Hello!
I am doing some R&D for modeling a highly detailed rocky cliff from a single base mesh (I have to deal with that constraint!) created in a 3d package. So far I tried different workflows for this with average success for my goals (masking shapes and giving detail with planar cut, trim dynamic and hpolish, also using custom alphas displacements.
I can get something moderately good looking, but still not photoreal for a close shot, I guess I am missing the random touch of nature for rock intersections and the depth contrast of the shapes.
So I am coming here because maybe some of you can share some good tips or workflow steps that I could further explore besides my own.
I did a good research on the web for 3D modeling references but haven’t found nothing with that high quality so to base of. Or if I found some cliffs made in zbrush they are not from the type of rock I am looking for.
Actually I found this to be a really good reference of the type of cliff:
http://www.fallingpixel.com/rocky-cliff-3d-model/32332
but no highpoly pics.
Most of the 3d cliffs I found are mid-level detailed geo to give the main proportions and alphas then overlayed on top for the rocky feeling. But not highly detailed meshes with lots of different rock patterns.
I am aiming for something more detailed. Like this photo reference:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-buJB7e0iN8/TJbMROT3p1I/AAAAAAAAA_M/1-VDsNTNojQ/s1600/IMG_4750.JPG
there you can really see the rock chunks and the main shapes. And not one main block with random detail, I know some cliffs depending of the rock type are more random in detail.
Also in this images you can see the rock cuts intersections are very sharp if you can say so, so it gives a nice depth look.
http://www.johnbiggar.com/images/galloway-seacliff-topos/portobello-betty-blue.jpg
http://www.johnbiggar.com/images/galloway-seacliff-topos/portobello-u-boat-pen.jpg
I ll keep trying on my own, but Hopefully someone has some nice tips to help me out on this! Thanks a lot in advance.
Regards.
Manu