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Earwax_Man's BAT Workshop

Started by earwax_man, December 02, 2009, 10:45:21 AM

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earwax_man

Hello all! I have been working with 3ds Max 8 and GMax since July 2009, and I'm going to open a thread here in the hope of getting constructive criticism and maybe some tips. So here we go!

This is a building that needs better textures and roofjunk.



"Yunika Ltd."

How could I improve it?
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tcx

The model looks great, the only thing I see is the Base of the building, that part needs work.

thingfishs

excellent work earwax_man, quite the moniker too... ;)

"oh no, who will save us?"
"look up there, it's a bird, it's a plane its... oh, it's just earwax man"

I think the building looks great, yeah the base will need some work. I'm not a fan of your roof texture however, I personally would recommend something darker & more grey. Is this a real life building?
Have you looked into night lighting yet?, because a building like this screams for good night lights.
Depending on how much work you want to put into it I think the window textures could be improved but it's beyond my expertise to suggest how, just that the lit side of the building looks a little monochromatic to me.

Look forward to seeing your progress.

earwax_man

I've changed the textures so hopefully your eyes won't bleed  ;D

This is the new model:


What makes a good looking base? What makes it lifelike? Should it be added as a prop or part of the building on export?

Also as you may notice, I changed the reflections, I know it may seem a little off, but I'm going to experiment with different textures until it works. Would it be a good idea to use a desaturated image of buildings from SC4?

Sorry for the newbish questions  ;)

- earwax_man
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thingfishs

#4
Hi again,
Agreed they're looking a bit off but just keep experimenting (and hunting through the B.A.T help here http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?board=20.0 & the omnibus at ST http://www.simtropolis.com/omnibus/.) Sorry, still not particularly keen on the roof, I think the grid is odd, certainly too pronounced.
Have a look at http://cgtextures.com/ & http://www.arroway-textures.com/, they are two sites I know with some excellent free textures available, try different things see what works. I'm only just learning to do all this stuff myself, don't worry about asking newbish questions, that's how you learn.

As for the LOT there are various approaches. Most people use the Lot Editor to add the base textures & props to make it work. You can also create an image in photoshop and place that as a prop.  Have a look at other people's buildings and find something you like. Have a look at the issues and solutions I've faced in coming to a solution with my base. http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=9362.0

(as for your question about reflections and using buildings from SC, I haven't done any windows yet so I can't help at all, but within those links at the top will be your answer)

earwax_man

I have done more work on textures, and even on the roof and base. I spent a few hours researching other people's work, and then I tried out different modifiers on segments. This is what I have so far:



I'm going to work on nightlights next, and then a v2 with animated logos and billboards. ;D

- earwax_man
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thingfishs

Wow.  &apls
MASSIVE improvement. Those reflections look great.
Animated billboard? wicked, looking forward to more.

That's a bizarre roof, and while I think it could work (and look quite cool), wouldn't it at least be centered? (I know there are some funky architects out there though)

earwax_man

It's now ready ;D

You'll see it in the sccommunity magazine soon ;)

Front:

Left landmark, right CO$$$

Right


Left


Back
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Evillions8

uuhhmmm... You did model a building. :thumbsup:
But, where did you come up with this building?.. A photo?..Or just in your mind.  If you just thought it up in your head you must have knowledge in architecture or looked at a real building.
I'm not trying to be harsh or anything, I'm just giving advice and the only way to model superb is look at real world pictures to get your source. 
Try to copy every little detail in that picture and if not, do some guess work based on the building itself. 
Don't worry, I've went through the same thing you did, but overtime.  I looked at real pictures and started to model the right way even though there isn't a right way of modeling. $%Grinno$%
But keep up the good work and hope to see some improvement. ;)

xxdita

I like the building, very unique. I'm not too keen on the lotting though. The Maxis parking structure just clashes, which can be distracting. And since it can't provide any parking capacity, I think the lot would be much better without it.
A little work on the lotting (and properly modded of course), and I could easily see this on the LEX.  :thumbsup:

earwax_man

#10
I actually modelled it off of the Bahn Tower from Potsdamerplatz, Berlin. It was always my favourite building ;D



(sorry for the oversized picture, I have no idea how to scale it)

I just need to work on LOTing now ;)
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art128

That's for sure a nice model you've done there ! I like a lot the shapes of that glass building.
The front texture looks sweet, but to be honest, I'm not really kind of the back of the building itself, it looks a bit empty, empty of details. Try to do it as you've done the front shapes, with vertical lines.
As xxdita said, the lot needs a bit more work, but I'm sure you can do really better !  :thumbsup:


-Arthur.  :thumbsup:
I'll take a quiet life... A handshake of carbon monoxide.

Props & Texture Catalog

thingfishs

Hi again,
You're continuing to make excellent progress, but I have to agree with some of the other comments.
The back of the building is looking a bit odd (as far as the textures go, not the shape, that I think is great). The maxis parking garage looks a bit out of place and personally I'm still not huge on the roof, especially as the real building doesn't have it (as far as I can tell from that photo) If you get a bit burnt out on this one maybe start something else and come back to it in a couple of days, but if you decide to release it now it's still a great first BAT. :thumbsup:

earwax_man

Hey all, I've started a new project. Transit modding!

This is the link:
http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=9686.0

I'm making monorail look futuristic by making them look like the tubes from Futurama. I've just started them as you can see  :thumbsup:
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earwax_man

Okay, a long overdue update!

I've updated the textures of Yunika Ltd. in 3ds Max 2010, and it's been released for the SCCommunity Magazine!

Linkie: http://www.sccommunity.co.cc/magazine/issue1/

Day view:


Night view:


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thingfishs

good work, I much prefer your roof now. Congratulations on the magazine also.

What's still got room for improvement though is your nightlighting (too blocky and maxis-like) and your LOTting (the grass and pavers continue straight under the building)

Look forward to seeing more, and the ATEX tube.

earwax_man

I've been working on a few stations for my atex mod, and I've one completely finished, but I'm wondering what should be changed to make it aesthetically better.

Day view:



Night view:



Opinions?
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earwax_man

#17
I've started on a new building to BAT, the Park Inn, Alexanderplatz, Berlin.

It has a nice glass structure, isn't too complex, and has a nice night view.

These are a few pics of it:











More pics here:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Park_Inn_Alexanderplatz
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Inn_Berlin-Alexanderplatz

I'll post pics of development soon.
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Fabian93

Hi,
I'm glad to see you developing some towers from Berlin &apls &apls
However, as far as I know, the Park Inn has already been done by someone else and it is available at the STEX (I'd send you a Link but Simtropolis is down at the moment)

Fabian ;)

earwax_man

Hmm.... I should really search on the stex before starting a project  $%Grinno$%

What other towers could I try to BAT?
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