I created this image to promote a new tutorial over on my website.
I welcome constructive criticism.
The first part of the tutorial will be uploaded Next Thursday (September 2, 2010).
Website link:
http://www.firechildvideo.blogspot.com
nice textures. laces could use a bump map or somethin like that. cool though.
Looks really good! My only crit is the raised bumps look a little too dark. Maybe try a lighter brown color and have less of a differnce between the two colors. If you really want to go into detail you can add the stitching around the laces.
laces are the only thing that i see here, but otherwise good work!
Nice! I really like it, good job! Five Stars from me!
I’m sorry but the textures (and shaders in general) are bad. They have nothing to do with a leather material, i can see no specular, no bump. Moreover your studio makes this image very flat - try to change your lighting setup to get more interesting results. The model itself looks ok.
Yeah the laces need something.
Thanks for all the input everyone! I really needed some outside perspectives before I went forward with the tutorial. Stare at enough pre-renders and details get lost… I’m sure you guys know how that goes. Anyway, thanks again.
I think the laces could use some improvement
I’m sorry but the textures (and shaders in general) are bad. They have nothing to do with a leather material, i can see no specular, no bump. Moreover your studio makes this image very flat - try to change your lighting setup to get more interesting results. The model itself looks ok.
I disagree, specularity and harsh lighting is overused in CG, this is a good example of balance in my opinion. I’ve never held a football in my hands and thought “wow I could almost be blinded by the brightness of the sun reflecting off this leather”. Things are less specular than it seems.
Chad Allen: Consider what rozmiarek has said. If you look at his work, you’ll see he has some room to talk. Although I disagree with him on this you may agree, and I could be wrong. Take into account both of us and maybe you’ll get something good out of it 
Thanks Keith. Your right about rozmiarek. He has plenty of room to talk… his work is AMAZING. However, I do agree with you on the specular side. Footballs actually have very little spec… well… the football I have here on my desk does anyway. However, I think Rozmiarek hit the nail on the head in regards to the set and lighting. I need to work on that a bunch. Not to mention the laces, which I completely overlooked their materials for some reason (smacks self in head). Thanks again everyone!
chadallen - perhaps my last comment was a bit too rough, my apologize. Have a look at this photo:
http://www.jclemens.com/Joomla/images/stories/Football/800px-Wilson_American_football.jpg
The football texture is just leather actually; if you don’t let it shy a bit it looks pretty flat. There are 2 things that I would add to your model - 1) better studio (could you show me your .blend/lamps setup?) that may cause the problem of the lack of specularity on tha ball 2) normal map for leather (normal maps look better in such cases as your model although they need good lightning; I use bump maps especially for more rough, scratched surfaces (at last in Blender 2.49b; perhaps they look better in 2.5). Good luck and I’ll repeat myself - the model is very good, just a few tweakings and everything will look perfect.
PS I made such studio once for testing my models; maybe you’ll find it interesting?
Attachments
studio.blend (528 KB)
Yeah I agree rozmiarek, especially about the bumpmaps. But I think they are done better in 2.5 (I’m still a faithful 2.49 though 
I didn’t think your last comment was too rough. In fact, I pretty much completely agree with you. I appreciate the honesty. Laces aside (stupid mistake on my part) Your right about the studio. I neglected that part. I really appreciate all your advice. From looking at your work it’s clear you are on a MUCH higher skill level than me and it’s nice to get advice from people at your level.
I’ll upload the lamps setup later. I’m out of the house right now and all my blender stuff is on the home PC.
Thanks again to you, and Keith, and EVERYONE for all the tips. I love learning new stuff!