SPAs Urbanist BAT Thread

[spa 970]

Jason: Thanks for the info. I ended up doing the same to make a duplicate of one of the maxis concrete textures (more about that below).

Bixel: Thanks! That's how I usually feel when I see a new creation of yours appear on the stex

Allex l'om: Thanks

Dougoz: Thanks. I'm glad you've enjoyed my creations.

SimRabbit: Thanks Defintely different from my usual stuff.

Ilikehotdogs: Thanks

So the Lexington is now textured. Check it out below.

The windows are all done and took some time. On the recommendation of some of the BSC crew I desaturated the brick slightly. I think it looks better now. It's a fine line keeping the bright and loud plastic brick close to the actual building without making it too strong. The texture on the steps and the patio at the Lexington's base is the same as the Maxis high wealth pavement. It should allow the batted ground to blend in with the the lot I'm planning. With the texturing done, all that's left to do is add the patio junk and do the lighting. I'll probably finish this up this week, barring any last minute changes.

So about the Maxis textures. The texture on the concrete ramp is one I made myself after taking a print preview of the maxis base texture in the lot editor. Below is a picture of the maxis base texture next to a 16x16 box with my duplicate on it.

Its a pretty close match. So moving the texture from the lot editor and then to gmax required some adjustments. Gmax and the lot editor don't speak the same language, but I didn't find it that hard though to compensate. All that I did was darken the texture significantly, turn down the contrast and add a layer of blue. Since Jason posted several here already, here's the texture if anyone wants it.

[Jasoncw 11,941]

The roof isn't looking as good as it could.  A quick way to improve it would be to lower all of the roofs so that the parapet wall is effectively higher.  It doesn't look like there's a lot of space to move it down, but however much you can would make it look better I think.  In real life parapet walls are functionally better, and are always there except for aesthetic reasons (modernist aesthetics usually), and it doesn't seem like anyone can see the roof of this building.  I don't know what's really up there though, I'm just guessing.

I also think the roof could use a more weathered custom texture, even though it's supposed to be new.

Also, if you wanted to take the props a step further, you could render whatever props will be on the ground in the lot editor in your BAT too.  That way even those will receive shadows cast from the building, and there would also be no prop dependencies.

[ardecila 125]

Could you possibly do a version at-grade, without the huge planters?

I know that's a whole other render for you to do, so I totally understand if you don't want to.

[ky72x 13]

The detail on the apartment sign is beautiful. Although it's very small, I can't help but to notice the ornate gold lettering on it. Can't wait to see how the patio and lights turn out, keep up the great work!

- Kyle

[spa 970]

Jasoncw: Thanks. I'm going to see what I can get from the BSC crew in terms of trees for the back and for main patio. I can handle the rest, foliage is really tough though so hopefully some of them will share. I have tinkered with the roof texture a bit but not too substantially. The new version is a little more consistent and has a few cracks here and there. There is, unfortunately, no real room to lower the roof and isn't something I'm keen on doing. 
Ardecila: Thanks. I probably won't. I would have to do some tinkering to get a below ground version and from my computer is starting to get bogged down (getting a high quality preview render takes 20 minutes so this one will have to be rendered overnight when the time comes). If there was real demand though an at ground version is a possibility.
Kyle: Thanks. You've got a good eye to pick that out. I'm always amazed by what people manage to catch. On my KOD there is grafitti that says "Stephen Harper sucks." Stephen Harper is Canada's current PM. Needless to say I'm not really a fan. I never ever thought that someone would be able to read that grafitti but some people just have good eyes!


So life has been pretty hectic for the last week or two. I'm really ready to graduate. I have had my fill of school and I can't wait until April. I have picked at the Lexington on and off when I have had the time. I tinkered with the texture on the steps and it now fits that its a curved surface. I also fiddled around with the roof texture. You can see a day and a night preview below.

