Thanks everyone!
I have really struggled this week between all these lovely random events popping up. I was working on the textures last night and my power went out. So........ I am going to try my hardest to get as far as I can today. Have mercy, Almighty Kent.
Onward!
Week 2 Homework Submission
Phew! I did it! This thing is textured! I might mess with the cavity map a little bit to help really make those edges pop. I'm excited for the shader section next!
Hey silentheart00,
that's a nice job you did here! I think you choce good colors for the leather straps, the metal pieces and the bowstring. The texture painting you did on the wooden part is awesome. I love how you did the vein. I can't wait to see the result after week 3. Keep it going mate!
silentheart00 I love seeing the additional model details on your crossbow! That's adding a lot of appeal and interest. Your texture looks good too but it I think it would benefit a lot from edge highlighting and crevice darkening. Currently the model and texture look like separate things rather than compliments of the same thing. Edge and cavity detection is ideal for bridging / marrying the two as well as increasing the detail.
The texture feels a bit incomplete without that. If you add that element it'll be an A from me this week!
@theluthier I do have a cavity map on it, but it's not strong enough, so I was going to play with it more. I agree it could be more apparent.
Okay! Thought I would take the time I have and do something! Shaders added, not completely happy with them, but it's a start.
silentheart00 Wow, that make a huge difference!
Leather and wood look really good!
Maybe when you have enough time, you could add a 'locking mechanism' for the leather straps, if you know what I mean (pin and holes, like on a belt..)?
spikeyxxx Thanks! And yeah, materials really bring everything together.
Yeah, the buckle and holes in the straps are the last detail that could really finish this off. Heck, let's throw in a crossbow bolt, too.
Homework Submission Week 3
Whoops, got busy again =/ So the extra little details just kinda slipped through. Shoot. Oh well. Lessons were learned. I wasn't the most active VA, but sometimes that's life. It's been fun!
silentheart00 Silent I think that came out very beautifully, maybe on the curve of the arc can be perceived that it is low poly, but anyway impressive presentation
csehz Thanks! And that's a fair point. I kinda like it, though, but I can also understand against the higher poly straps it can look out of place.
silentheart00 That's a cool little crossbow :) I spent some time looking at the wood structure, texture and details - to me it looks like someone cut and sanded it by hand which is neat.
Now it just needs enchanted? Or maybe get some poison tipped bolts....
clintjohnson Thanks! If I make a v2.0, I will definitely add those extra details!
silentheart00 Overall your crossbow turned out well! I agree that some additional details would sell it a little more, but it's clear that you put a lot of work into this. And you'v been a plenty active VA. It's not easy participating and being a VA. I sincerely thank you for the time you devoted to your project and to your peers.
I think a low-hanging-fruit-improvement could be reflections in the scene. Are you using an HDRI? Currently I see very little being reflected in the metal bits aside from some specific specular highlights (which I would guess are coming from lamps):
In the green circles I see the lamp spec but literally nothing being reflected in the red circles. If I were a betting man, I'd bet that A) no HDRI for the world and B) screenspace reflections aren't enabled. Fixing those two things could do wonders for the believability of the whole render.
Regardless, you've earned an A from me this week. Way to finish strong!
PS: The bow string kinda reminds me of a fishing lure 😊
@theluthier There is an HDRI for the world and only 1 lamp, but I guess I did crank down the reflections a bit too much, and perhaps forgetting a setting or two didn't help 😅 I'll keep that in mind in the future! Still much to learn.