Glass Appreciation Society – New Members Welcome

My most recent 3D Visualisation commission, whilst slightly labour intensive highlighted a very important lesson when trying to aim for that all elusive photo-real effect:

Yes, I created this using Photoshop. Another example of how utterly awesome this software is.

In my previous commissions I’ve managed to get to grips with bulb transparency/reflections, textured brass fittings and using HDR images but this time I had to consider how best to illustrate velvet and water (in a glass vase).

The starting point?  Real life, of course!

I spent a Friday evening Googling various glass vases that contained water to establish how their contents were distorted and then I actually filled a vase of water (yes, really) to examine how objects positioned behind the glass vase (filled with water) appeared. I suppose if you’re hellbent on trying to make a fictional image appear real, then you gotta put the ‘leg work’ in, right?

It has just occurred to me that I might be taking my 3D visualisation efforts one step too far…

Anyway, it was a very useful exercise and undoubtedly assisted me in trying to capture the look of water in a vase. What I’m trying to say is that if you are trying to replicate something in a 3D visual, don’t be afraid to study real life environments to further your understanding of how an object reflects, refracts and casts shadows etc. It will surely help you in your quest to produce accurate and convincing photo-realistic images. I’m not saying that I’ve ‘mastered’ these effects but I think I’m definitely heading in the right direction.

Enough waffling.  Let’s take a look at the good stuff, shall we?