Nicolas Alvarez <nic### [at] gmailisthebestcom> wrote:
> Anyone interested in some teamwork? :) I think it would be interesting
> to gather a bunch of people to work on a single image.
.....
> Post further teamwork ideas here.

I've always liked this idea, but it is perhaps the
quintessential example of "easier said than done".
(OK, so "Let's just all get along," nudges it out
of first place.) ;-)

The challenge from my point of view, is to define
a project in such a way that each individual
contributor has a real opportunity for original
creative expression while giving the project enough
of a specific goal (a la Nicolas Alvarez's suggestion)
to have all of the work amount to something.

Here's a basic plan I've come up with.  I'd like to find
out what kind of interest there might be in it before
putting several hours work into it.  You'll notice that
a lot of the work is assigned to a guy named MUSEV.
MUSEV = Me Unless Somebody Else Volunteers.

Well.. Here goes:

1. Get general agreement on ONE scene that allows for a
wide variety of interesting and challenging objects to
be inserted. Two starter ideas are:
     A. The Alchemist's Workshop: Lot's of shelves, tables,
        cabinets, etc. on to which place various objects
        both historically accurate and fanciful.
     B. Silk Road Bazaar: (a BIGGER project) Exotic objects
        from across the ancient world on sale in an elaborate
        outdoor setting.
Other ideas are, of course, welcome, but it is ESSENTIAL that
we pick ONE as the first real step forward.

2. MUSEV creates a "bare bones" scene with a specific scale
(i.e. 1 = 1 meter) where simple CSG objects with labels mark
the places where objects can be put and default camera settings
to be used for the base image. After a few revisions based on
suggestions from the collaborators, this basic layout becomes
"fixed".

3. MUSEV develops THREE (not 5, 11 or 31) options for lighting,
radiosity, media, etc. called something like "quick", "medium",
and "final" so that contributors can develop their objects under
the SAME lighting conditions that will be used in the final image.
("No, really, it WASN'T a fuzzy grey blob in my test render!)
This is a task for which a volunteer with better than average
skills at working with media and radiosity would be much
appreciated. I'm no expert in this area.

4. Contributors receive this "base file" to use in developing
their objects.  An "IMAGEKEEPER" (MUSEV) takes offers for
SPECIFIC contributions. I.e. "I'd like to put an astrolabe
of n*n*n meters (l*w*h)on the northeast corner of Table B."
Upon accepting an offer, the Imagekeeper adds a simple CSG
place holder to a "reference image" that contributors can
view online to see what's being worked on and what empty places
need to be filled.

In this way, the image can continue to develop into something
better and better.

Well.. Any takers?  Ideas?

Thanks in advance for all replies.

Best Regards,
Mike C.

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