Enchanted Forest - Environment - benhaines

[Clanger]

Hi, Benhaines
I agree, the way those trees make a kind of tunnel should look great.
Keep that focal point away from the centre though.

[benhaines]

Hi Clanger...

I guess this is where a proper art education would help... can you briefly explain why that is bad? Does it have something to do with image composition... is having things in the center bad?

I guess I could make the path move slightly off to one of the corners.... maybe start off center aswell.

Thank you for the comments, Ben

[KOryH]

IMHO there is nothing bad with having the focal point in the center. People do it all the time. However, there are definite physiological implications. Take Kubrick’s The Shining, for example, the vanishing point is always in the dead center of the screen, through out the entire film. It starts being kind of creepy. But, if used in moderation and with a nicely balance composition it can create a feeling of stability and calmness.
If you want to have it feel like the trees are tall and creating a ceiling or tunnel lower the horizon to the lower third. That will be just fine.
I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

[Clanger]

A long established rule for composition is to split your painting into approx thirds, top, bottom, left, right. This makes 4 points on the picture, on one of these put your main area of interest which also should have the highest contrast. Darkest dark, lightest light, most vivid colour etc.
On one of the others you can put a secondary area of interest.

I'd guess 90% of all the worlds great paintings follow this rule.

But, rules can be broken. Just know your doing it and why.

[benhaines]

Thanks KOryH

I will tinker around and see what looks best! I'm looking forward too... its been along time since I have had time (well after finals) to play around with graphics :D .

I really like your entry BTW, absolutely amazing. Do you use a Wacom?

Later Ben

[KOryH]

No prob. Listen to Clanger as well. Though the golden mean is a better porportion to shot for. a ratio of 1:1.618... is very hypnotic
mmmmm... golden mean...


BTW I thought that your name sounded familiar. I check out preset central all the time, it is a great service and lightwave forum.
and yes I do use a wacom, it would be difficult not to.

[benhaines]

Aha one of our members... thank you! I have devoted most of my spare time to that project... stay tuned there are several cool things coming up over the summer (version 2.0 + a few other goodies). Anyway enough about PSC... :p

I have taken on board (both of you) what you have said and come up with this. I have tried give the path some variation rather than simply being straight....

I might even, when the scene is complete, try a fish eye like version to give the full effect of the environment.

Thanks for all your comments, Ben

http://www.mobdict.co.uk/3d/forestbase.jpg

[benhaines]

small improvement over the last image.... I think the left hand corner will have a large old tree that draws the focus of the image.

http://www.mobdict.co.uk/3d/forestbase01.jpg

[benhaines]

On the same trip I took this photo.... Not sure modelling it is going to be easy but time will tell... once done I'll place it on the left hand corner on top of the slop and having it towering over the road.

http://www.mobdict.co.uk/3d/tree00.jpg

Later Ben

[KOryH]

WOW that's a cool looking tree! I would love to see someone model that. I wouldn't know where to begin.

[Oxy]

is it real? :eek:

[benhaines]

Yes, you can visit it in Sundridge Kent, South East England :cool:

[benhaines]

Mmmh doing the trees is going to take ages with my current method... so the hunt for a plugin begins! Any ideas?

I am currently using Magic Bevel to model the trees hand by hand :annoyed:

http://www.mobdict.co.uk/3d/tree01.jpg

This is going to be a long one :thumbsup:

Ben

[benhaines]

Absolutely no idea where this is going... kind of gone off on a tangent! But I like it so I'm posting it anyway.... :p

http://www.mobdict.co.uk/3d/forestbase04.jpg

PS: I have come to the conclusion that I will have to model all the trees and leaves by hand :thumbsdow , unless somebody has any other suggestion.

Later Ben

[AJ]

I like the overall look of it already. :D

I would love to see that beast of a tree modelled too! That's one fine looking lump of wood!

[MikaelPersson]

Looks like you´ve cut the perspective a bit. But it might also be due to the fact that it´s quite hard to judge just from one tree.
Am I right? Or am I totally missing something.

[benhaines]

I've cut the perspective? What do you mean? Cheers Ben

[MikaelPersson]

I´ll try to explain. In your photo there´s quite a lot of depth, it stretches far off into the distance. In your latest render it looks like you´ve cut off that distance with the bend. (clearer? if not I´ll try again :) )

[benhaines]

Hi Michael,

I see what you mean, to be truthfull my enchanted forest has moved away slightly from the original photo, although I will still try to recreate the towering trees over the pathway. I added a bend and some variation to make it a bit more interesting :p (hopefully)

I think I might have two versions, one with a sunset coming through the forest and one in total darkness with a "magical" light coming from around the bend that will light up the inside of the pathway and trees.

