Default Cube Machine

 Today I updated a number of Blender's addons. Fluent power trip, Machin3 Tools, MeshMachine, and Gridmodeller. Trusty old Gridmodeller.

Default Cube machine

Random Flow is super-fast and super-flexible. Gridmodeller is just drawing surface details like you don't have a care in the world—at least not about mesh topology.

A bit heavy on the succulents...

I may just into a Blender School lesson tomorrow. Maybe I'll start learning how to use Hard Ops. Maybe Geometry Nodes 101.

Blender 4.1

 

The release of a new version of Blender is always a cause for celebration. Although 4.1's changes are mostly quality-of-life or refinements to systems that I don't depend on -- animation, for example, it's all great. 

I was worried that there was a performance hit from testing the beta and in the first few hours with 4.1. I'm not so sure now. 

Running 4.1 through its paces, it seems okay—good, in fact. I'll push harder with the next set of tests, maybe a big terrain scene. I've not been feeling well for a few days, causing my output to slacken. There's not much chance I'll complete challenge-related projects. Here's a quick test scene.

On the system front, I've not shut my system down in four days out of fear that it won't restart, as it did last weekend. However, it just struck me that on Tuesday morning the system had automatically rebooted successfully after a Windows update. So maybe I can start to calm down. Maybe not...

Dark cloud

Doranne

Rocket - early steps

 Yesterday, my PC refused to start. It took me about four hours to fix it. I needed to reset the BIOS's CMOS settings by pressing the tiny button on the machine's backplate. The PC then successfully completed POST, but I needed to switch to the built-in HDMI output and then turn the primary output to the GPU. It actually took about five cycles of this procedure. I think I may have plugged peripherals into USB ports that expect drives, which caused a separate set of problems. It was such a pain that I left the PC running last night because I couldn't face having to go through it again. 

I may need to send the PC away for investigation and a proper fix if the problem persists.

What a pain!!!


Tomorrow:

All being well, Blender 4.1 should be released.

Challenge?

 I was getting cold feet about this sunrise challenge. I just went off and started playing and came up with an idea that I liked, although I don't think it's a super clever interpretation—not a winner. A rocket launching at dawn...

We're building something here, detective. We're building it from scratch. All the pieces matter.
-Lester Freamon, "The Wire"

A desolate Mars-like landcape

A Hab Module with inflated tunnel sections

A mini launch tower and some fuel processing modules

Storage containers

I need to build a lot more ground clutter. And a rocket. A really nice rocket. I then need to add materials to everything. Then polish, and polish. And polish some more. Almost finished, then!  :-)

Blender School - World Building by Ian Hubert

 Ian Hubert is a Blender legend. He is famous for his ability to create Blender VFX that rivals or exceeds the stuff you see in Hollywood movies. He gave a must-see presentation at the Blender Conference on World Building.

Ian's Blender World-Building rules:

• Observe the World
• Use References
• Don't be Afraid to Overthink
• Have Fun
• Not too much :(
• If You're Just Trying to Make a Thing, Use Photos/Photoscans.
• Don't reinvent the wheel

Recent messing about

Big terrain and test fog

Moon with a surprisingly complex material node set

Rough test scene for a callout to Caspar David Friedrich's Wanderer above a sea of fog

Cinematic Lighting - Creative Shrimp Tutorial Video

 I need to improve my understanding of what makes great outdoor lighting in a scene. Blender Maestro, Gleb Alexandrov has just released a video on the subject.

Great video! Here's the list of secret ingredients for cinematic lighting:

• Lighting Direction (Upstage)
• Key light
• Golden Hour
• Light Blocking (Frontal)
• Atmospheric Perspective
• Softness
• Layers
• Contrast (light vs dark)
• Colour Harmony
• Centre of Interest
• Dynamic Range
• Motivation

Challenge accepted!

 I'm going to work on a challenge submission for the Sunrise Serenity Challenge, which was just announced by True-VFX and Kaizen Tutorials.

I know, I know! I haven't come anywhere near finishing my Orca Challenge. It's an ongoing thing, but I've not had the right frame-of-mind to jump into the next stage.

This Sunrise challenge is a two-week timebox. Either I submit something, or I don't. It's a very broad brief: create a still render that is inspired by the serenity of a good sunrise.

Your task is to create a still rendering of a scene inspired by the serene and tranquil moments of sunrise. Feel free to interpret the theme as abstractly or literally as you like and let your creativity shine.

Right now, I think this calls for a landscape scene that is full of hope for a new day. I'd explore ideals and nature's beauty.

           Some ideas:

           > Like Noah's Ark, a large improvised boat lands as the sun rises over a new land.

           > A dreamlike version of Sheffield, a beautiful pre-industrial version with cobblestones and tree-lined streets.

            > A spacecraft floating on water, a crewmember sits on a deckchair with a fishing rod as strange alien dolphin creatures jump from the water. Inspired by Subnautica? In no small way, yes!

             > A vast Stone Henge at dawn, along with a whole bunch of druid people.

Other stuff

Asset thingy progressing.

Tower Asset

 

I'm not entirely sure what it is, but it might look cool as a point of interest on an up-and-coming terrain render.

Blender 4.1 should be released next week!

I will honestly stop doing sand dunes soon

 

The 1GB 4km x 4km height map

I ordered the Art and Soul of Dune Part 2 on Amazon, but on the supposed day of release, it showed up as not available from the seller. So, if I can't look at the production design work for the film, I thought I'd make my own.

More Dune inspired stuff

 

Dune Part 2 inspired me to make some dusty, deserty places...

Random Flow updated! I had to have a quick play...

Gigantus

 

This terrain rendering started out as a homage to Dune Part 2. I saw it impulsively on Friday, and I'm due to see it with a friend next week. I decided to add water as, once again, I've not done a very effective job of the material application.