Psander5's BATs

[Sgt Pepper 864]

It's a wonderful addition to the game Psander5, and it's at a size we all need.

Though, I must say something about the textured ground plane your using. It's fine, but in the back or that alley area, wouldn't you think that part would be a more dirty concrete in that area?

[Jack_wilds 550]

...super progress, the roof junk looks right to me, for a place like this and it does have that realism your shooting for -even if ain't technically correct, like the textures and the choice for a general happy-middle, reflection effect versus over complicating it with too many technicalities... I like the pillars depth and dimensions and the shadows add visual interest to the front... also the side building, is it planed to be whitish-gray as the rest of the structure or will it have some color too...?

just thought I'd add some rambling thoughts, observations

by the way, what is the structure upper left with the garages?

Jack

[Andreas Roth 607]

Superb work. There's a huge need for midrises like those; we have so many skyscrapers and also quite a lot of stuff for the suburbs, but there's a big hole in-between, so those are very welcome. It's also nice to see that they will fit in different surroundings easily; they don't look off next to some brownstones, and will fit in equally well into a Houston or Euro vicinity.

[artist 4]

I wouldn't change anything. It looks fine the way it is. Maybe some advertising above the column's and below the second story windows on the white facing? Either way would work for me. Nice job.

[psander5 195]

Sgt Pepper:  Thanks! It's a need I have myself, so it was natural to try and fill that gap.  The ground plane won't be rendered.  It's just for the reflections at the front.  

Jack_Wilds: Thanks. The side building is how it's going to be.  It's based on the real life building, which doesn't have much colour.  Sthe shop that occupies it has a logo with a white background.  The building you asked about is this one by Glenni.

Andreas Roth: Thanks. I'm glad you think it'll fit in with a few different styles.  I tend to use a mix in my own cities, so that's kind of what I was hoping for

artist: Thanks.  I did think about branding that strip.  In the old days, when it was a McDonalds It would have been branded., but now it's owned by a clearance furniture store and as far as I know all the signs and branding are underneath the overhang.  

Update - Night Time...

If this passes the quality control then the building is finished! 

[mntoes 270]

Simply amazing. What more is there to say? BTW it passes quality control...lol

[Jack_wilds 550]

...I think its really neat,

Like the lighting of the windows on the side building, it sure has that store front look to it -which appears to have been at one time; no worries about the side building as i was wondering about it more than wanting it changed...

barring anything unexpected it looks good to go

[psander5 195]

Thanks guys. It's ready to go then now... just needs exporting, lotting and modding

Update - Something New... Another Corner Building!

I'm trying to take advantage of this current BATing frenzy of mine, so I decided to start the next building before I get bogged down by modding and testing the other. This is a 2x3 department store (named Sunwin Department Store), currently occupied by TK Maxx. It's the building right next door to the previous one... 

It's a bit more complicated than the other one.  It has a modern clad portion and an older industrial/warehouse portion knitted to the back down the side street.  It's still in the early stages... the most fun part in my opinion, but I thought I'd post to keep the energy going.  

It's four stories by the way.  The facade is covered in shiny panels, so they aren't all windows  This one already has nice comfortable floor heights so I shouldn't have to do any further stretching to make it fit in with the game's range of floor heights. 

Just for fun, here it is next to Moorhead House, as it is in real life...

...Maybe this is the start of a project to model the whole of the city of Sheffield!  

[TekindusT 3,809]

In my opinion, the corner building texturing is excellent! Fantastic work also with the roof junk...

[SimHoTToDDy 2,938]

Lookin' good!

I like older industrial warehouse portions. Of course I make things that only have that portion

It is nice when there are a few neat buildings on one block that are ideal BAT candidates. Something about them being neighbors makes them more interesting to have together (but separable) in game.

[psander5 195]

TekindusT: Thanks!

SimHoTToDDy: Thanks.  There are a couple of warehouse buildings I think I'm going to make for the 'side streets' element of this project   This particular area of Sheffield was bombed out during WWII, and when they re-built it they pretty much kept to a grid... so lots of buildings in this area can be BATed! Normally, British cities look more like a cubist painting! 

Update - Detailing done... ready for texturing!

The majority of modeling is done, bar any finishing touches that might be needed after texturing. 

[zero7 68]

Really like what you're doing here.  The filler building for the corner shop looks like it will sit very nicely against my Richer Sounds w2w.  I hope so anyway!

A Sunwin Department store seems to be a regular fixture of Yorkshire towns - Bradford's got a pretty interesting one too, though art deco rather than the 60s/70s looking one you're modelling here - which is a very interesting shape.  I particularly like the fact that there's an access route under part of the building.  

Looking forward to seeing it textured.

