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While I don’t usually post retakes– or series, I liked this image enough to include. I especially like the extreme lighting contrasted to the softer feel.

(And Yes, that is an Avatar inspired upside down terrain with stretched tree ecoSystem

Wow. Been a long time since I posted a speed render. Been putting the finishing touches on my Vue Comic book– soon to be sold by e-on!

As usual, all modeled and rendered in Vue.

Recently, I was involved in creating a product focused on Cumulus clouds code-named, “CloudPak.” Because of some unforeseen problems, it appears that product won’t end up making it to market. But, a lot of work was completed and I thought I’d share some of the information I’ve learned while working on the project. So, while the PDF here isn’t a full blown “CloudPak” project, it can be considered a work-in-progress and hopefully will lend insight into how one might go about creating their own cloudscape atmospheres. I hope you find this useful.

CloudPeep PDF

CloudPeep Vue 7 File

Well, Vue 8 is now in beta and on the verge of release. So, why would anyone want to upgrade? Well, for starters, there’s a new Strata filter which creates some amazing terrains! Also, the new Godrays are even easier and faster to render. See some of the images below for how these settings really help create realistic scenes. Displacement maps are faster, and you can even create overhang type displacements on procedural terrains! And the beta testers are reporting super stability. All in all, looks like Vue 8 could be a GREAT release!

Godrays are most helpful in creating a sense of realism in a render. Hopefully the following will help create a render like the ones below:

We’ll start by creating our atmosphere. Here are the settings I’ve used for the image below.

And Atmosphere settings:

We’re going to create godrays without clouds. Start with the default Vue atmosphere. More of a dusty atmosphere lighting effect one might see in the mountains, forest or desert. Make sure you’re using a Spectral Atmosphere. Set the Light balance (1) almost all the way to the right. You can use Global ambience, Ambient occlusion, Global illumination or Global radiosity for godrays.

Next, in the Sky,Fog and Haze tab, be sure and set the sunlight type to Volumetric sunlight(7) and check the Godrays checkbox (not really necessary as Volumetric sunlight forces Godrays on– but it’s a good habit and won’t confuse you later). Without Volumetric sunlight, you can’t have godrays.

Punch up the Haze ground density so we have more haze to model our godrays with(2). The secret to good godrays is the relationship between Glow intensity(3), Scattering anisotropy, and Aerial perspective(5). Depending on the scene, Aerial perspectives can be anywhere from 5 (at the low end) to 60 (at the ultra high end). You should try starting at 10 and then adjust to suit the apparent scale. In this test render you’ll see the scale is small, so I’ve kept the AP small. Quality boost (6) works well at +1, but for a final render +4 can’t hurt– if you have the time.

You can pull down the Decay amount, which keeps your sky a blueish tint. Use the Decay mean altitude to add a orangish color to scene elements (1).

Here is Vue 7.5 showing the basic components for creating godrays. As you can see, this is a simple geometric construction of cubes. The big cube in the back (1) is a dark area for the godrays to contrast against. If that cube wasn’t there, you wouldn’t see the godrays as the background would be bright. Next, you need something to create a variety of shadows for godrays– in this case I use a series of cubes with gaps between them (2). Next, I positon the sun so as to shine through the slats in the cubes (3) and create the shadows (4). If the settings are correct, the godrays will automatically appear. It may take some trial and error to get it just right, but as you can see, it does help create a very realistic render. I’ll post more renders in future posts.

I’ve been inspired by the great renders of Dax Pandhi at QuadSpinner. There he has some super tutorials. You might want to check out his Capturing the Brillance of Light. I learned plenty by watching it!

Been awhile since I posted a speed render. This one is especially fun, as I created all the models for this scene on my iPhone using SculpMaster 3D. Of course, the MetaPeeps, water plane and plants are all Vue– but I have to say it is fun using the iPhone for modeling!

Took this picture this evening as a large front moved through the area.

Rendezvous with Rama is a novel by Arthur C. Clarke first published in 1972. Set in the 22nd century, the story involves a fifty-kilometer-long cylindrical alien starship that enters Earth’s solar system. The story is told from the point of view of a group of human explorers, who intercept the ship in an attempt to unlock its mysteries.

This image was inspired by another speed painting and the rememberance of Mr. Clarke’s great Rama series of books. All modeled and rendered in Vue. Levels adjusted in Pshop.