#semi-transp clouds how?
26 messages in this thread
Anyone know how to create those semi-transparent clouds that are in
the Intro to Star Trek TNG ? their shape is not exactly like a
sphere that one covers with a semi-transparent material so how does
one create the convoluted shape that looks like a gas cloud? many
thanks
Creative use of opacity mapping and falloff applied to a mesh in the
general shape of your cloud will produce the desired result. The mesh
can be created with a geosphere that is bent, tapered, scaled,
squashed and otherwise butchered to your liking<g>, but truly most of
the effect will come from the opacity map and falloff.
Jim, thanks for the ideas, I actually tried it by using the outline of
a leaf in the 2d shaper, by the time I had worked on it in the Lofter
and Editor, it looked like a cloud.. Too bad I cant use my CHAOS
software to create such an object..
Try creating DXF sphere of a plasma fractal using fractint. You can
also use the plasma GIF as a texture map for an interesting effect.
If your cloud is distant you can add to it's mystical appearance by
adding some atmosphere in 3ds.
Jim, thanks for your suggestion however I dont have access to Fractint
so created one using a 2D shape of a leaf and after extruding,
squashing rotating etc.. and then working on the transparency and
other keys in the material editor, I end up with a pretty nice cloud
in space.. Bob Smith in Montreal
Fractint is sharware available on compuserve, perhaps even this forum
(I think its on Graphics Developer's Forum, though).
Fractint is Freeware, not shareware.
Dave
Even better.
John Tissavary (La Luna cie)
Of course it would be nice to have a "Cloud in Space" IPAS! I'm sure
it could be done with the Smoke IPAS. Congrads on your successful
results. By the way FRACTINT is available for download on Compuserve.
I'm currently working on a "globule generator" for use with 3D Studio. You
should be able to use it to create exactly the effect you're discussing.
Basically, it allows you to create pseudo-random ellipsoids groups for use in
3D Studio. It's designed to create effects like clouds, smoke, ground fog,
fireballs, etc.
Greg Pyros is currently beta testing an early release. Once I've added a couple
more things to the program, I'll make it available here.
Regards,
Danny…
The "globule" routine sounds great, Danny! Just wanted to let you know that I'd
bet a lotta people are gonna be real interested in this one…
Looking forward to seeing the program. Need any more beta testers?<g>
-Alan
> The "globule" routine sounds great, Danny! Just wanted to let you know that
I'd bet a lotta people are gonna be real interested in this one…
Thanks! Maybe I'll port it to IPAS after all. <g>
You mentioned that you would like to be a beta tester – no problem! Check your
email. <grin>
Talk to you soon,
Danny…
Yes! An early Christmas present. Thanks, Danny. I'm gonna go mess with this
right now…
I'll let ya know how it goes,
-Alan
I'm very interested in your globule generator IPAS. Please let me know when
it's available.
thanks,
John Tissavary (La Luna cie)
Actually, it's not an IPAS. I don't have the necessary compilers and I don't
plan on spending piles of money to buy them unless there's a real interest in
RGG.
RGG is a DOS application written entirely in Borland C. You use RGG to create a
RAW triangle data file, convert this file to 3D Studio format using one of
Steve Anger's RAW23DS converters (either ASCII or Binary), and load this file
into 3D Studio.
I originally wrote RGG for my own use but I'm willing to let others use it as
well.
There are a couple of people beta testing the latest version right now.
Assuming they bless it, I'll be able to post a copy here soon.
Thanks for your interest,
Danny…
Robert,
Obviously you're going to have to try & "simulate" the effect
(Star Trek TNG used the Dynamation particle system module for
Wavefront's Advanced Visualiser. Hopefully any suggestions from Jim
and other forum members will give you a good idea to fake it.
Kevin Krell – Computer Support Associates
Obviously you're going to have to try & "simulate" the effect
(Star Trek TNG used the Dynamation particle system module for
Wavefront's Advanced Visualiser. Hopefully any suggestions from Jim
and other forum members will give you a good idea to fake it.
kevin, what kind of Beasty is that Dynamation Particle system module
for Wavefont's advanced visualiser.. (man that's a long phrase!) What
kind of prices, platform etc would be involved.. As I mention in the
previous message to Jim, I turned a leaf into a pretty nifty space
cloud that looks pretty realistic in my space animation I did two
weeks ago.. too bad I didnt have it ready for the computer show.. by
the way on another subject… I see that on the Release 3 CD rom
there is a huge file of Vale and another one which shows terrain
etc.. someone here is interested in using 3D Studio to create a map
of a region with roads and other objects that one would find in that
part of the province etc… How would I go about creating terrain,
hills, rivers or streams, etc… Any ideas are greatly appreciated..
