Grand Space Opera 3D Entry: Emanuel F. Raimundo

[Manoo77]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1101267782_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1101267782_large.jpg)

Hi everyone. I'm relatively new to CGTalk, and I haven't even submitted any images of any kind, but when I saw the subject of this challenge, I knew I had to create something...
So, I took a deep breath, and came up with an idea that is probably a BIG stretch, but hey, I'll try it and you'll let me know what you think of it, ok?

Imagine, on some alternate universe, some sort of Earth-like planet, whose inhabitants discover that their sun is dying. Knowing that this will destroy their planet, they, instead of just fleeing in their spaceships, decide to literally "save the planet". They build gigantic magnetic rings enclosing their planet, and, in desperation, try to tow it using a gigantic amount of specially developed ships equipped with towing cables...

Now i know the science in this is all wrong, not to mention ridiculous, but will try to go for an alternate reality, quasi-cartoon feel, to compensate for this.

That said, here is my first sketch, featuring all the elements mentioned above...

[Manoo77]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1101268530_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1101268530_large.jpg)

Ok, here's another sketch, this time it's just the tow ship, slightly different from the previous one.
I think I will now start trying to work it out in 3d, as my drawing skills don't allow me to sketch much further :)

[Teapot-7]

> Now i know the science in this is all wrong, not to mention ridiculous, but will try to go for an alternate reality, quasi-cartoon feel, to compensate for this.

There's no real fixed definition of Space Opera - just looking around this contest that becomes pretty clear - but in my eyes, part of it is being a lot larger than life, sometimes to the point of being a bit silly. So if real opera is allowed to elephants on stage, and rather large women in their 50's playing lovestruck teenagers, then you're allowed to drag a planet or two around!

Best of luck with it!

[joana]

Good luck!

Can't wait to see this. ;)

[Rui_Padinha]

Welcome Manoo!

I must say that I was finding your lack of faith disturbing, but I'm really glad to see that you finally decided to present us with your visions :)

It may be a little far fetched, but hey... so are smoldering asteroids and explosions in the void, but what matters imho is the fun factor mixed with a good "suspension of disbelief" management...

Do try to keep the number of ships within the limits of good sense, or at least within the limits of MAX overall stability, ok?

Heróis do maaar, nobre povo nação valente e imoraaal!... er, imortal, IMORTAL! :thumbsup:

See ya mate!

[overcontrast]

i think u got nice imagination and ur first skatch has came up well... hope to c more of ur works soon. Welcoem to the challange and best of luck mate.... :thumbsup:

[Manoo77]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1101617195_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1101617195_large.jpg)

Ok, so here's my first test with 3d models for this concept...
As you can see, there is some shading and lighting here also, but that is just because I couldn't help myself ;) However, those are all temporary, so I consider this to be part of the modeling process... and even the models are just a starting point, the closest tow ship will of course be detailed, the magnetic rings have just been "greebled" to give you the general idea.

[Manoo77]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1101617734_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1101617734_large.jpg)

Ok, same as before, slightly different point of view. I'd like to know which one of the two you prefer...
Maybe in this one things are better arranged, from top to bottom, left to right, we get: the threat of the dying sun, the ring-enclosed planet, and the massive towing fleet.
Now I think I'll start detailing the models a bit...

[Manoo77]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1101622699_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1101622699_large.jpg)

Actually, before I go on with the modeling, I think this little planet shader test deserved a post of its own...
This was a test of mine, I was trying to make a fully procedural alternate-earth texture, just so I could alter the shape of the continents with just a few clicks.
Tell me what you think of it.

[Grey]

Emanuel,

Consider that the topic is big, so have you considered using a very wide angle focal length for the image?

I submit that it might be better to move your main tow ship (which I think is your topic) closer to the camera (or vice versa) and set the focal length to 35mm (or even 30mm), which will give everything a sense of bigness... Just a thought :D

BTW, I like the angle on the first render rather than the second.

[andreasrocha]

Yo Manoo

Looking good.

I agree with Grey, you should move one of the spaceships closer to the camera, like you did in your sketch. The alignment of the towcable with with one of the rings in your first camtest works pretty well, giving it a strong sense of direction. Perhaps you could explore this further.

About the "sun" in the back (looks more like a planet)...I think you should display it as a whole and not cropped as you did. Like this you have the feeling that it is really close, too close. If you could locate it somwhere in the third upper right corner of your image, in a state of expansion/explosions and much smaller it would work better, I think.

The ships and their array don't quite work in my opinion. They are all pulling the planet at the same point. I think their action would look more "solid" and believable if their towcables were attached to the whole ring, rather than just a single point on it.

Very good work on the "procedural" planet. The clouds look amazing. The structure around the planet also looks great.

Looks promising...keep up the good work.

[Rui_Padinha]

Hey Manoo!

You're certainly getting somewhere here, the sense of scale is really starting to show...

As for crits, I couldn't agree more with what Andi said previously, these are all points you should consider carefuly imho.

