I've spent enough time on the Internet, espousing my thoughts on what did, didn't, could and wouldn't work, when it comes to certain films... The trouble was, I never had my own video camera - up until now.
I've hinted at this project elsewhere on these forums, but over the space of, literally, a day, I've discovered a different, even better way of realising what I had in mind. It's a hybrid of several film-making methods, which, when put together, shall
hopefully look polished. If not? Well, at least I've tried.
I'm about 90% of the way to testing this blend of techniques together. Just waiting for three or four things to get delivered and then I'll begin test footage. Aiming to make it an AVP project, but if fate intervenes, it
can change to a pure '
Alien'-related ideal. Entertainment value is what matters.
What matters is that some of the funkier ideas me, SM, Sil and other forum veterans have batted around, over the years, will hopefully make a moody, atmospheric appearance. Whether or not they will
succeed, I shall leave for the eventual audience to decide.
First of the tentatively-titled '
Regeneration' teasers start here... Updates to follow.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FTeaser-BrownCamera_zpsd2cd0c8f.jpg&hash=673a1dc2665a86449b4cc5543937f3b911bbd9da)
Godspeed.
Quote from: Blacklabel on Jan 18, 2013, 09:57:42 AM
Godspeed.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdnimg.visualizeus.com%2Fthumbs%2F32%2F9d%2F329dabd2c0e068018b3ecf913da247b1_m.jpg&hash=78e85e3e77ce51bf5772c1666c8930800f056564)
Funky ideas excite me, looking forward...good luck my man... :)
I'll be there for the ride. Looking forward to seeing what happens with this.
Colour me intrigued.
You're overexposed, man!
:P
Interesting to see what you've got cooking.
Is this different to what we were talking about?
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Jan 19, 2013, 02:26:48 PM
Is this different to what we were talking about?
Same project, but found a couple of improved methods of going about it (easier and with a better look). Some of the software I mentioned will likely be the same, though.
Project update:
Just attempted the first visual blending technique... Success. Crude, no background and not as refined as the finished appearance I'll be going for, but very pleased with how it looked.
Posting test footage examples later.
Can't wait to check out what you have cooking. Maybe you could tease us some more with stills or something?
Really interested to see what you've concocted.
Yep. I'm going to have to keep an eye on this thread.
Experimental results:
Spoiler
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FPaint1_zps3da7b75b.jpg&hash=7b06fb78d90006b68114568bd44fed386b0c06a8)
Basic Alien in leaping pose. Attempt at rendering a dark, shadowy artistic look by using a PNG transparency.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FCGI1_zps1406d3a4.jpg&hash=029a62cdf5d1292623ede62adc86c3a54bdd925e)
Same leaping pose. Purely CGI here, but using initial layers of colour-correction to get the lighting right for what follows...
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FCGI5_zps6e2b5fc9.jpg&hash=da3a00664c6eb99a244df296dc1faa2a8b677ecf)
The results of adding a flared light source to remove some lit highlights and give emphasis to others. Much more satisfying composition here... Was keeping in mind how to try and achieve the psychological impacts of Nostromo lighting and Hadley's Hope emergency strobe lighting, in concert with a dynamic pose.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FRain1_zpsc8b7855c.jpg&hash=7c4d5e54a1e4403092fff56f96a091120a26be6e)
Alternative attempt with different lighting. Some additional highlights are given a blanketing psychological 'hidden' effect by the illusion of running rain.
the planned final look (and doesn't have the advantage of a background or shadows), but shows good promise for the atmospheric tone this requires.
Nice.
Sweet tease. I can't wait to see how this all comes together. I'm a film/art guy but have no experience with CGI other than watching it on a screen.
Looking really sweet. I'm in the same boat as BCP in that I've never done anything with CGI, but that's looking excellent.
Good to know!
The direction in which this shall head is going to be largely dictated by which techniques end up being the most successful. But when this is done, I'll be quite open about what how it was done. Not necessarily cheap, but is intuitive, so far. :)
CG film? You should perhaps get in touch with Locusta and see if he'll lend you his CG models, THAT would be the greatest CG alien film of all time.
It seems they use something called Softimage, but I'll ask if they've got something which can be adapted into what I use. One can dream...
Quote from: Xenomorphine on Jan 22, 2013, 12:40:10 AM
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FCGI5_zps6e2b5fc9.jpg&hash=da3a00664c6eb99a244df296dc1faa2a8b677ecf)
Nightmare...
Wow. That looks fantastic. Keep 'em coming, Xeno.
Update!
Project is solidifying at a steady rate, so to speak. Main sticking point is finding the right models, human figures and, most importantly of all, environments for the software. These are more important considerations than would be preferable, since the availability of elements dictate a story's direction as much as a real sets would for a more conventional film (unfortunately, several vital things can be a bit more expensive than I'd like, which means price is a consideration, too). The good news is that the artistic-looking visual filter stuff is proving
no trouble.
The animation side of things, unfortunately, is requiring more expertise than I have, but even if it ends up turning into a full-on motion comic, that won't detract from the direction I have in mind.
Green-screening live-action stuff provided stranger results than expected (going to try a different lighting technique to get around the encountered problem), but filtering and colour-correction
should largely get around that.
Good news is that the methods I'm using won't require an actual cast of actors until much later on and, by that time, what I'll need them for can all be accomplished in a very short space of time. Cryptic, I know! But when this is finished, my reasoning shall become clearer!
Not pretending this'll be massively epic with heart-stirring drama or anything, but I
am aiming for what shall hopefully be something with a relatively professional look for an exceedingly low budget.
Shall be posting some more experimental stuff when I can do.
Quote from: Byohzrd on Jan 22, 2013, 05:21:27 AM
CG film? You should perhaps get in touch with Locusta and see if he'll lend you his CG models, THAT would be the greatest CG alien film of all time.
Did send a message, but no reply yet.
Visual updates...
Not the human figure I'll be using. Just a preliminary CGI model before obtaining more realistic and detailed ones.
Also not actual visuals from the project. As before, these were tests.
PHASE 1:Spoiler
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FSulaco-CrouchShadedWireframe_zps6bbc99e5.jpg&hash=2bdfa032316c47a6f881760056ce463ce3917e59)
There's our friendly killing machine... Aboard a set of the Sulaco hanger, no less. As can be seen, Swidhelm's model poses very nicely if you match the posture with a dynamic tail movement. Incidentally, it's the same one as was used in the AVP fan-film, 'Redemption'. The dorsal tubes are a bit bigger than I'd like, but I can't seem to alter them. Tolerable enough and the rest of it is just beautiful.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FSulaco-Crouch_zps6bbed737.jpg&hash=15d9c24b7aeba030ec42bd48ddaace32e071bffb)
Here's what it looks like when rendered. While nice enough, I haven't finished with it yet...
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FSulaco-CrouchExtra_zps339d5dc1.jpg&hash=6e00cc54e61fec6c20dca64a3a7733b80f6c59f4)
Now with a filter! Greater visual definition. Does change some of the set's colours, but it's an interesting experiment.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FSulaco-CrouchPaint_zps8dd7776d.jpg&hash=187cea6064ebdfbd882ed1ef6d16762c7747d430)
The initial image, now with an artistic look to it... Good! But let's try the same on the more defined picture, shall we?
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FSulaco-CrouchExtraPaint_zpsa0f05175.jpg&hash=54ca0af92741d27ead42fe1764611acd8dcebf86)
There we are... Much closer to that cinematic Denis Beauvais style, as featured in the original second comic. But... Ready for prime-time? No, no. Not quite yet. Still more to go.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FSulaco-ThermalPaint_zps109ddf81.jpg&hash=d564a487b0146b30c8a12fe7fbdd8f36ac75121a)
But before we do that, let's see what a thermal imaging version looks like. As it happens, rather nice! With a suitably cool temperature registering for the creature, too (the doors come across as 'hot', but there are ways to fix that with layers). Potential Predator inclusion is at least possible now (HUD symbology experiments come later).
But all of the above was with full lighting. Let's see how the finished product looks when not only given the right lighting, but has a human figure to interact with.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FSulaco-Run1Paint_zps3c641186.jpg&hash=6ca80227ae6a30be61d08c20dbbcf7a1dd4991d8)
Why the artistic filters? I'll be explaining that on another future post, but trust me, experimenting with them does have a purpose.
Spoiler
With the initial experimentation over, let's see if I can create a convincing attack interaction in a relatively short space of time... This time, there's no set - but for good reason. It's for the purposes of seeing how things look at closer range and different forms of lighting. I don't want surfaces to reflect it. I just want to focus on the figures. This time, while physically interacting.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FAttack-FullLight_zps858d0ae0.jpg&hash=4863267b046ec769b1b277ba73e14ae0641c43bd)
Lambert 2.0 - now with long hair! The tail's actually coming up between her legs for a relevant psychosexual effect as she's being calmly grabbed, but posing the camera to look up gives an even better sense of helplessness. It's surprising to see just how tall a proper Alien can be.
