Hey polycount! I've been lurking on here for a couple years now, and I'm finally throwing myself to the gauntlet and making my first post.
For this project, I was trying to find an environment that would have me creating a variety of assets, from hard surface structures to organic foliage. I found this terrific concept from UnidColor on Deviant Art and thought that it would be perfect:
http://unidcolor.deviantart.com/art/Old-gas-station-415139577?utm_source=social&utm_medium=all&utm_campaign=112413_soc_gasstation
I decided to alter the concept a bit, and essentially replace the vending machine with an old truck, since that would be a better learning experience for me. One of my largest focuses will be on texturing, as I consider that my one of my weakest areas.
I'm currently finishing up the textures on the truck and starting to work on the gas station itself. As always, crits are appreciated!
Initial block out and lighting pass:
Detail of the truck:
Replies
No, I've just been focusing on the body and paint so far, and I've made a pass on the chrome elements.
The only critique I have at this point is that the chrome seems a little off to me. I think it's those high specular spots on the front bumper that are really catching my eye. Other than that I cant wait to see how this comes out.
Good call on the chrome, I'm definitely going to have to tone that down a bit. I think maybe it's just generally too shiny for it's own good.
I'm really not sold on the rust/wear on the truck though. Check this out:
http://i.imgur.com/M8FeTXc.jpg
Rust in general normally has quite a hard defined outline, rather than the sort of smooth transition you currently have.
In general it looks a bit too glossy too, that's a pretty easy fix though! You should also totally have some colour variation on some of the panels, like they have worn unevenly, or been replaced with a part from another truck at some point.
OH! Excellent reference photo, mystic!
I really like how it has the rust stains leaking down over the surface. I can see what you mean about it being too glossy. I was trying to make sure it still read as paint, but I might have gone a bit too far with it. Thanks for your comments!
I'm much happier with how the metal turned out, good call on that!
As for the darkness, I'm thinking that's caused by the light being at pretty much a perpendicular angle to the truck (facing straight towards the side). As for the AO, it was baked without any occluding objects, so I'm pretty sure it's go to be my lighting. I'll play around with it and see what I can come up with.