rcase Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 Please take a look at my first rendering of a scene containing my company's logo. It still needs some fine tuning, but I'd like to get some of your opinions. Camera angle, lighting, materials, etc. The scene is supposed to be as realistic as possible. I am using the default scanline renderer because I have no idea how to use mental ray. Anyways, thanks for looking and please give your opinion. Rusty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 looks nice, but should the logo perhaps be on the "1" ball? or is the idea to not let the logo stand out very much? A spherical environment map for the balls to reflect would be good too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcase Posted March 2, 2005 Author Share Posted March 2, 2005 That's not a bad idea. I had originally chose the "8" ball just because it has a little more meaning, it's unique, it doesn't share a color like the other balls, then again it is somewhat hidden. I will place the logo on the "1" ball and see how it looks. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisHolland Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 Nice idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcase Posted March 2, 2005 Author Share Posted March 2, 2005 Here is the latest version. I added the logo to the "1" ball and added a spherical environment reflection map. It washes the balls out a little. I'm trying to figure out what to put in the background. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesTaylor Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 what about someone's hand and a cue tip? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jophus14 Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 why not try putting your logo on a thing of chalk and set that next to the que ball or closer to the camera? just a suggestion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcase Posted March 2, 2005 Author Share Posted March 2, 2005 All good ideas! I also had the idea of having my company's logo cast down in caustic lights like from a pool table light, down onto the table parallel to the rack of balls. There are so many possibilites, however, I am mainly in need of image quality opinions. What can I do to make my model more real? Lights, light angle, reflection mapping, etc. There will be another sample posted in about 10 min. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcase Posted March 2, 2005 Author Share Posted March 2, 2005 Here is the latest image. (#3) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisHolland Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 Why not put your logo on the last ball, expressing your company, and about to hit the 8-ball in the last pocket. It could be a metaphore that your firm is 'finishing the job' for their clients...Look down. I've used a HDRI-map for the reflections, works great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernest Burden III Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 and about to hit the 8-ball in the last pocket. It could be a metaphore that your firm is 'finishing the job' for their clients... Except for that LAST shot, the 8 ball = sudden death. It's an odd choice. Also--your angle is that of the LOSER of the break. If I'm breaking, I see it more straight-on (though a bit to the left in my case, aiming just left of center of the 1 ball. Hit it hard enough, and you get one or even two stripes in the far corners). And I think Dennis got it right--his logo is on the cue ball. That's the one in control. All the other are just there to get knocked about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Homeless Guy Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Here is the latest image. (#3) besides what has been mentioned about different scenerainios.... i am glad to see you added the dot (whatever it is officially called) on the table. if this is a racked set of balls, ready for break, it should be under the top center ballmore. also, if you use this angle, you need a dimond on the top ledge of the rail. also, consider your lighting. most tables have a table light that is about 3 feet long or so hanging above them. your table appears to be lit from the side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernest Burden III Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 also, consider your lighting. most tables have a table light that is about 3 feet long or so hanging above them. your table appears to be lit from the side. While I've never seen it work this way myself--I have heard that if you have two lights hung over the 'spots' at just the right height (based on an angle and the table size) then you get a specular white dot on any ball you are trying to pocket that is the 'aim spot' that will send it to a pocket. Knowing how geometrical a pool table is, I would think this would work. But haven't tried it. Obviously, I could try it in 3D (easier for me, since I do not have a pool table (or a pool)). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcase Posted March 3, 2005 Author Share Posted March 3, 2005 Just got in this morning and took a look at my latest render job. That's a good idea about the table lights being over the balls instead of to the side. I'll try that next. The dot is a crucial piece, it gives the rack of balls a reference point on the table. The back rail is in development, I'm going to add some chalk, maybe a cue leaning on the rail, maybe a drink, etc. and defenatly the pearl circles or diamond in the rail itself, whatever they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcase Posted March 3, 2005 Author Share Posted March 3, 2005 Just a little background on this and the reason that I don't want to show an "action" shot so to speak with the cue about to knock in the "8" Ball is that I usually do just a scene of inanimate objects. I have'nt ventured into the action shots yet. Attached is a scene I did about 18 months ago in Max 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 I'm curious what is causing the square/rectangle around the hotspot on the balls? Is that supposed to be a window? You should really try to incorporate a better (interior) photograph to use as your environment. As far as the environment washing out the lighting, are you currently using an exterior photograph with self-illumination turned on or something? Is it contributing to the overall illumination somehow? I think I remember you saying you're just using standard lighting with no plugins, so perhaps this is not the case - though otherwise I'm not sure why adding the environment map would wash out your lighting. Do a search for "billiard" or something on Google, and see what you find for reference. I think you'll find (among some other interesting photos that pop up) that overall a pool hall is very dark (as you've shown) but there are a lot of lamps hanging down over the tables and seating areas. All of these will reflect hot spots off of your balls. If you're going for realism, you need to refine your reflection technique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcase Posted March 3, 2005 Author Share Posted March 3, 2005 The squares you see behind the hotspots are self illuminated white plains placed behind my omni lights to cast a reflection. They need some work though, you shouldn't be able to see them that clearly in the reflections. I need to find an indoor environment map to apply. Right now I have a standard one from Max mapped to a sphere that encompasses the scene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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