This, however, is fully lit. Different lighting effects come later.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FAttack-Bloom_zps07f4579a.jpg&hash=cbf4306fd995c8faaf2fde8740bf38e9a73db185)
Experimental blooming image filter.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FAttack-BloomPaint_zps03b6da19.jpg&hash=4960eda21baf0126b73bbcfebc9321a55cf88102)
Artistic look over the bloom.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FAttack-FullLightDark_zpsdf7e36fc.jpg&hash=030cb00cea5f430b8e9187b5018fb0de9263e36c)
Different collection of filters. It's not simply to darken the entire tone. They're done to highlight certain areas and hide others. Gives a greater sense of shadow.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FAttack-FullLightDarkPaint_zps8bad5061.jpg&hash=c758549b65027f47760be3c73ae5fc28d6385045)
Artistic look given to that.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FAttack-FullLightExtra_zps62453988.jpg&hash=c4319a5a2df17d46d9c7d8bd7d7327fd15421914)
Similar technique used to highlight the Alien in the Sulaco hanger.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FAttack-FullLightPaint_zps0650b8d0.jpg&hash=fd843e1022f92ffadc4b65f8b892c03404bff30c)
Artistic look.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FAttack-PointLight_zps94a6f12c.jpg&hash=6a17ca397af4650420e6e1f4d5f18d98317d578f)
The first proper lighting alteration given to the basic scene.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FAttack-PointLightExtra_zps993bdfd6.jpg&hash=7fe94cb2a79a226b7f825a7bbd7099650b08fa96)
Greater definition.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FAttack-SL_zpse1f3d218.jpg&hash=5ca3cdeb5158990d6fcb801021bd89a05be16a57)
Another different lighting effect.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FAttack-SLExtra_zps9a0b55bd.jpg&hash=d01c345d3c29e4ec7b500ce7078fcadb71a62ee2)
Greater definition.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FAttack-SLPaint_zps2e9fbe22.jpg&hash=8a8e45d24c80f2fa6cf24d74acef3bdc3b86dd9d)
Artistic effect.
Still early days, but even these basic tests are looking promising.
CGI to-do list:Testing more detailed human figures.
Vehicles.
Giger components.
Environments.
Other techniques:Additional visual filter/lighting experimentation.
Physical ice effects...
Green screen element combinations with suitable colour-correction.
Then comes the writing. :)
After that, the visuals, then audio, then tons of video editing.
f**k...f**kING YES!
Very very interesting. Keep us teased!
Something is already planned for the next few days... >:D
This looks very fascinating Xenomorphine. Can't wait to see what you've got. :D
Hey,
Looks very good, keep it up!!
If you need some small help from 3D to Compositing just give me a PM, I'd be glad to help you ;)
Cya
Much appreciated!
Looking forward to updates!
Initial teaser delayed, due to some a few green screen technical issues.
On the other hand, teaser has been improved by an alternative work-around method for the same shot. >:D
Image mattes, Xeno! Image mattes! ;) :laugh:
Slight update:
Using ice to try and get the right light refraction is frustrating when you're up against the time limit of melting!
First footage for the teaser now works and is usable. Going to take some more when it gets light. Without spoiling anything for what might turn out to be a certain blink-and-you'll-miss-it live-action image, it needs some better highlighting of the surface texture. Looking like a media student project is precisely what I want to avoid. :)
Awesome! Can't wait for the teaser!
Quick update: The last month has been rather hectic for me, with a combination of a move of residence and some other stuff, but now I'm (mostly) settled into the new place and have got Internet back in full, this project is continuing. 8)
f**king f**k yes!
Eagerly awaiting more footage.
Put some non-Alien visual stuff in the Fan Art section (nothing which will end up in this, although, was done in the course of experimenting with renders), but, man... This project would come along so much quicker if I could find some user-friendly advice on how to transfer Poser figures into Daz Studio! Trying to find out how is what's been taking me so long.
If anyone out there has experience in that, send me a private message. :)
Anyway, work continues apace...
With Poser, I just render stuff out as it's own element then comp it over backgrounds created in 3DS Max.
Quote from: Xenomorphine on Jan 22, 2013, 12:40:10 AM
Experimental results:
Spoiler
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FPaint1_zps3da7b75b.jpg&hash=7b06fb78d90006b68114568bd44fed386b0c06a8)
Basic Alien in leaping pose. Attempt at rendering a dark, shadowy artistic look by using a PNG transparency.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FCGI1_zps1406d3a4.jpg&hash=029a62cdf5d1292623ede62adc86c3a54bdd925e)
Same leaping pose. Purely CGI here, but using initial layers of colour-correction to get the lighting right for what follows...
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FCGI5_zps6e2b5fc9.jpg&hash=da3a00664c6eb99a244df296dc1faa2a8b677ecf)
The results of adding a flared light source to remove some lit highlights and give emphasis to others. Much more satisfying composition here... Was keeping in mind how to try and achieve the psychological impacts of Nostromo lighting and Hadley's Hope emergency strobe lighting, in concert with a dynamic pose.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FAVP%2FProject%25201%2FRain1_zpsc8b7855c.jpg&hash=7c4d5e54a1e4403092fff56f96a091120a26be6e)
Alternative attempt with different lighting. Some additional highlights are given a blanketing psychological 'hidden' effect by the illusion of running rain.
Not the planned final look (and doesn't have the advantage of a background or shadows), but shows good promise for the atmospheric tone this requires.
GAH! YOUR AWESOMNESS HAS RENDERED MY MIND BLANK! What software are you using? For modeling and animation and all those layer effects.
Finally figured out how to import the Alien to Daz... >:D
Only problem is that a Daz import demands 'hardware assisted' renders to show the Alien's textures. Which would be great, except that the textures of any surrounding environments and interacting characters end up looking crap. >:( Trying to sort out this annoying problem with the model's creator.
If all else fails, I'll just have to do two entirely different renders and then combine them with some creative editing.
Quote from: cloverfan98 on Apr 30, 2013, 01:32:29 AM
GAH! YOUR AWESOMNESS HAS RENDERED MY MIND BLANK! What software are you using? For modeling and animation and all those layer effects.
I
was using Poser 9 for animation and rendering the basic images (which were then run through various filters), but that's going to take way too long unless I get paid for it. It has some very decent tools, but I think a motion comic style is now going to fit this project better (with music, sound effects and vocals, like a radio play). I was hoping to stay with Poser because camera angles and lighting effects are more intuitive, but couldn't import the assets I needed. Have now switched mostly to Daz Studio 4.5.
Modelling the basic CGI scene is only half the story, though. Lighting is a
big part of generating the right visual mood and I use a whole host of different applications to achieve that (mostly on the iPad), which I then mix, match and render in different combinations. Depends on what's needed for an individual scene, really! I might use stuff from one application, pass it over to a second, then use a third or more to refine something, then go back to the first ones. When this is all finished, I'll do a behind-the-scenes thing explaining what was done and why (if I can remember enough :)).
Some of the details on the Alien are actually a
little basic and not nearly as biomechanical as, say, Locusta's incredible attention to detail, which means lighting is even more important here. Basic principles of Ridley Scott's use of lighting on the physical sets is basically the same as for virtual ones - except you get better post-production control over these and it costs nothing to reshoot. :)
I do lament not having Locusta's stuff to work with, though... Absolute best I've ever seen. Not just for the Alien, but the egg, facehugger, Giger architecture and even that Nostromo floor section they did. Stunning quality.
Alien texture problem is now gloriously fixed. Specularity was at fault.
Need to spend some more money on some extra virtual sets, clothing and styles of hair, then I'm pretty much set for basic rendering. Now I've got the Alien problem sorted out, I can breeze back over some tutorials on Daz Studio lighting and I should be back in business.
celebrationdance.gif
Rendered a publicity poster (composed completely as a CGI model/set, complete with lighting). New spin on a classic image...
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Revival-Awaits-370530500 (http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Revival-Awaits-370530500)
Did play around with smoke/fog and 'spilled' lighting effects on the classic 'tear', but removed them because they were creating problems on other parts of the image.
"Xeno, where have you been? What's happened to your film? Why did you taunt us and then scurry away with nothing more to show? Do you like killing our dreams on purpose? Is that it?"
All questions I can hear you asking and which you're probably not. Regardless! Here's an update:
Teaser video is still happening, but rather than just going ahead with what might be something sub-standard, I've been spending my time getting to properly learn how to handle Daz Studio, now that I've transferred to that from Poser. That's what I used to produce the egg poster, up above and, having now got to grips with the way it uses lighting, I can say it's well worth it.
With that change, however, comes the definite decision of this being a motion comic, rather than CGI animated. Not only would it cost a small fortune to get the expansions I'd need to make it look satisfactory, but it would eat massively into time. Rather than faff around like that, I'd rather spend the time trying to render some awesome-looking still pictures, instead of take a risk at producing something potentially... Not nearly as good.
