Posted on July 9, 2012

I’ve posted a new version of “Magnetar” in the Members Gallery this morning. The first render (available henceforth in the Pickle Jar) was my first wallpaper developed and rendered completely on a laptop (Asfaloth). For this new version I employed my main workstation (Bucephalus).

I rendered the background and nebula first in Vue d’Esprit, then used that for the background for my magnetar in Lightwave. I then brought that render back into Vue to add foreground dust.

Now if only I could figure out how to make more “ropy” looking clouds in Vue…

I hope you like the update. Let me know what you think!!

Posted on July 6, 2012

I was pretty confident that the new “red” version of Mistveil Mountain would be my gallery version when I started rendering the multiscreen.

Now I’m not so sure. The comments are mostly in favor of the new version, but the ratings point to the first render.

I’ve added the dual and triple-screen versions to the Members Gallery this evening, still warm from the 3 day render. I’ve been working on Asfaloth for the past few days so I’m stoked to get my main machine back.

I’m sure there are quite a few people who would like to see the first version for multiple monitors so I will set up a render on one of my other machines ASAP. Unfortunately none of my machines go nearly as fast as Bucephalus so it will probably be a while before it is finished. Sorry!

Posted on July 5, 2012

It was recently suggested to me that it has been a long time since I’ve done an astronomical wallpaper. Time to change that!

I’ve added “Magnetar” to the Members Gallery this morning. It’s a project that I have been putting together on Asfaloth over the past few days while the multiscreen version of “Mistveil Mountain” renders on Bucephalus. This is, in fact, the first project I’ve ever rendered completely on a laptop.

Yes, it is still a work in progress and I hope to add the finishing touches when I am finally able to get back on my main machine.

A “Magnetar” is a special type of neutron star with an extremely powerful magnetic field. My representation is a bit on the fanciful side, but I hope I mananged capture the violence and dark energy of such a body.

I modeled most of this using a new program called “Incendia”. I hope you like the results!

Posted on June 29, 2012

I’ve added a second version of “Mistveil Mountain” to the Members Gallery this morning.

The new lighting scene is inspired by a conversation I had recently with a good friend (a geologist) who just returned from a few weeks above the Arctic Circle. He told me that even at midnight the sky still held a pinkish twilight glow. I’ve never seen this for myself but this is how I choose to imagine it. The reddish light also seems to set off the aurora better.

I’ve tweaked the snowcover on the taller mountains and changed up the foreground vegetation a bit. There are a few other changes that I will leave for you to discover. The original version is still available in the Pickle Jar for comparison.

Let me know which you prefer and I will get cracking on the multiscreen!

Posted on June 23, 2012

I’ve added “Mistveil Mountain” to the Members Gallery. This is my first project rendered and developed on “Asfaloth” (while Bucephalus was rendering the “Dragon’s Gold” multiscreen). It is a continuation of the work I started with “The Unveiling” and thus I have left the word “veil” in the title. I’m still exploring Vue d’Esprit’s new “height conforming” clouds.

I’m still working on exactly what I want for the foreground but I think flowers provide a nice counterpoint to an otherwise frigid scene. Let me know what you think!