Need help on a metallic look

[wbiss]

[stuned] Woah Mark! That's a mighty fine 'tasting' of the interface tutorial that you're working on! %} %} %} :} :} :}

Moth... your last post shows great improvements in lighting, contrast and shadows!

 

[theKeeper]

Sorry to drudge up an old thread guys but i just wanted to make a point in respect to Wendy's statement:

That's a mighty fine 'tasting' of the interface tutorial that you're working on!

The new tute material i'm creating guys is NOT simply an "interface tutorial". It's nowhere near that simplistic.

I'm writing material on how to create some very 3D/realistic looking interface components. Pretty much anything you can think of that's common (and not-so-common) to an interface, i'll be covering.

I'll be covering the design of interfaces a little, but not a whole lot. Instead, i've decided to focus mainly on the things that people tend to have more trouble with than designing their interfaces... and that's creating all of the various components and visual characteristics for them.

So anywho... that's what the deal is with that.

 

[stickdiesel]

I think the guys work is pretty awesome regardless of what filters used etc. Especially the mask one.

 

[wbiss]

Mark: The new tute material i'm creating guys is NOT simply an "interface tutorial". It's nowhere near that simplistic.

I've been hearing you as your latest project progresses, Mark

 

[MsOz]

Mark, I know you're not even close to being finished, but these are just a few minor points I noticed on your interface sample:

1. The wires are too "lumpy" looking, not even width throughout.
2. The "frayed" ends look "odd" on the metal connectors, neither soldered or screwed down, and not appearing to at least be threaded through a hole.
3.The red "wood" (?)base appears to have a rounded bevel on the bottom, but an almost "concave brim" in the upper right.
4. The "metallic" center plate reflects strangely on the upper middle section, as it appears to bulge outward from the reflections and the light source, but again, the upper right area doesn't look right when compared with the bottom.
5. The round silver button just below the middle left looks completely out of place with the brightness and reflections compared to the rest of its environment (refer to #4).
6. The round green buttons show no variance in internal reflection highlights and appear to simply be copied and pasted; ditto for the brushed metal connectors by the wires.
7. The cutout around the center green button is very jagged and rough, and the camoflage looking background underneath doesn't fit the rest of the image.
8. The bars entering the spheres at the top and bottom are too "flat" where they connect to the spheres. The end needs more elevation.
9. The corrosion effect on the upper bar is too extreme and looks out of place with the rest of the bars it is connected to.
10. The proportions of the "sphere lever" on the left in the center are not quite right. The illusion of height/depth and the angle off of the bar just don't jive somehow.

It is very appealing visually, but the little inconsistencies keep it from being super DUPER cool!

Thank you for sharing with us.

 

[theKeeper]

hehee aaaboy... [:I

As mentioned previously, that image example is not a reflection of the current material i'm writing. It's only been posted to serve as an example to Moth, and is specific to this thread's subtopic.

Now...
I can't really reply to the things that you've outlined without sounding like i'm a "know-it-all" or that i've taken a defensive posture towards your view in some way; albeit i applaud your taking the time to analyse the image to that degree.

What i can say though is simply that yes, that is an unfinished image. And that everything you've made reference to is purely subjective. If that were an actual machine and it were placed into a different environment, it would have completely different looking characteristics about it. In which case, a lot of the points you've outlined could not be made. Get what i mean?

If you'd like, in the interest of a good natured knowledge hunt, i can run through your list with you and explain about the points you've referenced? Just let me know. [honesty]

 

[Moth]

Sorry I haven't gotten back to this sooner. I got side-tracked by the nebulas, planets, and stars at the campground. [innocent]

.

 

[MsOz]

hehee aaaboy... [:I
If you'd like, in the interest of a good natured knowledge hunt, i can run through your list with you and explain about the points you've referenced? Just let me know. [honesty]

Yes, PLEASE! I find as I work on projects such as various interface designs and such that I overwork them for far too long in the quest for "digital accuracy"...Having been an electrician, wires in particular are a bane, as I'm still bothered to not be able to easily add type to the outer insulation...LOL!

I know you are very busy, but when you have a few moments, if you would be so kind as to address one or another point here or there, I would very much appreciate it. I'm glad you took this good-naturedly, for no offense was intended at all.

THanks!
Madster

 

[theKeeper]

No problem Moth, i think the thread has taken a slight turn anywho.

Ok madster let's see what we have here...

in the quest for "digital accuracy"...

Don't even waste your time trying for that. There's no such thing. No one on this planet has ever seen ever object from every angle under every different lighting condition... so no one can say for certain how something should and shouldn't look from a "still image" perspective. So long as you stay true to the physics, the rest is open for interpretation, and is therefore purely subjective. The creator will always have the last word. Rest assured... not everyone will see YOUR vision of the image. Just except that and move on.