[psander5 195]

zero7: Thanks.  Yeah, maybe it will.  I'm familiar with your stuff, but it seems you don't make ploppables    I plop all my commercials, so I haven't made use of your stuff yet... I haven't  found a moment to convert them.  The Bradford Sunwins came up when I was searching for reference pics.  It is a bit different.  I'm not sure if this is still a Sunwin though.  As you'll see from this update, the building is plastered with TK Maxx signage these days.  I think they're the sole occupiers of the retail space.  There's a little bit of Sunwin signage down the side street though.

Update : Texturing well under way...

This is the first building I've done that has any substantial expanse of glass.  The reflections might be a tad strong, but I've been having fun getting to know some of the features of these materials.  Let me know what you experts think!

The beige brickwork on the main building still needs detailing with grime and lots of white paint.  All the other textures are at least a version of the final.  Some might be tinkered with, but I'm essentially happy with the way things are going.  It's up to you to stop me if I'm wrong   Obviously, there's quite a few white areas that are completely un-textured as of yet.  The warehouse* portion is entirely textured and in it's potential final state.  

*I'm guessing as to the use of it.  I think that rollup door is where they take deliveries, so I presume it contains store rooms.  There's lots of windows at the back of it though that might be office space.  

[Vlasky 1,803]

Well the glass is in different colors, so reflections don't appear too strong except of that portion of white reflection, imo at least. Great and quick job! Lovely

[mightygoose 92]

that looks lavely.

[artist 4]

It's coming along nicely. Nice texture choices. Just curious. R the windows Arch & Design textures?

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Wow!! looks wonderful, the model and textures are perfect I'm looking forward to having this in my collection of bats.

[Andreas Roth 607]

Originally posted by: psander5

[This is the first building I've done that has any substantial expanse of glass.  The reflections might be a tad strong, but I've been having fun getting to know some of the features of these materials.  Let me know what you experts think!quote>

Although I wouldn't consider myself as an "expert", I'd say tone down the saturation a bit. Otherwise, it looks fine.

[psander5 195]

Vlasky: Thanks.   I've addressed the 'white reflection' issue...

mightygoose: Ta duck... sorry; goose

artist: Thanks.  Yes, the windows are arch & design.  They're based on Jasoncw's material as posted in his blog, which I shamelessly copied verbatim and then extrapolated from it  

Aaron Graham: Thanks

Andreas Roth: Thanks.  Expert or not, a second pair of eyes always helps! I've altered the glass quite a bit...

Update : All textured and ready for lights... perhaps...

Regarding the glass; I've desaturated the reflect plane, so the plain colour reflections don't look so stark any more.  I've also tinted the reflection colour on the coloured glass (blue and brown), which makes it more realistic... at least I think so. 

Here's how it will look next to some other buildings in its intended environment...

I now have two buildings that are nearing completion, so I guess it's time to start thinking about release.  Small BATs like these are better released in packs or batches I think, so I was wondering what people thought about me saving them up until I have three or four and then releasing them all at once.  That might make them seem more substantial.  On the other hand, not all of my future BATs will be done this quickly, so It might mean keeping hold of them for several months.

If I come up with a theme for them, like the Small Town USA theme, then I guess it doesn't matter as much, and I can release each one as they're done.  

Buildings from this series will be my BATing bread and butter for the time being, although there are a couple of special things I'd like to try and make as side projects.  The main aim is to make a million new commercial filler buildings.... so that's three (almost) down, 999,997 to go

I'll try and make some non-corner buildings next.  I seem to be drawn to corners for some reason! 

First thing's first though... night lights on this! 

[artist 4]

Ah Jasons blog, yes I have seen it. Very useful thanks. Concerning the release date I believe it's the creators choice. I personally would like to see one creation released at a time (or in this case two). I think they are both ready. I am curious to read what others think.

Cheers

[mightygoose 92]

this bread and butter is just the bread and butter the stex needs, release them individually and keep the average content quality up XD

[io_bg 249]

I agree, I'd like to see each one released separately

[Jack_wilds 550]

...the tweaking made a big difference, however the pillar/columns in front bother me but can't but my finger on it

... a hometown series makes for a good theme, over-all the bat looks great and will make an interesting addition on main street

[psander5 195]

artist: Thanks for the advice.

mightygoose: Thanks.  I agree

io_bg: I think I will then

Jack_wilds: Thanks.  I think it's because those columns are painted black.  They should look better with shadows to 'ground' them in the export, but if not I'll consider lightening them a touch. 

Update : Illuminations...

