Hello all, I’m relatively new (about a month in) to Blender but trying to learn as much as I can as quickly as I can (so I can draw some “good” stuff). This weekend I decided to make a simple lantern such that I could practice some texture and composite to try to achieve a closer to photo-realistic effect (so the focus wasn’t the model). A general reference was http://www.vermontlanterns.com/content/anchor-lantern-antique-brass-12, but was also going for more of a brushed brass type look (easy enough with http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Blender_3D:_Noob_to_Pro/Every_Material_Known_to_Man/Gold).
Few things I’m struggling with or thought I could do is (or would appreciate feedback or a pointer to a good tutorial to read):
- “Flame” flicker on the light cast (caustic effect on the lamp using a texture or something). The lamp in the center of the glass “lens” just doesn’t feel like it’s playing nice. I fiddled with this in composite too with little luck, but I just don’t know how to use the nodes proper yet.
- Soften / blur the cast shadow from the center of the latern, I figured I could composite this somehow also.
- Take the brass material and maybe “node” it with “scratches” (I admittedly haven’t searched for this yet). I’m just still dissatisfied with the realism of the texture.
- Anything else.
I also installed Yafaray but backed off for time being. Blender composting seems incredible but the books I have (and read) only show me what’s available (and explain the nodes well) but not really how to imaginatively deploy them. Comes with time I’m sure. I appreciate any time and consideration in any and all responses 
Attachments
Lantern4.blend (724 KB)
