Redoran Buildings Progress Thread (2)

[Axen]

Originally posted by Zarf
I looked in the back and they look crisp to me.

The problem is the reds and the browns on that contrasting too much, which in turn contrasts with the front texture whose colors flow together better.

[Lady Nerevar]

the glass has visible "burn tool" marks. like you can see how it was made in photoshop.. i sugest using a phototexture instead... something like this one perhaps?

http://www.glass-crafts.com/stained-glas...8B_JPG.jpg

http://www.glass-crafts.com/stained-glas...6S_JPG.jpg

[Razorwing]

Zarf: I can't seem to connect to your site at the moment, but going by your past work I'm convinced your new work looks as excellent as it always does :goodjob:

Oh, and just try to zone out Axen's comments. I do, most of the time, and if they ever get to you check my sig. :yes:

[Axen]

Originally posted by Razorwing
Oh, and just try to zone out Axen's comments. I do, most of the time, and if they ever get to you check my sig. :yes:

There is a difference between criticism and complaints.

[Caligula Superfly]

@Zarf: I can't seem to get on either, can't wait to get a look at it though! :yes:

I made some progress on the Medium sized walls, just getting the basic form on the table then I can try and spiffy it up some or something. Before I do much more though, I need to know how I should go about the tile structure.

As you can see from the screenie, its basically a replica of the old MW wall. Now, about the only way I can tile this is the way Beth did it, which means I have to use exact edges. My problem is that since Im not using max, I don't know how I would allign these to work with any sort of snap to grid system. Also, because of the way I model, I am afraid I may end up with edges that don't fit down to the micron, which I know cause problems. About the only thing I think I can do at this point is what I did with the larger wall, and create a bit of overlap so you get some breathing room when alligning them in Max/the CS. Before I go on and asseume thats alright I just want to make sure that it won't cause any graphical problems (I know that sort of thing could produce a wiggly effect in older games).

[gundalf]

Zarf: Looking really good. But the back texture reminds me too much of fallen leaves in autumn. The shading, horns and front look really good! The only other complaint I have is that you can see some seams on the bottom ring. This probably only bothers perfectionists, though.

Caligula Superfly: How about exporting some of beth's walls as .obj in NifSkope and importing them into blender? Then you could use them as a reference to get sizes right...

[Razorwing]

Originally posted by Caligula Superfly
I made some progress on the Medium sized walls, just getting the basic form on the table then I can try and spiffy it up some or something. Before I do much more though, I need to know how I should go about the tile structure.

As you can see from the screenie, its basically a replica of the old MW wall. Now, about the only way I can tile this is the way Beth did it, which means I have to use exact edges. My problem is that since I'm not using max, I don't know how I would allign these to work with any sort of snap to grid system. Also, because of the way I model, I am afraid I may end up with edges that don't fit down to the micron, which I know cause problems. About the only thing I think I can do at this point is what I did with the larger wall, and create a bit of overlap so you get some breathing room when alligning them in Max/the CS. Before I go on and asseume thats alright I just want to make sure that it won't cause any graphical problems (I know that sort of thing could produce a wiggly effect in older games).

You don't have to worry about it friend. After I had resized your citywall to within the general ballpark of the size I wanted it to be I adjusted all the vertices, one by one, to the exact place they had to be, and had planned on doing that on the medium-walls too. As long as the proportions are right and it's set up so it can be tiled - i.e. the edges on either side are mirrored - it'll work. I'm happy to be able to do those kinds of minor technical adjustments on your beautiful designs.

[Zarf]

There is a difference between criticism and complaints.

Take a look at what Gundalf said, then take a look at what you said. I have yet to see you say anything positive, and it's getting to me. With "critisisms" as common as yours and so little nice things said inbetween, it just comes off as irritating. That's all.

Now, Gundalf had some good points. He pointed out what he liked, then what he didn't like, then he made sure to say that is was all minor stuff. I'm far more likely to respond to something like that rather than what you have said so far.

Anyway. I thought by "splotchy", you meant that the textures seemed blurry. Your second post, then Gunda;f's post cleared it up for me. I'll make the required changes.

Oh, and my website appears to be up now if you want to grab the desktops.

Furthermore.

*shakes fist at L.N.*

Actually, I totaly agree with you and like the first glass picture a bit more than the second. RW, can we change the glass texture over to that? Want me to do some work on it beforehand?

[Caligula Superfly]

@RW: Great! Ill make sure to have something finished tomorrow then. :goodjob:

@Zarf: Pleese take note that the following constructive criticism and inquiries are not ment in any way to make me seem unaprecative, as I am, and I am sure all of us are, extreemely happy for all of the work you have done. All of these buildings would be much uglier if it wasn't for you.

I like the front, but I do feel that the back section is a bit odd the way it is. I feel as though it should be more like the front, perhaps even the same texture. Also, it may simply be the lighting, but those horns strike me as a bit too grey. Would it be possible to make it more of a cream color? I always liked to think of those horns as ivory tusks. Lastly, is the shadow hanging over the front section burned into the texture? It seems very large, and very dark. I wouldn't want the front of the building to be hanging in endless shadow on a bright sunny day.

One last thing that has been on my mind is that I have noticed you have been giving all of the buildings slightly different tints. I respect this as an artistic decision, but I just wanted to make sure you were keeping track of how they all look in relation to each other. I don't want you to to have to go back and tweak alot of work because every structure looks like it belongs in it's own town.

[Zarf]

Once again I reiterate that the actual colors of the textures aren't exactly written in stone yet. This is mainly to get shadow detail on the buildings, and if you want a better texture artist to come in and help (Tibmaker?) get the colors spot on, be my guest. It would actually take a lot of work off of me. :-D

I agree Caligula that the horns need to be more ivory. I always figured they were the ivory tusks of some huge creature long dead or extinct, but ivory textures are hard to get.

The different tints can all be... regularized... once the buildings are all done and we have decided on a base texture. Keep in mind the dirt textures here have gone under about 50 revisions. I fully expect them to undergo anyther 50 revisions before the mod is done.

Now then. Lemme take a look at the horn in the front. I think that was the skylight that I used to cast shadows on the plane below, but I'll have to check.

EDIT: I figured it out. The texture was stretched out of proportion there. I fixed it. :-D

Once we get the new texture for the back figured out, (And by the way, I don't think it should be the same texture. I think it should be significantly darker, but that's just because it was darker in Morrowind) I will remake the desktops.