Maybe for the future!
Bad news... The software which I had been planning to use for the 'motion' side of the motion comic process, doesn't work on Vista. Arrrrrgh! Didn't realise it at the time, which means I've spent more money than I should have done on a product which I won't be able to use until getting Windows 7 or up!
Sooo... Instead of the funky-looking reveals, panel animations and more, which I was hoping would make this look properly unique, I'm going to have to resort to the relatively simple techniques available through conventional video editing. Siiiiigh... But at least it's still something! And I've seen other projects which have used that and been no less decent for it. Still planning on using audio to complement the zooms, pans, transitions and so on. So, all that earlier planning I did isn't for nothing. It's just not going to be as great as I was hoping for (on the bright side, it also means I could always produce a PDF adaptation of it in more conventional comic style).
Nevertheless, in good news, there is the following!
Due to being carefully watchful with sales, I've now managed to procure a heck of a lot of relevant environments and models and for the CGI software. This means that, while it'll effectively be like a slide show accompanied to an audio play with music, it'll be one where the story can really open up in scope.
And even better, the most recent upgrade now allows me access in Daz to something I was using to produce the more realistic flesh in Poser, on some of those earlier images I posted here. Won't bore you with the details, but something called Sub-Surface Scattering essentially lets it model how lighting is absorbed by skin and other materials, allowing for a more convincingly cinematic mood/style.
So, there you have it! An update on where this project now is! Basic story is now more or less ready and has upped tempo from a fairly claustrophobic survival-horror to something which can now afford to be a little more epic in scope (but hopefully not at the expense of the former). I must have spent a heck of a lot more money than I should have, experimenting with physical models, then switching to Poser, then Daz, then getting motion comic software I can't use... :) I'm trying to look upon the latter as an accidental investment for the future, though! Just a frustrating one... And all the stuff I've managed to obtain can definitely be used for art in general.
Well, that's that. Now all the pieces are in place and I know what the story should be (had to get the right selection of virtual environments/sets, first), I can finally start rendering some visuals for the teaser of what should be in the final product, rather than just random, irrelevant crap thrown together at the last moment. :)
I can't wait to see it. ;D
Test render of spacecraft (click to enlarge the image):
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffc09.deviantart.net%2Ffs71%2Ff%2F2013%2F151%2F1%2F4%2Fship_test_renders_by_sentinalysis-d67butm.png&hash=2bf859f90a3d852f448f19d67aaf3c05afc3f575)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Ship-Test-Renders-375107530 (http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Ship-Test-Renders-375107530)
Oh, man. This is sweet as hell.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffc04.deviantart.net%2Ffs70%2Ff%2F2013%2F151%2Fe%2F1%2Fshadow_cavern_by_sentinalysis-d67cor3.png&hash=31d2c1a41a7dea654f7ba5b244d09864686aa371)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Shadow-Cavern-375146319 (http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Shadow-Cavern-375146319)
Can't quite get the Alien model to look as organic as I'd like, but some creative use of lighting goes a long way...
Quote from: ShadowPred on Jun 01, 2013, 03:15:14 AM
Oh, man. This is sweet as hell.
I hope only to live up to expectations! Surpassing them would, of course, be preferable. :)
Love the eye sockets on that Alien. I can see what you mean about the model though - it does look somewhat stone-ish.
The ships look good. The dropship (I think?) doesn't look quite as good as the other ships though. :-\
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Jun 01, 2013, 02:38:30 PM
Love the eye sockets on that Alien. I can see what you mean about the model though - it does look somewhat stone-ish.
Same model as was used in the other shots from a few months ago. Different software, though - they've got slightly different ways of lighting things. It's actually the same one as was used for the AVP '
Redemption' film. The person who made it said they're working on an update, but it might take a while before that's available.
I'm still experimenting with different shaders to see if I can get a wetter look for this version. Dark, reflective metal looked... Interesting, but because it hasn't got obvious joins, ended up looking more like a wax-like statue - trial and error! :)
QuoteThe ships look good. The dropship (I think?) doesn't look quite as good as the other ships though. :-\
Different person who made it. :) Not the official dropship, more of an assault craft, but you can tell it's based on it.
I do like the more Chris Foss-like look of the others, though. Fortunately, I've got several more of those...
After some experimentation, the slightly washed out look of it might have been to do with the texture for giving it a grey hue. The default one is slightly more detailed (even if it does have a weird greeny-brown shade).
Just a shame there aren't any Alien models available of Locusta's quality! That one's amazingly detailed.
Hey,
Have you tried to extract the aliens from AVP2010.
I remember a long ago having them being converted to .obj (though, I've lost them since).
But since you can use the extractor thing, maybe you could check Ikarop and see if he can give you any advice to extract the model.
There were quite low polys but with some tweak and a proper shadder you can easily get the giger's look/cameron's look without putting too much effort on poly count like Locusta and have a very decent model that would render pretty quick.
The only thing that needs to be re-do are the UV Map and maybe the diffuse/spec/normal maps since you'll hardly get the same UV map as AVP2010 but it's a strong base to start working with.
I hope it helped, Cya.
Interesting idea... Wasn't sure that was possible (or at least, thought that if it was, someone would have already done it).
I'll send a message and see if Ikarop can help with that. Things like UV maps confuse the hell out of me (there need to be more guides written for beginners in mind), but I could always see if the Swidhelm textures could be applied to the AVP models, if nothing else.
If all of that can be done, I'll have to see how many morphs/movement dials would be translated. If it's just a static model, it won't be much use!
EDIT: Ikarop says they would be static models, after all! Would require someone who's already pre-rigged them in advance (in which case, they might as well just upload the finished results to somewhere).
Slight update on the project: That software I was hoping to use to create a proper motion comic-like effect might just be useable, after all... Really hoping it is, because it's what I was planning for. That hiccup set a lot of things back.
Time will tell.
Periodic update!
Trailer: I know, I know... But the wait has improved everything so much more. The entire project is looking better than it had, precisely because I've learned a lot more about the software since beginning this endeavour.
ETA: Is getting probably pushed back to next year now; why? Because of unexpectedly getting ownership of a puppy and she's requiring most of my free time, at the moment. :) as with all art, it'll be ready when it's ready...
In lieu of any immediate motion comic footage, however, I will be posting some more test renders and such on here when I can. Latest development is that I've been able to kit together a decent-looking dropship-esque pilot costume, but am working with a modeller to help create something more authentic. Might make my initial attempts the next thing to be posted here, just so that the rest of you can compare/contrast when the finished product is done.
Also, definitely back in motion comic territory, due to getting a new computer when I can!
Still deciding between pure CGI and giving it an artistic filter... Might do two different versions.
So, yes, still continuing stealthily behind the scenes. Is absolutely going to get finished at some time... Spent too much on assets to simply give up, even if I were inclined! Even rewatching the original films, as I type this, for inspiration.
New update: Have just located a source for what should be a much more detailed Alien, which should fix some of the issues described up above.
Am 90% sure the (fully-articulated) model's been ripped from either the last AVP game or 'Colonial Marines', but it will let me have a 'hero' Alien for up-close or well-lit scenes.
Update:
Waiting for some necessary costume assets, but the good news is that, after some experimental renders, the Alien is, indeed, now looking much improved.
New preview images posted soon.
Woor, I'm pumped to see the new images!
Test render with the new, more detailed Alien model. Seems to have eliminated the earlier smoothness!
Accidentally clipped the tail into the ground, but it's just for basic test purposes... This one doesn't have the chainsaw-like part going across the centre of the head, unfortunately, but I can always mix and match with the older version (whose maker is soon bringing a very detailed and authentic update, which could be even better). This one's tail seems more trunk-like than skeletal, but the additional detail elsewhere is worth it and, as I say, I can use different models for different situations and then combine visuals.
More pictures later on! Click the link to enlarge this one to full scale for greater detail!
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffc02.deviantart.net%2Ffs71%2Ff%2F2013%2F309%2Fd%2Ff%2Falien_cavern___test_render_by_sentinalysis-d6t6q4f.png&hash=5ab8a7f01e49b034752a0341ff90ff32bd0ad1c4)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Alien-Cavern-Test-Render-411819711 (http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Alien-Cavern-Test-Render-411819711)
Damn, that looks f**king great.
Thanks! Was just a quick and dirty render to see if it would be an improvement. Hopefully, the actual scenes will have better use of lighting and shadow.
Dropship pilot costume attempt:
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffc03.deviantart.net%2Ffs71%2Ff%2F2013%2F310%2F0%2Ff%2Fdropship_pilot_costume_test_by_sentinalysis-d6t9q5l.png&hash=98e2f8a37f01b6e2b83ff7d451d2d5e68821a587)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Dropship-Pilot-Costume-Test-411959721 (http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Dropship-Pilot-Costume-Test-411959721)
Definitely not the final version. Just an attempt to see what can be created by throwing together elements from different costume sets to see if I could get something kind of authentic-looking. Basic, but sort of works... Am seeing a professional CGI modeller in regards to their upcoming release of a more accurate flight suit - that's the one I'll likely be using.
