My Very First WIP

[nladd]

Hello Everyone,

 

So, I’ve been a regular browser of the CGarch forums for about a year now, and I’ve finally decided to post my first WIP (actually it is really my first attempt at serious computer modeling/rendering). About a week and a half ago I finally decided to start learning Arch Desktop and 3DS viz. Before this point all I ever did was draft 2D in AutoCAD and do some basic 3D modeling in Form Z.

 

Here are some test renders that I’ve been using to try to learn the art, and start to figure out how to model/texture/and render. These are about the 5th iteration of the same render…they’re finally starting to look okay (in my own newbie opinion). They were modeled in ADT and rendered in VIZ 2005 using radiosity.

Known Problems:

 

1. I know that there is a door that runs into the stairs. The design of this space took all of about 10 minutes…it is far from being anything that I would consider to be good…just something to test with.

 

2. I have some major light leaks (infiltrations?). What is the best way to go about fixing these buggers?

 

3. In the second image there is some major blotchiness on the floor shadows…any idea how to fix?

 

4. The background sucks…Just something I threw in real quick…

 

5. The shadows on the floor are a bit jaggy (so are the window frames)…any ideas how to fix?

 

6. There are some weird diagonals in the window/door planes…any ideas what are causing these?

Material Question:

I’ve seen some great rendering where there are glass table tops. These table tops seem to be out of a laminated/tempered glass material (you can see their greenish edge)…any idea on what kind of material I can use to achieve this effect? For a sample of what I am talking about, check out:

 

http://www.cgarchitect.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8918

 

Thanks in advance for the great advice!

 

Nick Ladd

[DennisHolland]

Good start Nladd,

 

watch your work closely after putting it aside for a day or two, you'll see progress every time.

 

For the glass material? Try these settings, don't forget to put some thickness in your object, chamfered edges for the highlights in the glass:

 

-raytrace max material (rgb= 7, 67, 45)

-specular= 250

-gloss= 80/90

-transparancy= 80/85

-reflection= falloff (fresnell) without fresnell, set the refl. value to 18 or so

-ior= 1.35

 

For glass windows, try a wide noisemap in your bumpslot with setting of 3, it gives just a little twist because regular windows are always a bit stressed.

 

Just play with the settings, the glass-effect usually is different in each scene.

 

Enjoy it,

Dennis

[nladd]

Hi Dennis,

 

Thanks for the tips. I'll definitely apply your suggestions.

 

One other quickie...

 

Right now I've been trying to learn radiosity. Would you recommend learning MentalRay? What are the benefits of MR? Is there a way to use a daylight system in MR so that I can accurately model sun positions for different times of the year?

 

I appreciate all comments...they really are a useful way to learn.

 

Thanks,

 

Nick Ladd