Cineversity

Sassi, thanks so much for the video and the normal channel idea. I will look into revising my workflow to include doing this technique in the normal tag after my current deadline is over. In the meantime, I think I will minimize the tearing by applying a fresnel layer to the bump channel to remove the bump when the surface is at extreme angle to the camera. It is a fix for now.

Thanks! And thanks for all of those short training videos you did way back when there was very little training online for C4d. I spent many hours watching them and learning!

-Randy

Hi Randy,

Thanks for the feedback.

My mind was wandering around, this morning, what exactly the aesthetically target is with the Bump map in this case, and how to get this perhaps easier or faster. I have to admit, I got only an idea—not a full picture—about the target. I saw that other image, but I might need a comparison to fully get the target.

It might be simpler to produce, but being on a deadline is not the time.

Yes, great idea with the counter move based on the tangential camera view. As you said it is a fix—not a solution. I try normally to start from the beginning. Over the last decade I notice that many questions ask for a fix of the fix, the solution that causes new problems. I hope I was able to show how much artifacts, besides the dark areas in question the high level of Bump introduces to your results.

My best wishes

Yes, I believe we think alike! Here is a blog post I did about a project that outlines this technique and my thoughts.

http://randygeske.com/blog/archives/434

-Randy

Yes, very nice example, Randy.

I guess the key (no pun intended) is to know when to render or photograph. The silver/chrome key in your example is nearly impossible to shoot practically without retouching. It is an old drill in art school to get this done, mostly with a chrome water-pot. It was even discussed in a DOP class over at FXPHD a few years ago. Object rendering has more often than not huge advantages against practical photography. I think that is sometimes the resistance that I get from photographers talking about 3D. ;o)

A similar discussion was the trigger to publish this (second and third post on the page)
http://old.cineversity.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2720&PN=1&TPN=6

As I got often the question how to do the Harry Potter font, e.g., from DVD studios where I made hand on trainings here in L.A. (to create the DVD menus material in C4D). So, I though I post the results finally in 2011.

For me it is a mix, and Bump is a supportive options for me, on top of Modeling and perhaps Displace. Normal Mapping is powerful but not simple to tweak.

All the best