PHOTOREALISTIC CHROME EFFECT !

[Ross Macintosh]

Nice samples Yens!

Regards, Ross

<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>

[jassony]

Thanks Eric, great tip! I can't wait to play around with it.

Judi

[gwpriester]

Eric

You got me thinking of how to accomplish something that I have been wrestling with for some time, how do create realistic chrome with realistic (non-bitmap) reflections. I think I finally figured it out.

I'll show the example first, let you think about how I did it, and post a mini-mini tutorial after I have my lunch.

Gary

Gary Priester

Moderator Person

Be It Rarely So Humble...

[gwpriester]

I also tried using a chrome brush made out of one of the chrome corn kernals used in the mini tutorial in the back of the current WebXealot.

I created line letters and applied the brush to the lines.

Gary

Gary Priester

Moderator Person

Be It Rarely So Humble...

[gwpriester]

1. Apply 2 color Linear Fill to text

2. Apply Rounded Bevel > To Outside. Make Duplicate.

3. Select Bevel only (Ctrl click on bevel) Modify bevel color to dark, warm gray.

4. Select non-modified bevel. Change to Inside bevel, Size 2 points.

5. Convert inside bevel to Editable Shapes (Arrange menu). Ungroup (Arrange). Ctrl click on fill and delete leaving just beveled shape.

6. Place beveled outline over beveled text.

Gary Priester

Moderator Person

Be It Rarely So Humble...

[Earl]

Eric: Nice chrome effect. Since chrome is so dependent on the reflections surrounding it, your bitmap idea works great. That's some of the best hand-drawn vector chrome I've seen.

Gary: "chrome corn kernals" - nice alliteration!

[Eric]

Quote jay "it's an endless topic or nightmare"

Yes jay...or is it Jens, you could go on and on about this...so I will!
my 'humble quest' was to try and achieve a realistic chrome badge effect rather than the usual 'perceived' effect. even I succumbed to thAT 'zing-flash' effect [the star-sparkle thing] which is something humans could never see as it is a camera lens-flare effect!
also I would assume that the subject matter of the bitmap reflection is largely irrelevant as the chrome is just 'doing its job' reflecting it's surroundings. jays pics 2&3 are a superb example.
if you actually study a piece of chrome (hello are you still awake?)...you will notice a myriad of scratches, warps, dings and other imperfections [THAT'S WHAT CREATES THE REALISM! would you agree?] which I hope I will be able to reproduce in XARA X....one day...I've been experimenting with distorted, smudged bitmaps to great effect. also the bevels should reflect an entirely different perspective as they are angled away from the main facet. as for using bitmaps et al, well that does'nt bother me at all, nor does pre-preparing said bitmaps in "another drawing app!" BOOOH! HISS! hope you understand all this contradictory baloney because I don't.
anyway thanks for all the positive feedback folks, comon' you chromium crusaders let's see what you can do!
I hope this one runs...

cheers
Eric [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

[This message was edited by scouse eric on May 21, 2001 at 17:29.]

[Ross Macintosh]

Gary - Thanx for the mini-tutorial! The chrome Kernel lettering is facinating to look at. Is it possible to make a font from such a design or is it too complicated?

Regards, Ross

<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>

[bcdeb]

I tried it on a different font, and I'm pretty pleased with the results:

[bcdeb]

That doesn't look nearly as good as it did in my XaraX program...or even viewing it with my browser preview in NoteTab...something gets lost on the web...