

12-10-2004, 03:24 PM

Squibbit - Look for a grey fluffian to the right of the dirtball/towards the camera.... Oh, and I really have to check out your 2D thread :bounce:

Climax - Thanks, and yep, I might have to tweak the yellows a bit. Contrast will be better once the midground is added though.

rattlesnake - OK, he's taking a sunbath :twisted:

Lemog - You can apply for citizenship at the nearest Fluffian Embassy. They always need more farmers, so it's usually not a problem to get a greencard.

ace4016 - Headlight syndrome is quite close to the truth. What's important to consider here is that the Fluffians know nothing about spacetravel or even simple things like cars or anything except rather primitive agricultural stuff and potatoes. When they suddenly get invaded by these things, it's just too much for their simple little minds to handle. So, they all behave in various irrational ways.... everything from total freeze-up to frantic panic is possible.

Virtuoso - That's correct, unfortunately someone else beat you to it... and besides, I'm all out of carrots.

Derferic - Oh, thanks a lot! Always extra nice to see a new name swooshing by, and with such a nice compliment as well :blush:

------------------------------------------------------------

I'm still making further fine-tuning of the foreground details. Updates to follow later. Thanks for peeking y'all!

Divaise

12-10-2004, 04:09 PM

hey your stuff looks awesome man really cool wow ;) can't wait to see it finished :thumbsup: GL

jddog

12-10-2004, 04:31 PM

rattlesnake - OK, he's taking a sunbath :twisted:

you sadic :twisted: .... :scream:
jdd

JamesMK

12-11-2004, 01:49 AM

Divaise - Thanks dude!

jddog - It's safe to be sadistic when only polygonal individuals are involved :wise:

--------------------------------------------------

I might have mentioned earlier today that I would post an update.... and... er... well, now I'm going to do just that! :D Check below......

JamesMK

12-11-2004, 01:49 AM

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1102729760_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1102729760_large.jpg)

Built a potentially cool wire for the anchor and made some minor tweaks in various places.

As per usual played around a lot in post as well.... I mean, just what would we be without photoshop? Helpless that's what! Without hope... Oh, the horror...

I think it's time to move on to finalise the textures for the node next.

Time left: 37 days, 22 hours...

WesleyTack

12-11-2004, 01:55 AM

that is one amazing scene/render, really love it!!!

Climax

12-11-2004, 02:03 AM

• Oustanding James! It is impressive, But i really think you should bring the ship much more brigter again, you could use darker ships in the background, but let me tell you: that out of focus Bg looks great but is too blurred maybe a bit less:thumbsup:

TiTaNiuM sAMuRa

12-11-2004, 03:22 AM

Two suggestions, Maestro:

- lower the elevation of the sunlight; the sky's mood is too happy and keeps pulling my eyes upward; perhaps some stormclouds would help as long as the sky is clear near the horizon.
- keep the shine of the graphite, but perhaps secondary lighting or a higher diffuse falloff is needed to see more of the detailed form of the ship.

I am humbled. Again.

Squibbit

12-11-2004, 03:39 AM

k...this might be cruel, but we got the time, so:

the anchor line could be chain links < dunno if it would look better, just would like to
see that

now most of the fluffians would've seen the anchor coming...they're not just lookin
around...they're runnin..

flyingP

12-11-2004, 08:51 AM

DimitrisLiatsos

12-11-2004, 09:20 AM

OK!.... :buttrock: :bowdown:
Wires for ship's anch ...weeee top notch stuff...i like this detail....
Anch ...i like that it's more darken and has that highlight up
Fluffians....i get a wild kick with that guy whos is half hidden behind the house ..hehehe
Sky ...i am sure u have a Threatening- Moody-Top Notch Sky for surprise in that Coffee machine u call pc of yours :scream: :D :scream: ...i like it also now ...but i think u will have to check how it will look with that hidden sky pic....

I think u have a very good angle here wabbit too..just remember (what i have too....lol) to experiment a bit with a wider or bigger view....what am i saying...u have a trained eye for this...lol....sorry.... :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Kaksht

12-11-2004, 09:26 AM

Hi there James!

Whoah, the wires are great here, all the textures are very awesome man. And btw, as Squibbit has already mentioned: "We got time!!!" so dont panic here :)

jddog

12-11-2004, 11:38 AM

:bowdown: james this is really a amazing and promising final ... :applause:
no crits I wait for other up-date... just now this look really a beutiful work. Bravo !

jdd

artemesia66

12-11-2004, 04:33 PM

great work, james! i love the anchor cable. kind of agree that the ship is a bit dark--some of the detail is lost.

todesco

12-12-2004, 02:52 AM

hi james

your idea is better day by day, no critics for now

hope to see more!! :buttrock:

keetmun

12-12-2004, 03:12 AM

That's some really cool lighting you got there, and composition looks really dynamic as well. Cant' wait to see more!

Cheers!
:buttrock:

Lemog

12-13-2004, 08:01 AM

The latest picture was :thumbsup: ... I'm waiting the next update man... this way must do a masterpiece... :bounce:

Versiden

12-13-2004, 09:18 AM

I still can't find the 4th fluffian.. unless that's the one hiding behind the house.. hehe

great update.. I like the cables and the way they're hanging.. I'd vary the hanging curves a bit.. they occur too perfect and sequential if you know what I mean..

