You don't even want to know what the installation cost was for this thing

David of Mac

While I have done a few experiments with compositing, this is probably my most ambitious effor. In case you're wondering, that is my back yard (currently, and delightfully, hurricane free), with my new Stargate model placed in it. Perhaps SG-1 could come through that 'gate some time. A nice, (if slightly overdeveloped) piece of the subtropics would certainly relieve the monotony of all those pine-tree planets. ;)

[URL=http://homepage.mac.com/david_of_mac/.Pictures/Crossovers/SG-yard.jpg]The Picture.[/URL]

Now all I need is a real one to put back there, to see how close I was to reality. :D

JackN

Hey David,

The only thing that might need some work is the lighting.

First question is was that comped in Photoshop or did you do it through LW?

You have the shadowing down... but the ring looks a bit flat, there should be some specular highlights at the top of the ring at least to match the ones you see on the Palm fronds to the left...

Overall it looks great though!

One last thing is how will the ring rotate to lock the chevrons if it's partially buried in your driveway? ;)

David of Mac

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by JackN [/i]
[B]First question is was that comped in Photoshop or did you do it through LW?[/quote][/b]

I did it in Lightwave. I set it up to do that thing where it makes an alpha map for the ground stand-in based on the amount of shadows, just in case. I only have Photoshop Elements (which happens to be missing the Element of alpha channels), but I was able to use a copy on one of the computers at school to make a transparent image of the ring and its shadow, so all that remains is to reintegrate it into my original background and tweak it up a bit.

Another thing I noticed was that on the school PC's monitor, the blue cast (caused by the light I used to simulate the glow of the sky) on the ground object (and the devision between it and the real background) was a lot more noticeable, and the shadow of the ring was a lot lighter. So while I'm most concerned with getting it to look right on my Mac, I may have to see if I can steal some more time at school to find a happy medium.

[b][quote]You have the shadowing down... but the ring looks a bit flat, there should be some specular highlights at the top of the ring at least to match the ones you see on the Palm fronds to the left...[/quote][/b]

Well, trouble is, most of those palm fronds are at an angle slightly facing the camera and up, being at a perfect position to reflect the sun. The parts of the 'gate that might do this are already in shadow. If my Photoshop recompositing goes well, I might try rerendering the scene with an extra light in there for some purely esthetic specularity, but it did take most of a night to render.

[b][quote]One last thing is how will the ring rotate to lock the chevrons if it's partially buried in your driveway? ;) [/B][/QUOTE]

Um, I have a DHD, so the ring doesn't need to spin. No, that doesn't work, it's spinning in the picture. There's a small space, too narrow to see, that gives the ring just enough breathing room to rotate. Same for the bottom two chevrons. Or, better yet, the same way the iris travels through the (rather solid) ramp into the 'gate at the SGC when it closes without slicing it in two: TV magic. ;)

Falcon1

Haaa excellent! Now I'd love to wake up and find that in my backyard! :D Yeah you'd think SG1 would get cheesed off with all those temperate climate pine planets. Kinda explains O'Neill complaining about his knees ;)

Back to the pic, I agree with JackN, the shodows are a bit off. Otherwise not bad!

JackN

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by David of Mac [/i]
[B]I might try rerendering the scene with an extra light in there for some purely esthetic specularity, but it did take most of a night to render. [/B][/QUOTE]

:D I understand... damn volumetric lighting with AA and radiosity, and I don't see my computer for days...

;)

David of Mac

I rerendered the scene with a slightly modified 'gate model (fixing a spot of missing detail on the back and adding a more accurate bit of detail to the inside surface, where the event horizon sits), and a slightly modified lighting scheme (I tried throwing a little more specular on it from the sun, but found the only way to get even a little to show was to have the light point straight down, which wouldn't have fit in with the shadows all that well). I then recomposited the 'gate in Photoshop, getting rid of the blue cast on my front-projection polygon. Only problem that remains is that the bump mapping in the chevron wells is having some kind of difficulty, causing the background to shine through as if it were partially transparent there. I've no idea how or why, and it doesn't show up on the alpha map of the image.

[url=http://homepage.mac.com/david_of_mac/.Pictures/Crossovers/SG%20Yard%202.jpg]Right. Less talk, more picture.[/url]

In summery, I think it would've been far easier to go to Canada, steal the prop, and instal it in my driveway, then say it was a comp-job when I posted the pictures of it. It would also be endless fun at parties. ;)

Captain,Simmonds

Very Nice man