Chicago BAT Project

[Francis90b 748]

I am rather curious to see a comparison with the Cadillac...ioncannon, by just seeing the back of the cadillac in distance, was able to tell that the Tribune was shorter than the Cadillac.

I'm not that skilled, but this thing interests me...would you mind to post the two together (that is, nothing but cadillac and tribune, standing together)?

[Cockatoo 2,256]

As T Wrecks pointed out earlier, you've got some nasty shadow problems going on in this scene. In this particular case, I'd probably just merge the geometry into an entirely fresh scene. Unless it’s a units related problem (all BATing should be done in metric/ metres), a fresh scene with a fresh lighting-rig should correct any shadow problems.

The gargoyle looks really awesome, although some of the detailing is getting lost in the bizarre shadowing so I'd really like to see it rendered out properly. Lucky you found that option to reduce the poly-count too, 1M polys is heafty!

[Ion_Cannon 677]

Sounds like that decimation master will be a useful tool, especially if you're reaching Amthaak poly levels

As for it being underscaled Francis, I cannot be sure, but it sort of looks like it is from those pictures, I certainly wouldn't consider myself skilled, I just know that Cadillac tower is around 130m and Tribune tower around 140m.

[Girafe 1,729]

Glass is not good, try to do something with these settings:

[darn42 1,268]

Oh wow Girafe. That's very helpful. I see you are using your own reflection curve. I will definitely change my windows according to that. Thanks a bunch.

Cockatoo, Yea, I was wondering myself about the shadows... I'm definitely going to take it a to a new scene. I honestly have no clue what's going on though :| Maybe two light sources got put in somehow? I will also try and get a comparison of cadillac tower and tribune.

[gutterclub 2,729]

If it is built to RL height then stretched along the Z axis 133% then it should be fine and should appear slightly taller than the Cadilac

[darn42 1,268]

Just thought I'd post an update for this. I fixed the shadow problem and sculpted a new owl for the corners.

Now I'm working on finishing the corner gargoyles

[darn42 1,268]

Worked on the glass for tribune just now. Played around a bit and I think I got a good reflectivity and such.

Of course I'm going to need all of your opinions on this. Thank you girafe for those settings. I would have never thought to use custom reflection settings.

Here are the settings I used.

[Sgt Pepper 864]

I like the glass better now.

Still looking great overall. Can't wait till its done.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

The glass looks MUCH better. I knew you'd get it in the end.

[darn42 1,268]

It's all thanks to Girafe to be honest, those settings really really really helped. I think this will really help me with glass down the road as well though. So, is there anything else I need to do to this before I start working on nightlights and such?

  Edited July 23, 2012 by darn42  

[Ceafus 88 1,794]

Wow, this looks really good, nice updates

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

I'm saying: Yes!

Looks awesome.

[Girafe 1,729]

I am not so happy with the glass, could you do a render with only the ground map and the glass.

[darn42 1,268]

yea, I'll put that up once it renders girafe

edit: here you go

When I see it alone like this I don't really like it too much either... it seems a bit too yellow and red. I think that's cause of my ground plane :| Is there a way to get a googlemaps type view of it for the ground plane without all the markings?

  Edited July 23, 2012 by darn42  

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

Wanted to give you some progress. Modelling is almost done. I just have to finish modelling the roof and some details.

EDIT: The first preview you are seeing is already scaled up by 133%.

What do you guys think. I'm sorry for the missing north and west previews. Next time

  Edited July 23, 2012 by skyscraper241  

[Ion_Cannon 677]

It looks great so far

[darn42 1,268]

So I've started on the night scene now. I can still change anything I want to the model and textures, just wanted to be productive.

Here it is in darknite. I still have yet to do all the windows but I've done the crown and base already as you can see. What's everyone's thoughts

[SimCoug 5,972]

At first I thought that was an actual night photo of the building (the top at least). I've been checking the progress of this building every so often and I am so impressed by your hard work and willingness to fix even the smallest details. Cheers to you and everyone who has helped this building along the way.

[darn42 1,268]

Thanks for the kind words simcoug. I'm very glad you mentioned all the people that helped me along the way because without everyone's attention to detail and nitpicking, it wouldn't be nearly as good as it is now. I'd like to say thank you to everyone else as well. I really hope that I can look forward to this attention and quality of criticism in my future works.

edit: didn't want to add another post, but I did some of the windows lighting

I like how it's looking so far.

I also changed the ground plane to a bing maps image. Apparently there's no stuff on the map there

  Edited July 24, 2012 by darn42  

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

I love how the buildings is going so far guys.

Darn42- I think your building is great and will look great in a city of mines. I think that you gloss is to high and I think the glass is to transparent, I never really make my glass at 1.0 transparent, try around 6.0 to 8.0. Something you might need to know if you have not done this already, you need to add floors in the building if not the reflection can go through the building and the same for night lights, you will end up seeing lights from the other side of the building on the glass that is expose to the cameras. I think that you need to add a little more orange/ yellow or some red on the lights that light up the top of the building the flying buttress area.

This is not my best Photoshop Example.

  Edited July 24, 2012 by Aaron Graham  

[darn42 1,268]

do you mean like this aaron? I changed it from halogen cool to halogen warm

Also, I want to keep the glass transparent, at least almost completely transparent, because it seems that the tribune tower has that kind of glass.

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Yeah, I like the change in the light on the top of the building, I also think you should do the change on the other lights on the building as well.

[darn42 1,268]

The other lights are supposed to be like that. On the real building, the lights lighting the inside are fluorescent. And the stairwell lights are the orangish but also have some that are brighter. I think I need to turn down the intensity of the 3 lights at the base lighting up the advertisement, but those should be fluorescent as well. One thing I'm debating is adding ambient light at the base like in real life from traffic and streetlights and such, but I'm not sure if that would look right in game.

[darn42 1,268]

Here's a turnaround of the night scene.

What do you all think? What changes should I make etc. I was thinking about making some basic furnishing for the rooms that are lighted. Would that be worth the effort?

  Edited July 24, 2012 by darn42  

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

For your first nite lites this looks awesome. Maybe Z5 preview?

[darn42 1,268]

here's the z5

[benno2005 105]

darn42 i think your work is fantastic

  Edited July 24, 2012 by benno2005  

[Bipin 3,402]

Looking excellent! I'll be able to start on my own contribution to the CBT team soon, now that I'm home from a trip. I can't wait!

[Sgt Pepper 864]

So luminous and spectacular! Great job on the lights.