What do you use to generate planets for your films?

I have been looking for a program or method that makes photorealistic planets. Please share your methods.




SWmaster

 

they have some good planets over at sci-fi 3d. I find them to be very realistic.

 

I model the sphere in Lightwave. Then I paint an image map, or generate one with this plugin that I've got. Then project it onto the model.

There my photorealistic planet.

-Kol.

 

How do you do it in Max 4? Anyone know?

 

My best friend the planetmaker is called Lunar Cell from Flaming Pear Software. This baby makes some beautiful 2d planets. Combined with Glitterato and Solar cell you can build your entire 2d texture environment with a few clicks of the mouse.

-tm

 

magic

 

Go to the SciFi3D page and look at the planet texture maps for Naboo, Coruscant, Tatooine, and Dagobah. There is also tutorials for Lightwave and 3D max. I used the basics of the tutorial to do it in Imagine, before I got into lightwave, so I'm sure you duplicate the process in Maya or whatever your using.

It is simply a matter of have a couple of spheres and using good maps. Bump map, color map, and highlight maps etc..

 

i usually start with an infinitely dense cloud of gases and dust and then wield my godlike powers of creation to form the gases and dust into a planet. by altering the levels of the different gases and dust, I can configure the balance of elements that exist on the planet. i can do it all, watery planets, forest planets, snowy planets, anything. its pretty cool. takes about 7 days.

 

Saves on rendering times as well I'm guessing.

 

God must have had a great system to render it all in seven days.

 

My best friend the planetmaker is called Lunar Cell from Flaming Pear Software

Lunar Cell is quite a beautiful program with a short rendering time. I love it's ability to create a wide variety of planets. You can get a 15 day demo at their website, I think.

 

To create a photorealistic 3D planet in Max is easy but takes a bit of time.

I have the best tutorial site bookmarked at home so I'll have to post it later. Or ask PixelMagic for the link. He is the one that gave it to me.

In the mean time, go out on the net and find the highest resolution images of the earth viewed from space you can find. Also get some that are just clouds. This process is a 3 layer effect. Actually, three spheres.

 

hehe my advice try and try and try and try and keep at it..


This is what I started out making,

[image=http://www.mups.co.uk/~muphicks/downloads/PlanetMaking.jpg]

then this

[image=http://www.mups.co.uk/~muphicks/downloads/Attempt2.jpg]

and finally ended up with this.

[image=http://www.mups.co.uk/~muphicks/downloads/Attempt3.jpg]

The first one was done by myself, the 2nd and 3rd were done via tutorials I found on the net. Although the third one is done via a tutorial, I've also done various changes to get it more how I want it.

I can't find the link off hand. But I'll have a search through my other machine for you later.

I'm sure I searched on google for something like "3d photorealistic planet tutorial"

Anyhow if I can dig it out I'll post it for you.

 

Yah, that is the same tutorial I have at home.

 

My best friend the planetmaker is called Lunar Cell from Flaming Pear Software. This baby makes some beautiful 2d planets. Combined with Glitterato and Solar cell you can build your entire 2d texture environment with a few clicks of the mouse.

I just checked out that software and it is awesome!! I was using Lightwave and Bryce for planets but it just takes a long time with both of them. I wish I had known about this software a while ago.

 

Here is what you are looking for my friends....

Earth Tutorial

 

Tumblemoster, thanks for that link on LunarCell. It really makes some beautiful worlds.

 

And Another....

Planet_Tutorial