Fatal Experiment

Guest_UE_Research & Development_*

After reading the topic on this board about 'unorthodox landing scenes' or something to that effect, I decided to try something out...

May I humbly request a small amount of hosting space on someone's servers? Geocities doesn't allow linking to external imagery, so that rules Geocities out for my purposes. Thanks in advance.

Oh, and by the way, this has nothing to do with my Fatal Alliance plug-in project. In case you were wondering...

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(url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ue_rd")Fatal Alliance- an upcoming quasi-TC for EVN.(/url)
Secret Project: In planning stages. (No links available)

Jonathan Boyd

Well I just cleared out my iDisk for a large photo update, so I've plenty of hosting space for a while. Chuck whatever it is at me - jonathanboyd@mac.com.

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(This message has been edited by Jonathan Boyd (edited 09-16-2003).)

-esw-dragoon_77

I have far too much space on my site as well. I'd be willing to give them shelter until they find a new home.

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-esw-dragoon_77: Doing what he can to fsck people up since September 2001.
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Guest_UE_Research & Development_*

Thanks for the generous offers! I'd send the pictures to you, but I'm having e-mail problems right now. I should have it fixed by tomorrow.

Explanation: I'm conducting an experiment concerning 'hand-drawn landing pics'. A few questions I hope to answer.

- Can hand-drawn landing pics ever compete with 3D Bryce or MojoWorld or Terragen pics?
- Will they ever be accepted by EVN players, or is the format inherently too controversial?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of each?
- What media (colored pencil, watercolor, etc.) works best for this?
- How well must a pic be drawn before it is accepted by the EVN graphics community (if at all?)
- What are the best options to use when scanning such pictures into a computer?
- Is it feasible to draw 100+ landing scenes for a Total Conversion?
- and more...

It's the fatal experiment because I might fatally damage my artistic reputation, my sanity, or both :D.

And yes, your opinions, suggestions, comments, etc are welcomed, or if you want to try something like this out, go on ahead. Just don't laugh too hard at me (when I get my pictures posted).

EDIT: formatting
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(url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ue_rd")Fatal Alliance- an upcoming quasi-TC for EVN.(/url)
Secret Project: In planning stages. (No links available)

(This message has been edited by UE_Research & Development (edited 09-16-2003).)

mrxak

I'm eager to see these :).

Kame

Quote

Originally posted by mrxak:
**I'm eager to see these:).

**

Same here

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((Ż'ˇ.¸(Ż'ˇ.¸Ť-KAME-ť¸.ˇ'´Ż)¸.ˇ'´Ż))
I used to jog but the ice kept falling out of my glass.
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getcrack4me

If you still need webspace just email me: getcrack4me@juno.com

I have space to burn and if you need to host a website as well just email me the html files and what not.

Thank god for university.

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Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne

Guest_UE_Research & Development_*

I uploaded a pic to Jonathan Boyd. When he hosts it and tells me, I'll begin the project in earnest.

My first picture...merely an attempt to get the feel of converting a picture drawn on paper to a scanned file. It took me about 5 minutes to draw, but for this particular one artistic quality's not the focus.

Hope I can get it up soon! I'll explain more when I do.

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(url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ue_rd")Fatal Alliance- an upcoming quasi-TC for EVN.(/url)
Secret Project: In intermediate planning stages. (No links available)

Jonathan Boyd

Quote

Originally posted by UE_Research & Development:
**I uploaded a pic to Jonathan Boyd. When he hosts it and tells me, I'll begin the project in earnest.

My first picture...merely an attempt to get the feel of converting a picture drawn on paper to a scanned file. It took me about 5 minutes to draw, but for this particular one artistic quality's not the focus.

Hope I can get it up soon! I'll explain more when I do.

**

It's up at the moment here:

Posted Image

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pipeline

I know this pic isn't supposed to be final quality, but I would note that inked lines would help. Also, like any art, a good perspective on the scene would help.

Myself, I'd like to see something like a architect's concept drawing for a new building, but that takes serious skill and time.

all the best,

Dave

Guest_UE_Research & Development_*

Quote

I know this pic isn't supposed to be final quality, but I would note that inked lines would help. Also, like any art, a good perspective on the scene would help.

Right on. I was originally going to manually ink the lines, but I couldn't find any good fine-tip pens. This is how I 'cheated' and made this image.

1. While writing planet descs for a new plug-in I'm working on with Azdara, I decided to try something out on paper. This was the beginning of the whole idea.

2. I drew a sketch in about 5 or so minutes, and scanned it into the computer in 256 grayscale mode (I'm using a PC for these steps, because that's the computer my scanner is hooked up to).

3. By adjusting the contrast and the brightness, I made the lines somewhat black. Then I print out a copy of that image.

4. I colored that (in this case with colored pencils). I then rescanned the picture. I had to turn down the brightness settings for the colors to show up properly.

5. By using a 'smudge' tool, I very slightly improved the look of the sky. (?)

My grievances about this picture:

- I should have taken more time to draw it, and as pipeline said, ink the lines properly.
- The sky was not to my satisfication. Perhaps make that area transparent, and then superimpose a 3-D program sky pic 'beneath' the hand-drawn picture?
- I colored with some dull pencils- should have used properly prepared media.
- I need to experiment with scanner settings- too high a resolution allows you to see the 'artifacts' of the coloring process (pencil lines, etc.). Too low makes the entire picture blurry.
- I need perspective! (maybe a different view)

By the way, if you want to see the description that is supposed to go along with the picture, here it is. Sorry if some of the references are completely unfamiliar; I can't really do much about that right now :).

