Attached Link: http://www.kaijakoma.com/wips/tunnel.html

I'm building a rock tunnel set to explore different camera angles and textures. I currently have 7 camera positions to watch how the wall texture looks up close and at a distance as i work on it and the basic structure of the tunnel seen from different angles. I'm at the point where i'm stepping into territory i haven't worked in before and i don't know what the next level of detail would look like, let alone how to accomplish it. My eyes would love the help of seeing what else i can do to improve the realism in the tunnel. All i've been focusing on so far has been painting the structure of the tunnel and texturing the walls/ceiling and the floor. Notes: 1. The light globes are just indicators for me of where the lights live. 2. I've figured out that the real way to do a tunnel like this is to use multiple terrains and have a variety of textures on them. That's planned for a future upgrade. 3. I'll eventually have light fixtures connected by cable, but i don't know what else. We haven't even begun planning that upgrade yet. 4. I have an idea to try adding a teeny bit of noise to the piles of debris on the sides of the floor to see if i can get some scattered protrusions through the floor along its edge. 5. I had a marathon wrestling match with textures over the past few days and i'm taking a rest before i head back in. I like the wall texture. The floor textures are the best they've gotten so far, but i'm not ultimately happy with them. Please share any comments, criticisms, suggestions, recipes or sports scores that you'd like. Thanks in anticipation of your help!

Great atmosphere! And amazing texturing! (looks like you could reach out and touch the rock!)

I'm replacing camera 7 with a view of the floor. I'll let you know when it's up. @Mrdodobird - Thanks!

That is very cool! The rock texture is very realistic. Have you been looking at any pictures of caves? That might help figure out where to go from here. So far everything looks great though. I can't wait to see the end result (along with more wip versions)! :)

The view of the floor is now up. I'd love to get any advice on the floor. That's what i've been wrestling with.

What kind of an effect are you going for? I wish I could help, but you know I haven't learned the editor yet. Maybe it would help see it better if you took the water out and fixed it from there, then added it back in. (If it isn't water, I am so sorry!) Anyway, it is looking good so far. I hope you get the answers you need! Sorry it won't be from me. :(

Water, huh? I'm assuming you mean the dark stripe in the center of the floor. If so, that's meant to be the bedrock of the floor of the tunnel. The stuff on the sides of that is supposed to be dust and other debris from the walls and floor - the stuff that gradually migrates to the sides of a worn path or falls from the walls. If you can describe to me what makes the "water" look like water to you it might help me clarify the image.

I guess I have to ask, "what kind of tunnel is this?" If it is a cave, say carved by water erosion, then you need stalagmites and 'tites, with a whiter, limestone color. If this is man-made, like a mine, then you need either more bump, or a more chiseled shape to the walls. If this is a natural "cave" (like the neolithic finds in France) then you're pretty close. You need gravel and rocks on the floor, but otherwise, spot on. The lighting is excellent. Once you get it the way you like, you should animate a camera trip through!

The animation was my first idea and i also had a large chamber at the end of the tunnel. I've scaled it way back. I'm still deciding about the type, but when i switch to using multiple terrains for the walls and ceiling, i'm going to make it much blockier, like a man-made tunnel would look. I have some good reference material for that... except for the floor. I can't find any shots of man-made tunnel floors that haven't been tiled or otherwise finished. I may actually turn this into several images with different types of walls and ceilings. Thanks for taking the time and for your comments.

Just to let you know elf, when I accessed your link, I had to click through several "A runtime error has occurred. "; expected" " messages (yes, I have error checking turned on) Nice images - I'll have to look into that - inside of Bryce terrains; thoughts of D'n'D start springing to mind - or maybe "Colossal Cave" - "Lots of twisty passages all the same/different" (depending on which maze).. LOL! Cheers, Diolma

Attached Link: http://www.caves.org/committee/salons/Photos%20on%20the%20Web.shtml

Argh! I posted a reply and it didn't show up! Anyway, long story short, I found a link with different kinds of cave pictures. It may help, it may not. There are some good pictures in there. Sorry I thought it was water. I haven't seen a cave since I was 15 and I didn't really look at the floor. I think a cavern with a pool of water would be a cool picture or a tall ceiling with a waterfall. I hope you get it the way you want. Keep plugin' away at it! :)

@diolma - Thanks for the heads-up on the errors. I'll look into it. @Damia - Thanks for the cave link. Too bad i'm making a tunnel. Spell it with me, Damia: T - U - N - N - E - L. "Tunnel" is not a four letter word that begins with "c". >oP

the texture is nice...but this looks way to smooth/clean to me to be a naturally formed cave. One thing that was mentioned that I think is pivotal is stalagmites/tites forming throughout the cave. This will also give you a chance to make some real kool DTE textures because cave walls have all sorts of mineral buildups which create those amazing red/orange/white etc colors. Good start and good luck...looking forward to seeing updates :-)

oops...sorry should have read closer that your were goin for the tunnel rather than cave...sorry for the mix up

No prob, Innovator. Thanks for your comments. Yeah, i'm gradually making my way toward it looking like a man-made tunnel.

nice rock texture and great atmosphere. You're off to a good start.

are those footsteps I hear off in the distance? ;)

A little moisture on the walls might increase the realism. Maybe a little mist along the floor. Just my 100 baisa..... But excellent work! The walls are beautiful.

Angular Gravel, full range of size sand to fist size on floor, is what a raw tunnel has on the floor. Geologist,Caver and Miner in my past. Your tunnel appears either carved out of SOFT stone or it is water made. If soft stone needs tool marks and debris(see above). If water made, needs more dimensional irregularity, perhaps with tool marks showing modification. Great work so far ,esp textures. I've beat this dead horse enough. Keep on Mike