(Blender) Wizard's Laboratory

It's a work in progress, I'll be updating it as I go.

(1/10/2011): http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/5843/unledxtx.png
(1/10/2011): http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/7303/unled2zk.png
(2/10/2011): http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/1300/unled3tn.png
(12/11/2011): http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5186/unled4.png

(12/11/2011):


The next step will be to work on the back wall texture. The shelves will be removed as I add things to replace them.

I need some inspiration for what a wizard's workshop needs to have.

 

This looks decently nice, however, I think that the table, paper, shadows and the staff (I guess?) should be tweaked ALOT.
The shadows are just not done properly, tweak with those untill you get a softer shadow, as you won't get hard-ass replica shadows in real life, would you? It'd be a more soft looking shadow, not something as hard as this, cannot repeat it too many times.
The paper needs some texturing, it's hovering over the table and since when does paper has a specular on them? It does NOT.
The water in the bottles looks pretty plain.. Do something with that, too, make it look more clear and bright, might make it more interesting.
The candles: Give it a slightly better texture with a bump map on it, might make it look more realistic.
The staff: Make it look like an actual staff and not like a reflecting di----.
It's just not looking properly right now and if this is really supposed to be like a wizard's workshop, I did not knew they walked around with 100% reflecting staves.

I'd like to see improvements, for sure! Goodluck!

 

Wouldn't be to bad to add a Wizards hat in there somewhere, and possibly a robe on a rack or something if you don't intend to add the wizard himself.

 

Updated

I changed the lighting. Before there was couple of point lights, now there is a spherical light that casts softer shadows in each lantern I've added.

I brightened it and changed the colour of the glass a bit.

Working on that.

Ok, will add a wizard's hat or a robe rack in the future

 

Wow I am highly impressed with your skills here, I swore off blender quickly because the interface was very wanting and hard to learn. This reminds me of a scene from the game Myst

 

Firstly, can I ask why you're using Blender? Just asking, not saying it's good or bad.

I really like it, no real criticism other than the paper still looks like it's floating above the table (mainly the piece on the right).

As for suggestions: a boiling cauldron, a cat, a wand, some script on the paper. If you don't have to model everything yourself, you could try put a dragon inside of the globe at the top of the staff or even adding an eerie green glow.

Once you finish the walls and work on the lighting some more, I think that will even bring it together quite nicely.

 

Thanks!

I know Blender better than the commercial tools, and I'm hopping between different operating systems a lot and it's handy that it's cross platform and lightweight.

You're right. I'll have to fix that by animating the paper falling onto the table though, so I'll leave that till near the end.

I'll definitely put something on the paper and I'll think about the others... I won't be capable of modelling anything like a cat though. Still, I'm happy using license-free models, so we'll see.

 

Can you hook me up with some good blender tuts?

 

Sorry, I never followed many tutorials. The documentation is good for learning, although a lot of it hasn't been updated for version 2.5x yet:

http://wiki.blender.org/

Added a halo glow to the staff.

 

Updated. A rack for staves has been added. The floor texture has been done.

I'll be making a new material and texture for the back wall. After that I'll add new objects, probably a wizard's hat.

If I can find a good model of a skull I might put that in and stick a candle on top of it

C&C please!

 

The previous paper looked much better.. And you could improve these things, too:
Make it so the table doesn't has this stone bump-map on it, it atleast seems like this..
Make sure that the shelves don't look like they're straight from IKEA > Wizards didn't have those back then!
And make the vials less colourfull, make them regular vials, as a wizard won't put his most valuable potions back in the room where anyone could grab 'em! Make a chest or so to put them in and lock them up safely!
Also: A wardrobe with wizardry clothing might look pretty interesting, too.

 

Light the freaking candles! ^_^
Make them the centralized lightsource of the room - give them an orange glow, but make it quite widespread.

Texturise the wall with a similar rock paving as the ground.
Increase the size of the lights at the back quite a bit, and make their light more atmospheric - casting a similar but slightly lighter orange than the candles.
Cast the whole area in a more dramatic light with long shadowing.

 

Haven't got any free time at the minute but will start on those things when I have a chance. Cheers.

 

I can't edit my original post anymore it seems. EDIT: nevermind, yes I can.

I worked on it a bunch more, moved the candles away because putting light-emitting flames on them was proving too difficult. Grabbed the books off archive3d.

 

Looking very good, tho is it possible to create depth in the "medals" that are laying on the table?