The cables are cool, but I'd use them as a secondary element to a much larger cable to hold that anchor, what do u think?

another question.. where are the female fluffians? lol

great work as always...

DimitrisLiatsos

12-14-2004, 03:39 PM

..pssssttt.......PPSSSSSSSSSSTTTTT...wake up..wabbit....wabbit?... :sad:

Climax

12-14-2004, 05:18 PM

• Knoc, Knoc.....James.....are u there?...........Still breathing?...........Oh C'mon.......James!..........Wake Up!.........James?.......

JamesMK

12-14-2004, 05:19 PM

zzzzZZZZZZzzzzznore What? Huh? You rang? ...... mumble... hmmust be hearing things now too..... back to .... er ... zzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZzz

Climax

12-14-2004, 05:26 PM

zzzzZZZZZZzzzzznore What? Huh? You rang? ...... mumble... hmmust be hearing things now too..... back to .... er ... zzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZzz
• Life is short...RENDER MORE!

DimitrisLiatsos

12-14-2004, 05:41 PM

hahahahah...ok since u fine..hahaha i can wait... :scream: :bounce:

userBrian

12-14-2004, 07:56 PM

Now the ship is too dark, James. Perhaps going forward is not the answer,
maybe you should go back.:scream:
my 3d GSO (http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=179803)

Lemog

12-14-2004, 09:19 PM

Maybe do you want to come to taste something with me :beer: :beer: :beer: psssst pssssst rrrrrrrrrrrro :scream:

DimitrisLiatsos

12-14-2004, 09:27 PM

Partyyyyyy!! :bounce: :bounce: me too ...me too! :beer: :beer: :beer:

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

fellah

12-14-2004, 11:39 PM

ooouuupps, time to update my signature......... :applause:

Aethyrprime

12-15-2004, 12:12 AM

Stopped? You mean quit the challenge? Why it was such nice work too... :( Oh well makes it easier for the rest of us right? ;) No seriously though, I was hoping less people would drop out of the challenge part of the way through. I mean over 1,600 entries... thats alot of entries. I could assume that the judges might prefer a slightly smaller selection to make a final selection from of the winners. But if there were 1,600 entries who finished then in my book all 1,600 would be winners.

Deadlyforce

12-15-2004, 12:22 AM

Hi James !
I must say that I like your last entry and the darkness you gave it !:buttrock:
However It is likely that you can improve your picture by adding some small lights in the darker areas of the node. Plus it would definitelt add some space-opera touch to the whole piece.

Just a thought !

When you awake I'll be happy to see your update !:D

Hasch2o

12-15-2004, 10:13 AM

Hi there

Sorry, I'm a little bit confused. Just wanted to ask when exactly the
"Wabbit Hunting Season" starts, is it before or after the "Medical Experimental
Day with Fluffians". I Just don't want to miss that part ;)

No, serious...if u stopped this challenge it would be a real wabbit-shame!

So shame on you....shame...shame....shame....:D

JamesMK

12-15-2004, 10:37 AM

This is Rumour Control. Here are the facts!

Although it's a great honour to be included in the signature of Fellah, our own cuddly little bastard, I have in fact not quit. I'm just on vacation, sort of. Aaaaaand I'm also expecting a new PC to arrive here in just a few days (Santa baby!), so rather than to continue this 0.1 FPS torture I might as well just wait a little longer and pick up some real speed once that machine is up and running. While this is going on, I have also replaced CGTalk browsing with such nice things as lengthy foam baths, toe-nail cutting, beard trimming, slacking in front of the telly and taking extended walks with the dog.

So, I'm humbled by your concerns... but fear not, as the wabbit shall return with updates in... er... a little while.

terraarc

12-15-2004, 10:42 AM

by JamesMK:
While this is going on, I have also replaced CGTalk browsing with such nice things as lengthy foam baths, toe-nail cutting, beard trimming, slacking in front of the telly and taking extended walks with the dog.
Now that's some good time spending!!:cool: If you can take an extra dog-to-pee walk for me man!! :thumbsup:

Aaaaaand I'm also expecting a new PC to arrive here in just a few days (Santa baby!) hehe, hope that your sock is really BIG!! :beer:

Have a nice day! :wavey:

icedeyes

12-15-2004, 11:09 AM

The lighting and textures are great in the last image and the composition is very nice.... I like it very much.....

DimitrisLiatsos

12-15-2004, 12:34 PM

Aaaaaand I'm also expecting a new PC to arrive here in just a few days (Santa baby!) ...

Tha't is so niiiice to hear....ok ...waiting :bounce:

Lemog

12-15-2004, 12:39 PM

...

