advice.....cement or concrete texture ?

[runlow]

I'm struggling with creating a realistic cement texture for a parking lot.

 

The parking area is a very large and dominant portion of the image’s foreground. I’d like to give it a bit of detail, randomness, texture and realism…but still leave no doubt it’s new and fresh…...not going for Bourbon Street on a Sunday morning before the fire hoses.

 

Maybe a diffuse reflection map? Everything I’ve tried still looks to fake.

 

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

Many thanks-

 

Mike

[Jennifer]

Hi,

 

What software are you using?

 

Try using a composite map type with several different (at least two) texture maps. On each successive texture, change its tiling and rotation value. This way the artificial look is reduced by blending the bitmaps. You can also use a composite material, and give each one a different UV coordinate channel. You can then adjust each material’s tiling separately.

 

Try to use bitmaps that are made to be tiled. Clipping or editing out any strong color variations that make it look artificial.

 

Concrete is not normally reflective. You can mix in a little noise to the maps to add some color variation. Also creating some slight shadows from clouds (either by a noise map in the sunlight object, or a transparent shadow-only object) can help.

 

Any images of work-in-progress?

[runlow]

Thanks Jenni-

 

I'm using formZ/Renderzone.

 

I'm not sure if I can apply multiple texture maps in formZ like in VIZ....I guess using their 'decal' tool. Can't switch software at this stage...

 

Here's an similar image I've done with a procedural parking lot. I've got better skies since this.

 

http://www.cgarchitect.com/forum/filepush.asp?file=imagem.jpg

 

 

Thanks-

Mike

[ingo]

Hi Mike,

 

nice picture. So why not use your grass texture and make it gray for the parking lot ? Otherwise FormZ has some nice texture presets that will work for this.

 

HTH

[runlow]

Thanks ingo-

 

good point using the grass map in grey.

 

I've done several of these simple tilt-wall box buildings and my client is asking for more 'pop' in the image. The simple architecture in this case doesn't really add much....so I'm trying to sharpen my skills regarding depth and textures to add bit of enhancement.

 

Many thanks-

 

Mike

[runlow]

Thanks ingo-

 

good point using the grass map in grey.

 

I've done several of these simple tilt-wall box buildings and my client is asking for more 'pop' in the image. The simple architecture in this case doesn't really add much....so I'm trying to sharpen my skills regarding depth and textures to add bit of enhancement.

 

Many thanks-

 

Mike

[Wojciech Klepacki]

Hi Mike,

U may use this: http://3dtotal.com/ and this: http://www.animax.it/animax/frame1.html (free)

rgds,

Wojciech Klepacki