completely agree with this, especially the scuffing up.
looking really really good tho. top work fella
DWIII - 3D - Swizzle - Pyre
Firerbert
#149
Come on Swizz! You can totally push this guy further! I know you can! It looks great now, but I agree with taking your textures to the next step and making a huge impact!
Swizzle
#150
bostlund:
I’m definitely going to be using the lava pedestal for the final image, but I’m going to be adding some gold around the rim to make it look a little more tidy.
RaresHalmagean:
Since I still have several days until the deadline, I’m probably going to be cleaning up the textures and pushing a few of the smaller details to make them really pop. I’ll add a bit more scratches to a few of the larger, bare areas. I was actually planning on putting areas on the metal that were red hot, but it really doesn’t work very well because right now it’s just the stuff under the armor that glows and it breaks the continuity to have stuff on the outside glowing as well.
XTitan:
The only image I posted from Polyviewer+ was the one in post 137, so don’t think I’ve been able to achieve these results with it. Polyviewer+ does specular highlights, not true reflections.
You can get the program here and there’s a thread on Polycount about it here.
DaezD:
Thanks.
Firerbert:
Other than adding some scratches, I’m really having a hard time thinking of what I could do to the textures to make them better. There’s already so much going on with the highlights and the trim, the glowing areas, the floating text, I’m just not sure if I could do much more without it becoming totally unreadable.
Swizzle
#151
Decided that I didn’t really like the additional scratches and stuff, so I submitted everything today.
The winning pose image:
The beauty render:
Everything in chronological order with some comments:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/81026017@N00/sets/72157604331882436/
Firerbert
#153
Looks really great swiz. Nice and clean. I love the glows. To be honest, I was hoping the text would be a little smoother and pronounced, but it is still a great effect. My one wish is that you would have spent more time on the pedestal, and that’s just a personal preference. I totally hear where you were coming from and applaud you for sticking to your guns on keeping it simple to avoid character detraction. Again, that’s just me on beefing up the pedestal; it would have been sweet. So it’s all up and submitted on the game artisans site? i’ll go check it out! Best of luck to you man!
Swizzle
#154
Thanks, guys.
Firebert:
I don’t think there’s any place you can see the submitted entries yet. If I’ve read the judging page correctly, all the submitted entries will be available for viewing shortly after the contest is over.
Firerbert
#155
You are right, and now I’m pissed, so can you put them up here for us or are you going to hold out for a while?
Swizzle
#156
Check out that last link in the post with the images. I knew I should’ve put the link above the images.
Firerbert
#157
Well damn! Forgive my partial blindness. I was just too blown away to notice the 2pt Verdana text.
hakanpersson
#158
Kudos to all the special effects, such as all the fire, glows and the text. Very good job done, even thought I would personally prefer more scratches and imperfections on the armor.
My only question is if the normalmap really produce 100% accurate result? On some places it looks only smoothed normals without any normalmap. Minor flaw, thought every bit is useful in this contest:)
RahMorais
#159
good job mate! dont know why but it reminded me of mario galaxy, think its cuz the shadders you´ve used! nevertheless, very well done!
good luck!
Swizzle
#160
hakanpersson:
I know what you mean about both the scratches and normal map. I decided against doing scratches because, while it might look kinda neat, it would just add too much visual noise to something that’s already bordering on difficult to look at.
The normal map in this case doesn’t do much more than add definition to things that need it, like bits of armor that have curves and creases that aren’t actually there in the low-poly geometry. It’s strongest on the arms and legs where I used Crazybump to add a lava texture, and that’s the way I want it. I didn’t want to go overboard with insane little details because they’d just detract, in my opinion, from the end result.
[b] rart[/b]:
That would be the rim lighting, methinks. I have a bit of gradient on there based on incidence angle so it's lighter around the edges. It's something that lots of games (like Mario Galaxy, Half-Life 2: Ep 2, Call of Duty 4, etc.) are doing these days. It makes things pop out from their background a bit and can, if you do it really subtly, simulate peach fuzz on skin.
Overall, I’m satisfied with how this came out. I’m well aware of the various criticisms that could be madeespecially those involving adding more wear and tear or burn marks or other details. However, I’ve submitted all my final images. It’s finished, even with its imperfections and such, and I’m not going to be working on it further. Thanks for all the kind words, criticisms, critiques, everything.
Good luck to all with your entries. See you all at the judging!
andy6308AAA
#162
Swizzle
#164
It’s my name and “CGSociety - Society of Digital Artists” in a font that’s kind of difficult to read.
RahMorais
#165
nice man, thanks for the explanation 
btw, I just visited your flickr page and found out that you were using this polyviewer soft, I downloaded that but everytime that I try to import my model inside it, the texture coordinates comes all wrongs, even if I use the model wich cames with the software, wierd… do you know why ?
Swizzle
#167
Whenever I used it, I had no problems. I suppose it could be a compatibility issue with your video card, but that’s the only thing I can think of.