nybt-forum-threads PBGV's BAT Thread

[PBGV103 729]

I don't think it's an issue with the leaf density. From what I understand it's simply SC4 thinking an area of the image should be shown when it really should be transparent, the solution I found, while still not perfect, was just to make the background dark green.

Also, I exported the day scene of 345PA last night and it only took 8 hours and 20 minute, which is much less than the 12 hours it took last time. I think it's a combination of OCing and attaching about 2000 objects into one object. The night export is running now and seems to be taking much longer. By the way, this is THE LAST TIME I'm exporting this model. It's good enough to where I don't want to deal with another 24hr export when someone finds a single-pixel-mistake. lol

Next on the list is updating 270PA to it's renovated condition and improving on the lights and plants.

2nd will be finishing 277PA because it's only about 1/3 complete.

3rd will be finishing 280PA cause I just barely started it, but when it's finished I'll have 4 neighbor buildings of Park Ave finished.

After that I'll probably pick some other nearby building.

If you're wondering why Citigroup and the Westin aren't on the list, the answer is Citigroup is too much for my computer to handle, specifically the fountain, and the Westin's dimensions are just all over the place. It's like something out of a crazy hallucination.

Anyway, one day I'll be able to post some pics of the mentioned area of Park Ave which look like the real thing. Until then I have thousands of hours of work ahead of me...

[weixc812 509]

Your models and BATs are among the best ones I've ever seen

Are you going to release the rest of them?Or are they in the making process?

Anyway, I'm satisfied even if I can only have a glimpse on them

[gutterclub 2,729]

I wouldn't worry too much about the Citgroup, at least for now. I'm way more excited about your Park Avenue models to be honest, they were/are all stunning. Glad you are making progress and are continuing to BAT, long may it last

[PBGV103 729]

Thanks gutterclub! I started fixing up 270 today and it looks like it'll take much longer than I originally thought. A lot has been changed on the building in the past year, but hopefully I'll be done with the changes by tomorrow night.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Westin... Meh!

Citigroup... Do you think you can extract the fountain part of the model and upload it to see if any of us modellers can take a crack at it? Before my powerful computer, I learned a lot of ways to reduce render time with my petite laptop. I understand how you would like to do the whole project yourself, but I think it might be better than putting it into the BAT graveyard (:

Just something to think about!

, Kellydale2003

[PBGV103 729]

Thanks Kelly, but the sr-x and the new xeons should be released next week and I have several other models to work on as well so by the time I get around to working on the Citigroup Center again I should have a decent computer.

Here's a little progress on 270PA. While redoing the planters I discovered that the whole building was over scaled on x and y by about 4% so I fixed that. I still have to make the railing for the lower roof, plants, fix a couple materials, and make the night scene. I figure I've changed so much I might as well just redo the whole night scene rather than trying to carry things over. Also, what are your thoughts on the bitmap I used on the lower roof? I'm not sure if I don't like it because at the time I just slapped one on there, or because it actually is bad.

I also think I've discovered the main reason for my extreme render times. About a year ago I set the Final Gather preset to high in order to remove the graininess from the aluminum material. After that I forgot about it and have been using the same settings on every model. I guess it's fine though, since the render quality would otherwise be poor on surfaces with diffuse reflections like aluminum.

Anyway here are the latest renders.

  Edited March 4, 2012 by PBGV103  

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Looks perfect.

[Francis90b 748]

Which one of the lower roofs ?

The one in concrete or the one covered in that gray tiles?

Speaking of the rest of the building, i'm very impressed by the results...maybe i've found a new favourite BAT .

  Edited March 4, 2012 by Francis90b  

[Sgt Pepper 864]

[art128 4,622]

Just gorgeous! :wub:

[Roger51 381]

Well done, this is looking amazing

[Delecto 941]

[Andrey km 304]

Amazing!

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Perhaps another De-saturation scenario with the ground textures again? That was your best improvement on the other project (:

Other than that, I think the model es perfecto! :b

[PBGV103 729]

What material are you talking about? The one making up the tiles on the ground is 99% desaturated in those pictures. Most of the materials are the same ones from a year ago. The only differences are in the modeling.

Also, the rendering set up was set to "custom" before and seemed similar to "high." I played around with it a little, tried it on "medium" and had less than satisfactory renders. Then I set it to "very high" and my computer ran out of memory, then crashed. Then set it to "high" and rather than taking 2.5 hours like before, it took 7.5 hours to render this.

Maybe when I build this 96GB rendering monster I can set FG to "high."

Please ignore the silver bushes, I'm not sure why they turned out that way...

[Jasoncw 11,953]

The noise in the aluminum is probably because it needs more glosiness samples, not because it needs higher FG settings, although if you're happy with your FG settings it doesn't matter.

[harishna 847]

I really like it! Maybe a bit too dark around the base, either the the floors or the flora...

[PBGV103 729]

Another small update.

  Edited March 6, 2012 by PBGV103  

[Francis90b 748]

I think i share Harishna's point...

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

I with Harishna too, it could be the trees, they need to be a little lighter and also I think the grass.

[PBGV103 729]

You know, the material on those trees is the same as the one on the trees in 345 Park Ave. I did a comparison of my trees to some of Girafe's and while mine could be a little lighter I don't think there's a HUGE difference.

  Edited March 6, 2012 by PBGV103  

[gutterclub 2,729]

I think the point was that the base area was too dark. I think the issue is that the trees merge with the grass too much, try making one a bit light so the other stands out. It is a very minor point and the whole thing is quite wonderful!

[sten1700 102]

omg what are these people talking about? It looks so perfect and detailed!

[Seraf 1,239]

Great to see you here, working again! I also think that base of the building is a little too dark. And as always I really like your work on the tops of the buildings, all this roof junk looks great

[PBGV103 729]

The building itself looks too dark, or the trees are too dark, or the shadows seem too dark? You'll have to be more specific. Also, the roof hasn't really changed since I first made the model.

[Seraf 1,239]

I was talking about the texture of the plaza The building looks fine to me, maybe trees can be a little bit more saturated but I'm not sure of that. Even if the roofjunk wasn't really changed, I haven't seen it for a long time and I just wanted to praise your work

[Sgt Pepper 864]

I think their thoughts come from the fact that the building over all is dark, but that's the way it is in real life but making a "dark" building that fits in the game is hard. 130 Liberty Street I did a while back was a dark building...I don't think I accomplished it "blending in" but you know what can you do?

I think it looks great.

[gutterclub 2,729]

I don't think it's the darnkess of the actual building, the buidling is perfect. I think it's the fact that most of the base falls under shadow, so the tree's, grass and possibly pavers look a little dark. Maybe the trees or the grass needs a little more saturation just to make them pop out a but, they look a bit too earthy and brown now. I think that's what people are getting at, its just the base area and even that is a minor point.

[Francis90b 748]

Felt like posting this:

From The Thread, Page 16, Post 228 .

  Edited March 9, 2012 by Francis90b  

[PBGV103 729]

Not much of an update but I'm going to try to finish this one.