#Globe w/mapping
2 messages in this thread
Kouros,
I like what I see. Does the Earth (w/stars and moon) model have an
"earth-like" texture map that I could use? It's hard to see due to the lens
flare. Did you use any kind of distance cueing or blur on the stars?
I re-created your clouds over planets model and added a small omni light as a
fill light in the dark shadow, worked nicely. Next I am going to play with
less than 100% texture mapping or maybe transparency to soften the
"atmosphere".
Great job!!
Jim Beyer
JJB,
Thanks for the nice comment. No there is nothing special about the Earth. In
fact, that is the same earthmap shiped with 3ds. I just used some transparant
clouds over it and adjusted the lighting with on Spotlight on the earth and one
spot on the moon. The Sun or the flare is the real trick here. And it makes it
look real.
As for the stars. I used Starmake that ships with 3ds and input the # of stars
at 90000. Rendered it as a bitmap. Took it to a paint program and rotate it
name it as another bitmap. With my 3ds file iI went to Vpost and used the two
bitmaps above and starmake (Using the alpha) mage the as Three layers. That's
all. But keep in mind that even with that simple earthmap that ships with 3ds
you can do a lot of nice things. The approach is what will make the difference.
Or your other option is to purchase a nice bitmap made by Tom Vansant and
distributed by Viewpoint for a lot of $$$. That image took a long time to
create. It was taken from space and corrected pixel by pixel and you can get
very close to the earth with detail. But you gotta pay.
In any case, I would first try with what I have available and then pay.
If you have any more questions, please let me know. Good luck.
-Kouros.