And at night

You may have noticed that some patio stuff is starting to appear. With so many balconies I'm looking to have a variety of different chairs and bbqs and things (the usual stuff you see). I already have 4 plants that I made for earlier bats that I can mix and match, but I need to broaden my options for the rest. Even though it's the middle of winter and was storming here today, the mind turned to the grill and I have four 5 different bbqs to spread around. Check them out below.

Sadly they come out rather small since, in the sim city scale of things, they are rather small. I can't just let all the detail die though so, for what it's worth, here's how the look in gmax.

Anyway, next up I'm going to make a variety of tables and chairs. Then I'll just have to figure out the back patio and this baby will be done.

[nofunk 1,933]

Ha! I love those grills! Now, if only I could use them in 3ds!

I really like the night lighting on this. It's very well done. I have to agree with Jason on the roof, but I understand why you don't want to change it, and it's not a deal-breaker anyway. The overall modeling on this is just superb.

So... there will be trees in those planters?

[spa 970]

Thanks Nofunk. The night lighting took forever to do. I'm trying to put more effort into that these days because, well, I have actually started to use the night view in game (never did on my old computer). Right now I'm not completely sure what I'm going to do with the planters. I'm pretty confident that I'll add a tree or two on the large back one. I hadn't really thought too much about the front though. Maybe I should consider some shrubs?

[pogoboymtk 9]

Spa... If you don't know about this site, you should check it out. I use it to pick up my "filler" models all the time.

You do have to register, but then downloads are free. http://www.archive3d.net/

[nofunk 1,933]

Yeah, I'd definitely think about putting some shrubs in there. Would maintenance really want to try and mow the grass in those narrow planters?

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Maybe that lawn has a croquet course? Or a mini-golf range. Even better: A small playground. If you want to go with plants, put in a hedge maze. I love those for some weird reason.

[bbfan02 23]

Wow, that building looks great! Great other props too.

[josefmayor 8]

Real beauitufl man! I'm in love with it.

[DougOZ 0]

wow, the night lighting is really great, i have to say once again, you're doing a great job, im waiting for download your creations

[spa 970]

Geez where does the time go. Turn around for a second and we're into February. I haven't had much time lately. I'm trying to get my never-ending thesis done for April so that has been eating up what little time isn't alrready committed to my planning degree and work. I have made some significant progress on the Lexington, however, over the last little while by just picking at it at the end of the day. Before that though, let me catch up on some replies.

Nofunk: Check
Sparky: Ahh but that's the back of the building by the parking garage entrance. I'm thinking plain there.
Bbfan: Thanks
Josef: Thanks
Doug: Thanks. There will be a relase of 5 this month (1 a day every weekday)





About the trees and bushes, I owe Couchpotato (mjb) a big round of applause for them. They're all her creations that she was generous enough to share. I scaled and tinkered with and then slapped my own textures on. This one isn't quite done though. There are a few issues that I have to deal with. If you look closely at the base, you'll see a black sploch running along several of the edge walls. I'm guess that might be a lod issue? I'm going to try one more render to see if that fixes it. The nightlighting also needs a little bit of finetuning.

There seems to be some light leaking out onto the exterior walls along the round tower and the lights seem to have gone up a notch. Maybe I should also tone down the lighting that shines on the platform above the front steps? I might have overdone that spot. Anyway, this one is almost done but there is still one more render so there is still a chance for last minute suggestions. Once I get into the final renders though that's it since it takes this bad boy 3 hours to finish.

[Sim shady 12]

Daaang! This really has turned out great! I wasnt to fond of it at first, but this sure has come a long ways! I think the base and the lighting just look fantastic. Also the amount of detail is stunning Eagerly awaiting its release

[mcarch 15]

I LOVE The nightlighting!

[jacqulina 162]

excellent night lighting

[____----____ 37]

Maxis-esque this is a real beauty, glad to see you doing some larger stuff.

[Sim shady 12]

page flip bug or something?

