CG Galactica - Page 10

Matador · June 17th, 2013, 03:43 PM

Hello all,

Just wanted to post an update... I've kind of run into a bit of modeler's version of writer's block.

I've been kind of stuck on UV mapping in Lightwave. I was a bit spoiled with how easy it was in 3ds Max to UV mapp. Ligthwave is a bit more challenging and it's really worn me out.

I'm asking for some help from any of you that are experienced with Lightwave. I'm currently modeling a viper and I've come to the stage for texturing. I'm not sure if I should model in panels or texture them in.

Seems that lightwave does not like me modeling in panels. It makes the UV unwrapping a pan in the arss.

So I've lost a bit of my drive and mojo. Could really use some input.

Matador · July 1st, 2013, 01:17 AM

OK. So I finally got some help from the folks over at the Lightwave forum... Also I found some nice tutorials on UVmapping in lightwave that helped shed some light on things.

I managed to get more textureing done and made a few corrections.

Here is an update.

Titon · July 1st, 2013, 02:52 PM

looking good!

Matador · July 26th, 2013, 09:44 PM

OK, I think my bird is now ready to fly. I'm pretty happy with the detail work and think it's ready to start filming some scenes.

I switched from 3ds Max to Lightwave in December of this year and it's been a huge challenge re-training myself to model using Lightwave.

Thanks everyone who gave me help.

Now for some movies.

Matador · August 22nd, 2013, 06:03 AM

OK... Here is a new update...

I'm building a new launch/hangar bay for my vipers. I'm new to Lightwave and was having an issue with the lighting inside, but after a lot of trial and error. I finally figured out what I was doing and managed to get some descent lights.

These are just tests for lighting and just to see where I'm going with this, but so far I'm pretty happy with the results.

martok2112 · August 22nd, 2013, 06:18 AM

Looks good. Textures, cleaves in the walls, the lighting...well done.

gmd3d · August 22nd, 2013, 07:06 AM

looks a lot better

Matador · August 28th, 2013, 09:42 PM

Here are some new pictures. I wanted to step back and get an idea of the scale of things... So I added some characters to the scene to help with this.

Titon · August 29th, 2013, 05:13 AM

Looks pretty good.....

Matador · August 29th, 2013, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titon

Looks pretty good.....

Thanks... I've really been working hard with Lightwave to achieve the right look and lighting. Also, I'm trying to get the scale of things the best I can.
A lot of this is mostly artistic expression, but I'm happy with the results so far.

Senmut · August 29th, 2013, 06:48 PM

The thrust reversers on the Viper look cool.
Have you done the 2-seat model?

Matador · August 29th, 2013, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senmut

Have you done the 2-seat model?

Thanks...

Haven't worked on the two seat version yet. But thanks for the idea. Once I get done with the hanger deck detail, then I may work on that.

Right now I'm just trying to add more stuff to the Hangar deck and then try some animation of the characters. I still have a bit to go. I'm going to be having some more free time soon... Then I can really knuckle down and get some scenes animated.

Senmut · August 30th, 2013, 06:44 PM

Just being a pest again....will your hangar deck have the repair/maintenance facilities in them? Just wondering......

Matador · August 31st, 2013, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senmut

Just being a pest again....will your hangar deck have the repair/maintenance facilities in them? Just wondering......

Yes...

Senmut · August 31st, 2013, 10:34 PM

Like glacial, dude!!!!!!!!

Matador · September 2nd, 2013, 10:29 PM

I added some more detail and texturing... I also worked on the costumes for the flightdeck crew...

Senmut · September 3rd, 2013, 05:50 PM

Looking better and better.

Matador · September 9th, 2013, 12:18 AM

Finally got to spend a couple days working on the hangar deck and launch bay. I've got two tubes almost done. I spent a lot of time going back and fourth on how I wanted to do this.

I do plan on adding more lights and eventually texturing the Launch tubes. I sort of got the idea for the launch control room from the new Galactica series. Working on getting that textured too.

