[OOC] Prin Pahts

[zib_redlektab]

Oooh looking very nice.

[Aloys]

Hoo that nexus has changed quite a bit over the last two weeks I especially like the crystals, that gives it a bit of identity.
There is one thing that bothers me though. The place looks a bit too large to me. I agree it is still much smaller than the city (of course) but that still looks quite large. I might be wrong though, it is hard to judge distances just from pictures.

I was going to cover up the middle of the central district map image with a triangular "dias" which would contain the structure that has the hub's two linking books. That way, the same generic district texture can be used for all four districts on the map room floor.

That wouldn't be perfect because the courtyards aren't in the same spots in the central district. But it's a good idea, that and the other techniques you suggest should help.
I'll give it some thinking and I'll get back to you this week end.

I had totally forgotten this! :ph34r: This is indeed something that needs to be solved. Tell me when you'll get to this part and we'll work on this together if you want.

[Robert The Rebuilder]

[quote="Aloys"]There is one thing that bothers me though. The place looks a bit too large to me. I agree it is still much smaller than the city (of course) but that still looks quite large. I might be wrong though, it is hard to judge distances just from pictures.

[Aloys]

You are right - the room is very spacious. The floor map, just by itself, is not really that big. So, if someone wanted just to walk from one pedestal to the other, it is a short trip.

Good then.
Removing the fog (or diminishing it a lot) might indeed be a good idea though.

So, if you're willing, what I'll need are two 1024x1024 greyscale textures for the map:
One reusable texture for the three outer districts
One unique texture for the center district

Ok I'll do that then.

Also, I seem to recall that you had mentioned that you had textured one of Besharen's pedestals in Blender. Is that true? If so, would you mind sending me the Blend file containing the pedestal? I'll then use that in Prin Pahts.

Yes I had; for this screenshot. However I was worried about the size; they aren't large enough (the book in that screenshot is much smaller than a Relto book). I haven't heard back from Besharen since though.

[T_S_Kimball]

[quote="Robert The Rebuilder"]General note to everyone: if anyone has a texture of the 25 D'ni digits that they're willing to share, let me know.

[Robert The Rebuilder]

[T_S_Kimball]

First approximation here:

http://sungak.net/av/pics/uru_pics/dnipanel1.tga

I can't seen to get a png saved with alpha under PSP, like I can with a tga (which is the only format I've actually worked with, since SL heavily relies on that for its alphas). Suggestions on other format conversions welcome.

--TSK

[Robert The Rebuilder]

Yes - that's what I was looking for. I can always use Photoshop to convert TGA to PNG, so that's no problem.

Note: the numbers 22, 23 and 24 are switched around - see this link for a reference:

http://www.dnidesk.com/numberchart.jpg

[T_S_Kimball]

Figures, the mapping for the font I'm using is wrong then.

Anyway, I've updated it correctly now, same link.

--TSK

[Robert The Rebuilder]

Update:

I textured the bridges, the mini-hub, the steps and the dias.

[Side note about steps: I discovered how difficult it is to properly texture long, wide staircases. Just applying a repeating texture makes it look too fake, like a striped tablecloth was draped over the steps. So, I used all sorts of techniques to vary the texture coordinates while still using the same texture: alternate between regular and mirror-image; offsetting the U coordinates by a random amount; etc. The extra effort was quite worth it, IMHO.]

I removed the fog, which vastly improved the color and contrast.

I replaced the simplistic spot light fixture with an enormous combination stalactite-geode that has a slight glare eminating from its open end. You need to see it to understand what I'm talking about.

I added a detail texture to the floor which gives it a hexagonal tiled appearance.

[Side note about detail textures: an artist friend had once told me, "Make sure your detail textures mipmap to grey." So, I adjusted the levels in Photoshop so that the bell curve was centered (in all four channels). And he was right - the tile pattern fades into nothing in the distance. If you don't enable mipmaps on your detail textures, it will appear grainy in the distance.]

I brightened the crystal texture so that it actually looks like it can be a credible light source.

I also softened the lighting, using the Quad1 parameter.

Pictures:

• View from ledge
• View of stalactite-geode from floor (1st person)
• View of steps and brightened crystals
• View of hub, dias, and hexagonal tiles

TODO:

• Texture Besharen's pedestals
• Incorporate Aloys' Ahra Pahts city map textures (when it becomes available)
• Incorporate T.S. Kimball's final D'ni numeral texture (when it becomes available) as decals applied to the floor. NOTE: need to do research on how Plasma does decals...
• Apply detail texture to cavern walls
• Add footstep regions
• Add a carving of a stylized image of the actual Hub on the dias and the upper level. This would be in lieu of a D'ni numeral, since the Hub doesn't have a shell number.
• Modify script to display a close-up of linking book when it is touched

...and then it will be complete!

NOTE: As always, you can download and explore Prin Pahts; see the initial post in this topic.