Note-worthy as an early costume experiment, however.
More test rendering - not necessarily reflective of what will be in the final product. Done primarily for experimenting with lighting composition, weapon posing and surface materials.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffc02.deviantart.net%2Ffs70%2Ff%2F2013%2F316%2F8%2F1%2Fvacation___test_render_by_sentinalysis-d6u0k97.png&hash=65fb814d5a24493f56f17465f6529a4b1ff8b7b2)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Vacation-Test-Render-413211787 (http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Vacation-Test-Render-413211787)
About ten days late or so, but loving the renders. Looking forward to seeing more of this.
It's been a while since I updated here and it's the main thing which has been soaking up my free time. As something I can reveal, however, I'd like to take a little time to explain something called 'shaders'.
In CGI art, this is essentially something which is applied to the surface of a model to completely change its look and how light interacts with it. You can get them for all kinds of purposes... Things which make a figure look like a spectral ghost, others which make them look like corroded metal or as if they're out of a '
Tron' film and so on.
And shaders are something which have massively helped what I've been doing. Just constructed a scene demands things like good placement of light, shadows and, believe it or not, reflections (because in CGI, you can actually exert control over those, too). While I can't promise something which is photo-realistic, I'd like to at least make it look as
good as I can.
Sometimes, however, a product comes along which can have unintended, but intriguing, visual effects. An example of this comes from yesterday, where a new shader was released which is designed to take account of things like glittering paint for fingernails. All well and good, but something caught my eye about how it interacted on a belt... And, after some fiddling around with the surface settings, I was able to create a nicely realistic reflection effect, which is great for recreating the look of fluid or oil-based smearing.
Or Alien resin. :)
Spoiler
Before:
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FCGI%2FAlienGlitterShader-Before_zpse8a1975f.png&hash=9922829d173f76b1aef6bb1edacfc6f1fa80df68)
After:
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FCGI%2FAlienGlitterShader-After_zpsa9b67663.png&hash=16c257048c24cde74e4e6a142ca6b9c1f3a93230)
These should
not be considered of the same quality I'm using for the actual project. There's only one indirect light involved and no shadows (which is what's giving this one an uncanny valley look), because I was using it purely to test the shader's effect. What's interesting is that it makes the surface of the head, torso and arms now look as if they're glistening with an oily sheen.
The down side of this, as you can also see, is that it made the legs and tail look much less realistic. From what I can tell, this seems more down to how the shader is using the surface of the model, itself, rather than the painted textures. Because of this, more work is needed before it can be applied to the project, but I'm already looking into how a glistening shader which doesn't interfere with any pre-existing textures might be possible.
So, a small example of how, just like with live-action film projects, I'm sometimes finding ways to use elements and effects in ways their creators had never thought of. :)
Also a part of why this has been taking so long, because the technology is constantly evolving and allowing me to experiment with environments and techniques I hadn't originally thought would be a possibility.
f**king good update. The new shader looks good, actually looks like a surface you can grab and hold on to rather than the marble look of that first image that looks all slippery as hell. Can't wait to see what this looks like with all sorts of lighting and shadows next time.
Yeah, the slippery light on the 'before' shot is just the default texture the model has. Which, in itself, is quite impressive, but still has to be lit right, like in a computer game. Otherwise, it doesn't look as impressive. The glittery shader definitely gave it an improvement, though. Glad you agree!
There's another upcoming Alien model which should be coming down the pipeline, though... The preview images its creator passed over looked very impressive and, because it wasn't textured, I know that one has all the detailing on the actual surface, which lends itself much better to the above effect. Crossing fingers for it...
Also recently learned how to give images a motion blur effect, which has helped tremendously.
Success! Got some strange effects when applying it to human figures, but have figured out how to get the Alien's normal textures to show through much more than before.
Applied to a random human figure beside it for comparison (Alien not adjusted for an authentic height).
Spoiler
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy18%2Fxenomorphine%2FCGI%2FAlienGlitterShader-Improved_zpsac65c913.jpg&hash=6a671b3951ce97319139f2c205e37e2430556f1b)
Click to enlarge it!
Shall probably use a more skeletal tail from another model if I ultimately use this as a 'hero' Alien model.
Update:
For those wondering, I did manage to solve the shader issues previously outlined above. Today was a bit of a milestone, as I've finally got access to an effect which, while intended for standing in as giant spider webbing, actually makes a very passable stand-in for Alien hive resin! It just requires changing the default colour from white to a sort of light greenish-brown. :) Have still got someone making some proper chunks of resin, but until then, this will function admirably.
Project is steadily moving ahead... Human characters are now being rendered in HD, for the most part. Makes them much more realistic. The motion-comic stage won't be started until all the rest is complete, but the software for that installed perfectly fine. It's just, as I say, a matter of waiting for a few final props and costumes. I'd say I've got about 90-95% of everything to make the end result polished. Gradually proceeding with what elements are already to hand. The waiting is worth it. As of yesterday, for instance, I've now got much more convincing liquid, fog and weather effects than before.
I know, I know... Still no video advert! But I'd rather it be worth watching than just put something out there for the sake of it. It's a long way off from even needing people to record the audio for various characters, but it's coming together.
Won't be up to the sort of quality Locusta can manage, but you can't have everything. :)
Haven't posted in this thread very much, but I've been enjoying reading your updates. Sounds like a lot of great work is going into this project, and I can't wait to see the end result.
Quote from: Nightmare Asylum on Sep 19, 2014, 04:29:27 PM
Haven't posted in this thread very much, but I've been enjoying reading your updates. Sounds like a lot of great work is going into this project, and I can't wait to see the end result.
Appreciated!
Just finished reading the first of the new novels and in the midst of the second. A couple of ideas from my story seem to have coincidentally shown up in them, but nothing too major. One of my characters will have empathic abilities, for instance, but since the concept isn't being exactly... Handled well in that novel, I'm not too worried about it.
Think '
The Thing' meets '
30 Days Of Night' with Aliens in it and you should have an idea of at least the tone I'm aiming for with this. Now that I'm working in HD for the human models (many of them, anyway), what I'm now capable of feels a lot more atmospheric and closer to what I was originally hoping for.
Another major update:
Haven't yet taken the leap, because it's presently at version 2.5 and I'd like to start with 3, but... Having familiarised myself with the interface, this project will eventually be taking advantage of the amazing plug-in known as Reality. It's a different method for rendering images within the same software I'm presntly using, which models light in a much more realistic way.
For examples made by other people, have a look at the following.
http://gray-fox200.deviantart.com/art/Before-and-After-Using-Reality-400049606 (http://gray-fox200.deviantart.com/art/Before-and-After-Using-Reality-400049606)
http://amethyst25.deviantart.com/art/Baroque-Before-and-After-using-Reality-399769890 (http://amethyst25.deviantart.com/art/Baroque-Before-and-After-using-Reality-399769890)
http://jv-andrew.deviantart.com/art/Guard-721-436446993 (http://jv-andrew.deviantart.com/art/Guard-721-436446993)
The huge advantage of this is that, as of now, I have to place artificial sources of light around where I'd estimate the real fixtures to be projecting. With Reality, you simply select the actual loghts from within the model of a set, tell it to convert them to light sources and it will then render the image as if light is interacting literally as the room had designed them to. Also allows stuff like vehicle headlights to be projecting light as they should do! Even 'ordinary' materials seem to be given a face-lift. The only diadvantage is that rendering times for each image take a lot longer, but they look worth it.
Haven't made the switch yet, as I say, but imagine the above examples to be what this project should hopefully be using in future. Exciting times if I can get this going!
Since lighting plays a major part in anything with the Alien, that Reality program will be a excellent addition to creating some awesome work.
Definitely. It also allows for things like volumetric lights and fog... Anyone who's seen the footage of 'Isolation' knows what a tremendous sense of atmosphere that should convey.
Hey, very nice progress Xenomorphine, I'm not very present but I keep on eye from time to time on your project ;)
Beware though, It's very hard to render volumetric due to its consuming resources resulting as a large increase in render time.
Try to fake it in compositing, you get the same result and you divide by 20 the time spent.
Compositing probably wouldn't work too well, as I'd need it to interact with the light falling over the characters and environment.
This is the method used:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcT6XS5C4bY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcT6XS5C4bY)
There might be some subtle differences with the version for Daz Studio (that example's for Poser), but I know it includes a huge cube of 'fog' which you can literally just saturate into an environment to cover everything. Reality then just simulates how the light would be dispersed.
