Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=49944&Start=13&Sectionid=9&WhatsNew=Yes

Hi Fellow Vue-ers, Well, I know it's a couple of days late but I finally was able to get this together. Yes, it's been *that* bad for me, time-wise lately. The month of April went by so fast for me, I barely even noticed it! Anyhow, I had been thinking about what to do about May's Vue Challenge, and I had been thinking around the lines of something "elemental"--- fire, to be specific, but that seemed a little too vague.... The other day, while browsing the galleries in my usual fashion, I came across the that the link above leads to. It's in the 3D Studio Max gallery. it just "struck" me for some reason. :) I don't know if it was post-produced or not, but it made me realize that though I've seen some great outer space scenes done in Vue, I don't think I've seen many planets done as well as they could be. By that I mean, a planet as seen from *another* planet through an atmosphere of some sort..... You know the way that even though a planet will obscure the clouds in a Vue scene, but for some reason the stars can tend to show through?..... So, that will be the new VC for the month of May.... ascene of a planet, planets, a moon... anything to that effect, but as seen from the surface of another planet, and through an atmosphere. "*through an atmosphere*" is the key part of it, though. It's not just a matter of texturing a sphere and sticking it past the terrain, either, as you will see. I've been trying to make a decent scene like that of my own for a good while now, to be used as a wallpaper, and I can *never* get it right. it always ends up looking like a textured sphere just stuck above the terrian and simply hanging there! So there it is--- it might sound simple on the surface.......... Cheers, and Have Fun! Mike PS As I said in the other thread the other day, the sugestions y'all gave for the next VC were all good, and I've copied them down, and we will be getting to most all of them over the next several months. Thanks for the input! :)

Oh, I might add, I really mostly used the picture above as an example. I know it's not perfect, but again, just as an example to illustrate the idea. I'm not suggesting that the idea is to try to replicate such an image--- just a semi-guideline...

Attached Link: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/martin.childs/tranquillity.htm

Hi Mike, Great challenge, but I was wondering does this count? http://homepage.ntlworld.com/martin.childs/tranquillity.htm Cheers

As I laid my head upon the pillow last night, I started thinking of a few more VC ideas. Let's see, there were about four, what were they? tropical island in the woods the ocean (on it, not under it) And outer space, which I think this qualifies as, although this is more atmosphere-based. But this is going to be quite some challenge! :) Cheers, stop trying to steal Martin's work. ;> That is an awesome sky, alright. And hey, were you ever planning on sharing Mike Kuykendall with the rest of us? What fantastic work he does. I wonder if Tesign's seen it yet. Mike, a good challenge! :)

Thanks, Varian. Mike Kuykendall's models and textures just blow me away. His attention to detail is amazing, you could zoom in as close as you like to that model, and it will look just as good. As for stealing Martin's pictures...well he's an a**ehole anyway (or so his wife says), so it does not matter ;o) I like the "In the woods" idea Varian, for a future one. Right, let's see if I can steal a better image for this challenge :oD Cheers

Actually this Vue challenge is a perfect opportunity to use the masking feature of Vue discussed earlier. That MAX image has an imported mesh with a pre-rendered planetary backdrop. This is the best way to create that type of look (without going crazy)... Creating a planetary foreground and a distant yet close-up near-by planet (is 10,000 miles close-up? In space it is)will be difficult otherwise to look really good because you are dealing both with the clear vacuum of space and a planetary atmosphere effect...

This sounds like fun! :) The last one was a little over my head. (sorry) Rich

Glad y'all like it! And, F-M, now that I think about it, I believe you'e right there. I'm not so sure about the Max part, because I know virtually nothing about how Max works, but I can see how masking could be useful here, so thanks for the tip.

Oops, sorry, Martin, I forgot to reply. :/ Yeah, your picture would "count"! That's actually a very good example of what I meant. THe planet from which one is viewing need not necessarily be earth, though--- just somewhere with an atmosphere. Great pic--- I can see why it was POTD! Cheers...uhhh, rather, Cheer$, Mike ;)

Cheers Mike :o) I will dedicate a bit more time this month to a picture where the planet is not so subtle, and is the center of attention. Funnily enough with that picture the moon is not much further away, than the tree on the left. I tried it with a larger moon and further away, but a closer position always looked best. Thanks again, Cheers ;o)

Hi dear fellow Vue users, Please find here my first trial to solve the May challenge. It is called: "Born by the country" How do you like it? Please send me your critics! Already looking forward to your critics and hints - but especially to your pictures. Yours, Bernie from "Bernie's Virtual World!" / www.bernhardloehn.de P.S. Made the picture this weekend!

Rich: The last one was a little over my head. -- Since the last one was "underwater," does this mean you're seven leagues under? (j/k)! Bernie, that is a very artistic scene! The lighting is ideal, and I could get lost in the colors of the sky. Really nice, that means! :)

Yes, Bernie, that's a very unique idea there. Stunning, really, and I completely agree with Varian. Thanks for posting! :)

Varian, Thats exactly what I meant, and I was apologizing for the bad joke! :D Rich

And you should apologize, Rich. LOL! That was terrible! :D

FAR OUT!!!! Verdie of Dreamspinner

Hello all Well how about this then i dont know if i will enter this one or do another tell me what you think Cheers

Dolly, I really like this other world feeling!! Really well done work on this and love your Terrain textures and the water is beautiful and like the way you did the atmosphere in this!! Verdie : )

Hi everybody, At the moment I seem to have a pretty creative phase - but of cause not very earnest. So, here comes a little joke ... Well, I fear some things can be found nearly everywhere! Yours, Bernie

Actually Bernie, Your sky and background are really very beautiful and DO wish you had left out the Cosmic Toilet, other wise I envy your background and wish I could do as well! Verdie of Dreamspinner