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.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2Fyunika5.jpg%3Ft%3D1259779458&hash=6ad57180cfe5c6f0bd99c0c72e951b8fa8887a02)
"Yunika Ltd."
How could I improve it?
The model looks great, the only thing I see is the Base of the building, that part needs work.
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.
I've changed the textures so hopefully your eyes won't bleed ;D
This is the new model:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2Fyunika6.jpg%3Ft%3D1259869179&hash=3fdc43e2b276fecb1c231dd7633d9e953fb9d1e2)
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
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)
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:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2Fyunika11.jpg%3Ft%3D1260053563&hash=5b2343c929a7bf805e2ef00162c8916f04466f49)
I'm going to work on nightlights next, and then a v2 with animated logos and billboards. ;D
- earwax_man
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)
It's now ready ;D
You'll see it in the sccommunity magazine soon ;)
Front:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2FSimCity42009-12-0821-32-14-63.jpg%3Ft%3D1260391320&hash=79f62fb0f52921d6aac8fd0ebc312f5313e66733)
Left landmark, right CO$$$
Right
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2FSimCity42009-12-0821-32-41-46.jpg%3Ft%3D1260391315&hash=7fb29c0267d61576e44baf765b3baec59ed3f640)
Left
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2FSimCity42009-12-0821-32-36-76.jpg%3Ft%3D1260391316&hash=5a69f38ed770accd41067e64a32407934c4ac026)
Back
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2FSimCity42009-12-0821-32-27-55.jpg%3Ft%3D1260391319&hash=def5500d2d27deba5af00f9b2741a81272de1070)
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. ;)
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:
I actually modelled it off of the Bahn Tower from Potsdamerplatz, Berlin. It was always my favourite building ;D
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fe%2Fe0%2FPotsdamer_Platz_-_BahnTower%2C_20060603_1.jpg&hash=b1432022a56f63d0cb331493f795509be437d743)
(sorry for the oversized picture, I have no idea how to scale it)
I just need to work on LOTing now ;)
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:
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:
Hey all, I've started a new project. Transit modding!
This is the link:
http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=9686.0 (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:
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/ (http://www.sccommunity.co.cc/magazine/issue1/)
Day view:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2FSimCity42010-01-0216-03-31-96.jpg%3Ft%3D1262462069&hash=02d1b6c29c28e1c7142fe3894ec7c04a9af68401)
Night view:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2FSimCity42010-01-0216-03-44-13.jpg%3Ft%3D1262462068&hash=53e793f98b79f15b724b5b9a5941c7aed2172e35)
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.
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:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2Fatex_station.jpg%3Ft%3D1262539895&hash=bbae7ed7215e64d3524d5a3829f0e51ecc167611)
Night view:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2Fatex_station_night.jpg%3Ft%3D1262539895&hash=f1e3976aabfee1bf5469474f7a8f399ee209b443)
Opinions?
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:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.viajes-exoticos.info%2Fimages%2Fcatalogo%2FBER_FORU-exter-2.jpg&hash=ea6c6f6873732d59294841e6d238d355ab8eb3f9)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotelclub.net%2Fcommon%2Fimagegallery%2FHotelImage.aspx%3Fhid%3D4739&hash=f88ac557f6cb53f4f3df3203c717bb58cd59fdfa)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lilano.de%2Fcatalog%2Fimages%2Falexanderplatz_200506DSC2868.JPG&hash=b044a718862bb3c797d929bc06a0239bc6891529)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lilano.de%2Fcatalog%2Fimages%2FPark-Inn-Berlin_200510DSC6564.jpg&hash=6e48d2cf818effd2af2357d42be688b51d1425ae)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgpe.trivago.com%2Fuploadimages%2F47%2F55%2F4755515_l.jpeg&hash=ffca6dcb858b0f284fc1c565220051efc413fa92)
More pics here:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Park_Inn_Alexanderplatz (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Park_Inn_Alexanderplatz)
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Inn_Berlin-Alexanderplatz (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Inn_Berlin-Alexanderplatz)
I'll post pics of development soon.
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 ;)
Hmm.... I should really search on the stex before starting a project $%Grinno$%
What other towers could I try to BAT?
just in case it appeals to you I would love to see a version of the Q1 building, which is/was the World's tallest residential building, located in the Gold Coast, Australia.
It is also the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere at 322m.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FAoI5E.jpg&hash=ca57a3576d27d389c4fbc36c352dc4ccd4ad1307) (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FAgrOf.jpg&hash=790e570ce1df0d10a48b787049f1b2b02fca7552) (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FTyKht.jpg&hash=f485aa0c1abf74671cfe5f5c2580057c790c7b67)
I've finished my futuristic station, this is the final version ;D
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2Fstation3.jpg%3Ft%3D1262706230&hash=c0d044e5d320bf2123df5524d46121c234eef770)
looks great earwax man,
what are those potted plants you're using there?
Yeah, they're potted. I'm just rendering the night time view now. I'll post pics of it soon. Do the potted plants suit the station? I though some foliage would look nice. :)
:D Sorry you misunderstand, not "what, are those potted plants?" but "what are those potted plants" :D
Yeah I think they look good, and I may use one, if the scale is close enough, on my winery. As for fitting this, I think the rules are a bit different with futuristic type BATs and it's more up to you than usual. For my money they look good.
