"Bill Pragnell" <bil### [at] hotmailcom> wrote:
> Here's the latest on my recent CGSphere WIP.
>
> I'm not completely happy with the grass; I might try to introduce several
> different weed species, and the placement over the sphere is a bit odd. I was
> thinking of scattering some pebbles around too.
>
> Comments welcomed, especially on possible improvements.
>
> It's interesting to note that this image is built from just 3 individual mesh
> objects, copied extensively.
>
> Bill

This is a beauty Bill, I think the grass should be more randomized - maybe make
several different grass objects with varying lengths (and maybe not as
healthy?) and and have them traced around wherever? Overall a really nice and
original concept for a CGSphere entry!

-Rob

"There is no spoon."

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"Bill Pragnell" <bil### [at] hotmailcom> wrote:
> Here's the latest on my recent CGSphere WIP.
>
> I'm not completely happy with the grass; I might try to introduce several
> different weed species, and the placement over the sphere is a bit odd. I was
> thinking of scattering some pebbles around too.
>
> Comments welcomed, especially on possible improvements.

I really like it, but the colors look just a little flat for stone.  Not that
this is a particularly vibrant example, but notice the light and dark flecks of
color and the variation from stone to stone:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Centre_Stone_Jersey.jpg/394px-Centre_Stone_Jersey.jpg

Maybe some mortar?  And perhaps some vines for the vertical surface?

http://peterdennen.blogspot.com/2008/03/climbing-vines.html

Just ideas, but I like where it's going.

 - Ricky

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"Bill Pragnell" <bil### [at] hotmailcom> schreef in bericht 
news:web.487777cb5f492049731f01d10@news.povray.org...
> Here's the latest on my recent CGSphere WIP.
>
> I'm not completely happy with the grass; I might try to introduce several
> different weed species, and the placement over the sphere is a bit odd. I 
> was
> thinking of scattering some pebbles around too.
>
> Comments welcomed, especially on possible improvements.
>
> It's interesting to note that this image is built from just 3 individual 
> mesh
> objects, copied extensively.
>

Very nice indeed.
I would expect the grass growing more densely on the upper half of the 
sphere than on the lower one (less direct light). Some pebbles and dirt 
around the sphere would be good. Definitely different weed species and 
different sizes/colors.

Thomas

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Bill Pragnell wrote:
> Here's the latest on my recent CGSphere WIP.
> 
> I'm not completely happy with the grass; I might try to introduce several
> different weed species, and the placement over the sphere is a bit odd. I was
> thinking of scattering some pebbles around too.
> 
> Comments welcomed, especially on possible improvements.
> 
> It's interesting to note that this image is built from just 3 individual mesh
> objects, copied extensively.
> 
> Bill
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
Wondering how you placed the grass at the recesses of the sphere, 
trace() against the deforming texture?

btw, I thought of this and snapped a few shots:
http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs31/f/2008/194/9/7/grass08_by_map_lecturer.jpg
http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs31/f/2008/194/8/b/grass07_by_map_lecturer.jpg
http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs32/f/2008/194/b/3/grass06_by_map_lecturer.jpg
http://fc04.deviantart.com/fs31/f/2008/194/0/1/grass05_by_map_lecturer.jpg
http://fc07.deviantart.com/fs31/f/2008/194/9/7/grass04_by_map_lecturer.jpg
http://fc07.deviantart.com/fs32/f/2008/194/6/3/grass03_by_map_lecturer.jpg
http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs32/f/2008/194/7/9/grass02_by_map_lecturer.jpg
http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs32/f/2008/194/7/4/grass01_by_map_lecturer.jpg

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Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
> Real grass growing thru cracks is more ... stringy. More different
> lengths, different shapes, struggling thru the holes that may be
> narrower than the stalk of grass itself. Yours looks almost mown.

Yes, a bit too neat! Basically, I'm going to have to write a more comprehensive
grass generator... this is a bit quick-and-dirty to be honest.

> Try adding a few longer stems, and getting them to droop with the gravity?

I'll give it a go.

Bill

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"Mike the Elder" <nomail@nomail> wrote:
> I like it. Just a notion - not necessarily an improvement - how about varying
> the amount of foliage in proportion to the amount of illumination?

I'll try what Thomas suggested, more grass on the upper surface. I think it
might look a little odd if it were all on the right-hand side!

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"Robert McGregor" <rob### [at] mcgregorfineartcom> wrote:
> This is a beauty Bill, I think the grass should be more randomized - maybe make
> several different grass objects with varying lengths (and maybe not as
> healthy?) and and have them traced around wherever? Overall a really nice and
> original concept for a CGSphere entry!

Yup, I think I definitely need different types of grass, maybe some other weeds
too. Thanks for the comments!

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"triple_r" <nomail@nomail> wrote:
> I really like it, but the colors look just a little flat for stone.  Not that
> this is a particularly vibrant example, but notice the light and dark flecks of
> color and the variation from stone to stone:

There is some subtle variation on the stone texture for the bricks, but not the
sphere. I think you're right though... I'll experiment.

> Maybe some mortar?  And perhaps some vines for the vertical surface?

Never tried vines, and I'm not sure I will for this image, but mortar has some
possibilities. I wasn't sure to start with, but I've just thought of a way to
do it!

Bill

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"Thomas de Groot" <t.d### [at] internlDOTnet> wrote:
> Very nice indeed.

Thx!

> I would expect the grass growing more densely on the upper half of the
> sphere than on the lower one (less direct light).

Similar to Mike's suggestion... I shall give it a go.

Bill

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Jim Charter <jrc### [at] msncom> wrote:
> Wondering how you placed the grass at the recesses of the sphere,
> trace() against the deforming texture?

No, just trace() against the sphere union, and only place grass if the point's
distance from the centre is under a threshold value.

> btw, I thought of this and snapped a few shots:

Cool. I'm definitely going for the narrow-crevice very-bushy-clump look, but
probably with lots of dead blades (straw-coloured) and some long stalks too.
These mages could come in handy. I can't keep running outside to stare at the
road!

Bill

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