Client Liaison

Getting a bit of practice in for my 'career' -god that word scares me.

Using 3ds max and a few new techniques I've learnt over the past 2 weeks I've made a mini football pitch (well a goal and lines) for a new flood-lit soccer school opening in Kingstanding, Birmingham. Getting paid was the best part of this gig. Made me feel like a professional. and the words such as 'breathtaking' where used by the senior coach I spoke to when he saw the first draft.

Ohh yeah I already knew it would take a few drafts and communication between me and the coaches who commissioned this to get it right and the way they want it; but it was great seeing it and learning from it. I found it's always better to do just a little more than what they ask for every time and only stop when they've either think you've lost it or found perfection and ask you to dial it down a tad.
Other than that. Am pleased with myself.. work maybe could have been better I think; but as this will only be put through letter boxes throughout eastern Birmingham and mostly ignored it did not need to be the Mona Lisa..

I thought I'd try 'Grass'. Its what every art student does at one point.

(Was a Joke.Worked if you laughed)


OK. I needed to do this as my scene is set in a park... and how many modern parks don't have grass? Not many. So; using the 'hair and fur (WSM)' tool it started off OK. I found the longer the strand of grass the better it looks.. as it fills more of the gaps in between the individual hairs. It started off at around 3000 hair count.
Finished at 72,000. (render time difference was nothing on 64-bit so I don't know why I was so scared about it)
Another thing I learnt was displacement and the mutant variations add great detail and depth into believably. Essential in other words. So is lighting as it adds shadows to the hairs.
The above image shows my first scene without lighting or effects and when my hair count was very low. Left and below are my finished renders that showcase the difference. I particularly like the softer feel of the later variations.
Have a look. Have a go yourself. Fairly easy.