Space station - Exterior

[WHAM]

Second thread about the same matter...

This time I want some developement ideas on the following picture:



IDEA: A modular-built space station in the making. This is the first part of a series of pictures, each of which will expand the station with new modules and materials.

What I want: Ideas on how to:
-> Improve the background. How to make the stars better? Is there a NEED to make them better? What do YOU think?
-> Improve the station's looks. What kind of details should I add? Should I add anything? How to better shade and light it and so on...

Any and all input is welcome!

[Ryan Timothy B]

I just messed around with the brightness of your stars.  Just decreased them about 50%-ish.
I'll leave the space station for someone else.



You could still add a few bright stars in there, but I felt they were all too bright for me.

[Technocrat]

Is the space station orbiting anything, or it is a drift? That may alter the shape of the station depending where it's placed, whether it needs to rotate to maintain any artificial gravity, etc.

Good choice on modular though, it's the way forward!

[DanielH]

Looks great to me. Except one thing.



Where's that shadow coming from, if it's underneath the only (major) light source in the scene? I'm not an expert in these things, but this shadow looks really out of place.

[WHAM]

Looks great to me. Except one thing.



Where's that shadow coming from, if it's underneath the only (major) light source in the scene? I'm not an expert in these things, but this shadow looks really out of place.

The light source is on the side of the pole, so it is bound to create a shadow of the pole it is attached to. At least that's what the street lamps here in Finland tend to do in winter.

The station orbits a gas giant and orbits it in a way that the orbiting movement itself produces gravity (approx 0,7-0,8 G's). Basically the stations "roof" is always pointed at the gas giant in an angle to maximise the effect. It's not a realistic solution in 2008, but It could be in 3118 with some new technology to amplify the artificial gravity. The point is: I dont want to give up the cool modular construction method, so I will just ignore the problem of gravity with vague explanations.

[DazJ]

Looks great to me. Except one thing.



Where's that shadow coming from, if it's underneath the only (major) light source in the scene? I'm not an expert in these things, but this shadow looks really out of place.

Hmmm I think it WOULD cast that shadow.

[Ryan Timothy B]

If you want to get technical, the shadow would be a little wider the further away it gets, due to the light being at the top of the post.

[DanielH]

Hmmm I think it WOULD cast that shadow.

It would cast A shadow, but I think the one WHAM's got there is the wrong shape... I don't know. The rest of the image looks great, just that one shadow pokes out at me. It should definately widen out the further from the pole, though.

[tube]

The station looks good. The stars would probably look nicer if their brightness varied a bit more, and you could make the empty space more interesting by adding a colourful nebula or something to spice things up. Maybe you could show (part of) the gas giant you mentioned?

[WHAM]

The station looks good. The stars would probably look nicer if their brightness varied a bit more, and you could make the empty space more interesting by adding a colourful nebula or something to spice things up. Maybe you could show (part of) the gas giant you mentioned?

Admitted: I've never been to space, but I've watched quite a few documentaries of the old MIR station and of the new ISS station. None of the images showing external views or images taken through windows showed any colorations in the space, just a deep blackness with millions of stars dotting the background.

Showing a bit of the gas giant is not quite possible, as it is always ABOVE the station, and we are looking at it from an angle from ABOVE the station.

Varying the star's brihtnesses might be a good idea, though. Some brighter, some dimmer. Perhaps even one or two distant planets showing as dimmer, coloured dots?

To get a better idea on what I'm using it for, visit www.whamgames.com and see for yourselves. The empty space will be filled in the future versions.

[Sean]

Heyas WHAM,

Really like what you have so far. The background works fine as it is, it's a nice 'low-tech' approach to creating a spacey background. It works well, and I decided to take a stab at an alternative approach myself. I hope you don't mind me posting this up.



I tried to add some variation to the stars. There tighter packed at the bottom of the image, for example. It's still quite a basic star-scape, but it looks a little more like realistic for me. Now, whether or not this meshes with what you're aiming for I don't know. Just thought I'd throw an alternative for you, in the hope it can help you create the image you're looking for!

You could of go for something with a few more layers in the vein of



This is an old image, and I doubt it fits with what you're aiming for.. but it might give you an idea or two.

Hope my images help in some way, if you have any questions fire away. Good luck, look forward to seeing the final background!

[WHAM]

Heyas WHAM,

Really like what you have so far. The background works fine as it is, it's a nice 'low-tech' approach to creating a spacey background. It works well, and I decided to take a stab at an alternative approach myself. I hope you don't mind me posting this up.



I tried to add some variation to the stars. There tighter packed at the bottom of the image, for example. It's still quite a basic star-scape, but it looks a little more like realistic for me. Now, whether or not this meshes with what you're aiming for I don't know. Just thought I'd throw an alternative for you, in the hope it can help you create the image you're looking for!

You could of go for something with a few more layers in the vein of



This is an old image, and I doubt it fits with what you're aiming for.. but it might give you an idea or two.

Hope my images help in some way, if you have any questions fire away. Good luck, look forward to seeing the final background!

The first pickture is perhaps a bit too crowded in my opinion, but then again it looks more realistic when comparing it to some hubble shots etc. The second is way too full of stuff to act as a background! It works far better on its own in my opinion.

I'll be making an improved and extended version of the picture within the week, and return then.

[WHAM]

The new version is HERE!

Changes:
> Added new modules
> Added a module transport ship floating near the station (OBVIOUS!)
> Added supports between the older modules.
> Moved the light sources
> Improved the stars

[Evil]

Even though it's space, the perspective is a bit off with the ship. The direction and angle of the ship and station clash. Also, it's hard to give a size comparison. Matching logos is an alright way to do it, but layering will really help.

I dig how the space station is looking, but I think it'd look a little more space stationy and a little less flat building if you put some sections above and below. Even if there's gravity on board, they're going to want to condense space. Maybe they should all look different too.

Yellow thing on the station looks cool, not sure what the one in the background is.

Ship looks good. Some basic shadows will really make it pop and give it a lot of dimension.

Stars look better. Should be more crisp. And the dark void in the middle isn't working for the composition. A big backwards S of brighter stars might pull things together a bit more.

[WHAM]

Even though it's space, the perspective is a bit off with the ship. The direction and angle of the ship and station clash. Also, it's hard to give a size comparison. Matching logos is an alright way to do it, but layering will really help.

I dig how the space station is looking, but I think it'd look a little more space stationy and a little less flat building if you put some sections above and below. Even if there's gravity on board, they're going to want to condense space. Maybe they should all look different too.

Yellow thing on the station looks cool, not sure what the one in the background is.

Ship looks good. Some basic shadows will really make it pop and give it a lot of dimension.

Stars look better. Should be more crisp. And the dark void in the middle isn't working for the composition. A big backwards S of brighter stars might pull things together a bit more.

The ship's brighter coloring makes it stand out a bit too much and make it look like its closer to the viewer than the station, but if you look at the modules it's carrying, you'll notice that it's actually a bit further and slightly below the station. (I should probably use shadows or something to establish this)

The yellow thing on the station is a crane, that is being assembled there to act as a stabilizer for the addition of further components onto the module that is opened up.