Not that I don't already have fog/smoke effects, it's just that Reality seems to make it a lot more convincing. :)
I do agree about render times, though. Renders with Reality will take longer, but the visual quality is definitely worth it. Some are almost photo-realistic.
Hey,
That render engine looks very promising and does the job pretty well, nice found and upgrade.
Very nice and efficient tutorial btw, it seems way easier than doing it with VRay!
It's not that hard to fake the godrays and volumetric actually in compositing and the result is as good as it being rendered inside the render engine.
That's what is used in most hollywood film, it's usually done separately to gain time.
The main difference is, instead of having the computer to do it for you, you have to make it yourself.
I don't know how Reality works, but if it's fast enough without flickers then go for it.
In case it is too slow for what you want, don't hesitates to PM me, I might even be able to help during my free time ;)
Cya.
What a great project, and it sounds like a short horror film. I hope you finish it, and I for one will be very aware of the progress. Thanks for the video by the way. :)
Celticant:
Was pleasantly surprised at how efficient it seems, yes! That's a big part of why I've decided to switch over to this method. Renders can apparently take hours to get exactly right, but it makes the surfaces of even primitive-looking sets/props look beautiful. Big factor when you're mixing together lots of different characters/clothing/vehicles etcetera.
Before, I was worried about having to hide some older items with lighting/shadow. With this, it won't matter.
Version 3 will be out before the end of the year, but I don't know when... I might have to wait until December before doing renders.
At least it's made the wait, so far, worthwhile. :)
Shrimp:
Believe me, it will be finished! I started out in January of 2013, thinking this would be cheap, but since then, I've bought what must be hundreds of assets... Even with most being in discount sales, I must have spent several thousand, so far. :o It's quite alarming when I look back!
So, yes, I've literally invested too much money to simply give up on it!
And there's always a chance it could still revert back to an AVP film... Depends if a certain vendor cranks out their Predator model in time. Wouldn't take much to modify the story and put them back in.
Just got confirmation that they're skipping Reality 3 and going straight to version 4 on the 1st of December, so that any future Poser and Daz Studio upgrades will be synchronised.
So, fates willing, next month is when this project finally moves beyond the skeletal, experimental phase and into something more fully atmospheric. Organic, if you will.
It's been gestating for a while, but births in 2015...
I really can't wait to see more of this. What's the current vision? Still going for a comic - or am I mis-remembering?
Plan is still to create a motion-comic video (got some software specifically designed for creating them), but one which uses cinematic presentation techniques, as opposed to typical 'comic book philosophy'. Trying to capture the atmosphere of something like the old 'Book 2', basically, except in video form. Some basic animation, but not like a cartoon.
Imagine if the original 'Aliens Versus Predator' comic had been given 'Isolation'-style presentation and you'll get an idea of what I'm hoping to achieve.
Sorry, Im new here..
Would you (or someone) be so kind as to explain what are you trying to do here.. create a new Alien film??
How do you see yourself doing it artistically? Obviously youre a huge fan, at what point (if any) does your concept interject the current films to date?
Lots of questions and interest...
Because Im new here Im sorry if I have asked questions that have already been answered.. Id be glad if anyone wrote to me to fill me in.
Cheers
Quote from: jamhrl on Nov 21, 2014, 12:17:37 AM
Sorry, Im new here..
Would you (or someone) be so kind as to explain what are you trying to do here.. create a new Alien film??
How do you see yourself doing it artistically? Obviously youre a huge fan, at what point (if any) does your concept interject the current films to date?
Lots of questions and interest...
Because Im new here Im sorry if I have asked questions that have already been answered.. Id be glad if anyone wrote to me to fill me in.
Cheers
A fan-made film, sure. Doesn't have Fox's blessing or anything. :)
It's basically me putting my money where my mouth is, deciding that I'll make my own effort, rather than just sit back and criticise the work of others. A couple of years ago, I came to realise that we, in the public domain, now have some very professional tools at our disposal and that, if I could make a go of this, it would prove to other fans that there's no reason we need to be limited to the same old stop-motion action figure videos we've been seeing for years.
Originally, I was going to get some of the modern generation, high-quality action figures, by the likes of Hot Toys, shoot still images of them in HD, then put some impressive visual filters over them, so that they'd merge into the environments I'd make for them, much more realistically.
Then I discovered that CGI art was now available to ordinary people for either free or very low prices... At that point, I'd seen actual animated videos for other fandoms and was hoping to do the same. Then I reaised the aimation side of it would be way too complicated. :)
However! I
do have some very good motion-comic software and this should allow me to make some good quality still images, give them limited animation and present it with music, sound effects and, hopefully, spoken dialogue. If you flip back to the first page of this thread, you'll see the progress I've steadily been making and how it's grown from relaively humble beginnings to something a lot bigger in scale.
So, even if not many people like it? I'll have still shown other fans that we
can make these things a reality. Gone are the days of high school, we were forced to scribble out a few crude drawings and know they're limited to pipe dreams! With what's available now, so long as you take the time to look at a few free/cheap video and illustrated tutorials, you can make a full-blown fan-film/motion-comic of fairly decent visual quality.
Where does this story fit in the film chronology? Good question! Right now, it's ambiguous. After the second/third film, definitely. Not sure about the fourth. We didn't really get much of a sense of how society, at large, had altered by then. If it serves the story, I might make the actual timing more definite.
Finally got a copy of the Reality 4 add-on and have been getting to grips with its unique aspects...
The biggest drawback has been in figuring out how to create sky and atmospheres (or an illusion of being in outer space). Skydomes are what are usually used to achieve this: Gigantic spheres with a sky or something else 'painted' on the inside. Reality doesn't work that way, however and will treat them as solid objects, unable to let light pass through.
The good news is that I've been given some great advice on how to get around this and I'm going to be experimenting, over the next few days, to make sure this works as it should do.
Next on the list is to make sure which conventional shaders (for anyone curious, I gave an explanation for what 'shaders' are on the last one or two pages) are compatible with Reality. Reality uses its own unique shaders to create hyper-realistic versions for metals, glass, skin and so on. The one's I'm hoping to still use have allowed me to emulate the kind of effects shown on Ripley's chest scan in 'Alien 3' (combined with a props for an articulated skeleton and internal organs, of course) and some other very neat things, like corroded and dirty materials.
Also need to check whether virtual cameras can still be used. For instance, I've got an emulated fisheye lens, which can be used for all sorts of useful things, especially if I should want to replicate the 'Alien 3' visual effects, as well as other types of cameras for mist and so on.
If all proves well, by the end of the week, I'll know what the new limitations are, if any.
Fantastic news! I look forward to seeing what the new program allows you to do.
Coming up soon... Character/costume concept previews.
Just need a certain CGI vendor's store to have one more discount sale (which they do often) and I should have all which is necessary for those.
Two or three more sets/environments needed before I have all of those, likewise. Recently managed to get an excellent variety of starfields, which should be immensely helpful.
Also heard another vendor is apparently doing an HD Alien model, which, if true, should be... Very beneficial... Yes.
How many Alien models have you gone through? xD
Have quite a few! Swidhelm made the free ones which I believe featured in 'Redemption'. He's long since said he's doing an update to that (which has all different heads from the first three films), but I guess the reason for the wait is that he can't make a profit from them, so...
The more detailed ones I have (which I used in the more recent examples I posted) are from a different place and they're the ones who've said they're actively working on an HD edition of it. They usually do different types of each model, which makes me hope they'll allow for the smooth and ridge-headed versions. I never posted the egg or Queen model they brought out, but both of those rendered very nicely when I tested them.
Still experimenting with some work-arounds to create convincing resin/cocoon material. Nobody's brought out, like, actual models of it, which means having to fuss around with things which are meant to represent chunks of ice, spider webbing and so forth, then changing the material settings to make them look like they have a wet, organic texture to them.
Waaaaaaaaay early on in the project, I managed to do a decent replica of the chestburster scan from 'Alien 3', which I might try to do again and post here. Managed to do that with shaders which are meant to make things look ghostly, but they looked very similar when changing them to turquoise. I'm now able to make things look like they're holograms or in computer wire-frame, too... So, I'll have to see if that looks better or whether to go with authenticity.
The wire-frame thing does let me do visuals like the Nostromo and dropship had, for representing topography, though. :) One of those instances where you're able to use a product for a completely different use than its creator originally intended!
Some experimental character and costume concepts. Rendered in basic 3Delight with only a single indirect light source. The actual project will be rendered in either Reality or Iray, which give much more realistic lighting effects.
Click on the picture to enlarge it to full size.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig10.deviantart.net%2F653b%2Ff%2F2015%2F202%2F1%2Fe%2Ffan_film_character_concepts_by_sentinalysis-d929k0f.png&hash=cee0dcf94cdc9f4b38570073f1620cafa6123f2f)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Fan-Film-Character-Concepts-548000655
The robotic-looking character is a different variety of synthetic and they're appearance is subject to further change.
