creating galaxies
25 messages in this thread
Using 3D Studio 3.0.
Wondering if there's a way to create a volumous star field that can be viewed
from near or far. I want to create a galaxy where the observer moves through
it's heavy star field then moves upward and far away from the galaxy. Problem
is that the stars are too small to be seen when the observer moves away from
the galaxy.
Tried using the RAIN IPAS (period of 1) to fill a volume with "stars". It
works at a narrow distance range. But if you get too close the stars they look
like little tetras, too far away and the specs disappear because they're so
small. Illumination of 100% and an omni light with a multiplier of 1000 does
no good. Also if you make more than 2000 particles with RAIN non-random
patterns start to become apparent.
Is there any IPAS or other method of creating a glowing particle volume? Or for
creating galaxies, star clusters, etc… type effects?
Need to create a star field that the camera can pass through and also view from
a great distance without it disappearing.
Any info about new IPASs, suggestions, or techniques would be greatly
appreciated. Willing to spend large amount of green bucks for help, suggestions
or anything that will turn me into the right track. I can be contacted at 800
535-7700 weekdays or 503 697-7700. Jim Maxey or Jeff Butsch, Event Horizons,
Inc.
Have you tried scaling the particles down when you get nearer, and up when you
get farther away?
– G
PS: Disintegrate can create great galaxy effects, if you model a galaxy shaped
object and then set your disintegration up over such a long time-frame that
nothing appears to move.
I considered scaling the particles up as the camera moves away, but how do you
animate particle size over time using DISINTIGRATE or RAIN without scaling the
whole object, just the paricles? Or is there a better way to make a big mass
of
particles?
I'm trying to acheive an effect where the camera starts INSIDE the galaxy (one
of the arms) and then zooms out and away, looking back at the galaxy from a
distance. If I could scale up the particles as the camera moves away, that
would
pretty much solve my problem. Is there a way to do it?
Thanks, Jeff B.
Scaling up the whole cloud is the way I'd do it.
– G
Scaling the whole cloud wasnt' the answer, but I'm now pretty close to the
effect
I want using a detailed bitmap for close view, galaxy bit map for distant view,
the
RAIN IPAS for a volume of stars, pre-rendering each part, and putting it all
together using Video Post about 7 layers deep with lots of fade-transitions in
the right places. Works great. But any more info would surely be
appreciated.
Thanks, -JB
I think that when it comes to playing god, the best thing to do is experiment.
<g> It sounds like you've got the right attitude.
– G
>> I think that when it comes to playing god, the best thing to do is
experiment. <<
That really kind of explains the whole Universe, doesn't it? <g>
-JE
Most of the time I feel like a guinea-pig, actually. No surprise.
>> Most of the time I feel like a guinea-pig… <<
So THAT's what keeps you humble. <g> I wondered. 🙂
-JE
By the way, I have one more question. Is there a way to include VIDEO
POSTing when doing BATCH command line rendering? I can't seem to
figure out how. Would come in handy when a scene includes Lens
Flare, etc… Thanks for the help, and thanks for providing
remarkable software. -Jeff B.
Yup. If you type 3DS RENDER, you'll get a list of batch commands. One
of the new ones is /X, which, when used with with a .prj file, gives
you access to Video Post.
>> If you type 3DS RENDER, you'll get a list of batch commands. <<
Gary, as it is almost a certainty that 3DS will go Windows of one
variety or another, ( I hear the deafening clamor! <g>) would it be
possible to keep these command line renders with more advanced
features in tact? Even if it goes NT? I know you're not allowed to
talk about future developments, I just wondered if it was
realistically possible. That way you could render without the
overhead. (I think I'm catching on here…. slowly, as to how this
is going to work. <g>)
Gee, _you're_ in a speculative mood this morning. I wish _I_ had such an
active imagination.
– G
>> Gee, _you're_ in a speculative mood this morning. I wish _I_ had such an
active imagination. <<
You do, the difference is that mine always get me in trouble. <g> I start
putting two and two together and …. come up with 7. And sometimes it gets a
little surreal. 🙂
-JE
Many thanks. By the way, I'm I going to the right place with these piddley
questions? I know you guys are busy working miracles with PC opcodes….
-Jeff B
This is the place… I log onto CIS every few hours to clear out the cobwebs in
my own opcodes.
– G
Jim,
I am working on the same type of project. I havn't perfected the nebulas
yet but a little experimenting with GLOW IPAS is doing wonders for the planet,
asteroids, and comet. The comet is also benefiting with the addition of a
little object motion blur. I have some ideas for the nebula but haven't
gotten that far yet.
Do you have GLOW IPAS? I am finding it invaluable for the space "look". I
also have set it up twice in VP: 1. to glow certain pixels of the planet
(with an animated texture map) and asteroid and 2. to provide a halo around
the planet. LOOKS GREAT so far!
First thing next week I will finish this up including the "nebula". If you
would like to discuss it further feel free to ask or give me a call. Check
your E-Mail.
Ralph
Ralph,
<< nebula and glow.. >>
Maybe you'd like to upload a small animation/still *along* with
a description of the different effects and options..
Can't wait to see your upload.
jonas[adesk]
Maybe you'd like to upload a small animation/still *along* with
a description of the different effects and options..
Jonas,
Unfortunately I will not be able to upload this one, NDA's ya know <g>. At
least not yet.
A few months back I did a seminar on rel 3 with Kevin Blaker (ADESK) and
left with him some logo anims. Tina Mills called the other day to see about
an archive and consent for them and the customer has agreed. So I will be
putting together a few and will upload them here also if you would like.
Things like exploding eggs logo for Egghead Software (explode & fireworks),
and a particle coming together logo for Price/Costco (disintegrate).
Ralph
Ralph,
<< potential uploads.. >>
waiting eagerly!! i'm also on a campaign to encourage the
inclusion of *.prjs with the animations along with a short
textual description so that it completely answers "how'd they
do that…".
jonas[adesk]
Ralph….
I am also working on a space project, but I am trying to send a logo under the
camera and then follow it to it's stopping point. The thing I have been messing
with is a contrail behind it showing speed. I don't really want a blur but a
crisp deep image of the logo that will shrink towards and into it when my image
stops. I tried simply scaling up a copy of it, but rendering was taking 10
minutes a frame.
Got any ideas……Thanx…SW
>> I am also working on a space project, but I am trying to send a logo under
the camera and then follow it to it's stopping point.
SW,
Sometimes the object motion blur is a bit too blured but, have you tried
rendering with a motion blur and then render the sceen normal with the blured
version as a background? Worth a try.
Ralph
Try playing with SMOKE IPAS on a large scale with a slight blue tint for
Nebulas.
What we did for a recent commercial was to render out a single frame 2K image
with SMOKE, map it to an object way off in the background (OR a really big
sphere.. w/ inversed normals), render this with your camera the only thing in
your scene, and use that set of images as a background with stars2 or 3 over
the nebulas, and then your KF scene on top of that… (You can even try
rendering the original nebula frames with your camera set to a higher FOV…
this will provide a nice layered effect b/c the nebulas will look further away
than the stars since they will be moving less)
Anyway, worked well for us… good luck.
Give me a call 404-355-1662 if I not clear!
Talk to you soon…
Robert Taylor
Very very creative solution, Robert. Nice fx thinking!
– G
Robert,
Thanks for the message! I will give this a try when I get back to the
project. I'll let you know how it goes.
Ralph