Thank you for your comments, Ben

[leigh]

Hey Ben :)
Looking good, I like your concept too :thumbsup:
That tree is awesome :eek: I hope your model comes out just like it :bounce: It will be a great one to texture too!
I like the idea of the darkened forest with the magical light :thumbsup:

ummm by the way *in a small voice* I put a lot of effort into this forum too.....
:cry: :cry:

[MikaelPersson]

What do you mean Leigh? Has anyone questioned your amount of effort?
You´re probably the only one almost everyone knows about.

[benhaines]

Sorry Leigh only just realised that you were a moderator (recently been given the responsability??). Naturally a big thank you to you toooo :love: ... Also want to thank you for your great texturing series... one of my main weaknesses is texturing and I'm using Lightwave aswell!

Later Ben

[leigh]

Heheheh I actually wasn't whining (Mikael P.) :p Am I really that famous? :surprised
Hey Ben, I've been moderating this forum for a couple of months :) But I'm pretty low profile about it :p
Glad you are enjoying my texturing series, now you will have no excuse for anything but BRILLIANT TEXTURING!!!!
Lightwave rules :buttrock:

[MikaelPersson]

Heheheh I actually wasn't whining (Mikael P.) Am I really that famou
Good, good. Well I guess, but I can only judge from my point of view.

[leigh]

Mikael - ta det lugnt! Jag hata folk att gnälla också :annoyed:
Och fantastisk!! Kanske är jag nu berömd!! :bounce:

[MikaelPersson]

oj, det visste jag inte. Hur kommer det sig att du har studerat svenska?

[benhaines]

Me no understand! :annoyed:

[leigh]

Ben - don't worry, we aren't gossiping about you! :p

Mikael - jag har aldrig studerat svenska, men i unga år jag har lyssna på mycket Svenska musik som Gyllene Tider...
Jag älskar den Svenska språk, och eftersom ska jag resa på Sverige på nyåren, ska jag min Svensk träna ;)

[MikaelPersson]

Fantastiskt att du lärt dig så bra svenska bara av att lyssna på musik härifrån. :eek:

[leigh]

Heheheh tack :thumbsup: :)

[benhaines]

can we talk 3d again? Leigh, what do you think is the best way to texture a tree?

Ben

[leigh]

Hmmmm the best way to texture a tree....
:surprised
Ummm they are a real pain in some place that is really annoying to have a pain in.
I guess the best way to do it is to do a UV unwrap - if your tree is more or less cylindrical, then use a cylindrical unwrap, otherwise, use Atlas.
Once you have your unwrap, then unweld all the points, edit and arrange your UV co-ordinates until they are workable, then reweld your points, export to Photoshop and start painting! I know that's what I am going to do for mine... ;)

BTW - Which version of Lightwave are you using? Because in the older versions, UV editing was a really annoying thing to do.

The actual texture will really depend on what kind of trees they are - you know what I mean - some trees are very smooth, others very rough...

Alternatively.....

..... you could use procedurals. But remember, procedurals must be carefully worked with if you don't want them to look cack. That means layers, masks, etc to get the right effect. Also, I would always recommend that you don't use procedurals just by themselves. The best results usually come from a combination of both. Although, because a tree is a real arse to unwrap, I'm sure it would probably be easier to use procs exclusively.
:surprised
It's really up to you....

Do some tests and post the results! :bounce:

[benhaines]

Phewwww! One exam done (Strategic Information Management :annoyed: ) 3 to go :bounce: :bounce:

Anyway thought I would give myself a break from revision so I played around with the texture of the main path. Hope you like it! Might add some more bits under the main bank on the left :hmm:

http://www.mobdict.co.uk/3d/forestbase05.jpg

[benhaines]

And another!

http://www.mobdict.co.uk/3d/forestbase06.jpg

[benhaines]

Lo peeps

Done my finals so I'm back in the game!

I went to sunny Kent again an re-visited that tree I posted a picture of.

I have uploaded a collection of snaps I took, hope they are some use to you all...
http://www.presetcentral.com/temp/trees/trees.jpg

http://www.presetcentral.com/temp/trees/trees.html

Later Ben

[Clanger]

Incredible tree photos, where did you take them? I live in Surrey, maybe worth a visit if it's not too far.

Glad your back, would really like to see an update soon.

[benhaines]

Hey Clanger

In Sundridge near Sevenoaks! I could give you exact directions if you want...

Later Ben

[Clanger]

Looks about 15 miles away but seems to be completely devoid of railway stations and I'm without transportation at the moment. Never mind probably a bit extreme to go that far just to look at a tree!

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