For some strange reason, I was looking over at some of the shots of Voyager online and stumbled onto the calendar image that had the ship in this position.
I tried matching it as closely as possible and did a few modifications on the materials, as well as complete lighting overhaul.
Flat Eric, your mesh is great, but the glossiness levels on the ship were a proverbial eyesore that I had to modify.
Anyway... I did the 1280x800 resolution shot... didn't feel like doing the 1080p as my laptop is quite old, and my resolution is limited to 1280x800 as well - a bit short-sighted I know... but still.
EDIT: Played around with the mesh a bit more (just couldn't let it go). Hope you enjoy it. I also did a 1200p version.
EDIT 1: UPDATED thread - made a new image.
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I did input the spotlight into it however so the deflector casts a blue light onto the lower saucer are where the yacht is.
As for the Bussards... they did have a bit of noise texture to them, but it would appear the effect was washed out for some reason.
I was planning on redoing them anyway... :-)
This was just a quickie though... so nothing too fancy.
GI chews away at processor time, and I didn't have the time today to do things extensively or wait a long amount of time.
Yes... the deflector has a self-illuminated material applied to it (not sure what you meant by having it lit internally though - please clarify).
As for the noise... you'd be surprised at what the material can do... besides, Voyager didn't have any fancy settings for the bussards - they were mainly lit in a red fashion with no discernible details to them, and most calendar shots seemingly washed out any details they might have had.
I might come back to this image sometime tomorrow... but please don't take my word for it.
Modified images in the first post (also 1200p).
By lit internally, I mean exactly that. ie replacing the current self-illuminating material with a transparent one (blurred, of course), adding some rudimentary geometry behind the dish into which you place a light source that by bounced light illuminates the dish in a more realistic way. No good if you don't want to use GI though, and it's certainly not fast (and can be simulated to about 60% with the method you are using now).
As for the colors... Photoshop manipulation - some Posterization. I kinda enjoy the effect myself.
As for adding some basic geometry behind the deflector... didn't have the time. When I said 'quick' I meant it - besides, this got the job done, and I liked how it turned out.
I'll probably mess around with the mesh on another day, but I seldom have the time for such modifications due to a job (speaking of which, I have to get dressed and get moving).
Good morning btw.
Nice to see that years old mesh can still make some good work in the right hands
What changes did you make on the textures? (just to know)
Played around with glossiness settings (Which was way too noticeable on the mesh btw) as well as reduced some of the overall self-illumination on various areas... bussards, warp nacelle grids, impulse engines and deflector.
Other than that, I redid the whole lighting setup as well, deleted the Deflector light you had, and played around with the nav-lights as well (both in textures and lights themselves).
Small things really, but they do tend to 'add up'.
:-)
Anyway, I made a new image.
Check the original post.
I only uploaded the 720p version - I wasn't really paying attention to making the 1080p version.
Also... I think I may have tracked down the reason behind this latest spur in Voyager images (and my reading my older Voyager pocket books)... namely the new Voyager pocketbook is due to be released, named: Star Trek: Voyager: Protectors
I enjoyed the ship's comeback to the Delta Quadrant and reading about the Federation finally utilizing various technologies, as well as focus of the books going more towards problem solving and usage of science/technology for this purpose as opposed to even more action.
Voyager's books did try to delve into 'higher things' on occasion.
Perhaps I should make a new cover for the upcoming pocket book (even though one already exists).
But I can assure you that nothing has been cut and pasted - it may look like that due to playing around with levels settings in Photoshop though).
Honestly, Deks, you can really bring out the best from other meshes!