Trying to get it looking right. I'm learning quite a bit about the Maya lighting system, just trying to make it do what I want.
I have overhauled and pushed the lighting even further. Phil advised me to trade in realism for atmosphere so I decided to go overboard and see how far I could push it. I'm still tweaking the lights but I do think this gives in a slightl better edge. Everything is a bit ramped up, hopefully making a more dramatic scene.
After looking at this scene for so long some fresh input would be great, if someone could tell me what it looks like for someone seeing it for the first time that could help.
I'll update the images when I progress, I'm still trying to get them right
These are already much more nuanced - but can you deepen the shadows too?
I'll give it a go, might make the light-rays stand out more.
okay - am liking the boldness, Sam - good stuff - what happens if light is bounced off water onto underside of those frond things? Is there a way to get some rim lighting/highlights onto their underside to lift them still further?
I'll add a light underneath that only affects those fibres and see if I can give them a bit of highlighting. Thanks for the advice, the scene has really improved so far.
it's my job to be this irritating... :-) And your scene is really looking much improved - and it's an important lesson, Sam - the one about the need for exaggeration. theatricality and impressionist/expressionist approaches to properly 'sell' cg environments; you need to get better at 'making worlds' - not simply mirroring them. I look forward to some new eye-candy soon - but, for all of this tweaking, don't lose sight of the other scenes - however, hopefully, you can approach them from this new perspective and work more efficiently; for instance, your 'holy grail egg' scene will no doubt benefit from lots of showmanship...