(http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6927/sky1f.th.jpg) (http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6927/sky1f.jpg)(http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/6629/sky2s.th.jpg) (http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/6629/sky2s.jpg)(http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/3470/sky3i.th.jpg) (http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/3470/sky3i.jpg)(http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/6944/sky4s.th.jpg) (http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/6944/sky4s.jpg)(http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/236/sky5.th.jpg) (http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/236/sky5.jpg)
This came as a result of testing out Space Engine's skybox exporting ability, which works fairly well, though they required a bit of editing.
So, this is a set of 5 backgrounds centered in a location on the other side of the Milky Way. Might not be the most dramatic backgrounds ever, but if realism is your thing, then these might be for you.
Download: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/71512473/mwskybox.zip
Made some more backgrounds.
3:
(http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/5766/iceorbit.th.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/iceorbit.jpg/)
4:
(http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/5315/stormorbit.th.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/703/stormorbit.jpg/)
Download: http://www.mediafire.com/file/cptf808g1hzmrmx/PlanetaryBGs.zip
Obviously, these should only be used in a few specific situations--they'll look somewhat silly if the standard parallax stars in the background aren't removed, and look even sillier if there are planets on the map. Asteroids still look alright.
Credit for these goes to NASA's MODIS website (http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/), with a bit of editing from me.
Maybe lay thisI'll probably end up making some like that in the near future, as they'll be needed for a project I'm working on.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/6760135001/sizes/l/in/photostream/
over some stars to make it look like you are fighting in orbit?
Do you mind telling me how you would go about rendering our 3D models as sprites? I might give it a go :DI use 3ds max for rendering. However, you can probably use Blender, or any other program that has decent rendering capability. It's been a while, but I remember that all models were rendered from top-down (durr), and they also had a pass of ambient occlusion on them, rendered separately. I didn't use a wireframe overlay on them though--but it comes to me now as a potentially good idea (for making certain areas stick out, etc). Also, I usually slap a quick texture on the ships--reduces a bit of the work in Photoshop.
Maybe lay thisI'll probably end up making some like that in the near future, as they'll be needed for a project I'm working on.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/6760135001/sizes/l/in/photostream/
over some stars to make it look like you are fighting in orbit?Do you mind telling me how you would go about rendering our 3D models as sprites? I might give it a go :DI use 3ds max for rendering. However, you can probably use Blender, or any other program that has decent rendering capability. It's been a while, but I remember that all models were rendered from top-down (durr), and they also had a pass of ambient occlusion on them, rendered separately. I didn't use a wireframe overlay on them though--but it comes to me now as a potentially good idea (for making certain areas stick out, etc). Also, I usually slap a quick texture on the ships--reduces a bit of the work in Photoshop.
what resolution do you render in, and with AA on?
what resolution do you render in, and with AA on?
I render the ship at the same size that it will appear as ingame, I don't do any resizing or anything like that. And yes, I use AA, but I make sure I use a filter that isn't too blurry, and gives a crisp result.
Keep in mind, the final render isn't extremely important--you need to do a fair amount of work in an image editor for sprites to begin to look decent.
For example:
Initial render and AO pass:
(http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/7590/vicerusrender.png)
(http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/3093/vicerusrenderao.png)
Final sprite, after editing:
(http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/7834/vicerusf.png)
I use Photoshop for all my needs, however, pretty much any piece of software that's a step up from MS paint should be more than sufficient for post-render editing (Paint.net, GIMP, etc).
Hey Psiyon,
would it be possible to have a video of you going through these steps?
I really want to be able to put my own ships into the game, but to be honest mine look like crap when compared to yours.
Mago
one question (just curious) are those ships on the front page kitbashed or handdrawn? or maybe a combination?None of those ships are 100% kitbashed. Most are half-kitbashed and hand-drawn, though some are completely hand drawn or done with the use of 3D renders.