Bob,
Well, the Wavefront Advanced Visualizer is about $35k in
24-bit, & Dynamation adds $15k. I think the regular Particle Systems
option is $6k. Note that these prices do not include the yearly
support contracts ($5250 for the the Adv. Vis.). Platforms are SGI,
SUN, HP 700PA, & IBM RS6000 & PVS. As to terrain modeling, there's
some stuff from the AutoCAD side of things, as well as perhaps
something called VistaPro, which gets some mention on this forum – I
must have closed my eyes for a minute.
Maybe Greg Pyros can duplicate it as an IPAS for $99. <GGGG>
You might want to check out the old threads on clouds using smoke IPAS
mapped to a large rectangle at low camera angles to give real cloudy
sky effects. Then add some degree of Opacity in the materials
editor.
Well, the Wavefront Advanced Visualizer is about $35k in
24-bit, & Dynamation adds $15k. I think the regular Particle Systems
option is $6k. Note that these prices do not include the yearly
support contracts ($5250 for he the Adv. Vis.). Platforms are SGI,
SUN, HP 700PA, & IBM RS6000 & PVS. As to terrain modeling, there's
some stuff from the AutoCAD side of things, as well as perhaps
something called VistaPro, which gets some mention on this forum – I
must have closed my eyes for a minute.
Thud…. boing boing.. that's the sound of my jaw falling to the
floor and the cat grabbing it to play with…
Goes without saying that it's out of my galaxy<g>…Wouldnt mind
one of those platforms for speed but then you have to buy the
software that goes with it.. I'll look into what Autocad and
VistaPro can do for the terrain modelling.. By the way I managed to
create a pretty good looking space cloud with 3D studio and I started
with the outline of a leaf.. doesnt look like a leaf in space now!<g>
maybe it would make a good TV series…" LLISP " for "Lost Leaf in
Space!" later..
Vistapro 3.0 is great for creating terrain backgrounds. I think a soon
to be released version will create a DXF. Once again, fractint is
great for producing terrains also by creating a DXF terrain from a
random plasma fractal OR create your luminoscity map for a rough but
custom terrain in AniPro and convert to a DXF using fractint or
gif2dxf. Thats the inexpensive way. There are several packages out
there that do just that.
I'll go and see what Vistapro sells for locally as well as Fractint
but since the project is in an infancy stage with the client having a
small budget.. I'll wait.. I've been trying to create shapes from
within CHAOS from Autodesk (It says I can save as a DXF file but when
I try to import it into 3D Studio… 3DS says invalid shape… anyone
have an idea why it's doing that ?
>> 3DS says invalid shape <<
SHAPE? You didn't try to load it into the 2D Shaper, did you? You can (and
should) load it directly into the 3D Editor.
I did try this once (Chaos-to-3DS) and it was some time ago, but I don't recall
any such problem. Worked well.
I just recieved a brochure from Wavefront announcing a decent discount
on their entire package (animator, modeller, renerer, dynamation and
kinemation) for ONLY $40,000!!!! What a deal. Maybe Santa can
afford to buy me one now, and an Abekas A66 with D1 recorder, too.
The Dynamation module alone (you still need modelling and animation
modules) is @ $10,000. Keep in mind, these are discount prices good
for a limited time only. So rush out and buy them. Oh, yeah…
you'll need an SGI Indy, Indigo, Onyx or Challenge and that'll run
$13,000 for the bottom of the line models, up to millions of dollars
for multi processor Challenge units. Or you could wait for someone
to write a gas cloud particle IPAS for R3.
As for terrain modelling, that can be had for a lot less. Schreiber
Instruments make an industry standard terrain modeller for AutoCad
called Quicksurf, which I've had the pleasure of using. It is very
powerful. They also make a 3DS one called 3D Surf, but it's
considerably less powerful (mostly in the area of precision).
Vistapro can do very nice terrain generation and also you can get
DXF's from various agencies (gov't, etc…) of terrain anywhere in
the world. Vistapro is probably the cheapest, though. Oh, yeah, you
can do fractal landscapes with Fractint (shareware, available on CIS),
and it can convert them to DXF's based on color scale. I've used it,
and it's great for fantasy landscapes.
Happy check writing… <g>
John Tissavary (La Luna cie)
John, thanks also for the information, however, Wavefront software is
out of my price range… the others you suggest I'll look into since
they might be more in line with what would be needed..
Robert
I've been getting some interesting shapes with Deform/Fit/Sym off. Try using
refmap.gif for maps and masks.
Good luck
TedB