On the whole I'm quite happy.  The main bone of contention as I see it is the stairwell on the long, road-facing side.  I tried to make it look like a stairwell by painting some shadows onto a basic texture in Photoshop, but I think it looks very 2D.  I know the colour's off.  I tried to make it look like it was clearly walled off from the adjacent office space.  

The beige and blue glass is, as far as I know, supposed to be opaque (It's part of the retail space so has stock up against the walls).  To add interest to the night view I've tried, for the first time ever to show some faint environmental reflections.  I didn't want to overdo it, so I hope it's clear that that's what those little flecks of colour are.  I also added a few up-lighters to the front facade. 

One thing I wanted to check with the 3ds Max experts is this; should I leave mr Physical Sky turned on for the night export? (as I have in the above images)  I noticed that it sets the background to a much darker colour.  I turned it on because those 'skylight' structures on the roof of the main building are angled beyond perpendicular, so they reflect sky.  It's perhaps overkill for such a small building, but I wanted to get to know how to use some of these features for future reference. 

[MTT9 187]

This is the first time i comment, but i've loved this from the very beginning.

I think that the staircase looks pretty good, but one seem to be on the wrong direction. The other detail that bothers me is the warehouse glass on the roof. It looks fine except in a certain angle in wich you would see the inside of the building, but instead there is just a white/grey area (as in the first in game render). I'm not sure if you get me.

Hope to see many more of these, although i'm still waiting for the dome and the skylon

Matt

[Sgt Pepper 864]

This new BAT is coming along greatly! Textures and modeling are fantastic!

I'm no MAX export but I think it's done. Speaking of that, what about the other corner building you just finished? Is that on the STEX yet and I missed it?

[Andreas Roth 607]

As for the reflection, I'd say that did the trick! The change is probably subtle, but the human eye is pretty good at picking up such subtle things after all.

[artist 4]

Hey:

Don't know if mrPS will create a problem or not, sorry. What I will say is the darker image (the one with the mrPS) looks much better. I thought it was darknite. Concerning the stairs I would say yes, it does look a bit 2D. Perhaps try to create a real staircase and see if that helps, but that might make the other lighted windows seem 2D. Give it a try, no harm in that. If it doesn't work then you have learned something. I have used this saying before and I'll say it again, "Good judgement comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgement".

[psander5 195]

emmotic : Thanks. I completely agree with you on the grey glass! It never occurred to me to make it appear to be transparent, or at least translucent.  I was preoccupied with reflections.  Of course normal glass would be see-through from that angle!  Your comment came a bit late though.  I had a lot of spare time yesterday so I got on with the modding.  It took me all day to test the growable version (I'm rubbish at using growables) so I don't really want to do it all over again  It's something to keep in mind for forthcoming works though.  The stair that's the wrong way round is the return flight.  It's obscured in the floors above by opaque glass. 

The Dome of Discovery is currently broken.  I haven't found a way to fix it yet, but I'm hoping that the forthcoming BAT4Max 5 will help.  Skylon is ok if I remember correctly, but It doesn't make sense to release it on its own. I hope they see the light one day... watch this space!

Sgt Pepper : Thanks! The other building (Moorhead House) is finished, but I haven't uploaded it yet.  I've been modding them in tandem.  I'm going to release them at the same time... which is probably very soon.

Andreas Roth : Thanks.  It helps to take a step back from the canvas.  I usually post updates straight after a long BATing session.  Often a night's sleep and a few comments helps to bring out the critical eye

artist : Thanks for the advice.  I also think some good judgement can be gleaned from the experience of others   I did consider making the stairwell.  The extra geometry isn't a worry on such a small model, but from what I've seen and read over the years, if you go down the internal modeling route you have to go all in, otherwise it would look strange.  The exception might be the lobbies of skyscrapers.  Since this is just a utility stairwell I don't want to make too much of a feature of it.  

Mini update : Stairwell retouched...

I spent some more time in Photoshop coming up with a better image for the stairwell.  I think this is a significant enough improvement.  It looks a bit smoke-filled, but I'm much happier with it now... so I went ahead and exported it.  Modding is all done, I just have the upload documents to make and they'll be ready to release.  Technically it's not too late to alter the night views if there's something major that needs changing, thanks to the way that TruNite works.  (at least I think it's possible) The day view however is 'hard wired' into the modding as re-exporting would create a new SC4Model file.  

Anyway, I have to call it a day at some point so I can move on!  I promised to do a couple of non-corner buildings next, and I will.  I'm also being wooed by a super special building that will most likely test my BATing skills to the max!  I'm not sure if I should go ahead with it yet.  It might be too far above my current knowledge and/or computer power.  I might post some preliminary images first to get some advice, but until then... 

[alj 38]

I am looking forward to have this building in my cities. There's so much visual interest in the model and textures are great!

Keep up the good work.