1. The wires are too "lumpy" looking, not even width throughout.

I agree with this point. However, it should be noted that not all wiring ages perfectly. Crimps and flattened sections can/do happen to the plastic casing around wires. And since that iFace was to intentionally look aged and beat-up, beat-up wire casing could be seen as appropriate.

2. The "frayed" ends look "odd" on the metal connectors, neither soldered or screwed down, and not appearing to at least be threaded through a hole.

Actually, yes, they are soldered. Perhaps the solder could be a bit more/less shiny so you can see it better, but then we're back again to the aged/worn subject from point #1.

3.The red "wood" (?)base appears to have a rounded bevel on the bottom, but an almost "concave brim" in the upper right.

I guess it's wood, never thought about it actually. Could be plastic too i suppose.
Not real sure what you're seeing there but i'm going to assume it's an optical effect whereby your eye is seeing a reverse of the actual effect. Like when you stare at an embossed pattern for a minute you can make your eyes see it as cut in instead of carved out.

4. The "metallic" center plate reflects strangely on the upper middle section, as it appears to bulge outward from the reflections and the light source, but again, the upper right area doesn't look right when compared with the bottom.

Again, your eyes are playing tricks on you madster. The reflection is simply too obscure to be defined. And there's nothing incorrect about that because reflections can be like that. You're reading more into that part than need be. That's not metal either btw... it's a dark smokey plastic. That's why there's a pattern in it. I got that look from seeing the pickgaurd on my acousitc guitar.

5. The round silver button just below the middle left looks completely out of place with the brightness and reflections compared to the rest of its environment (refer to #4).

I'm thinking that your eye just doesn't agree with the fact that that "light" has no colour to it like the rest. And in that case, the point is mute. Since it's "not" a button, it would be in much better looking condition than the green buttons. It never get's touched.

6. The round green buttons show no variance in internal reflection highlights and appear to simply be copied and pasted; ditto for the brushed metal connectors by the wires.

Point taken about the green buttons. C&Ped they are. They don't really have any specific or visibly outstanding reflective propreties, but i agree with your point.
The brushed "aluminum" connectors are 2 separate pieces though, not C&Ped. But i can see how they might look the same. They're really not though. Compare the angles of the brushing.

7. The cutout around the center green button is very jagged and rough, and the camoflage looking background underneath doesn't fit the rest of the image.

hehe this one made me chuckle. Why would you think the inner cutout edge "shouldn't" be jagged and rough? Do you think that's unrealistic? It's intentional though, just so you know.
Camoflage? mmm... you're assuming that one madster. There's no camoflage there. If you're referring to the inner area around and under the green light ball, the pattern you're seeing is light causitics and reflections being cast by the green ball. If you're familiar with any 3D apps, you'll be familiar with this effect and how it can look. In all fairness though, i can understand it being visually misleading. Ever seen how sunlight passing through water can create a light pattern on the bottom of a pool? Similar effect here.

8. The bars entering the spheres at the top and bottom are too "flat" where they connect to the spheres. The end needs more elevation.

mmm... Again, just an optical illusion. The reflections being seen in the bars are masking it's depth. This is quite a common effect in reality. Albeit the reflections "could" be more specific to their own specific surroundings, i'll admit that. But that kind of detail is something i do last, and none of that has been done to that image.

9. The corrosion effect on the upper bar is too extreme and looks out of place with the rest of the bars it is connected to.

You're misinterpreting that effect madster. It's not corrosion. The bar has been damaged and almost broken. It's been scratched and chunks knocked off of it. Corrosion would have colouration.

10. The proportions of the "sphere lever" on the left in the center are not quite right. The illusion of height/depth and the angle off of the bar just don't jive somehow.

I'm afraid i'm not sure where you're getting that impression from madster...? What is your point of reference? So you know though, i had some problems with that part myself. So i created it in C4D just so i could actually see what those buttons would look like stacked up from that perspective. What you're seeing there is a recreation of what i saw in the 3D version.


Ok so what have we learned from this then?...
First a foremost is this: because this is not an actual real world object from which you can derive comparrisons, it is completely open to interpretation visually. The creator has supreme control over what's what and how things will look/function. This is NOT to say that the general rules of physics can/should be tossed aside, not at all. But 85% of the points you've made madster are simple misinterpretations or assumptions -- based completely on the way YOU see that image. (hence "subjective")

And that's just fine. There's nothing "wrong" in that at all. Everyone is going to see an image from a different perpsective. Effects won't always come off looking the same to every person. As an artist, expect that. Don't ever assume that something you've created will be taken the same way by all viewers. Cause it won't. And wouldn't that being boring if it did?!

It is very appealing visually,

Yes, perhaps it is... and that's all it was created to be. It doesn't actually "need" to work/function. So the artist is free to take some minor liberties in the construction.

Ok... that's about it. [honesty]