The soldier looks hella nice. Not too keen on the synthetic though.
It's meant to be a synthetic capable of accomplishing more industrial/hazardous tasks than the rubbery Ash/Bishop/Call/David variety, but without most of the 'skinning' part complete. There's a story-related reason behind why she's been activated like that.
Aside from a few other choices of colour scheme and more primitive robotic arms, the other way of portraying her is a much more basic endoskeletal variation with a mask, instead of expressive skin.
Just doesn't "feel" right to me. Doesn't feel like it belongs to an Alien project. Even with the intended purpose, it doesn't look like a manual labour droid.
Alternative variations.
One of many optional colour schemes - a darker one here. The central version of the character has hair removed, a morph to eliminate breasts (forgot about that and would have used it initially), more mechanical-looking arms and a slight red glow to the eyes (deliberately reminiscent of the primitive Working Joes). The version on the right is the most obviously robotic and endoskeletal, given a semi-transparent female mask to hide the skull, but it's also unfortunately the most difficult to pose (and probably too T-800-like to feature as much as this character shall).
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig02.deviantart.net%2F84bd%2Ff%2F2015%2F203%2Fb%2F9%2Ffan_film_character_concepts___cybernetic_by_sentinalysis-d92caiw.png&hash=83129a2af18e385654ac20e23eea5a0b7e52f1c2)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Fan-Film-Character-Concepts-Cybernetic-548128328
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Jul 22, 2015, 02:51:43 PM
Just doesn't "feel" right to me. Doesn't feel like it belongs to an Alien project. Even with the intended purpose, it doesn't look like a manual labour droid.
Ah! No, she's not
specifically designed for that. Should have made myself clear. :) She's
capable of doing so, but that's not why it exists. More like a command/control Bishop-alike which can
also replace human crew members in emergencies.
Robotic manual labour, I have more specific models for. :) Like this:
http://www.daz3d.com/robot-titan
#2 I can dig. Looks much better. Could you dirty it up a bit? Make it seem more used?
Yes. Shaders are what you use to change the look of something. I can presently use a product which lets me do stuff like this:
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.daz3d.com%2Fmedia%2Fcatalog%2Fproduct%2Fcache%2F1%2Fimage%2F9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95%2F0%2F8%2F08-daz-studio-dirt-shaders-wear-and-tear-weathering-daz3d.jpg&hash=d05571c1500ee376e06d6e5637b404b7ff0494af)
But that only works in the 3Delight rendering engine - which is what I used to make those.
For the actual project, I have to decide between whether to use Reality (posted about that above) or a new render engine, called Iray. Both are what's known as 'unbiased', which means that light behaves like real light does, reflecting and bouncing off of different surfaces.
Now, Reality is better (if a lot slower) at making things like skin look organic.
Iray, is a little better for non-organic things, but there is a shader available for it which would allow me to do things like this:
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.daz3d.com%2Fmedia%2Fcatalog%2Fproduct%2Fcache%2F1%2Fimage%2F9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95%2F0%2F3%2F03-mec4d-pbs-shaders-vol1-for-iray-daz3d.jpg&hash=38e6b173560c4a415a45ec026ee8e601bc6ffc76)
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.daz3d.com%2Fmedia%2Fcatalog%2Fproduct%2Fcache%2F1%2Fimage%2F9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95%2F0%2F5%2F05-mec4d-pbs-shaders-vol1-for-iray-daz3d.jpg&hash=3d4323851dba3a51a3efa59a0b924dd20a3e9530)
Of course, I could just do the entire thing in 3Delight, for the sake of ease and speed, then just run an artistic paint-like filter over the top of it... Don't think it would look as realistic/impressive, though!
Oh those are gorgeous. Very nice effect.
Yes! And 'acid splash' has some obvious relevant uses... Hoping someone brings out a shader to make objects/things look properly corroded/eaten away.
So long as you can select the surface of a model, you can apply a shader effect to it. It's just a shame that all the ones I had for dirt/rust/blood/whatever can't be applied in the new render engines! People are making more and bringing them out, though.
If I have to combine renders in 3Delight and Iray/Reality, then run a filter over the end result to make them all look cohesive, that's just what I'll have to do.
Further variations of LISA.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig06.deviantart.net%2F0b99%2Ff%2F2015%2F213%2F1%2F4%2Ffan_film_character_concepts___lisa__hair__by_sentinalysis-d93rs04.png&hash=31a169980c101c1a56125db98c9cca25d4f8b9d0)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Fan-Film-Character-Concepts-LISA-Hair-550530436
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig15.deviantart.net%2Fc269%2Ff%2F2015%2F213%2Fc%2F7%2Ffan_film_character_concepts___lisa__hairless__by_sentinalysis-d93rr0f.png&hash=7b888d86154bc9c96845c2ff3c8b6ab43ae392eb)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Fan-Film-Character-Concepts-LISA-Hairless-550529151
Retained the 'no breasts' morph for an androgynous look and shows the differences between the two arm variations. The darker colour scheme works with them, but gives a subtle impression of soft, rubbery material at the joints and inner thighs, which might not be suitable for a platform meant to be capable of operating in hazardous environments (extreme temperatures/corrosive elements). The other version allows for completely metallic surfaces - and, of course, can potentially be 'dirtied up', if necessary (using the methods shown above).
Decided that, while interesting, the glowing eyes wouldn't look right if the partially-complete facial skin is meant to be of the same realism as Ash/Bishop/Call's age.
Shown both with and without hair on head (multiple styles available, of course, but the symmetrical nature of it suits her more).
One of these will probably be the default appearance of LISA, unless I decide on an completely different colour scheme.
Of course, I'd prefer to have more mechanical options, like tools in place of hands and multiple limbs, but you have to work with what you have. :)
Definitely prefer the hairless version!
There might be a plausible reason for alternative eyes, after all. Shall play around with some options when it comes to crafting the facial shape.
The good news is that some video tutorials for the Iray rendering engine were on heavy discount, today! They're made by people who have done some good ones in the past. By the end of the week, I should have a decent handle on that new technique and have some new experimental examples to show for it.
Already messaged Hicks about this, but a CGI Predator model has finally become available, along with some of its classic weapons and, surprisingly, a trophy wall with exotic skulls on it.
It's from the same people who have done one of the Alien models I'm using (and announced are doing an HD version of same), which gives me hope that, with the right lighting, this should probably be just as good.
When I've obtained and experimented with it, I should have a good enough indication as to whether I can make this an AVP project, again, like it started off as.
I look forward to seeing it!
Good news! The new Predator renders fine! Done a lot of learning about Iray rendering and it showed up in that, too! Shall be trying to do some 3Delight/Iray render comparisons and show them on here.
Because of this development, I'm going to look back on the story and see just how viable Predator re-inclusion could be.
Quote from: Xenomorphine on Aug 21, 2015, 08:57:28 PM
Good news! The new Predator renders fine! Done a lot of learning about Iray rendering and it showed up in that, too! Shall be trying to do some 3Delight/Iray render comparisons and show them on here.
Fantastic! Can't wait to see more!
Iray render results!
Was previously using a rendering engine known as 3Delight and both of them have pros and cons. Iray, however, models light in a more realistic way and it actually allowed me to gain extra details on the two Alien models I had been using. It's probably complicated for those who are not familiar with this stuff, but basically, there is a way to instruct it to turn 'painted on' textures into modelled surface detail.
These are all experimental renders (two different Aliens, one Predator). All used the same lighting. Iray is a very new and different technique and essentially affords more photo-realism, but disallows control over stuff like shadows (including whether they even exist). Still debating whether or not to use Iray, because it requires a lot more time-consuming effort to modify every single surface on stuff like props, clothing, vehicles and environments. On the other hand, it does allow any individual surface to be turned into a beautifully realistic light source, which is hugely advantageous.
So, compare these with, say, the cybernetic character concepts, for an estimation of the differences between them.
Spoiler
Swidhelm's free Alien model (the one used in Alex Popov's 'Redemption' fan-film) - the eye sockets are visible, but it's a translucent cowl:
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig10.deviantart.net%2F5bbc%2Ff%2F2015%2F241%2F1%2F2%2Firay_alien_example__swidhelm__by_sentinalysis-d97nixd.png&hash=24db07f749468d29db920e8dfd986eca82dd4636)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Iray-Alien-Example-Swidhelm-557050513
The more recent Alien model, which I had posted some other examples of (seems to be more reflective, but that could be modified) - tail's properly skeletal now:
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpre11.deviantart.net%2F057d%2Fth%2Fpre%2Ff%2F2015%2F241%2Fa%2Ff%2Firay_alien_example__fo_render__by_sentinalysis-d97nk74.png&hash=4e249aa748b7195c2d5538a80ac6c2eec4bb6bd9)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Iray-Alien-Example-Fo-Render-557052160
The new Predator character model (might change the glossy reflectivity on the mask with that):
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpre13.deviantart.net%2F5865%2Fth%2Fpre%2Ff%2F2015%2F241%2Fd%2F2%2Firay_predator_example__fo_render__by_sentinalysis-d97nkk3.png&hash=05151beb97d8f30c62803a044b9a67e4c8b05f72)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Iray-Predator-Example-Fo-Render-557052627
Some of these look a little grainier than expected, but that could be altered for the next experimental tests, using the render settings.
