I recently decided to create a scene using Blender (free open-source 3D modelling software). Up to this point I'd only ever followed tutorials, but I feel like I've learned enough to start doing my own thing. Here's the result:



It still needs some work, but I thought I'd post it for some feedback.

I shall also use this topic to post any future 3D stuff I might create. Other 3D artists can feel free to post their stuff too.

Cheers

Laurens

For proper feedback, I'd wish for a rendering at least double that size, preferrably even quadruple. Double the size you're thinking of rendering the final scene. But I'll comment from what I can see.

Shadows are looking good. Not a lot of complete blacks, which isn't very natural looking and is the thing I usually notice in a rendering. There always should be at least some level of ambience, reflecting from surfaces and such. And you have.

Textures fit nicely to the scene, good choices all around.

The water needs work. The edges don't behave like water would. The surface tension creates a more clearcut edges to the pooling than this image shows to me. Especially the lower left corner, where just the bulks of iron plating are showing, that doesn't look good to my eye.

The scene looks quite serene without any particles or cloth to indicate wind, so the rippling effect on the water feels out of place in my mind. And to fix it both the things I mentioned(a torn piece of cloth tied to one of the bars? Or maybe dry leaves?) might work.

I can't quite make out the far-right corner of the floor, is that grass or moss? It looks like grass and the coloring suggests so, but grass would require dirt, and the scene otherwise it too clean and not weathered enough to have that much mulch gathering in the corner. Maybe moss? Since its already flooded a bit, and some moss grow on just about anywhere just to spite reason.

Top right, the vertical bar with darker texture: I don't care if that's wood or rusted iron, but the bump map is too crazy for either Rusty iron is quite smooth, even more so than wood. That looks like hand-thrown cement, that wasn't sanded smooth after construction. Otherwise smooth surfaces suggest this place was constructed with care, so it stands out of place with that much bumpyness.

But overall it looks good, all my complaints are definitely things that you'd expect from an early render and are mostly either detailing or material properties related, so they're easily fixed without even touching the model.

Thanks for the input, it's much appreciated.

I like the dry leaves idea. I was also thinking of adding some torn red and white hazard tape around each of the posts (but I have no idea how I'd model that so I've posted for help on a Blender forum). I was also thinking of adding some cloth, but again that is something I've never done, so I'd have to research that.

I've also changed the materials on the grass so it looks less plastic. I changed the normal maps for the walls so they look less glossy too.

I added a particle system for debris on the floor, just a few small chunks of plaster laying around. I also added a broken beam laying on the floor to give it an extra ruined look.

I'm going to look into adding some ivy to the walls. I really want to play with it until I get a 'Last of Us'/'The Road' style post apocalyptic scene, but without over doing things too much.

I'll post my progress later on.

Nice Laurens.. Are you a Linux based OS user?

tuxbox wrote:Nice Laurens.. Are you a Linux based OS user?

I have Ubuntu on my laptop which is slowly dying... However I use Windows 7 on my desktop purely because it is more conducive to running games.

(PS: My avatar is also a Blender creation)

Laurens wrote:
I have Ubuntu on my laptop which is slowly dying... However I use Windows 7 on my desktop purely because it is more conducive to running games.

(PS: My avatar is also a Blender creation)

That is understandable and your avatar is freakin nice as well.

Here is another scene I've been working on

The first one kinda went to hell a bit, so I decided to leave it until I could look at it with fresh eyes and sort it out a bit.

I know pretty much zilch on the topic, but your stuff looks pretty good for a beginner. Far better than I could ever achieve.

Also, I approve most highly of using open source software

Here's another quick one: