Topic: Teasers for the next Generations At War..

[atheorhaven]

Don't think I need to say much about this one other than it's complete and sitting on Nanner's HD ready for inclusion in G@W.  Still doing up a credits file for it, because I was building on on other's previous  work.  But it's going to be nice to have ingame, and the same technique I learned on this one will be on several others in the mod.  Some of my bets work I think, and note several new things on the ship now like the lit airlock door on the saucer, the docking ports actually having the red ring now.  The ingame shot is old now, but I included it to show you what the main textures are going to look like on the ship itself.  (And now you know what has been holding up the release of my other projects). 

Connie fans, presenting a new Enterprise Refit, the NCC-1701





Coming soon in Generations At War 2.0, and SFC 2 format one month after release of G@W 2.0

[Sochin]

Oh wow that is stunning.

[Dizzy]

That for SFC3?

For SFC2, u might want to try colored lighting maps instead of greyscale, as they give much better types of illumination and color.

That 'looks' like what you have done with the illumination on the saucer, if indeed it is a .mod for sfc2...

[atheorhaven]

That for SFC3?

For SFC2, u might want to try colored lighting maps instead of greyscale, as they give much better types of illumination and color.

That 'looks' like what you have done with the illumination on the saucer, if indeed it is a .mod for sfc2...

Dude, it's *so* colored for illuminations.    It was just the angle the shot was at..

Check it out..

[Dizzy]

I am *so* glad you are using colored light maps. They truly add so much to a ships look.

Btw, is that a new mesh or just updated illuminate maps?

[OlBuzzard]

WOW  ... the detail is incredible !!  most excellent !!

[Klingon Fanatic]

With all due respect, I'd like to drool over something more than "yet another" amazing Connie...

Nice but what about the non-Federation races?

 

KF

[atheorhaven]

With all due respect, I'd like to drool over something more than "yet another" amazing Connie...

Nice but what about the non-Federation races?
 
KF

You know that I've done some already for this mod.. like the Shakurians and the Rommie CL I just did..plus one of the next ones to complete is that mystery race ship, which is non-Feddie.

But all that being said.. the way that this Connie looks now is how I've always *almost* wanted this one to look.  I thought of one more detail afterwards, and will add it into the SFC 2 details where I'll have higher res textures (the mod needs lower res simply because of all the range of machines needed to be covered).  On the mod version, it may not be visible.. and that'd be three corrections on it I'd have sent over to Nanner just on this one.. so I'll not worry about it for now.

[atheorhaven]

I am *so* glad you are using colored light maps. They truly add so much to a ships look.
Btw, is that a new mesh or just updated illuminate maps?

Old mesh, updated main textures and reworked illumination textures... and I tried a totally brand new process for me on them, the registry numbers are actually embedded in the illumination textures.

And the Invincible and Enterprise will both have the new idea I had a while back.. the obs deck will change from a day to night scene depending on the amount of light in there.






Will probably never be seen that often in game, but hey.. if it is, it'll look better I think. 

[Dizzy]

In my CAD textures alteration ship release I did, I have a lush warm spring garden with beuatiful blue pools of water and the Texas Bikini Team there... Hehe. Did this b4 I started with the Andro's colored illuminates.


Only models I have used colored light maps for have been Andurils and P81's series of Andromedans. Gonna change my light maps now on my fav ships and add some color there. Im lazy. Told Atra a while back and I think he was gonna use that light trick on his new Thol series... Dunno, havent been to his new site yet.

Im gonna go back and color illuminate all my fav ships now.


EDIT: Oops wrong pic. Dont have a pic of it... Oh well. Just a pic of the CAD alteration of the Fed CA then.

[Dizzy]

atheorhaven, just did something really cool! the only time i see my color illuminate maps is when that map turns into the shade. Well, I copied and pasted that illuminant unto the main texture and changed the transparency to about 10% and oh lalala it looks much more interesting now... hehe. Gonna go play with this some more...

Here's a pic of some andro fiddle work. The cool thing about these new textures and light maps is that the colors on the PA Panels shimmer and glow and change in color as the ship moves... kinda like crackling energy flowing like liquid water across the hull.. Very cool effect.





Course this was a while ago when i just started to play with the,. Looks like in your FCA there, you really did a nice polished job. wtg.

[FoaS_XC]

i want to know how you did that with the andros

[atheorhaven]

I know this one well.. way back when I worked on getting the Shadow Battlecrab over, I tried this for the first time and got creeped out watching the skin crawl as the ship moved.  Exactly what I'd wanted.  

Illumination maps *really* have not been done justice with the SFC engine.. for some reason, and I used to be under this misassumption myself.. I'd heard that you could only use black/white in an illumination map.  *buzz*  wrong, oh so wrong...

And if you lightly impose an illumination map on the main texture, you'll also make your main texture stand out.  

Want to try something fun with your panels?  One of the things I like to do, and have mentioned this to others.. is use pictures of natural materials to meet your needs.  I'd go Google image browsing for public domain lightning shots to add in a crackle or two.    Or find a good shot of a mother of pearl texture to place behind the panel.  It'll really make the irridescent sheen you're looking for pop.  

[Dizzy]

Fury, use an alternate colored texture than the main texture. Both textures should be light enough to show up in the dark (shade) and also compliment one another. If the light map has a different texture or background than that of the main texture, you will see interesting things happen! Like with my Andros. thats the effect I wanted. Atheorhaven did basically the same thing with his shadow crab... the skin crawling effect. But if you match them, then you end up with cool realistic and polished light maps like you see there in his FCA pics above.

Experimentation with different textures and colors switching between the main and light maps will help you get an idea of what you can do. And like atheorhaven said, this 'technique' has largely been unused. Afaik, only myself, atheorhaven and Atrahasis have used it.

Hopefully it will catch on and we will see some really cool ideas and ships using colored light maps.

[Rogue]

One thing I use pretty frequently with color illumination is impulse engine glow. Especially for Federation vessels. For the primary map I used a nearly colorless scale of grays with perhaps a bit of an appropriate color (dull red or gold) for the details and used shades of red for the illumination in varying tones and vividness. The effect is just friggin' fabulous as the really do appear as if they are glowing cherry red from the heat. It's a really nice touch that enhances the illusion. Wicked Zombie's Midway carrier uses a nice set of illuminations for the fighter bays that is pretty hard to miss. This has got to be an effect that is under exploited by far. I don't tend to see much difference when the primary and the illumination is the same color so I convert those to gray scale to save on the video load. Do something additive, though, (eg. yellow & blue) or high contrast line pairs in the I maps and you can get some great effects. The lines pairs in the I maps can cause a very cool shimmering effect in the illuminated item.

[Age]

Don't think I need to say much about this one other than it's complete and sitting on Nanner's HD ready for inclusion in G@W.  Still doing up a credits file for it, because I was building on on other's previous  work.  But it's going to be nice to have ingame, and the same technique I learned on this one will be on several others in the mod.  Some of my bets work I think, and note several new things on the ship now like the lit airlock door on the saucer, the docking ports actually having the red ring now.  The ingame shot is old now, but I included it to show you what the main textures are going to look like on the ship itself.  (And now you know what has been holding up the release of my other projects). 

Connie fans, presenting a new Enterprise Refit, the NCC-1701





Coming soon in Generations At War 2.0, and SFC 2 format one month after release of G@W 2.0

The Connie in the USN. is the USS Constellation CV64 not the Constitution.I would assume that is the same in Star Trek as well as some traditions don't die.

[Wicked Zombie]

Yes, but people have been calling the Constitution class the "Connie" for a very long time as well, which in some way is also a tradition. Both names are similar, there's no reason they can't have the same nickname.

[Age]

Yes, but people have been calling the Constitution class the "Connie" for a very long time as well, which in some way is also a tradition. Both names are similar, there's no reason they can't have the same nickname.

The Constitution is nick named Old Ironside not Connie as it is still a Commissioned US Naval Ship.The only one is the Constellation not the Constitution just ask the US Navy.You tell them that the Constitution is Connie they will  at you.

[Reverend]

Yes, but people have been calling the Constitution class the "Connie" for a very long time as well, which in some way is also a tradition. Both names are similar, there's no reason they can't have the same nickname.

The Constitution is nick named Old Ironside not Connie as it is still a Commissioned US Naval Ship.The only one is the Constellation not the Constitution just ask the US Navy.You tell them that the Constitution is Connie they will  at you.

Thanks Age... but, the models forum is very tame place where most people are polite to another, as the modellers are doing non-modellers a great series of deeds...
please do not come in here and argue with any of our charitable and kindly modellers... debate belongs in "Hot and Spicy" or "Ten Forward"...
the only posts that belong here are "here is a new ship", "here is a retexture", "thank you!!", and "great work ___" .

[Centurus]

Yes, but people have been calling the Constitution class the "Connie" for a very long time as well, which in some way is also a tradition. Both names are similar, there's no reason they can't have the same nickname.

The Constitution is nick named Old Ironside not Connie as it is still a Commissioned US Naval Ship.The only one is the Constellation not the Constitution just ask the US Navy.You tell them that the Constitution is Connie they will  at you.

Thanks Age... but, the models forum is very tame place where most people are polite to another, as the modellers are doing non-modellers a great series of deeds...
please do not come in here and argue with any of our charitable and kindly modellers... debate belongs in "Hot and Spicy" or "Ten Forward"...
the only posts that belong here are "here is a new ship", "here is a retexture", "thank you!!", and "great work ___" .

HERE HERE REVEREND!!!  Now, as for these beautiful, beautiful ships?  When or if will they be available for download, and will they be for SFC3?  If some of you modellers are starting to recognize my name and my pleas for SFC3 ships, please understand that the easiest way for a simpleton such as me to enjoy your incredible work is to install it in SFC3.  Keep up the good work, all of you.  The ship gods have blessed you all.