Tha't is so niiiice to hear....ok ...waiting :bounce:We died then :banghead:

DimitrisLiatsos

12-15-2004, 01:43 PM

We died then :banghead:......now that u mention it ..YES...true...if he can do all this cool stuff with that coffe machine...think what he will do with the new PC...damn..!

wait Lemog...don't do that alone ..i am coming ...arghh :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

overcontrast

12-15-2004, 02:12 PM

alritey!!... now thats what m talking abt!!... great going buddy, last render looks aweosme...the anchor and wires looks great... keep up the good works... :thumbsup:

ace4016

12-15-2004, 02:19 PM

Good to hear your not quitting, the fluffians need you, and you still diodnt tell us where that other fluffian is. Good thing your trading in your oversized basic function calculator for a computer, now we get to see updates even sooner since you dont have to wait on your scene to move:bounce: .

rattlesnake

12-16-2004, 06:40 AM

waiting will worth it!!...enjoy this time.. and i hope u come back soon with more kick a** art work...have a nice day friend ;)

Aethyrprime

12-16-2004, 08:55 AM

Good to hear you are not out of the running. Your work is to nice to waste on quitting! I hope that machine servers you well because then it will serve us well too ;)

jamacsween

12-16-2004, 10:50 AM

Anchors away!

James, The image is looking really good now and the anchor in the foreground really adds to the image.

Also like the light effect on the node halfway up. Very atmospheric.

Festive Regards

JA

Cartesius

12-16-2004, 12:24 PM

That last render is really great, James! I agree with the rest that the nodes could benefit from some more strategically placed light sources as it's a bit too dark now but I'm sure you have plans for that. And a new PC, you say? Yay! :D

/Anders

jdsb

12-16-2004, 05:34 PM

amazing work man,the proportions and composition is amazing :bowdown:

SuperXCM

12-17-2004, 05:40 PM

Ok... what i can say.... :shrug:

...
...
.......... SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL!!! :bowdown:
I don't know what i can say more... it's amazing man!!
I can't wait for update!!!

Keep going!! :beer:

JamesMK

12-18-2004, 01:01 AM

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1103331697_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1103331697_large.jpg)

Ahem... lots of domestic stuff going on this time of year, so I'll be brief:

Just posting this overview for the layers to be rendered along with a little summary concerning what how much is done and how much remains to be finished.

That aside, I'll hopefully get back with further comments in a few days, but there sure isn't an abundance of free time to sit in front of the PC these days...

shiela_G

12-18-2004, 06:05 AM

those were really nice idea and images. i think the falufians aren't aware what's happening? they are not running. they seem to ignore the huge backhoe. otherwise, its a great WIP, maybe i should read the concept story first. keep up. bye. oh, those information is really useful.

keetmun

12-18-2004, 02:28 PM

Your organising is truly meticulous, and your work is truly amazing. I really do hope to see this one finished, it's definitely worth the time!

Cheers
:buttrock:

dark-elf2

12-19-2004, 04:25 AM

cool
i like this one
anyway keep it up
waiting for more updates

terraarc

12-19-2004, 01:52 PM

Very explenatory image there!! :thumbsup:
So are you gonna sweep this out? I mean work from front to back linearly or going for an ad hoc jupming around layers "meshing things up" again and again... :twisted:

Waiting for updates
:beer:

glim

12-19-2004, 09:38 PM

:applause: :applause:

your final should be very great ...

very good job man

JamesMK

12-20-2004, 12:52 AM

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1103503961_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1103503961_large.jpg)

Seems like the new comp takes a few more days, so I've started some texturing in the meantime.

This is how far I got before the system swapping killed off my patience... Some tweaking remains here before I can move on upwards on the old node thingy.

mr_carl

12-20-2004, 01:38 AM

Looking really great man.:applause:

Carl.

DimitrisLiatsos

12-20-2004, 01:43 AM

Layer post is killing me..very good work thought out. :love:

Last post looks promising..waiting for more before i can say anything friend.....May your new pc be outside your door tommorow morning ;) :wavey:

Lemog

12-20-2004, 07:34 AM

Very profesionnal work man... :thumbsup: I like you vision of lighting !

terraarc

12-20-2004, 07:49 AM

Nice going on texturing! :)

Hope you'll get your little "monster" (poeticly announced...) PC soon!

Kaksht

12-20-2004, 09:39 AM

Hi James!
Welcome back! :)
Now thats what i'm talking about mate :scream: Now those textures are perfect for the ship, they show the right amount of detail and look awesome, thumbs up!

12-20-2004, 02:23 PM

W O W! fantastic! i like new stuff a lot!so beautiful renderings!!!KEEP IT UP!!

DimitrisLiatsos

12-20-2004, 11:57 PM

Well...is it working fine? :D ...u know ...the er...new coffee machine :scream: ...

Come on...are u still setting up preferences in Cinema4D...wanna see the new FPS. :p

Bubble out :bounce:

JamesMK

12-20-2004, 11:59 PM

Yeah, it's running like a hot knife through butter.... Just got all my old files over.... too late to work now though, will wait until tomorrow :thumbsup:

DimitrisLiatsos

12-21-2004, 12:04 AM

We have a good wish for new stuff here in Greece...KALORIZIKO.....means ...may it have good roots and good fortune...er ..in a very free translation :)

JamesMK

12-21-2004, 12:06 AM

Oh, yeah well, the roots look just fine to me :D

KALORIZIKO right back at'ya :beer:

And since the mad OZ is right above here, I'll throw in the usual 'spacca tutto' as well - it's a proud tradition as well.