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Pegasus VI is one of the most heavily populated worlds in the Federation; with a population of over forty billion it is an important port world and industrial center. Although technically an Outer World, Pegasus VI declared its allegiance to Sol instead of the NSE and as such was considered a Core World for many years. Covering the surface of the planet are the massive skyscraper factory districts and manufacturing plants that have exemplified the economy of the NSE, as well as myriad spaceports that serve the freighters that pass through this system.
This particular port is located upon a massive raised platform, held up far above a particularly destitute sector of the city. You briefly consider the plight of the people living in the decaying slums under the platform, and then hastily shake the thought out of your head.

NB: Federation= current government ruling over humanity (oversimplified)
Neo-Socialist Enlightenment= evil government that warred against Earth and its allied colonies for a long time before finally collapsing.
-----

Questions, comments, and general participation would be greatly appreciated. I want to make some progress!

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(url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ue_rd")Fatal Alliance- an upcoming quasi-TC for EVN.(/url)
Secret Project: In intermediate planning stages. (No links available)

(This message has been edited by UE_Research & Development (edited 09-17-2003).)

liquid_doom

Quote

Originally posted by UE_Research & Development:
**
My grievances about this picture:

- I should have taken more time to draw it, and as pipeline said, ink the lines properly.
- The sky was not to my satisfication. Perhaps make that area transparent, and then superimpose a 3-D program sky pic 'beneath' the hand-drawn picture?
- I colored with some dull pencils- should have used properly prepared media.
- I need to experiment with scanner settings- too high a resolution allows you to see the 'artifacts' of the coloring process (pencil lines, etc.). Too low makes the entire picture blurry.

**

I'm inclined to agree with pipeline, the drawing just doesn't look finished. I dunno, maybe it's just a problem with the medium; you'd have to put a LOT of work into a pencil landing pic, and I don't think it would be feasible to do on a large (TC) scale, especially when things like terragen can make an image in 1/100th of the time. If you want a good, not as time-consuming pic, try monochromatic (maybe ink or something) and only as much detail as you can handle. I'm about to get my hands on some printmaking material, and if I make something worth looking at, maybe we can see if monochrome would give a better atmosphere. But hey, it's your topic, I just post in it.

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Hail to the Mage King! May the Wind of the Falcon guide you. (url="http://"http://members.tripod.com/lunarproductions/tc.html") Phoenix (/url)

mrxak

It looks very cool. It just needs some more finalization.

Very nice shapes of buildings, etc.

orcaloverbri9

Would this be your "Secret Project"?

SpacePirate

Personally, I think the image should be more overhead, with the focus either on the city, the landing pad, or the ship. The target should be more or less centered, and you definitely need more detail. Finally, the way the image is now, it looks like the landing pad is a bit skewed in relation to the city. This is one of the largest problems I have with drawing, keeping flat surfaces in parallel planes.

Also, you should consider adding in some more traffic or such, the image actually looks rather bleak, and the cityscape is too flat. Try going for more depth there.

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Eat blazing electric death!

(This message has been edited by SpacePirate (edited 09-17-2003).)

Guest_UE_Research & Development_*

Good points, good points all.

Do you think that it would be better if I drew large, then reduced the image once I scanned it in? That could allow me to include more detail...

I'll elaborate when I have more time. I should have Mk.2 of that picture posted sometime soon, of course after I have understood your suggestions...

Keep them coming, and if you have an image you want to submit, by all means post it. I'll think of a more permanent solution some time soon.

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(url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ue_rd")Fatal Alliance- an upcoming quasi-TC for EVN.(/url)
Secret Project: In intermediate planning stages. (No links available)

Masamune

I like it, just the way it is. For a very quick and dirty pic it's not bad. I can definately tell that the same drawing, with more time spent on it (inking correctly, higher detail) would be very cool.

But listen to the artsy types. They know more about this than me- I'm a code monkey.

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~Charlie
Sephil Saga Homepage: (url="http://"http://www.cwssoftware.com")www.cwssoftware.com(/url)

Guest_UE_Research & Development_*

I sent another picture to Jonathan Boyd. It's a redone version of the cityscape sans color or final detail.

Feel free to comment or post your thoughts about hand-drawn pics.

(And no, this is not my secret project, at least not the Fatal Experiment)

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(url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ue_rd")Fatal Alliance- an upcoming quasi-TC for EVN.(/url)
Secret Project: In intermediate planning stages. (No links available)

Jonathan Boyd

Quote

Originally posted by UE_Research & Development:
I sent another picture to Jonathan Boyd. It's a redone version of the cityscape sans color or final detail.

Now up:

Posted Image

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liquid_doom

Much better. It really looks a lot better w/o color, though I can't say why exactly. With final details I could definitely see this kind of style working for a plug. Keep 'em coming.

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Hail to the Mage King! May the Wind of the Falcon guide you. (url="http://"http://members.tripod.com/lunarproductions/tc.html") Phoenix (/url)