[Sim shady 12]

yep

[crazyyaya 4]

My god, that an amazing lot. I love the balconies and the detail put into it.

[DougOZ 0]

great building, very realistic, and also u have been done a excelent job, i cant wait to see on Stex...thanks for one more nice job

[spa 970]

SimShady: Thanks. It sure took a while to do! One thing that was nice was I actually learned a few more things about modelling and texturing that I didn't know about before I started this one.
Mcarch: Thanks. Night lighting took a while on this one. I'm glad you like it.
Jacqulina: Ditto
Aleking: Thanks. I'll probably keep up the mix of doing mainly smaller buildings with a larger one thrown in now and then. Larger buildings are great if you have the time to devote. When things are a little more hectic though, it's really nice to work on a small building because it's not such a huge committment.
Crazyyaya: Thanks. It took a while and it's a real beast now on my machine but it seems to have been worth it.
DougOz: Thanks. Soon soon it'll be available.

So the Lexington is now finished and I have two of the four renders done including a new 3x4 version. Check it out below.


And a 3x4 version


Changed night lights

In the end I incorporated a lot of the suggestions voiced here and elsewhere. The sunken fans now have more of a rim, the tile texture on the top step below the tower now curves appropriately, the night lighting has been turned down, the stone ledge to the front planters is less blue and the roof texture has been redone to be less flat. Overall I think it's a better model then it was. Such is the value of feedback. At this point though I'm runing out of steam on this one so unless something big comes to light I'm declaing this one done. Now I just have to mirror each version so that I have 3x5 and 3x4 left corner versions as well.

[Sim shady 12]

Cant wait for this to hit the STEX and LEX

[nofunk 1,933]

I think it looks great! I'm glad to see you added some shrubs to those planters. I can't wait to download this!

BTW, I was in Toronto this past weekend, and I walked by the CBC. Whatever happened to that model?

[ky72x 13]

Yeah, I have a keen eye for small details like that - and yet I still misplace things around the house.

Excellent work, can't wait for the Lexington to be released! The nightlights really take foot on the recent style that you've been applying to your latest buildings. Speaking of latest buildings, I'm really happy to see two new releases from you over the past few days. Also, how are those 1x1's coming along?

- Kyle

[spa 970]

Hello everyone. Haven't been up to too much besides school (I'm so tired of this work work work life and I'm really counting down to graduation in April). I have two new models started, Pier 1 on Yonge Street in Toronto and a little surprise from Saint John, New Brunswick that I'm sure will delight anyone familiar with the city. If you haven't noticed I'm slowly releasing my saved up bats this week. The Brander Morris Building, Video Difference and the Kingsway Shops are all now available either on the stex or the lex. I'll probably post the Five Fishermen tomorrow. Anyway, I'm just going to do a few replies for now.

Simshady: Thanks. I'm planning on rolling it out this week
Nofunk: Thanks. The shurbs were really needed in the planters even though they blew the poly count all to heck and added significantly to the render time. The CBC, my constant companion. It's still here on the computer awaiting my return. I'm hoping to finish it up eventually, but, from the looks of the school demands and my own available time it probably won't be until the summer. I'll probably be in Toronto myself for a weekend sometime in July or August so maybe I'll walk by it and get inspired to finish it.
Ky72x: Thanks. I have been putting more effort into nightlighting then I use to. I'm glad you like the results. Check out the stex and you'll find my new 1x1s

[jacqulina 162]

beautifull work i love those details you have added

[Yeah_Right 2]

I love these mid size apartments, SC4 needs more of these.

thanks

[starrdarcy 4]

Nice work SPA, i really enjoyed looking at the detail with your work. One thing that do not see alot of is mid-rise residential buildings, everyone else seems to be creating huge apartment blocks or just very tall buildings. One thing that could have been done though, is make the roof texture a little more crisp, the one right now is okay, but it is a little to big perhaps, the overall crispness of the building would improve if the texture was scaled down. Great work, just a little advice.