Larsen

12-21-2004, 12:49 AM

Very promising James, i like your idea and the way you work it... The egine texturing looks good, can't wait to see all those part together on the same image :)

Keep it up dat good work :bounce:

Lemog

12-21-2004, 07:15 AM

Well...is it working fine? :D ...u know ...the er...new coffee machine :scream: ...I found it... this is the new killing coffee 3d machine... of our friend James...

http://lemog.free.fr/divers/pc.jpg

uwil

12-21-2004, 07:31 AM

.........:applause:

flyingP

12-21-2004, 07:43 AM

good while we're at it, I hope thing does a good Xpresso :D

DimitrisLiatsos

12-21-2004, 07:51 AM

...my Capuccino Please :scream: :bounce: ...Goodmorning...

Deadlyforce

12-21-2004, 08:13 AM

Excellent texturing James !:thumbsup:
Maybe you will add some rust in some areas ?

artemesia66

12-23-2004, 11:06 AM

Hey, James. Hope the new machine is awesome.

Thanks for posting your render plan. I've always used C4Ds multi-pass for the different light qualities, but I hadn't really thought about breaking out the different depths of the scene, so I really learned something from that. :thumbsup:

Your textures are looking good. Keep it coming!

ajitmenon

12-23-2004, 09:06 PM

Ve(h)ry, Ve(h)ry,Ve(h)ry nice... (sorry ..too much beer)!!!

but dude... lovely stuff coming along. I love that there;s so much attention to detail involved in your's and so many other posts. Wish I could get there too ... :(

But keep it coming along... I definitely want to see where you get at!
:)

JamesMK

12-23-2004, 10:15 PM

Woah, a V-Twin PC :cool:

Mine's a bit more subtle though......

Guys, guys, guys.... sorry about this, but there's just no time at all to do any work at all these days. I'll be back in a few days, but I also have some VFX work to do for a music video, and that will have to happen before new years eve - so it looks like I'll have to finish up my challenge entry in 2005 instead. Time will be sufficient, so no worries there... Besides, I work better when I'm a bit rushed anyway, so it's all for the better.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you :buttrock:

Squibbit

12-23-2004, 11:19 PM

what music video , for whom ?

DimitrisLiatsos

12-23-2004, 11:28 PM

what music video , for whom ?...

For me! ..with those boots i make ..i decided to hit the DISCO Floors...Travolta step back ..i am coming :D :D

:bounce:

Squibbit

12-23-2004, 11:30 PM

:eek: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!

Lemog

12-24-2004, 07:12 AM

Merry Christmas my friend... I hope to see you nearly... I sure you can finish faster your project before the deadline... you have a lot of force with you :thumbsup:

Climax

12-25-2004, 12:16 AM

• Merry Christmas Wabbit!

terraarc

12-25-2004, 11:05 PM

Just a MERRY CHRISTMAS post!!

Best wishes :)

Russel-Nash

12-27-2004, 03:06 PM

Hey,

You have some really impressive work done here :eek:. I like the Fluffians. :bounce:

Russel

DimitrisLiatsos

12-27-2004, 06:03 PM

psssst... u have to come back u know ...some of us are waiting to tease a wabbit ya know :scream: :bounce:

JamesMK

12-27-2004, 06:37 PM

Oi guys.... I'm really really busy with the other project :hmm: I don't expect to be back on the challenge until after new years eve actually.

Oh, btw, Squibbit: it's a video for a swedish band called 'Fake Moss'... I did some work on their previous video as well, and now it's time for a second go :thumbsup:

DimitrisLiatsos

12-27-2004, 06:45 PM

Good luck man..we 'll be waiting... :bounce:

Squibbit

12-27-2004, 07:11 PM

Oh, btw, Squibbit: it's a video for a swedish band called 'Fake Moss'...
oh I'm just glad it ain't for Dimi *phew*

thanks for the name tho , just listening to the audio takes from their homepage ...
the couple of songs I've heard so far are decent music :)

Climax

12-31-2004, 10:02 AM

••• JAMES, I WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR •••
:bounce: :beer: :bounce:
:buttrock:

I know u are away but anyway, I hope everything goes well with your other project!! :thumbsup:

Lemog

12-31-2004, 10:07 AM

Happy Neay Year 2005 James... for you and your loves ones... and come back quickly... I need to heard something of you... :scream:

http://lemog.free.fr/GSO/bonus/hny2005_ban.jpg

DimitrisLiatsos

12-31-2004, 04:44 PM

oh I'm just glad it ain't for Dimi *phew*....
Squibbit ... U are a little bastard with wings....He is lying ..the video he is working on is for me ...:scream::scream:....hhahahah .....Happy new Year

@ James-WABBIT-Crazy Swidish- Biard Squirrel Killer Punk.....we miss your houmor man..finish that video...u have an entry to finish too...and Happy new year to u and your family...and your dog ! :bounce:

shiela_G

12-31-2004, 06:07 PM

hello James,

i hope you all the best with that endeavor...and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

ace4016

12-31-2004, 08:25 PM

Happy new years James, and hope you get back soon and finish, the fluffians need you.

