Tensile Fabric Material Millennium Dome

[TomA]

Hi,

 

I’m modelling the Millennium Dome / O2 Arena in London in Max, and intend to render interior views of it in Vray.

 

The problem I am having is with creating the tensile roofing material for the dome, as in the maps to use and basic properties e.g. reflection, refraction, diffuse etc.

 

I’ve done a bit of quick research and understand that it is a PTFE woven fibreglass membrane which is extremely durable and weather resistant. It sounds like it's dual layer too. I also understand that it allows around 7% daylight through. It started off clean and white and is now beginning to look a little worse for wear, after only 9 years!

 

I’m still debating whether to add in the weathered look and map it properly with UVW unwrapping or to just do a basic homogenous colour / texture and not bother with anything too fancy. I have a feeling time and CPU power will dictate that decision anyway.

 

Any thoughts / suggestions would be appreciated!

 

Cheers

 

T

Edited March 16, 2009 by TomA

[jameson101]

Hey there,

 

It seems like it is becoming a mission to do this material. You just got to ask yourself is it worth the mission. How far will the roof material be in any of the renders, will you really need the detail. Because if it is in the backround and dont really see it in alot or close up in the renders then maybe you should keep it plain and simple and that will also help your render times.

 

Upload a image of the scene and of the material and hopefully I can help you.

Also upload an image of the material properties of the roof material.

 

I hope that I can help you in some way.

[Nic H]

vray 2sided is perfect for tensile (single sided geometry) surfaces

[TomA]

Vray 2sided sounds good i'll give it a try!

 

Know what you mean though should prob keep it simple.

 

Here's a couple of pics to give a better idea of the material.

 

Could still do with other tips to go with the 2 sided suggestion tho...

 

Cheers

 

T

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii31/puttyface_101/O2/PICT0151.jpg

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii31/puttyface_101/O2/PICT0129.jpg

Edited March 16, 2009 by TomA

[Brute Guy]

Hi Tom,

 

Try this link to help get your head around the 2sidedmtl:

 

http://www.vrayelite.com/lightbox.htm

 

I would use this material for each panel, and instead of the old material map they have used for the tutorial, try something like the one included, I made this really quickly out of some dosch scratch maps overlayed onto some random lines/bars I made in photoshop, see this link for the lines/bars:

 

http://www.toxiclab.org/tutorial.asp?ID=30

 

Its not perfect but I imagine you will use something like this map to control how much light gets through the material.

 

I think the colour is dependant on what colour of light is behind the fabric/panels.

 

Hope this helps

 

Marc

[Nic H]

^ i also often make the base material slightly refrctive (dark grey) so it lets some extra light through

[TomA]

Great tips thanks!

 

I'll try playing around with different maps but here's a very early render for now...

 

It was all going fine but now i keep getting these crazy light spots all over the model like a disco ball.

 

Any idea what the problem is, i'm just using a standard vray sky???...

 

Maybe this is a question for a different thread?

 

Cheers again...

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii31/puttyface_101/O2/090128Render3.jpg