Made some modifications to values in surface settings, in an effort to eliminate some of the grainy quality of the examples from above.
Spoiler
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig15.deviantart.net%2Fef5f%2Ff%2F2015%2F242%2F5%2F1%2Firay_alien__swidhelm____improvements_by_sentinalysis-d97q07m.png&hash=3b91fda2470f0fdcd49095ae37d9ff0d586b5d9d)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Iray-Alien-Swidhelm-Improvements-557166226
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig06.deviantart.net%2F0720%2Ff%2F2015%2F242%2Fe%2F9%2Firay_alien__fo_render____improvements_by_sentinalysis-d97q0c5.png&hash=f36d49e2875b5bb62de542f12a185d5aaa28ec43)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Iray-Alien-Fo-Render-Improvements-557166389
Rendering with the sort of lighting I'll be using for the project. This is what using the Iray rendering engine can achieve.
Was fortunate enough to obtain a ground vehicle which feels like it could belong to the continuity. Looks similar to the one the Jordans had used. A human figure is there for a size comparison.
Click to enlarge picture (or visit the link).
Spoiler
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig02.deviantart.net%2Fadbb%2Ff%2F2015%2F307%2Fb%2Fd%2Fcrawler_vehicle_test_by_sentinalysis-d9fezuc.png&hash=8698f7e33ead8eb27df88e17f6d45010d4d09227)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Crawler-Vehicle-Test-570089460
It's perfect! Fits right into the franchise!
Those wheel struts can actually elevate or descend, which makes for some useful suspension options.
Think I've mostly cracked the 'Alien Isolation'-style lighting vibe I've been aiming for, with this. :) It's taken a lot of trial and error, but finally getting some traction!
Do you have any more teases for us?
This is looking really good, just looked at the last few pages of posts (being new to the forum). Can't wait to see some more!
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Nov 04, 2015, 08:09:19 AM
Do you have any more teases for us?
I'm still deciding on the right shaders (surface material pre-sets) to use for more famous hardware, like APC, dropship, etcetera. I'll be doing some tests of those soon. If the classic stuff can look right, then anything can!
Still seeing if the last tests of Aliens/Predators, up above, can have the surface detail improved or not... Then there's some animation testing to complete and post, too.
Quote from: immortal on Nov 04, 2015, 10:22:54 AM
This is looking really good, just looked at the last few pages of posts (being new to the forum). Can't wait to see some more!
Welcome to the site! This project was, uh... Supposed to have been finished a long while ago, but technology progressed and made everything more awesome. :)
Experimenting with 'geoshells', today!
Geoshells are the ability to wrap a thin shell around a model, which conforms to the geometry and will replicate any posing. You can then tell them to act like a certain type of material.
It occurred to me that doing this to an Alien model and treating the geoshell like a thin layer of water, means the creature can have that thin oily sheen they're so well known for... Before this, I was trying to modify the creature's own textures to reflect any surrounding light in a way it wasn't designed to do. This lets me divide those tasks and effectively give the creature a second 'skin', which can purely be modified to give them that slick resin they secrete.
Sounds like a really handy way of accomplishing that. I look forward to seeing the results.
Just spent the last few hours rendering a comparison (click each to enlarge):
Spoiler
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig02.deviantart.net%2Ff837%2Ff%2F2015%2F313%2F1%2F7%2Falien_iray_render__without_geoshell__by_sentinalysis-d9g44am.png&hash=338400cfafdb2c763a549b629c04ae3b8cdcdec6)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Alien-Iray-Render-Without-Geoshell-571261630
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig14.deviantart.net%2F9aba%2Ff%2F2015%2F313%2Fb%2F4%2Falien_iray_render__with_geoshell__by_sentinalysis-d9g44lx.png&hash=28ab072d3beb81b6b35646e57fe4a2454d69fcc5)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Alien-Iray-Render-With-Geoshell-571262037
Not perfect, but it does seem like an improvement. For some reason, the attempt of reproducing wetness over the Queen turns the glistening points of light into larger splodges, but I suspect that's more noticeable because both characters are placed closely together. She'd probably look fine framed on her own.
And, oops, seems the Alien's jaw is hollow on the bottom! :)
Shall be seeing if some metallic glitter effects might be better, tomorrow!
Wondering if glass shaders, instead of water, might give more authentic reflectivity. Especially frosted or with small metallic flakes in the material.
It certainly looks better. Especially on the Queen.
Can't hurt to give it a go!
Experimented with glassy materials, but it looked less like a smoother version of liquid and more like it was literally encased in glass.
So, keeping in mind a few things I had read up on, last night, I decided to do away with geoshells and exploit a unique feature of Iray. Namely, that it has three different layers you can individually activate and control. One's the base, another controls metallic flakes and the last allows for a more fluid-like sheen... After some experimentation with that, I think I've got a decent effect!
If it's possible to refine it some more, I'll try. But if not, I'm pleased to have at least achieved this much.
Spoiler
This was the moment I felt a good balance had been struck. It's far too easy to go from something with a flat matte look, to something which is overly shiny and metallic. This one felt more like it was a wet surface.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig11.deviantart.net%2Fff4e%2Ff%2F2015%2F314%2Fa%2Fa%2Falien_iray__glistening____environmental_lighting_by_sentinalysis-d9g6xy0.png&hash=7494618805617c7bddb1271a1d16ea19fe5dec78)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Alien-Iray-Glistening-Environmental-Lighting-571393368
Then attempted to change the lighting from generic environmental to a more focused studio arrangement with lots of shadows. The same surface settings seem to hold up fairly well.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig02.deviantart.net%2F82fd%2Ff%2F2015%2F314%2F4%2F1%2Falien_iray__glistening____studio_lighting_by_sentinalysis-d9g6y6l.png&hash=2429e4e4fc6f47b705d68e8fe840ccafdf637edf)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Alien-Iray-Glistening-Studio-Lighting-571393677
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig11.deviantart.net%2Fff4e%2Ff%2F2015%2F314%2Fa%2Fa%2Falien_iray__glistening____environmental_lighting_by_sentinalysis-d9g6xy0.png&hash=7494618805617c7bddb1271a1d16ea19fe5dec78)
This is really nice. I think this works pretty damn well.
That is nice! I think they need to clean up the mouth a little bit though. The lips look to flat and nice , it needs to be more viscous and menacing
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Nov 10, 2015, 02:54:03 PM
This is really nice. I think this works pretty damn well.
Certainly a lot better than my original tests! It was never designed to show this much detail, but I'm glad I've got it to do so.
Quote from: DerelictShip on Nov 10, 2015, 06:31:13 PM
That is nice! I think they need to clean up the mouth a little bit though. The lips look to flat and nice , it needs to be more viscous and menacing
Agreed - there are a number of things I'd like to be different about it. It has a flat head, for one thing - would be nice to have that blade-like 'mohawk' effect along the top. Would also like the dorsal tubes to be shorter! I can try to use lighting and shadows to hide any deficiencies, though.
Sadly, I'm not a modeller and can't do anything about that. Right now, this is the best one available (the team which made this one is working on an HD Alien and a Nostromo-like set, which could be very useful). I'd love to be able to use the model from the last AVP game, but it would need someone to rig it for articulation. Wouldn't be able to pose it.
Swidhelm was updating his free model, but I haven't heard anything back about that... The previews looked good. If it becomes available, I'll use it! At least his older model lets me have an option for making it into a smooth-headed version (I prefer ridge-headed ones, but it's always nice to have the choice).
Some more experimentation with costumes:
Spoiler
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig01.deviantart.net%2F7c6b%2Ff%2F2015%2F314%2F9%2F5%2Fthe_youth_of_tomorrow_s_today_by_sentinalysis-d9g7j4a.png&hash=870a8aa3c44ff4cbf28aceaf7325aded90fa2471)
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/The-Youth-Of-Tomorrow-s-Today-571420810
Not sure I'll necessarily use that one, but it's a demonstration of the level of detail I'm aiming for.
Hah! I've just realised this very same model must have been used to make the covers of the 'Sea Of Sorrows' and 'River Of Pain' books! Same feet and flat head!
Not rendered using Iray, but it's the same model for certain. :)
Hey, kitten fans! Some updates...
The whole changing-to-rendering-with-Iray thing has really taken a toll on the workload for this project (oh, for the ease and simplicity of the days when I mostly planned to do this with miniatures and filters), but the results have been visually very pleasing.
