3d art

Architecture
Refining the details
Bringing it all together
2-3 hours
render time
Resolution:
4,037 x 2,659
The terrain was
09 modelled using a simple
plane that was distorted with FFD
Box to follow the slope. I cut the
holes in it by simply using the
Boolean tool and adding a subtle
Noise modifier before turning it into
editable poly again. I used the Soft
Selection controls to pull up vertices
near the walls.
This might be disappointing for some, but the
10 snow effect was achieved using a 2D Displacement
modifier, rather than a particle system like PArray. I took
a snapshot of the viewport from the top and drew a very
large bitmap. Next, I applied it to the terrain by using a Planar
UVW Map modifier.
Another problem that can occur when glass panels
12 are lined up is the reflection breaking at the edge of
each panel. To tackle this, I selected every second panel in a
chessboard pattern and rotated them a little in all directions.
There’s a little trick to doing glass that not many people
11 use. I just added a little Noise Bump and simulated the
double glazing by cloning the glass and pulling it back a few
centimetres. I then applied a different glass material to it with the
same settings, but a slightly altered Noise Bump.
Lighting the scene
For the main light source, I used a
VRayLightDome. Usually an HDRI might
be used in the Map slot, but this time I
just used a darker blueish colour.
I set the Multiplier to 1.5 and made
it invisible as to not affect the reflections
(for which, I put an HDRI in the
Reflection Override slot). The
Environment Override was also checked
in with a black colour to ensure the
background didn’t affect the lighting.
As for the rest of the scene, I used
smaller VRayPlanes and VRaySpheres
with a warm orange colour.
13 Modelling a
window is one of the
easiest tasks, but can add a lot
of realism when done right. I
found a drawing of a section of
a window and drew the outline
with a spline. Once I’d applied
a rectangle with a Sweep
modifier, it was ready.
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