As for the planet shader I had the chance to check it out previously, it's turning out really nice, but I think it still lacks the chaotic detail of real "earth" features... now you now I'm also a biiiig fan of procedurals, but imho there are kinds of detail that you just can't get that way... to mimic the irregular detail and color of landmasses you should really use some bitmaps.

You could, however, use sample bitmaps to create certain types of detail and distribute them dinamically using procedural masks, you'd get the best of both worlds this way, with rich detailed textures with precise placement control...

The clouds are shaping up really nice, but I think you should definetley give them more volume and use a falloff map to darken them in the centre. The water could be a little darker in the centre as well imho...

Who said virtual terraforming was easy? But it sure is fun...

Keep it up mate :thumbsup: !

[madmatt]

really sorry to do this but take a look at my submission for this challenge, I know you have a different design but the basic concept is identical.. sorry..

[Manoo77]

Madmatt, about the similarity of our base concepts...

First of all, I hope you believe me when I honestly say that I had NO IDEA of your thread when I started mine, that it was pure coincidence! But then again, on a world-wide challenge, maybe it is not that difficult for two people to have the same idea, right?

But after seeing how your aproach is very different from mine (nice idea with the solar sails, by the way), I am hoping it is ok with you that I also keep working on my submissions.

I think this is only awkward because we both thought we had an original concept, something fresh and new, and now there are two of us working from the same base idea...

Also, considering that there are so many people doing great images based on the same concepts (battles, invasions, etc), is it that bad that there are 2 guys trying to save 2 different planets?

I hope it's ok with you, madmatt...

[Manoo77]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1101957817_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1101957817_large.jpg)

Just a small update, based on some suggestions from Grey and Andreas...
Thanks, guys!

[madmatt]

Hi there, wasn't a problem your right with a worldwide creative there are bound to be similarities just thought it was interesting when I read your concept as it so reminded me of mine.. no probs will keep an eye on your progress can't wait to see the final image.

Just looking at your design think that a slight variety of ship would be a good thing some refueling ships or provisions transports from the planet to the flock.. reminds me of some of the early painting based on aviation with boats being pulled through the air by huge flocks of birds..

matt

[arturro]

Very nice! I have an idea... in my opinion it would look more dramatic/dynamic and real, id thee were some a litle bit smaller rings in side, which would be rotating(so that the motion blur is seen). It would make an impression of generating some magnetic field that holds the planet.

[d-tox]

looks cool man:)

[jddog]

Really like your concept and how this come out until now.... keep it up :wip:

jd

[Manoo77]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1103218850_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1103218850_large.jpg)

Hi everyone. Long time no post, I know.
You see, I was getting kind of stuck on the ship, until madmatt's suggestion about refueling ships (thanks btw, I'm still trying to figure out where to put and how to draw them), gave me the idea for the "under-belly" tank, which also makes them look more boat-like (my original intention).
Once again, I couldn't stop myself, so I also ended up tweaking the lights a lot, and even adding some minor post fx. Tell me what you think of the general color mood now...

And arturro, I liked your rotating rings ideia, but didn't think they'd fit the overall sense of scale. Besides, the shape defined by the rings is an ancient navigational instrument from the Portuguese Discoveries era, called "Esfera Armilar", so extra rings would also spoil the effect...

Thanks everyone for your commments, they were the incentive I needed to keep going!

[andreasrocha]

Manoo ma man! Espectáculo!

Looking much better! The red lighting really works great and dramatic and the overall colorscheme is great. Try to keep with it. And the glow of the sun around the rim of the planet looks great...really hot and menacing. The spaceship and its hull also looks fantastic...and the way it is silhouetted against the cables in the back works to your advantage. However I think you could bring the spaceship closer to the viewer.

You could introduce some different ships to the whole "spacedance"...it looks a bit too monotonous like this. Kind of like the final scene of "The Empire Strikes Back". Perhaps there should be some accompanying military spaceships...or maintenance ships...or a big MacDonald's (I don't know!)...

Continua man...tás no bom caminho!

[Manoo77]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1103599810_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1103599810_large.jpg)

Ok, some minor tweaks to the exausts, and the overall distribution of the tow fleet...

[Manoo77]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1103600047_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/7/5315/5315_1103600047_large.jpg)

Same as before, but I started playing in the perspective viewport, and came up with this more extreme angle, tell me what you think...

[Kaksht]

Hi Emanuel!
Prety nice image You have here! The last view is certainly better then the other, it has more close up on the ship and is more concentrated on the whole fleeing thing. Now couple of crits. First imo You should make those two space ships that are near the camera with better detail level. And the textures of things that are clearly seen by the camera should be bigger. Cause the final render is gonna be a big one and ships with small amount of details arent gonna look prety.
Regards man, great job and excelent idea!

[melkao]

wow man...i never seen an idea most original than yours. IS the first time that i see the people saving the planet like this.carring it).
congratulations:beer:

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