One of the main problems with this is that the virtual environments/props not designed for Iray rendering can look a little jarring, in terms of texture quality, when a character is shown using one in direct cocnjunction against something which is. It's like... Filming something in glorious HD, then splicing it with footage you've filmed with a non-HD camera. You can do it with some creative use of angles, lighting and shadows, but it's not recommended. So, for fairly obvious reasons, this has led to a lot of shifting around of story elements and such.
On the brighter side, there are some solutions which have just come up for this. Some new products which will be of enormous help, together with a completely rebolutionary way of creating entire landscapes, which is what I've become particularly happy about! This even allows for volumetric atmospheric haze, which, uh... It basically means that stuff can look dusty when it's shown far away. :) it sounds relatively trivial, but it's hugely beneficial for creating an illusion of realism.
Shall try to post some non-Alien Iray stuff, so that the rest of you can see what I mean about the more realistic lighting. Some terrain, too, when I obtain that tool in a few days or so.
Decided to include an Alien, after all. :)
No post-work in Photoshop or additional lighting. This was purely a test to demonstrate whether or not my technique for rendering the Alien model in Iray is satisfactory, so the pose and position were only done very quickly. This shows the kind of lighting which can be achieved with Iray using only emissive surfaces.
In the actual project, I'd be using additional lighting and probably adding things like some slight atmospheric haze to it.
Click on the actual picture to zoom in for the full detail, such as metallic reflections.
http://sentinalysis.deviantart.com/art/Alien-Nostromo-Corridor-Test-641095740
Man-spreading Aliens attack! ;D
Looking good!
It's looking good, Xenomorphine. Great to see work is progressing!
Indeed! Stuff like haze, smoke and additional lighting should make it look a lot better (along with a human figure, which will probably make it take a lot longer, because of hair), but I just wanted to know how long a basic test would take.
Now I can slap an 'SIL SEAL OF APPROVAL' on the credits when this is done. ;D
This is some promising work!
Hah-hah! It's a lot better in quality, these days! Need to post some more when ready.
So, I haven't uploaded any further previews for a long while and felt I should show more. First announced this in 2013. Good grief! It's fair to say the world of CGI has changed a lot since then... Every time a new capability has come out, I've had to revise everything, because of knowing how radically it would improve the project.
It's pretty much come of age now, though. What I could have chosen to simply go with, way back then, wouldn't have been of the level I'm now capable of rendering.
With that in mind, here's the first of some new previews. This one of a civilian-type female pilot character, with different costume elements in four different combinations (while I can't create my own assets, I can combine them in unique ways): Two different styles for the arms and a choice between yellow cloth and a more technological harness-style thing for the torso.
The figure is just a generic cloned human female without any specialised shaping morphs or skin texturing applied. It's basically a mannequin for figuring out which clothing to apply in which styles.
https://www.deviantart.com/sentinalysis/art/Character-Concepts-Civilian-Pilot-791391746
Should hopefully be posting additional images of environments, ships and actual characters in the coming days.
Glad to see some more of this project! The new costuming looks pretty sweet.
Oh hell yeah! Interested to see more. ;D
Flamethrower effects test. Made with transparencies until a morphable 3D flame spraying model is available.
https://www.deviantart.com/sentinalysis/art/Flamethrower-Test-810772893
Looks good!
What are some examples of a 'motion comic' ?
I found this
http://www.amazonsoul.com (http://www.amazonsoul.com)
but it's pretty old. Looks like it might be something like what you want to achieve, raunchiness aside, that is. (Be warned, it is adult content ;) ) The renders are impressive too, considering they're 12 - 14 years old !
Can you build sets and props in Daz/Poser or whatever it is you are using?
TC
Looks fantastic! Glad to see you coming back to this!
Quote from: TC on Aug 24, 2019, 07:56:25 AM
Looks good!
What are some examples of a 'motion comic'?
Thank you. :)
This was what inspired me for that format (spoilers for the 'Mass Effect' series of games):
The really professional ones animate individual elements within each panel, but that depends on how things are when it's all finished. I'll be trying for that, but it's a lot of additional rendering which would eat into the production time.
Essentially, it's a means of presenting a professionally polished storyboard in a cinematic form, with the audio playing in the background of dialogue, special effects and music. It allows for a static story to be presented in a dynamic fashion, while allowing for greater impact during surprise reveals and so on. Like a radio play with a visual element.
I'm aiming for photo-realism in mine, rather than something comic-like. And, as I've been trained in film-making, I'm hoping to apply cinematic presentation techniques to try and give it a more atmospheric than cartoonish tone.
QuoteCan you build sets and props in Daz/Poser or whatever it is you are using?
Something called Hexagon exists, but it's apparently very unstable under Windows 10. They've been promising to update it for years. Stuff like Blender exists, but the tutorials confuse me... If Hexagon is updated, it looks much more intuitive!
I control placement, scaling, lighting, etcetera. Like a film director, I have to make do with the props and costumes I'm given. :) I can, however, completely change the properties of some surfaces and have the 3D modelling equivalent of 'greebles' I can use to make some vehicles and structures look more interesting.
Human characters I can completely change the look of (both facially and body/skin/hair/etcetera).
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Aug 24, 2019, 10:03:34 AM
Looks fantastic! Glad to see you coming back to this!
Had to wait for a while, because I knew someone was going to put out some weapons and costume elements which are about as close to the Colonial Marines as they can get away with for copyright reasons! Probably altering them for my own purposes, but they should help mightily as a springboard for authenticity. They have one more still to release and a dropship-like craft, then some more headway should be possible, once I know whether or not I can utilise them.
I like the idea in Amazon Soul where you can click inside some panels and it toggles the image to a close up. Not as difficult.as animation, yet adds a little bit of interactivity.
TC
Think that's possible with the software I'm aiming to use. Not sure if it would allow for any music to be continuously played.
Ran a poll on Twitter and the most popular request for the net type of preview were environments/sets.
Does not include any additional effects or lighting. Just basic visual renders.
https://www.deviantart.com/sentinalysis/art/Alien-Promotional-Environments-812614624
Wow, that looks really good IMO. :o
Thanks!
They really do look fantastic! Keep 'em coming!
im interested
New update on refining the Alien model to Iray-compatible renderings, with moody cinematic lighting (and a heat bloom).
Still not happy with how large those splotches of light are, but I've added a geoshell and applied a shader to make it look like water. Basically, the virtual equivalent of giving it a skin-tight 'suit' of water. Seems to work better than my previous attempts. I'll be experimenting to see if I can reduce the underlying texture's reflectivity, to see if the geoshell method can give it that oily, slick look without the splotches of glistening light being so big.
If that doesn't work, I'll just be going with this method, instead!
Making virtual Aliens look like they're covered in KY is hard, man...
https://www.deviantart.com/sentinalysis/art/Alien-Reflectivity-Cinematic-Lighting-Test-838143060
Hi
That looks great!
Generally, when you want the wet look you would use some kind of multilayer shader. The bottom layer would be the dry base material (wood, steel, plastic, whatever) and the layer above would add the "sheen," which comes from the water on top.
Sheen (or "specularity") is basically a reflection of the very bright parts of the scene surrounding the object The "bright parts" are usually the actual lamp sources that are lighting your scene. Default lamps are often point sources, which in CG means they are infinitely small points of light. These do not make very good reflections (unless they are extremely bright, like the sun). If that's what you are using you should swap them out for area lights instead.
Area lights can be very expensive to compute, so you could try creating extra geometry in your scene exclusively for the purpose of creating these specular reflections on your object. So these objects should be large and white and usually self-illuminating (i.e. "glowing" but without emiting any actual light), and positioned out of frame but in such a way that the camera can see them as reflections on your object's wet surface. They should show up as bright, white, specular hits on your object.
Hope this helps.
TC
Very helpful, yes!
I've not seen multi-layered shaders in the Daz Studio store, but it sounds like that might be what I've accidentally achieved with this geoshell-shaded method. :)
There was only one light source facing the model, which makes this splotchiness a real mystery. I can make the surface flatter, but then it loses all that precious detailing. I will do some additional testing with indirect lighting, though... Maybe it is that which is contributing to the issue. Maybe look back over some Iray tutorials in regards to methods to make indoor scenes look brighter.
However! I've been notified that a newer version could be Iray compatible! Going to investigate that. My preference has always been for the ridge-headed look and the newer one is smooth-domed, but it looks splendid enough to be the ideal solution, if it renders well.
Good news! The people who made this model are also testing updated Iray textures for the older, ridge-headed model and the reflectivity looks a lot more believable than I had achieved with the older default textures!
The test they posted:
https://www.forender.com/media/kunena/attachments/62/cm_XenoMorph_02-01_0646_Promo_01_Iray.png
Between that and getting their more detailed smooth-domed version (so long as they also update the Queen and more), I should finally be able to proceed to rendering this as I need to. Not relying on shadows to hide it for anything aside from purely psychological effect.