YasushAzush

12-31-2004, 10:01 PM

hey james where r u .....come back mate .......
happy happy new year:twisted: =$$$

Saschi0815

01-01-2005, 03:39 PM

Happy new year, Mr.WABBIT

Best wishes for the new year. Let the carottes grow:beer::beer::beer:

terraarc

01-01-2005, 11:40 PM

Wishing the best on this year arrived!! :thumbsup:

ps:just a happy new year post.. :)

userBrian

01-03-2005, 09:04 AM

Nice tones on the nodes. Happy new year. C'mon out of your wabbit hole...:)

my GSO 3d entry (http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=179803)

BikiniBottom

01-04-2005, 05:37 PM

very cool concept, want to see the final comp. keep on going, I like it.

JamesMK

01-06-2005, 04:06 PM

Yeah, well, er....

You know the drill. And it's not subject to negotiation this time.

Thanks everybody for your excellent support though, and may your final renders run smoothly like the bottoms of small infants. The fluffians are happy about this though, because it means they will not be massacred by the evil neuronomicon invasion force after all, and can happily continue growing their potatoes in peace.

:buttrock: 'til next time

(oh, and full score to Fellah for realizing this before I even did so myself :D )

PeterSanitra

01-06-2005, 04:08 PM

why is the shadow on the right down engine so wavy and crispy??

miketche

01-06-2005, 06:11 PM

I'm really sorry to hear that. You had such a great concept going. Would still love to see it if you can squeeze it out. :sad:

claudiojordao

01-06-2005, 06:21 PM

Hey James, what is this thing I'm reading here?... You're leaving the challenge? Come man, don't do this to me... I mean... to us. :sad:

Gunilla

01-06-2005, 06:38 PM

Ah - that's really to bad... good luck with your other projects!

mr_carl

01-06-2005, 08:32 PM

Fan vad synd.

I was relly looking frvard to se the endresult of this fluffy storry and now I will never know how it ends :sad:.

Carl.

rattlesnake

01-06-2005, 08:50 PM

whut?.......

whut?.......

ok...friend...u made a great work with this one....is going to be better than some finished ones just like it is!

so cya for the next one...be ready for more action mate!

DimitrisLiatsos

01-07-2005, 03:12 PM

...aaaaarrggghhhhh:eek: .... :sad: :sad: ....but then again my Friend u can finish this and post in gallery section...i am sure that it will be top Quality...and u can work on it with no stress...look at us with our red eyes and shaky hands from too much coffee :D :D

It's a pitty u really had too much potential to go all the way to the top with this!!!...

Be well James... :)

Kaksht

01-07-2005, 03:48 PM

Hey there James. Damn its a shame to see You not finishing this challange... Yours was one of the best here... Still, hope to see it in the finished 3d gallery after the challange.
Good luck to You! :)

Russel-Nash

01-07-2005, 03:58 PM

I am very sorry to hear that. :sad:

Hope to see you again in the next challenge.

Russel

artemesia66

01-07-2005, 05:58 PM

Good news for the Fluffians, bad news for us. Good luck with whatever else you have on the go. :)

flyingP

01-07-2005, 06:01 PM

Good luck with whatever else you have on the go. :)

I believe it is called 'Half Life' if I am not too much mistaken :D

Lemog

01-07-2005, 06:06 PM

:cry: James... you can't do that :banghead:

mistermac

01-07-2005, 06:12 PM

oh noes, and this was shaping up to be a good 'un.

Finish it anyways mate, we'd all love to see the finished piece.

Climax

01-07-2005, 07:54 PM

• Come on James, Lets Finish it, you are almost done, aren't you?

DimitrisLiatsos

01-07-2005, 08:07 PM

I believe it is called 'Half Life' if I am not too much mistaken :D

Don't tell me...ahahahahah :scream: ...now with the new pc he went and bought half -life 2?...hahahahahahhaahha :thumbsup: :thumbsup: ...go get Unreal Tournament 2004..... ;) too :bounce:

taavi

01-07-2005, 08:48 PM

Hope You will finish fluffy villge later :) This is definitely one of the best projects here and fluffians deserve honourable place in cgtalk gallery! :applause: :applause: :applause:

Squibbit

01-07-2005, 10:16 PM

I believe it is called 'Half Life' if I am not too much mistaken :D
ggrrnnaaarrgh , and mine's Silent Storm !!! but I can be without it... i can ...

shiela_G

01-08-2005, 12:31 AM

ohhh! not another unfinish entry! well, that's life. wish you luck.

terraarc

01-08-2005, 06:53 PM

Welll....things happen sometimes that are way stronger than us! :) (Just got my "HL2")

A pity you couldn't rip those fluffians out but.....I bet the fluffians are happy as you said...

In any way waiting for the Fluffians overtake later on CGTalk!! :thumbsup:

fellah

01-08-2005, 07:36 PM

ah shit that's shitty.. but, all bad things bring something good, 2 out of 3 so far.
Dimi, if u quit we can split the money for the 3/3 win, huh?

hoep u finish it sooner or later James. good luck with the other things you're wokring on.

markovicd

01-08-2005, 07:59 PM

ah... :( this is becoming sad... so manny people = quit :(

lukep

01-08-2005, 09:04 PM

I'm :cry:

I still hope you will have time to finish this later. was really one of my favorites entries

ace4016

01-08-2005, 09:18 PM

I hope you finsih this after the challenge is done and you have more time. Wish you could have finished this for the challenge though (unless your just playing a joke on us <- wishful thinking). Hope you get to finish next time.

