Well it's been awhile since I last posted any WIPs on my ongoing photorealism project (previously know as "Workbench"). I've decided to take the project in a different direction, instead of making a workbench scene I've decided just to build a library of highly detailed Bryce objects and then make a scene after I have created a sufficient amount of objects. Currently I am working on this CD Binder. I just finished the modeling (this is my second ever Sub-D model, the Squirt Bottle was my first) and I am beggining to work on the materials now. I have the basic leather and cloth textures, I still need to incorporate the zipper. All C&C is much appreciated on any element of the object, but none on the composition please as it is not relevant. The overall goal is photorealism, so anything you don't feel is protrayed in a realistic fashion I encourage you to point out. Thanks! Blog

Looks like naugahyde and nylon to me buddy!

Excellent Modeling and Textures...

The specularity hits on the black leather sell it beautifully. AgentSmith

Blog, My closet door was open so I looked over at my old leather MC jacket in response to what ddruckenmiller said - the black leather jacket although specular isn't quite that shiney - of course that old jacket is over 20 years old and the light in the room isn't hitting it directly . . . although I do remember it looking somewhat like your pict in terms of specularity when it was new. Looks like you're doing a prety good job so far, you migh be able to map the specularity seperately to achive a more distributed effect but it looks fine as it is! - TJ

The only thing that I can think of would be a slightly lighter render so that more detail can be seen. I do have to agree with everyone else, that leather tex is outstanding. And the mesh on the front of the bottom binder is spot on. After that, its the same as with the Excacto knives, dirty them up a little bit. In this case, (I think you may have done it already) the edges of the leather should be scuffed up a little. Even a brand new one from the store has been knocked around a little bit, and we all know that that stuff ain't real leather and it can't stand up to even that little bit of abuse. ;^) If you can, here's a real challenge! Things like that usually have a couple of spots where the weave of the fabric has loosened up, or a couple of threads have torn. Something like that would require a little more modeling (I think), but it would be well worth the effort. All right, enough outta' me! I gotta' go to bed. That binder is outstanding, BTW. Great modeling, unparalelled texture work. A couple of tweaks and we'll be accusing you of posting photos and passing them off as Bryce. Great job, can't wait for this whole project to be finished so I can drool over the result. Mike

Excacto = Exacto. I knew there was a "C" in there somewhere. :-)

Great work Blog, I agree with everybody on modelling and textures. Could I just ask if the stitching just got away from you a touch. The case on top, left near corner, the stitching appears to turn back on itself before continuing. Bye now......Dennis

@ddruckenmiller - I'm sure that the material on the subject isn't actually leather, I just called it that because it looks similar, I'm not really familiar with the names of different sorts of fabrics and materials. @foleypro - Glad you like it. @AgentSmith - Thanks, glad you like it, I was having trouble getting the diffuse color just right, the way it is now only the specular parts are very visible so that is likely what makes that aspect look good but unfortunately this method dosen't convey the detail in the rest of the mesh. @bikermouse - I would have to agree with you that the material is a little over specular, even my reference subject isn't that specular; I will likely tone it down a bit in the next WIP when the metal zipper is included which will need to be much more specular than the leather part. @miden1138 - After I get the diffuse color for the leather part down right the rest of the detail should be visible, I just wanted to get this posted right away to get your comments for improvement so I took the first render I posted the first render I finished. I agree the leather could be scuffed up a bit, my reference subject is in mint condition though as it is brand new so I will have to search around for reference images of worn leather because at the moment I am not sure how to achieve this effect. @miden1138 & Dennisld - The stitching on the cloth part dosen't line up correctly purposely, I figured in the final render I would extend this aspect by drawing some loose threads around this area in post work. I'm not entirely happy with the way the threadwork looks now, but I am not sure how to fix it yet, I do agree the way it is now dosen't quite work right. Thanks a lot for your input everyone on this and on my previous WIPs I find it EXTREMELY helpful and your support helps keep me motivated. Hopefully I will beable to finish this object off by tommorow night...

I just went with Naugahyde becasuse I'm sitting here in the scenic Naugatuck River Valley, from whence Uniroyal Chemical unleashed their magic vinyl-coated fabric on the world - that, and a lot of waste into the river... (Naugahyde also comes in a highly specular wet-look version.) And I might be surprized to see a metal zipper on that - I'd probably expect a nylon spiral affair. Really nice work!

By nylon spiral do you mean that each "tooth" of the zipper has a small piece of nylon holding it in place?

"Plastic zipper teeth (Perlon) are shaped rather differently than metal fastener teeth. The chains do not consist of individual teeth but rather of loops formed by a spiral coil. This kind of fastener has the advantage that, because of the resilient properties of plastic, it's not destroyed by tearing it open. Nylon zippers are mostly used for lighter, more decorative work."

This one has a metal zipper for sure then, not that it matters much though as my texture isn't high enough resolution to convey much zipper detail. I did an extreme close up render just so you guys can get a really good idea of what the materials look like and the level of detail I've attempted to include. Try not to mind that the textures are a bit pixelated, and the mesh isn't too smooth either with such a close view; obviously an object like this wouldnt actually be rendered this close-up but I just want you guys to see what it looks like... C&C is encouraged. Also it seems your knowledge of materials such as these is quite extensive ddruckenmiller, I really appreciate you taking the time to comment, I find your input very valuable.