Just had to Dew it

[The Great Raja]

http://www.firedragon.com/~lwg3d/wip/2003/05/13-885978_tn.jpg (http://www.firedragon.com/~lwg3d/wip/2003/05/13-885978.jpg)

Looking for tips to make this look better
(Other than finishing the Cans)

[oxyg3n]

First thing that jumps out to me is the the bottom of the bottles is glowing rather brightly.

I would change that, and also post a loarger image so we can see more details.

[The Great Raja]

hmmm... click on the image opne it to 1024x768....
how much bigger do ya need?

[oxyg3n]

Didnt realize that the image was a link!

[RAZ]

The modelling, texturing, lighting and background are all in desperate need of work. Besides that I like the scanned labels. Works as a thumbnail but if it's going to be used for print I'd spend some time sorting it out. It can't have taken you very long so don't take the critism too hard, just plough on and put your back into it. Observation of the real thing is the key here.

[colkai]

Originally posted by RAZ
The modelling, texturing, lighting and background are all in desperate need of work. Besides that I like the scanned labels. Works as a thumbnail but if it's going to be used for print I'd spend some time sorting it out. It can't have taken you very long so don't take the critism too hard, just plough on and put your back into it. Observation of the real thing is the key here.

Whoa, waay too harsh, though intentionally so I suspect. One would have to see comparative work I guess. ;)
Plus, the thumbnail is a link to a large picture.
Ok, bottle tops, the bottom 'clean' ridge could be a little fatter. I'd maybe reduce the number of ridges in the top, even with high AA they will probably "strobe". Regardless of reality, you need to sell the shot. Bottom of the bottles, yes, lose the glow effect, also, the bumps on the base are more rounded on most.
There seems to be a lack of reflection / specularity.
One place I do agree with the guy, observe. Try sitting down at a table and just put a bottle and can on it. Note the reflections, see how the flash of specularity sells the object as both shiny and metal. To be honest, you haven't got that far to go. I'm pretty sure there's a coke can tut somewhere, peek at that for a bit then go back to you models.

[RAZ]

Hey, haybe your right, it does read a little harsh but looking again at the larger image the crit was spot on and no different frankly to your assessment, just less sugar maybe ;) . Or maybe your right and I'm just crap and having a go at him due to my own lightwave shortcomings.....nar.....KEEP IT REAL.:cool:

[Hiraghm]

I agree about the glow, and with Colkai about the moire effect on the bottle cap.

The first thing that stood out to me was the metallic part of the cans. Way too smooth and even looking. I would sharpen the specularity, and maybe add a diffuse gradient, along with the tinfoil enviroment map that comes with LW.

But, beyond those minor flaws, I think the scene looks great! I'm almost jealous.

Oh, you might want to give it a different backdrop, maybe something lighter. Soda pop is not exactly a grim product. :D

[The Great Raja]

Thanks for the feed back guys.

There isn't any glow turn on in the scene. The Glow effect appears to be caused by me turning on caustics. Which I have to keep at a really low level (Like 2%) because if I get much over 10% the Caustics blow out the whole scene.

the Moire pattern on the cap is caused by the grooves in it an they may be still to deep.

[colkai]

Not so much that they are too deep, rather I think just too many of them. Makes it difficult to handle, without t extreme-it-to-the-max AA :D

[Matt]

RAZ - Great avatar dude!!! I've been watching it for hours now!!!

:)

[Matt]

For me I'd work on the lighting a little too, can you afford to use radiosity? works wonders!

also the background isn't selling it for me either, the cans etc. look loads better than the background, try and spend a little more time putting your products in a scene rather than the infinite plane with bump map.

I agree about the caustics too, too bright, but I can sympathise with you here they're a nightmare to get right, I haven't managed to produce anything respectable with them yet!

hope that helps!

oh just one more thing, try adding a reflection map to the scene because the metal on the cans is a little flat due to them not having anything to reflect other than the bottles.


matt

[mfegley]

hehehehe... i sat at my computer, cracked open MY dew livewire and went to check out the forum... iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinteresting!

so, since i have the real deal AND your deal here... some suggestions:

1) i would lower the height/bump of the cap grip. its deep but also, find a way to get rid of the herring bone... i'd try advanced AA... (also, my caps white... did i get jipped on the pretty colors?)

2) the bottle also has a funky swirl pattern happenin' on the top and bottom (in real life) so i would add it... and as far as the plastic goes... it reflects stuff, and is a lot more glossy. plus, the top of yours looks a bit stout... the bottle is a bit longer up top!

3) your image for the labels.. should be a bit transparent and reflective... because they really are! and also... where's the back of it in yours? i see it as i gaze into its thirst quenching fullfillment... where they overlap, its not perfect... make it real world (if you want) and give that label a bit of a tip, crinkle and, believe it or not, fast fresnel or gradient on the reflection and such...

4) also, if you want to push the edge and less "advert-like", how bout some dribbles inside.. i get them from the soda sticking to the side. and, theres a time/date stamp put on with a dot matrix type printer... etc, etc, etc....

well, these are just suggestions... but take a look at your bottle and dew it up... or not! it looks good, just push it that little bit and you got it!

-micah


oh yeah.. and RAZ... "Shake shake shake..... shake shake shake.... shake your (you know what they are...)! shake your ****ies yeah! :D hehehehehehe my girlfriend told me i am not allowed to look... :(

[cybernaut]

For me the first thing that stood out when I saw this image was the somewhat dry layout, sorry :). From a graphic design perspective I would suggest possibly altering your composition. Two equal on the left and two equal on the right doesn't create that got-a-have-it feeling that would sell this type of product. Quite often camera angles that are extreme like looking up at the can making it seem like its as big as a house or banking the camera slightly loosing the flat horizon line tend to spark alot more visual interest. Maybe you could put one of the cans in its side so that it varys from the others or stagger the placement of all of the cans so that they are at different distances from the camera. One thing that would really help is to establish a focal point. One can needs to stick out from the others so that there is some sort of central anchor element, even if its not in the actual center.

I am not going to comment on the 3D side of things as many good comments have already been made ; plus, I know that I could not do anything half as awesome as this. 3D stuff looks killer to me. Great work:D

BTW, I hope that I wasn't to harsh.

[Milew]

One thing that jumped out at me is how the contents appear as if they extend all the way to the outer edge of the bottle. The plastic of the bottle would have some thickness so the contents would only extend to the inner surface not all the way to the exterior surface. I hope this makes sense. Granted its a small detail, but it would help add some more realism to the render. Otherwise looks good.

[colkai]

Originally posted by Milew
One thing that jumped out at me is how the contents appear as if they extend all the way to the outer edge of the bottle.

Ya know, completely missed that, but you're not wrong.

[Bionic Antboy]

I was going to say the same thing. That's the first thing I noticed, and giving the plastic some thickness would go a long way in selling the image.

By doing so, (and tweaking the surface settings) it may increase the realism of the caustic effect as it travels through the different surfaces, which could enhance the image. :) I gotta admit I kinda LIKE the glowy effect of the caustics as is, as it gives the Dew a toxic ligquid effect, which is in line with my opinion of the product itself :D

BTW, are the labels stretched a little vertically on the cans? They seem more distorted than the bottle labels.

Other than that, I'd agree with others about adjusting the composition and choosing a backdrop that would be more appropriate.

I'd say that you're 90% there, and all these tweaks shouldn't take long, and go far in making the image the best it can be.

[The Great Raja]

an update

http://www.firedragon.com/~lwg3d/wip/2003/05/15-62602_tn.jpg (http://www.firedragon.com/~lwg3d/wip/2003/05/15-62602.jpg)