JamesMK

01-08-2005, 09:28 PM

Squibbit

01-08-2005, 09:51 PM

*ships some coffee and a four leaf clover to bunny* :thumbsup: there u go

ace4016

01-08-2005, 09:53 PM

Nah, no joke I'm afraid. There is a slight chance I might be able to pull off some sort of last-two-days marathon finish thingie here, but that depends a lot on the availability of industrial strength coffee and a huge amount of luck :shrug:
Forget drinking coffee, we need to inject a lot of it straight into yor veins, you'll be full of caffine for months and you'll be able to finish:scream: .

Aethyrprime

01-09-2005, 08:30 AM

Whats the deal with quitting? Man, I hope you have some seriously wonderful things going on to drop the ball on the 1 yard line.... please finish, even if you don't for the contest, this was definantly a great entry!

Cartesius

01-09-2005, 11:17 AM

Too bad you will not be able to finish this one, James, it was one of my favourites. Hope you will continue working on it, though!

/Anders

DimitrisLiatsos

01-09-2005, 01:20 PM

Nah, no joke I'm afraid. There is a slight chance I might be able to pull off some sort of last-two-days marathon finish thingie here, but that depends a lot on the availability of industrial strength coffee and a huge amount of luck :shrug:

Welll if it counts for ya at all...i am hoping for that at least... :bounce: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :bounce:

Your Friendly Bubble..... :bounce:

Squibbit

01-09-2005, 03:08 PM

Forget drinking coffee, we need to inject a lot of it straight into yor veins
yea this werks , good ole trick , i know

tlggungor

01-09-2005, 03:13 PM

great machines.:thumbsup:

wOuld you like to see my 2D Challenge works & CONCEPT DESİNGS

flyingP

01-09-2005, 03:14 PM

yea this werks , good ole trick , i know

explains your avatar at least squibbit :)

PeterSanitra

01-09-2005, 03:33 PM

I like the layers layout concept. Very nice. Now the shadow on engines is much sharper, darker, better.

Squibbit

01-09-2005, 03:45 PM

explains your avatar at least squibbit :)
found out,hehehe

jddog

01-11-2005, 04:30 PM

Sad to know that... your work was really excellent... anyway you have all my support :thumbsup:

jdd

tlggungor

01-17-2005, 12:19 PM

Good luck :scream: :thumbsup: :applause:

Saschi0815

01-17-2005, 02:40 PM

Hi James, whats goin' on??? what a wonderful entry and what sad ending near the finishing line....No,no I can't accept that....Is no chance more to do a final???

bbuuuuuaaaaäääääääääääähhhhhhh,please change your mind, mate:bounce: :banghead: :wip:

...best wishes, man, take care!

DimitrisLiatsos

01-17-2005, 02:54 PM

Indeed ....Saschi0815 is right..but i think my friend tha he must have a greater and very good reason no to continue on this..although i hope he will continue this piece....:bounce:

flyingP

01-17-2005, 03:40 PM

but i think my friend tha he must have a greater and very good reason no to continue on this

busy hiding under the bed as I understand it :wise:

and WTF is going on with this server?? :banghead:

DimitrisLiatsos

01-17-2005, 03:44 PM

:curious:...curious to leran more..hmmm ..c'mon Watson ..we have a mystery to solve...(lights his Pipe on the way out :D)

flyingP

01-17-2005, 03:48 PM

the answer lies in Squibbits thread Sherlock

JamesMK

01-17-2005, 10:03 PM

Once upon a time there was an englishman, an american and a japanese guy who all ended up on an otherwise uninhabited island in the south pacific.

- I wanna be the president of this here island, said the american.

- Well, the I want to be the prime minister, said the englishman.

The japanese guy couldn't make up his mind about what he wanted to be though, and the englishman suggested that he could simply be in charge of the supplies. He happily accepted this, and everyone went on with their business.

After a few days it was apparent that the japanese had somehow disappeared. Neither the englishman or the american had seen him around. But then, as they were strolling down the beach, the japanese suddenly jumps out from behind a tree and screams:

- Supplies!!

JamesMK

01-17-2005, 10:05 PM

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1105999547_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1105999547_large.jpg)

I rendered three layers here:

1. The foreground with the closeup node and the fluffians. All this in multipass mode to give me access to all lights separated on individual layers in the resulting PSD-file along with several alpha channels for the layer masks.

2. The mid and background layer with the far-away nodes and stuff

3. Some pyrocluster steam/smoke for the engine exhaust/vapor thingie

JamesMK

01-17-2005, 10:09 PM

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1105999787_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/3764/3764_1105999787_large.jpg)

Well, here it is.

Had a few moments to spare tonight, and it felt really wrong to celebrate my fourth consecutive challenge with a non-completed entry - so I gave it a final push.

I had so much more planned for this, but somehow it feels better to join the happy bunch of challengers with a final image posted :)

All the best to all ye weirdos out there!

flyingP

01-17-2005, 10:09 PM

jdsb

01-17-2005, 10:51 PM

very nice camera placement.One of the images that is stronger in concept and overall execution...goodluck

fellah

01-17-2005, 11:18 PM

hahaha shit, I missed my "bet" the last hours! only 1 out of 3..
I'm still happy though. it's great to see you finished it and over my expectations, well done james.

lukep

01-17-2005, 11:38 PM

it's a pity you could not do more.

