Abstract Surface Modeling Help Needed !

[agitator]

Hi,

I am working on my grad film, which is an experimental piece, and I cant seem to get the correct look and feel. How would I model something like this ? And have the edges broken and craggy like this photo attached ?

Thanks

A

[chrisg]

Hi agitator,

Cool shot! Can you circle the exact effect you're trying to do?

If you're talking about the edges not being straight, you can do that in application using multiple vertexes on each edge to break up it's line, although this is TERRIBLE for the model and should rarely if ever be used. I would probably render an edge layer just normally, then render the surface with some sort of noise pattern, then use the noise render to distort the edge render using something like a displacement.

[justin_m]

Hi agitator,
Another thing you could try for the wire terrain type effect is to create the base shape you want out of polygons. You could use the landscape object or manually create it. Then create an uneven network of splines above it and use the Surface deformer the project them down onto the geometry. Then you could use a SweepNURBS if you needed to add thickness to them.

[agitator]

Thanks for the suggestions guys !

justin@ I am using a sphere object deformed to create the shape, but not satisfied with the look. Which deformer can I use to give it a concave look ? I really like your surface deformer idea, i can mess around a lot with materials on the spline !

chris@ I am not so proficient in 3D, what do you mean by edge layer ? I have created a single poly object out of a sphere with a super high poly count and I am tweaking the edges to create an unevenness, with the brush and magnet tool. Do u mean " render the surface with some sort of noise pattern", I use displace deformer with a noise shader and render that out , and use that as a noise channel to affect another layer...Im confused :-)

[chrisg]

Hi agitator,

I meant a wireframe render. I would go with Justin's suggestion if it gives you what you're looking for. I was looking at a more compositing/VFX approach.