Mantel

[kwerch]

Looking for some opinions or suggestions - critics choice- of how I can improve this image -

[edub]

lighting looks good - as well does the modeling (not sure what those grey cuboid things are on the right, however)... I think what you need to work on is the texturing. That stone texture looks too saturated, and I think your ceiling texture has some odd coloration as well. The beam itself might be ok, but something about the rough texture repated on each beam doesn't look quite right.

 

As far as the art pieces, I'm not sure if you are looking for comments on those?... The sticks above the mantel look interesting, but stand out to me because of their unfamiliar colors and patterns. Unless they are essential to the image, I would get rid of them. Same goes for the pink thingies on the left. Looks like some 50's era modern art - care to elaborate on the significance?

 

One last thing you could work on is the framing of the view. i find it akward that there's a thin sliver of (what looks like) a couch in the foreground. I'd move in a little closer to the mantel, to unclutter the foreground. That back left side of the room seems like dead space - not very interesting. I'd consider cropping some, if not all of that out.

[kwerch]

I appreciate the input-Sometimes I seem to work in a vacuum and a reality check from time to time is most welcome.

 

This project is to update the existing fireplace and create a pull out/fold out bed of sorts in front of the fireplace. The furniture in the room is what is in there now or as close as I can get with what I am capable of as far as the modeling goes. There was a fellow here, mr. cad he calls himself, who showed me how to add some creases for the easy chairs and sofa.(I used the model that he sent along as an example). As far as I got with creases are the pillows...

 

So, the cuboid things are the basic shape of the existing speakers. I don't have alot of detail in these at this point. It is a killer sound system though!

 

The ceiling can use some help- I see what you mean-

 

The sticks above the mantel are actually existing . An art piece -or pieces?- that the client picked up at Bellevue art museum- It looks like ABS plumbing pipe of differing diameters wrapped with different colored strings, I see what he is trying to do. As it sits now, sans mantel, the 70's rock is a bit much-oppresive-Maybe they go, he is not married to them.

 

Pink things on left are also existing-5 yrs old or so-It is something that is going to stay and I have to include in the global vision of this room-Blackened Steel,Redish Stained Ply, Clear Finished Ash-

 

framing? I get what you are saying-

 

The back left side of the room is actually a couple of steps up,to the left of the large sofa in view, and against the wall that is visible sits a TV(not yet modeled)- At this point haven't decided if I want to get into that-But it does show that entire wall, the transition between the stone, the mantel, the view through the "art work" etc. that I think I need to show. I guess I better model out a TV then...

 

This was originally submitted to the client as a concept. Since then he is on board with the idea and I am now setting the lighting up so that I can go back and focus on the actual working details of the mantel. Am unsure of what material I will use for the panels or even if they will be panels at all. I do think that I need to cover up a bit of the stonework to lighten this room up a bit. One thing I think would be interesting is a wire grid system set 6" or so out from the rock and above the mantel with, on say 4" centers, and have some sort of climbing, hearty, manageable plant work it's way up over the years. I think it would be cool but don't know how to pull it off just yet it with MAX-

 

 

Other than that, If anyone has any ideas-fire away-

 

Thx. again for the comments.

[oluv]

did you use displacement for the brick-wall? it actually looks quite bumpy, i like it!

[eng_nart2002]

amazing work, i think the brown sofas need more work , try adding a midle table with a carpet under, the ceiling needes more details and the wood in the back of the imge needes work, lighting is beutifull

[Tim Saunders]

Sweet stone work. Care to share your method and the map used?

[kwerch]

Thanks for responses and comments-

The stone behind the mantel is as far as I have taken the vray displacement. The other components of the stone work, below cushions and the planter running perpindicular to the mantel just have the map applied- You'll see from this other included view here.

 

I've included the diffuse and displacement maps for anyone interested to try out. The diffuse map is 3 photos blended together with some actual sunlight hitting the spot where the natural light does interact with the surface. It seems to work here somewhat. (If anyone has advice as to improving the bitmap image, I'm all ears[EDUB])- The diffuse is simply the time consuming and character building task of coloring in between the rocks. Nothing fancy on my part. I wonder if a little blur added to the diffuse map how that would affect things...will have to try that later-Just the standard vray settings. I did have to put the diffuse map in the diffuse slot of the standard setting for the stone material even with the vray displacement modifier applied. I changed the material to vray material with the same set up and it worked fine.

 

I'll post the progress as I move along. I hope I have time to address suggestions made here. They all make sense to me though don't know exactly how to pull it all off.

 

Ceiling I could tweak the color-

Beams? at least need to randomize the texture from beam to beam-

Stonework- Diffuse map on all- Especially the planter-

I could use a few more props as well-

I need to get a grip on the settings for the vray materials and how to get some more out of these.

 

In time I guess-

Just received the lighting tuts that are referred to often in the vray forum-

I should find something usefull in there-

Anyone know anything about flames? The "flame" I have right now in the firebox is more like a glowing orb from a cheap fantasy novel-The best I can figure at the moment-

 

Thx again for the input!

[kwerch]

One more thing on the displacement map-

A little smudge on the corners and edges-

 

ltr-

[kwerch]

first iteration of details to bed and mantel-

 

comments appreciated-

 

Thx

[leoJones2002]

very nice masonry.

[oenstudio]

the image looks very good, the sone looks amazing

maybe add some things in the left upper corner, its a little empty

[kwerch]

Am sending these onto client-

The rendering could be sharper but at 1.5 hrs each that's all the time I can put into each of these.

 

By the way, the Christopher Nichols global Illumination DVD's are great for learning ways to set up vray! Ran through them this weekend. Got me from 13 hr renderings to 1.5 hr!

 

Added one more view and some details to the mantel and bed-

 

thx for crits and comments-