I invite you to click on the top shot in this post -- the raytraced one. Woooooh! I don't often raytrace images because even with a fast computer it takes a loooong time. That one render took 38 minutes, before which lighting this scene properly was a challenge even after the "costume" was designed.
Here's the shot with default lights -- in other words, no lights at all:
The model is displayed in every nuance, but it's not realistic. No shadows, and no nighttime colors. So you set the night colors...
...and lose the integrity of the model. Click on the above, see it close to full-size. I've made notes on it, and you'll also see what I mean about the integrity of the model going down the tubes. It's a long haul to get it back:
...but at last, here you are, and ready for a final render. And this one, below, has such an "ouch!" factor, I thought I'd invest a loooong time in raytracing it.
Compare the raytraced one (top) with the deep shadow map render. The realism of the raytraced shot is astonishing. 2023 Edit: Trawling through the archives, I happened upon this and decided to repaint it in Photoshop. Result -- nice! Check this out:
Here's the other item I want to show you today:
Way back in March of 2010 I had some major computer problems, and am still discovering data loss. I just found out that a body of artwork going back five years has been lost. I had to do a bunch of new covers to replace old art which doesn't even exist anymore. This is one of them.
Jade, 13 October
Way back in March of 2010 I had some major computer problems, and am still discovering data loss. I just found out that a body of artwork going back five years has been lost. I had to do a bunch of new covers to replace old art which doesn't even exist anymore. This is one of them.
Jade, 13 October
***Posted by MK: my connection is intermittent, too slow for this. Seriously, guys, I've got dialup speeds. How are you expected to do anything these days, at 1990 dialup speeds?!!!
