Photoshop Dioramas

JohnReid · 28 May 2004, 05:21 AM

Thank you Donny W. for posting those great pics.It really wasnt my idea but it blew me away too when I realized the potential it has to evolve into a whole new reason to model other than just static display.Combine the computer skills of most kids today with modeling and then create your own art using your own models.Truly, it is a neat idea that is just in its infancy .Kind of blurs the line between sculpture and 2D art doesnt it?Cheers!

John.

Cigogne · 28 May 2004, 11:12 AM

Ethical question!

When one creates these one should specify that so that it then does not get passed off as "history."

Guynemer one looks a bit "cutoutish" but... what the heck! The different light sources give it away.

Fun... ain't it?

DonnyW · 28 May 2004, 11:51 AM

I agree totally Cigogne, in the hands of an expert, it would be very hard to tell. I suppose the moral is ..never trust a digital image !! I also agree Guynemer looks a little "board" standing around so long

Here is the last for present, Ive managed to get the cloud effect I was after but still struggling with the prop arc. Although anything "went" with the background, the models remain "untouched" except cropping and trying to get them to "blend" into the picture.

JohnReid · 28 May 2004, 04:09 PM

Now that is really super! Love it.Cheers!

John.

Tim West · 28 May 2004, 08:21 PM

Some of you guys might want to give Terragen a try. They have a free terrain generator that is kind of neat to play with.

You can check it out here:
www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/

DonnyW · 29 May 2004, 02:08 AM

Thanks for the link Tim, I will try it out and see what I can come up with. I still cant stop playing with the picture clips and learning how to manipulate them but have found that once you have the model " cut out" it can be reused in any picture

Here is another well known scene , but with a difference

DonnyW · 31 May 2004, 01:05 PM

I got Tarragen and can appreciate it is a very powerful piece of software. Quite hard to get to grips with and found it easier to make surrealistic landscapes rather than real ones. I tried to exploited my weakness by using pictures of my Caudron GIII model as I always thought it a surreal aircraft

think the effort paid off

Tim West · 1 June 2004, 11:01 PM

I like it

The planes do fit rather nicely.

DonnyW · 15 June 2004, 01:57 PM

I found that Terragen would produce very realistic landscapes but I didnt have much control over the results (possibly just me ??) so purchased a program called Bryce. Its far more predictable in that I can "build" the landscape rather than rely on random fractuals. Its a heavy learning curve but not impossible to get reasonable results fairly quickly.. here is my first half decent picture. Im also building a hanger as it does more than just landscapes however I doubt it would be able to build a 3D aircraft .. what programs can do that ? (and not cost the earth like Autocad) Thanks for looking

Xeidos2 · 15 June 2004, 09:45 PM

If you'd like an inexpensive way to model 3d objects, you can always get a copy of Gmax from Discreet for free. Gmax is like having a copy of 3dsMax version 4, without any of the rendering ability. The secret to using it for making shapes other than those for MS flight simulator is to also download a copy of the Tempest plugin, also available at the Discreet website. Install the Tempest plugin into Gmax and you can export Gmax files as Quake level 3 objects or MD3. These files can then be translated into more useful file formats like 3ds or Obj (if you're using Bryce). The program MilkShape can translate an Md3 file into about any format you might want. Last time I checked MilkShape cost $20 US. But be forewarned. Learning Gmax is not for wimps. Many of the MS flight sim forums have special sections for people using Gmax to make airplanes for use in the sim. If you get stuck you can always ask the people there for advice.