Matador · September 13th, 2013, 11:44 PM

Almost done with this section of the launch bay.

martok2112 · September 13th, 2013, 11:56 PM

My God, but you do some AMAZING work! Love the launch bay...and I love your take on the Vipers...especially with the markings that make me think of current day military fighters....this was something I loved about the new show...but you've really given the original ships a new sense of realism with those markings! Very well done!

Matador · September 14th, 2013, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martok2112

My God, but you do some AMAZING work! Love the launch bay...and I love your take on the Vipers...especially with the markings that make me think of current day military fighters....this was something I loved about the new show...but you've really given the original ships a new sense of realism with those markings! Very well done!

Thanks Martok... That means a lot. You do nice work as well. I've done a combination of adding elements from the new series with the original series. I loved both, so I've studied reference images from both and tried a little artistic creativity. I've also added elements from real military aircraft.

Also, it's been a real challenge going from 3dMax to Lightwave... So re-training myself to model, render, and animate on a whole new platform has been very time consuming. But I'm very happy with the results I'm getting.

Thanks again.

"may the odds be ever in your favor"

martok2112 · September 14th, 2013, 10:37 AM

I wish I could afford Lightwave or 3DSMax. (3DSMax is actually the basis program that a lot of developers use when making props and such for use in iClone). But the more I learn with Blender, the more I realize that it is just as good as any of those multi-thousand dollar programs....and it's FREE!

(The tutorial books can be pricey...anywhere from 40 to 100 bucks...LOL).

Yes, the lettering that you use on the hulls of your Vipers reminds me of the same thing as when hull lettering had to be made for the NX-01 in Enterprise...finding a font that seemed to pre-date Kirk's era, but still seemed fitting for the Star Fleet. So, nice retrovisulization there.

Matador · September 14th, 2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martok2112

I wish I could afford Lightwave or 3DSMax.

I hear ya man... I started with 3ds max because a buddy of mine was a student and he got me hooked on the program. But when it was time to upgrade, I was in sticker shock. Plus I was going to have to purchase V-ray on top of that, to get the render effects I wanted.

Ligthwave offered more options and was half the price. Pluse it already has a really awesome render engine built in.

I like Blender and I gave it a hard try... But I just could not get used to the "right" click thing... Some of the things in Lightwave are similar to Max, but I stress "some".

Blender does have a really cool liquid dynamics thing. That I thought is really cool. You can't beat free. I've seen some pretty cool stuff done with Blender.

September 16th, 2013, 06:51 AM

Seeing what you've done recently (I haven't been on here in a while) you've blown me away. awesome work.

Matador · September 16th, 2013, 03:58 PM

Thanks Andromeda. That means a lot. I've tried to combine elements from both old and new series to come up with the look I want. It is very time consuming. Especially balancing out my full time job and being a father.

Many thanks to all of those who have given me helpful tips and encouragement. Making the switch to Lightwave was not easy for me. But I'm surprised with what I have learned in less than a year.

Titon · September 17th, 2013, 09:38 AM

Nice work there!

Keep it up!

Matador · November 6th, 2013, 03:08 PM

Well. After much of Trial and error, I was finally able to re-create the thruster effect for the Vipers. This is the same look from the new Galactica series.

This is my first test.

martok2112 · November 6th, 2013, 06:49 PM

Very cool!

Matador · November 23rd, 2013, 08:12 AM

Started merging the two sides of Galactica. Now the fun task of touching things up, adding more textures.... Then the really cool part... Adding the hull lights.

I've also been spending a lot of time trying to get the interior lighting to look right. Mostly with volumetrics(fog/Haze) effect. Much trial and error.

Matador · November 26th, 2013, 06:40 AM

I just started the lighting scheme for the hull. Lots of trial and error. But I'm happy how this is coming along.

I'm trying to figure out cool places to add lights and possibly windows. Still much more modeling work to do too.

Seems I'm always finding something "after the fact"... That needs touching up.