But the pics is already very, very good. I like it :applause:

DimitrisLiatsos

01-18-2005, 12:25 AM

SUPPLIES ! u little fluffian owrk :scream::bounce::bounce:.......WELL DONE....u finally owrked on this and gave us a SUPPLIES ...:D...oh u are in deep shit with this joke..hahahahah

Well done James...

JamesMK

01-18-2005, 12:34 AM

Mwaaahaa!

Well, just to balance things a bit, here's a joke about a swede instead:

A swedish road-worker was hired to paint the line that goes down the center of the road.
The first day he managed to paint 2 kilometers, and his boss was very pleased. The next day he only painted 200 meters, but his boss thought that he'd probably started off too hard on the first day.

But on the third day he was only able to paint 20 meters. The boss called him into the office and demanded an explanation.
- "Well, you see it's getting so darn far to walk all the way to the paint bucket,"

DimitrisLiatsos

01-18-2005, 12:38 AM

AHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA......this joke really had a SUPPLIES ending...hhahaha

markw7

01-18-2005, 12:41 AM

My god, something kind of subtle from you. It's actually kind of sublime (whatever that means). Nice!

JamesMK

01-18-2005, 12:45 AM

- - - It's actually kind of sublime (whatever that means) ---
Not sure, but I think it's another word for 'lame' :D

rattlesnake

01-18-2005, 12:50 AM

hi James...im happy u decided to finish this one...are u planning to add more things in a near future?

well any way...you always have a special touch in your works and rock the house everytime u show up in a challenge!...well done James...cya in the next one!

markw7

01-18-2005, 12:52 AM

"inhibited, suppressed, repressed" -- yes, that's what I meant, you're work is always so inhibited and repressed!

wait, no, that's "sublimation", nevermind

JamesMK

01-18-2005, 12:56 AM

rattlesnake - Theoretically I could come back to it and add the missing bits, but I know myself well enough to say that it probably won't happen :D

markw7 - Whatever... I've got a pretty good idea, and I like that comment actually. Sublime as opposed to way-too-much-in-your-face... It's all good. :thumbsup:

ace4016

01-18-2005, 01:17 AM

It looks good for an unfinished finidhed entry. Hope to see the fluffians once again after this horrible event (but they should be use to it).

keetmun

01-18-2005, 02:11 AM

Jeez! That's one hell of an image....really like the lighting on this one. Cheers!
:thumbsup:

vrf

01-18-2005, 03:20 AM

James,

Great idea and composition. I think your attention to the angle and camera placement is one of the best in this challenge. I like the toon feel, too. Congrats on finishing, and good luck in the judging.

Can't wait to see this printed in Expose 3.

Vance

Climax

01-18-2005, 06:13 AM

• James, u know? I dropped by to tell you are a desertor...and I find This???, Were you waiting until the final?
I am glad u finished anyway:thumbsup: :thumbsup: and with honors and eye candy...
...but I also believe you should change your avatar for a rat :D
CONGRATULATONS!!

flyingP

01-18-2005, 07:56 AM

Not sure, but I think it's another word for 'lame' :D

no that's the new avatar :p

Lemog

01-18-2005, 07:58 AM

I'm so happy James... finally... you make your come back... with a strong manier... :thumbsup:

I like your picture... you keep the spirit of the wip... that's a so good thing... Fluffians for president :banghead:

Damn... an another great challenger here... that will be harder for us now... :scream: Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....

Well... Good luck to you wabbitMan... :bounce:

taavi

01-18-2005, 08:38 AM

Hi James!
i am really glad U made it!

Impressive comeback :applause: :applause: !

gpepper

01-18-2005, 08:41 AM

Wow great image ! One of my favourite ! A great thanks to you ! You give us a great final !

terraarc

01-18-2005, 10:01 AM

WOW man! You final made it! :thumbsup: Glad to see those elements glued together on such a complete scene!

It was a real pleasure lurking around your thread.....quite some time I got some "WOW" and inspiration also some great laughs! Nice watching and knowing you through these 3 months....:)

Best wishes on your entry! :)

JamesMK

01-18-2005, 10:11 AM

ace4016 - Maybe they'll show up again somewhere... I'll resume work on my short again in a week or so, and they might be included...

keetmun - Thanks, I'm glad the lighting works... that's actually one thing that wasn't rushed since I had it set up already before christmas

vrf - Thanks a lot :thumbsup:

Climax - Well, I'd rather be a rat than a deserter :D

flyingP - Hmm... at least it's not a pig :p

Lemog - Lets wish us both good luck (and everyone else of course)

taavi - Thanks

gpepper - You're welcome :D

terraarc - If I have indeed induced some 'wows', laughs and even inspiration I'm more than happy about my work here :beer:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

.:: DE-BRIEFING ::.

What happened: Y'all remember christmas, right? Well, two days after christmas eve I started working on some VFX for a music video, as I mentioned. Not unexpectedly, this took more time than planned. Aside from that, I had no less than three games for my new PC and additionally my bastard brother gave me a PS2 with GTA Vice city for christmas, and I guess you can simply do the math there....

