nybt-forum-threads Seraf's Atelier

[Seraf 1,238]

Europe, America and Asia are finished, Africa and countries left ...

HD:

SD:

[Sgt Pepper 864]

Wow, I know for a fact my computer won't be able to handle that if I ever had the oppurtunity to model something like that...

Looking good! I still think the white facade could use more hints of color, white is very difficult to apply when it comes to the game. And I'm still going to nagg you about the overlapping geometry on the stairs.

[JayStimson 211]

Simply ..... beautiful. I hope you take as much time as it takes to finish this puppy to perfection.

The level of detail is amazing. Can hardly wait to see it perfectly textured.

In my next life I'm going to have your kind of talent and patience.

[Seraf 1,238]

It was an old version of the model, that's why facade was so white Current version has colors And I remember about the stairs

Jay - Just love what you do and you will have my "talent and patience"

I added some roofjunk and sculptures of countries. Only cartouche is missing. I also made a corridor behind the main portal. I think I must add some more colors to textures (especially to the stairs).

[PBGV103 729]

Wow this is going to be truly beautiful! The gray shingles on the roof still aren't quite right. Making them a little smaller might help some. The other thing you should try is using the bitmap you used for the color for a bump map as well and set the bump to 0.3-0.5. That should give each shingle definition so they don't look painted on.

I might ask you to make some statues for me some day since I have no experience with that and yours are amazing.

[SimFox 802]

Looks fantastic!

I still have couple of questions about statues, if I may...

Do you "box" model them or do you use some sort of specialized software, say like Pozer to create them?

If you model them in Max do you just model them as is, I mean already posed or do you use biped to pose?

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Yes, I looks fantastic. I would love to learn from you on how to make statues myself, because they are so perfect.

[Seraf 1,238]

Thanks PBGV, but why you don't like the roof? I thought it was good and I like it I already put bump map to textures of the roof, but I made it a bit higher on renders below.

Thanks Simfox, I made sculptures in Poser and I exported them to max, small things like book, globe or torch were made in Max. I sculpted the cartouche in zbrush because I have no idea how to make it in Max. I think that box modelling "Countries" and "Continents"  would take years to complete

Thank you Aaron, if you want to make sculptures you just need an appropriate software - like Poser. It's the easy way. The hard way means very good anatomy knowledge (and some other things), then you can model sculptures from a simple box or create them in zbrush or mudbox

I hope it is the end of work on Custom House, building is very large, I think I added all ornaments that were worth adding. I also added some colors to textures, only stairs need some work but it's a trifle I'll do just before upload. There are a few texture mistakes but no worries I will correct them. I think I can start making nightviews.

[Sgt Pepper 864]

BEAUTIFUL!!! I don't think the main roof texture should be tiles similar to what Cockatoo said, but I think it would also be fine either way. It's one of the most beautiful BATs I've seen recently...even though I've seen a lot.

[SimFox 802]

Good to know! What about columns capitals?

[SimFox 802]

Good to know! What about columns capitals?

Speaking of the roof texture, to my eye the main, and I'd say only real problem with it is that it looks very much stretched (left-right sort of way) The effect is created by the strikingly different width of vertical and horizontal seams. Also the pattern seem a bit odd for roof tiles...

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Looks really good.

Arrow Colors

Black- I think the steps should be a little darker, just because people walk in that area and you know people shoes are dirty but also the weather will make it darker I think. What do you think Seraf?

Red- Here's a picture of the details that goes on the statue base.

Green- Don't forget about the flag pole on the top on the building.

Brown- Do not worry about the brown arrow I changed my mind.

Something about the roof but I can't explain it.

[JayStimson 211]

I think part of the problem with the roof is the alignment of the texture on the angled corners. UVM mapping needs to be rotated to align with the other roof sections.

[Vlasky 1,803]

And it's not only that. That flat thing on top of the roof is overhanging too much! How come no one noticed. Just look at the photos. Amazing BAT btw

[Seraf 1,238]

Thanks all

Simfox, I made column capitals by myself when I was trying to reconstruct the Columbian Exposition.

Aaron I soiled the textures a little, you can see effects below. I remember about flagpole, some people ask me if I can omit the US flag on it because then the building will not fit in european cities

I made two versions of roof: tell me what you think.

[Vlasky 1,803]

1st is better, but I still think that the rooftop overhangs too much. Are you gonna address this problem?

[Seraf 1,238]

Well I made this part of the building based on original Gilbert's elevation drawing, so I think it should be ok...

