#Space Anim…help
3 messages in this thread
I am doimg a small space animation and I would like to know the best way to do
a nebula to add some color to my background. What would be the best way?
Should I try to paint one in photoshop, or render one with the vapor IPAS,or
render
one with the vapor IPAS then apply it as a map to my star globe. Help….please
John Riggs
Hi John.
We recently used some free nebula images from the internet, from NASA I think,
as a background for ships-in-space. I took the JPG into Photoshop to edited it
down so that the left and right edges matched up (for no seam), and the top and
bottom faded out to black. Then I made a greyscale opacity map out of it. I
applied the maps to a sphere with the normals reversed, and stuck the camera
and ship inside. This way, a stars.ixp could show through the sphere, and the
nebula and stars would surround the scene.
Eric Chadwick
Mechadeus
John,
You should pick up the 3D Special Effects book! There's a nice method for
doing just what you're asking using a "nebula" object that has a two-sided
transparent material on it. The nebula is created by shining whatever color
lights you wish off this object. I believe the intensity of your nebula effect
will then depend upon the shiny qualities of the nebula object.
Other than that way, you can go with the wrapping of textures. I always find it
takes more time than its worth because of getting mapping coords correct.
Good Luck.
-Glen