The station is now uploaded to the STEX:
http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=23100 (http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=23100)
:)
Here's my progress with the ATEX tubes:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2Fatex_test.jpg%3Ft%3D1262885512&hash=0697c768419b401e3607ff589bac5fc367ac14bd)
;D
I'm finishing thi station, what od you think of it, and where could it be improved?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2Fstation-7.jpg&hash=6461384a8ada7ef36eeb426a1ff2172263e400d7)
I think the first thing you have to do is try to make transparency work with the tubes. Without this it the whole project will be doomed to failure (OK, not completely, you can modify the station BATs a little and release them as a normal monorail stations, but that's not what you were after, right?).
BAT-exported models are not very much suitable for use as (tiled) network elements. Best for this purpose would be models with one zoom/rotation view. They are automatically adjusted for slopped terrain (but better don't exaggerate here). So I think you should take the ingame monorail track model, maybe replace the pylons, and add some sort of "skeleton" and the glass. You can't do this in gmax/BAT, you need a program like MilkShape - I think 3dsmax can do the job as well, but I'm not aware of any tutorial.
I think the station looks really good so far, the shapes and layout are perfect. It just needs details added to it, I'm sure it'll look great when you've finished it. Your small futuristic station looks excellent btw!
Do all the glass panels need to be glass, could solid walls/panelling not work in some places?
@ cogeo:
But it has transparency, you should check the ATEX thread first before commenting ;)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2Fatex.jpg%3Ft%3D1263402698&hash=6ed9b513993419e01c70d9efa8c9113718ed9109)
Hmm... Could you explain the second part a little better? I don't quite understand :-[
@ puresim:
I'm going to add concrete walls inside :)
Quote from: earwax_man on January 13, 2010, 09:16:24 AM
Hmm... Could you explain the second part a little better? I don't quite understand :-[
This is a model exported by the BAT, isn't it? And then you made these prop exemplars and used them in T21s, or not? Then I don't know how this will behave on slopes, but I guess not really well. Can you show us some pics?
I think the monorail tracks look interrupted ("dashed" ) because of the ring at the back; it is projected on the front face of the LODshell, and hides everything behind. Also there's no shadow, so try setting the "Is Ground Model" property in the prop exemplar to True.
Take a look at the monorail track model. It doesn't have 20 Zoom/Rotation views (S3D files) like BAT-exported models, instead there is only 1 S3D (used in all Z/Rs). Such a model can easily be processed by the game, like be bent on slopes. Preferably it should be merged with the monoral track model itself. And of course you need a program that can edit (or export) 3DS files; definitely the case with MilkShape, not sure about 3dsmax.
Here's a little project I'm working on, I still have to model the base, but I have the main tower finished. What could be changed to make it more pleasing?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2Fimage3.jpg&hash=0d5377057c5afa6fb737bb417331c47b25ea96ad)
Small update: :)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2Fxadia.jpg%3Ft%3D1267377487&hash=8287b16351304bc17af8c1b1367d070d942530a9)
Something is seriously wrong here on many levels...
1. technical
Shadows are extending to the wrong direction.
2. design and modeling
sizes don't make any sense when one compares those escalators to the building. Either escalators are hugely blown up, or a building is ridiculously small.
No common sense is present in the design - it seems like everything is done from planes, meaning nothing has any depth to it.
You should either think of how this thing is constructed, or better still to find some tech drawings of he actual building and study them, may be try to re-create it. It will give you sense of the reality and your models believability.
I've kinda let this skyscraper fall into the wastebasket in order to try to BAT real life buildings. My first attempts at BATing the Heineken building in Dublin:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2FSimCity42010-04-0119-25-52-39.jpg%3Ft%3D1270148858&hash=415fd143062ba9ec28700cab41f759ca04bbc920)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi668.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv44%2Fearwax_man%2FSimCity42010-04-0119-26-08-52.jpg%3Ft%3D1270148857&hash=477c5a6275553ef820aa5e8ee076330deae44d50)
It's only a rough export (so far). I still have to add more detail and textures. :)
Since you where asking for ideas about skyscrapers, I would have a suggestion. The new HQ of the Lombardy region in Milan. It is slightly wierd and, since it isn't even finished yet (from the inside), nobody has done it so far.
A couple of pics can be found here: http://www.archiportale.com/progetti/schedaprogetto.asp?pag=1&idprog=374&immagine=m_374_7.jpg
The word 'Heineken' is hardly visible on the day shot. In fact, I wouldn't even have known they were there, if they didn't light up on the night shot. Without having any pictures of the building, I would guess that the actual letters are also coloured green, as well as lighting up green.
Regards,
Korot
Quote from: Korot on April 02, 2010, 08:27:06 AM
The word 'Heineken' is hardly visible on the day shot. In fact, I wouldn't even have known they were there, if they didn't light up on the night shot. Without having any pictures of the building, I would guess that the actual letters are also coloured green, as well as lighting up green.
Regards,
Korot
Will do!
This is a RL shot of it:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.panoramio.com%2Fphotos%2Foriginal%2F12248357.jpg&hash=ac6be0d557a72d0443aac561334474323eb4a074)
There's no green lettering during the day, but there is at night.
:P
Try to darken the tile texture to bring out the letters.
At the moment there is no structure on the stones.
Wow it's been a long time since I updated my BAT thread. For anyone that wants to know, I'm working on Ireland buildings on Simtropolis in this thread.
http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=37&threadid=116927 (http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=37&threadid=116927)
I'm going to continue to post there instead from now on.
Have I improved much? ;D