Once I got the impulse to haul my ass back to the GSO entry, I just couldn't make myself open the files even. Too much time had passed between me and the last time I touched the nodes and fluffians... Usually I like to stay in "the flow" by working on a project every single day, at least for a few hours - but this time I totally lost contact with this.

During the last few days, I've been peeking at the countdown on the submission page... going from 5 days left... nah, it can wait.... 4 days.... sheesh, I don't feel like it.... 3 days... hmm... I can still do it.... 2 days - - - Not until it said "5 hours, 30 minutes" I got an irresistible urge to finish it off :D

So, there you have it.

Thanks yet again to all of you following my progress, posters and lurkers alike, and best of luck to all ye challengers waiting for the final voting and jury decisions :beer:

arturro

01-18-2005, 10:17 AM

:bounce:

I'm happy to see that you've finished! Your flufians are most pleasant creatures here:) Maybe only fellah's dudes make my smile a bit bigger:) You made a nice end in a such a short time. Congratulations! I wish you best

Squibbit

01-18-2005, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by JamesMK
Once upon a time there was an englishman, an american and a japanese guy who all ended up on an otherwise uninhabited island in the south pacific.

- I wanna be the president of this here island, said the american.

- Well, the I want to be the prime minister, said the englishman.

The japanese guy couldn't make up his mind about what he wanted to be though, and the englishman suggested that he could simply be in charge of the supplies. He happily accepted this, and everyone went on with their business.

After a few days it was apparent that the japanese had somehow disappeared. Neither the englishman or the american had seen him around. But then, as they were strolling down the beach, the japanese suddenly jumps out from behind a tree and screams:

- Supplies!!

LMAO

hey most cool that u finished your pic ! looks good :thumbsup:

Gunilla

01-18-2005, 10:42 AM

Glad to see you found time to finish - it turned out really good - congrats!

A real nice supplies! :)

flaeticia

01-18-2005, 11:29 AM

your image is very representative! I like so much! Cheer!:thumbsup:

Cartesius

01-18-2005, 11:42 AM

Hey, you made it! Congratulations! For a rush job it really turned out good. Maybe a bit too dark/dull but I'm totally impressed that you pulled it off and with such a great image!

Hur kul som helst :)

/Anders

Kaksht

01-18-2005, 11:56 AM

Heyhey hey, look whose joined the party! :) Congrats mate on finishing, heh, nice image btw :applause:

jddog

01-18-2005, 11:58 AM

:buttrock: yessss what I discover... you post the final haaaa.... :bounce: excellent !!!

congrats nitro wabbit is really a cool image... not a probs that is a finished unfinished works, image rocks !!! :applause:

jdd

blackdragoncg

01-18-2005, 11:58 AM

I like the image you have made here it looks very deep.Good work :thumbsup: and good luck!

Saschi0815

01-18-2005, 11:58 AM

Okidoki, the wabbit is hopping again...:bounce: is this a final unfinalized final or a finished finalized one or an in between finalized unfinished one... ???
I love it from the beginning,.. and yes especially the japanese flair of the fluffian houses ;-)))

....and as Lemog mentioned: another hardcore(d) artist......aaaahh i feel small, no, smaller ....anyway- really a powerful, amazing work as always:applause:

best wishes, mate for all u wish for and certainly the voting:buttrock:

JamesMK

01-18-2005, 12:01 PM

arturro - Glad you like it, and yeap, Fellah's definitely grabs the first slot for funny characters :D (which includes many of the posters in his thread as well incidently)

Squibbly thingie - Thanx mate... I'm really happy to have it over and done with

Gunilla - Yep, a final supplies was in order me thinks

flaeticia - Good to hear, tres bon!

Cartesius - Yeah, but then it turned out that the deadline was extended... but there's no way I'm fixing anything now :D Agree with the dark/dull point, but I figure it's needed to illustrate how depressing this day was for the fluffian civilisation :lightbulb

Kaksht - Yep, couldn't let all you guys party on without me :D

jddog - Thanks buddy, considering the circumstances, I'm satisfied with the result.

blackdragoncg - Thanks a lot. I like that comment a lot.

Saschi0815 - It's officially a unfinished finalized finished image.... Whatever that means :scream: And you have absolutely no reason whatsoever to feel small here... Your work has been top notch from start to finish, dude.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

.:: some more thoughts ::.

I really have to say that it seems that once again this challenge has been the greatest of learning experiences. Perhaps I learned most by watching Fellah and m@ working through the pre-visualization phase in a very effective way, and I've humbly adapted this workflow myself - focusing on the big picture using simple proxies and/or low-poly representations of the final objects and taking care of the overall scene layout in an early stage of the work.

For this particular entry I could have started the previs even earlier, since I did actually complete the nodes before moving on to the layout.... but that's something to remember for my next projects to come. This approach makes it really easy to set up and tweak lights and everything, and it ensures that all efforts contribute to the final result instead of miniscule things that in the end do not add anything to the image.

In fact, there's no way I could have made this rush finish in less than five hours if I had not already set up the scene and lights the way I did during the lengthy layout phase of my WIP phase.

So, my special thanks and appreciation go out to Fellah and m@ for showing their superior workflow (I'm sure there are other who have worked the same way of course, but I fear that there are zillions of threads I haven't been following that closely).