Hi, all. My last FFVII cover project seems to be a failure (see this thread http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=112393).
So I had been working about 10 days on my new project. I have made new highpoly models of Cloud and Sephiroth and add some dramatical background.
Result: 247794 vertices, 236512 faces, 2 hours rendertime of HD version.
So, here it is. Please, post some critique ;).
For HD version click here (2048x1536; 970kb) [[*** link deleted ***]]
----- Picture shows Cloud (left) and his main enemy Sephiroth(right). In the background is burning village of Nibelheim. -----
I would get rid of the PS3 frame. Even if it’s just fan art it’s not that good idea to put it on a ps3 cover. It makes people expect that it should have the same quality as an original cover. Which in this case it doesn’t have.
Try to render the background on a separate layer (or render) and the two guy also on a separate layer. Put them together in gimp or photoshop. Also try to make a render without raytracing. For one it’s a lot faster and buffered shadows makes a much nicer softer shadow.
Play more with the lightning. There is a fire in the background, use that. Add a light source from behind. Don’t fear to add to much shadows.
The fire from behind could use more work. Search on Google for fire and feel free to paint a fire on that.
You could try the new feature SSS (Sub Surface Scattering? in blender for the skin. It doesn’t work every time but I think it could use that.
Edit: Did a quick paintover. If you don’t mind. This is just an example of what I meant with my crit.
u need to make them look alittle more like then because cloud is looking a bit crossed eyed in here seph. looks ok but the character look like there from a ps1 version of ffv11 and those arnt kool u need to put a little more detail in the cloths too but thats just me and the paint over is better thna the regular only becuse it blurrs almost every little detail,but u shold work on it more cuz if u lok at todays game cover they actually look real and im sry but urs dosent:no:
bigbad: Thanks for your help with splitting scene in more layers. The scene really renders faster than before and it gives me more space to editing. I also add a SSS (subsurface scattering) option to skin material and it looks interesting (but looonger rendertime :)). I have moved the lights to centers of flames and coloured them to iluminate the characters — now, when I see it, it looks more reallistic. Thanks for your paint work, it helps me to improve scene lights.
armory555: thanks for your critique. The characters really look like the PS1 one, because I was modelling them from original concept art from Tetsuya Nomura in from year 1997. I am just trying to improve my modelling skills (i am no pro :)). I tried to improve Clouds eyes to be more reallistic (it is manga style, so it is bigger and shadows are making it look really like crosseyed - he is actually looking into msummon materia in his left hand). I also agree with you, that todays game covers looks completely different then my work.
So, lets forget cover art and consider it only fanart!
OK. Here is an update :).
Any other critiques are welcome ;).
Thans for your ideas, folks. I am always feeling a little bit advanced in 3D art, if I hear other ideas for my project. I have updated Cloud´s hair, added grass and a tree from my older project to change the floor. I also played with lights to make more reallistic look.
BlackHole: Sephiroth´s sword is 2 meters long in the image, but he is turned a little from camera, so the sword looks shorter (i dont think, that it is too important to show his sword in full lenght ;)).
Samipe: thanks for your inks to HDR image tutorials, i didnt know this techique. But if I did understand it good, it is used for highly reflective materials, so I dont think I should use it here. But still thanks for your idea.
So, here is another update. Any other ideas or critiques :)?
The hair would look good with Particles (Jakha’s Patch). In all of the Square Enix games i have played they use hair in the rendered cutscenes (Instead of mesh hair). I’m not sure about the covers.
dunno about the czech republic, but in UK and US ps3 games look like this…
think you need to change the shape of the box to more of an upright portrait shape.
also games come in a semi-transparent “blu-ray” box.
hope this helps
the poly count appears to be shocking…
apart from that like it.
nice feel and style to it.
i think possibly a “toon” shader would complete it.
not in the sense of cartoon, but just exaggerated edges etc.
FFVIIcover2ndAttemptLD.jpg)
FFVIIcover2ndAttemptHD.jpg){kind=link}
