Starry Night.

City generated in Blender 2.63 using particle physics and textured building models.    This could use some street lighting but Blender was behaving rather badly....I'm working on it.  I think the illuminated Geisha billboard adds something to break up the monotony though.  (Click to enlarge)

Sci-Fi Poster Project - A Slight Detour.

 

This poster depicts a scene from the cyber-punk, sci-fi novel, "Accelerando", by Charles Stross.   Amber Macx and her crew upload to the Field Circus - a craft the size of a coke can, made of Computronium - and venture two light years to the brown dwarf star Hyundai +4904/-56 where they encounter the Wunch.  I can't righlty call this poster "Minimalist".  A friend has described my work as Art Deco and I must agree with her assessment.  I love Art Deco!

Minimalist Design Posters...continued.

Minimalist poster inspired by Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth Saga:  "Pandora's Star" and "Judas Unchained."   Here I am depicting the Compressed Space Transport (CST) technology - invented by tech entrepreneurs, Nigel Sheldon and Ozzie Isaacs - used for traveling throughout the 400 planet Intersolar Commonwealth.  Specific design elements inspired by A.M. Cassandre's famous Nord Express poster of 1927. 

Minimalist Graphic Design Posters: Sci-Fi Novel Series.

This is the first in a series of minimalist posters I am working on.  The series will consist of locations mentioned in my favorite science fiction novels.  Pictured above is the planet Faber Eridani - home to Elmira Spaceport - in Jeffrey A. Carver's novel, Eternity's End.   I will be selling these posters in different sizes, suitable for matting and framing. Check back soon for further details on where to purchase.  I am planning my first exhibition featuring these posters at a local library.  Concept inspired by Chicago graphic designer and illustrator, Justin Van Genderen, who did a Star Wars series of minimalist posters.

Another Night, Another Dream...

...another day, another year, another...Labor Day?  Einstein proved that time is relative and political campaigns prove that there is nothing new under the Sun.  No obsession Du Jour for this blog entry.

Just enjoy this Fritz Lang inspired video by the Real McCoy.

Train Tunnel Test Animation - Blender 2.57

Just a preliminary animation test run which took nearly 5 hours to render.  Someone buy me a super computer.  I would like to thank Andrew Price of www.blenderguru.com for the great tutorials.  Andrew is one cool Aussie!

Train Tunnel - 3D Animation Project.

Train tunnel and tracks I modeled in Blender 2.57 for an upcoming short animation project.  Final touches will include detailed trains rolling down the tunnel with flashing signal lights. 

Train tunnel and tracks I modeled in Blender 2.57 for an upcoming short animation project.  Final touches will include detailed trains rolling down the tunnel with flashing signal lights. (Click on picture for larger view)

The MultiPlane Camera - Old School Animation, Disney Style.

Ever wonder how cartoons were done before computer technology. In this video, they show you how it was done at Disney in 1957.  Actually, today's computer generated animation uses the same principles, albeit utilizing software for digital matte paintings and 3D modeling and animation; all this at a relatively low cost using a machine that sits on a desktop.

Two dimensional animation is still alive and well, despite the growing popularity of 3D animated films. Japanese anime cartoons range from the simple to approaching cinematic quality. One of my favorite cartoons is Cowboy Bebop, which can be seen on the TOON Channel's adult swim air time. It's a sci-fi themed anime with detailed visuals and Mickey Spillane plot lines. If old Walt knew the content of some of these Japanese cartoons, he wouldn't be too pleased, but I think he would appreciate the production values.

Some more Vector Art with Freehand MX.

I had fun with this Pac Man promo poster.

Is this Dilbert's new boss?

I cranked out these illustrations in the now defunct, Macromedia Freehand MX. It's old school vector art software that still gets the job done.  Even though the tools are limited compared to Adobe Illustrator's tool set, you can still create amazing art with simple shapes and path manipulation. 

Asteroid Field: Done in Blender 2.57

All mesh and physics modeling and animation done in Blender 2.57 by Vincenzo Ferretti.  Music track titled "Alone in Space", courtesy of Maverlyn Darkstar at Newgrounds.com (Thank you Andrew Price for the excellent tutorial). 

Genius is Alive and Well.

Ada Byron Lovelace

New technology is creating a DIY revolution in desk top manufacturing; barely 25 years ago, it was desk top publishing.  Genius is alive and well in the 21st century and tech geeks like Limor Fried and Nathan Myhrvold are paving the way for spectacular inventions along with whole new business models.  Today there is no shortage of visionaries who think outside the box, but unlike past visionaries like Leonardo DaVinci, today's prodigies have the technology and the materials to realize their visions.  From the arts and sciences to tech savvy entrepreneurs, this century may prove to be the most prolific nursery of genius in the history of the world.  Check out the interview with Limor Fried in this April's Wired Magazine. Limor  runs a New York based company called Adafruit Industries; she is truly a modern day Ada Byron Lovelace.*

Q&A: Open Source Electronics Pioneer Limor Fried on the DIY Revolution

* Ada Byron Lovelace was the daughter of the English Romantic poet, Lord Byron.  She was a mathematical prodigy, privately tutored, who collaborated with Charles Babbage on his Analytical Engine -a machine never completed- for the express purpose of solving polynomial equations and other complex problems.  Ada Byron Lovelace is credited with writing the world's first computer algorithm for the Analytical Engine, for which she was inspired by the patterned punch cards of the Jacquard loom.  The modern computer programming language, Ada, was named for this visionary daughter of Lord Byron.  It would take nearly 100 more years for Ada Byron's and Charles Baggage's project to be fully realized, for what they were working on was yet to be invented.

Happy 50th Anniversary Tovarich!

Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space.

Radiosity Room: 3D modeling-rendering project.

I was going for a hi-tech room with a video screen on the right and instrument panels along the walls. (Done in Blender 2.49 using radiosity settings, mirror reflections, transparency and discombobulation script for wall panels)

Yellow Blobs - Soft Body Physics Simulation.

Done in Blender 2.5 with a rendering time of approximately 7 hours.  Collision setting included wind force simulation.  Ray transparency settings used on blobs and ray mirror settings on plane. 

 

Transparent Radiosity Cube w/ Fluid Simulation

Done in Blender 2.49 - Cube was UV textured with Ray Transparency then rendered with radiosity settings onto ray mirrored mesh plane.  Fluid simulation was done separately then placed inside cube.  Total render time @ 1.5 hours. (Enlarge video in lower right corner for better view)

House Wins.

Done in Blender 2.49 - UV textured meshes with radiosity and ray mirror reflections.

Merry Christmas!

Illustration: Discovery.

Discovery.  Done in Vue Esprit 6.0.  Ship and statue imported into scene as alpha planes.  Optimized in Photoshop CS3.

Johathan Williamson - Topology Presentation

Jonathan Williamson - Topology Presentation from Andrew Price on Vimeo.

Richard Dawkins at his best.

 Listen to Richard Dawkins debunk a knuckle dragging Creationist claim about the true age of dinosaur fossils.