[Sgt Pepper 864]

It'll be fine. I think this is much better, it just gets better and better! The shadows on those two house like things on the roof dissappeared though...

[JayStimson 211]

The texture on the "two little houses" rooftops needs to be changed. A nice "dripping" copper green patina to show the slope of the roof would be better IMO.

The stairs are looking a lot better and the main roof looks way better. Just about there.

Night-lighting ?

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Originally posted by: Seraf

Aaron I soiled the textures a little, you can see effects below. I remember about flagpole, some people ask me if I can omit the US flag on it because then the building will not fit in European cities.quote>

Yes, you can omit the flag on the pole because we do have people making beautiful European cities, but your building is looking fantastic and I'm glad you have changed the roof.

(Edit) 2-1-11

Sorry I did not answer that question on  the roof.

Seraf, I really like the first image on the roof change, it looks better and I love the change in the stairs on the front of the building.

[PBGV103 729]

There's also people making beautiful cities in the US, so why not two versions, one with the flag, one without? It's easy enough to do.

[Odainsaker 2,134]

The rooftop seems be the area of greatest difficulty, and thus far, the hardest to reconcile with the level detail of the rest of the building.  Of course, it was never meant to be seen from the ground, let alone from SimCity perspective.

Flat feels very wrong given the mansard sides, and the very shallow sloped roof seemed the right approach.

What we might consider, however, is the modern appearance of the roof, with all its additional access cupolas and machinery.  I'm sure not all of it is original to the building, but they are interesting to look at, and in the model would break up the expanse of roof with highlights of rich detail and shadowing.  It is possible to do this with the ealier shallow slope version, with adjustments for perimeter walkways, semicircular skylights, and the like.  It also seems that the mansard of the internal courtyard was either changed, or had always had a different configuration than the outer mansard.  It's not a critical change, but with all the rooftop clutter, it gives the sense of having been occupied over time.

Originally posted by: Aaron Graham

quote>

This is such an awesome project!

[Seraf 1,238]

Well, the roof with small slope was not praised, so I changed it to be totally flat. I made all mansards look the same because I don't have plans for that part ot the building and I don't want to experiment with it. And for the roof junk ... I made version of roof similar to one from 60-70's, and photos from 1924 show that there were only these small "sheds" designed by Gilbert and I think it's good. I know that for some people roof junk is very important to be happy, but once people didn't have roof junk like now and they were happy

I know everyone wants that building to look perfect (and thanks for this! ), but now it looks good, i think. Work with it is awkward now with all these ornaments, so I just want to make nightviews and start another building.

Ok, here we have nightlights:

and start of Farley Post Office, it will be made with original Pennsylvania Station and Pennsylvania Hotel, but screens of station and hotel - coming soon

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

WOW!!! I love the night lights, Great job and I do see some change in the roof again. I like the new building keep it up, Well we all going have a to wait about six months for the new bat to be realease to the STEX.

[Sgt Pepper 864]

OOOH! My my....this project is getting so close to being finished...the suspense is getting to me....suspense is a serial killer I tell ya! I love it seraf, and this new one you got is looking very promising.

[SimHoTToDDy 2,938]

Seraf: textures look pretty balanced for use in the game, you have come a long way since Michigan central

The only complaint I have is about the windows. It is hard for the viewer to tell if there is a window texture or if you have transparent glass. The thing is, it looks like you have transparent glass with no ground plane or "floor" so the gray background shows though. This looks very odd on the front windows but more so on the central glass dome. In the night shots it does look like you have some kind of floor/ground plane, but the flat gray really makes the thing look unfinished. Putting just about anything else would be a big improvement!

Otherwise I love it!

[Seraf 1,238]

Thanks all

SimHoTToDDy - I did what you say, hope it will be better now I want to remodel MCS some day, but first I must get original plans, I know where I can get it but it looks like I won't be in Detroit any time soon

Some progress on FPO: I know it isn't too much but making doors and windows with ornamental grilles takes some time ...

[Sgt Pepper 864]

It's looking great and I can tell that such things take time. Just keep a pace your comfortable with and it'll fine. We all can wait.

[TekindusT 3,809]

I was going to suggest you used the PEGs One Flag Many Nations mod for the flag, but definately your flag looks MUCH better. When I place this building in my cities, I'll pretend it is a US Embassy...

As for the post office building, well, it looks magnificent without texturing!

[SimFox 802]

May I ask about your plans for the DarkNite version of Custom house? And if you will be able/willing to do a little more work on it? It is great modeling effort with all the details and sculptures, but I'm afraid lacking material setup and textures and lighting hold this marvel back...