Nature Screenshots! (BIG and NUMEROUS pictures!)

[mezzoprezzo]

Hi Deane.

Still no photoshopping.

The bubbles were from Word/Insert/Shapes/Callouts/ and so obvious I didn’t bother to mention them.

The "thin" shadows are made from one of your wider shadow splines used twice, set at an angle through the wall top to make it smaller. This might make it clearer – I’ve moved the shrub and stretched the splines so that you can see it better.

Cheers
Casper

Imageshack

 

[Dinorius_Redundicus]

Another trick revealed!

 

[Retro00064]

Another trick revealed!

Indeed, it is definitely creative genius.

The only problem with this setup is that both the shadow spline and the bush use alpha blend textures. This will cause the alpha sorting issue to appear, in that at some viewing angles, the shadow spline will be shown in front of the bush, even though the shadow spline is really behind the bush. This is especially the case with cases like this, as it seems that when two alpha-blend-textured objects are overlapping or in the same mesh, then the alpha-sorting issue will likely be occuring with those assets. Using a solid object or alpha-masked object instead would (or should) not cause this problem. Regardless, the alpha sorting issue is not constant (i. e. not all viewing angles will suffer from it), so great screenshots like that are still possible.

You can tell if a texture is an alpha-blend texture by moving the Surveyor compass over that asset: alpha-blended textures will always be drawn on top of the compass, while everything else (alpha-masked objects (in TRS2004 and later) and solid objects) will always be drawn behind the compass.

Any way, enough technical stuff from me. Back to the great screenies now.

Regards.

 

[Dermmy]

Off Topic

You can tell if a texture is an alpha-blend texture by moving the Surveyor compass over that asset: alpha-blended textures will always be drawn on top of the compass, while everything else (alpha-masked objects (in TRS2004 and later) and solid objects) will always be drawn behind the compass.

Now that's a handy bit of info! Thanks

Back on topic - great shot Casper, and the shadow thing is truly 'thinking outside the box' - great stuff!

Andy

 

[mezzoprezzo]

Many thanks for your kind comment guys!

I’m grateful for the explanation and the “compass test” retro. I learn something new here nearly every day.

I can’t say I have too many alpha problems. In the “beer” shot, the shrub doesn’t conflict with the shadows at any angle. I’ve just done a 360deg flyaround, with no problem at all.

There is one particular hedgerow spline which I use a lot, which “interferes” with itself (!) and some other assets, but it’s minimal.

Could the build quality standards have something to do with the fact that the shadow and shrub assets in question do not create a problem? Both were created by two of our finest and best respected creators!

~snip~ and the shadow thing is truly 'thinking outside the box' ~snip~

Andy, you have to have a box. Far better than a download, otherwise you have nothing to ‘think outside’ of.

Whether a signed metal version is better than bog standard plastic is, of course, open to question!

Cheers
Casper

 

[zatovisualworks]

-:hehe: Do we tell him, guys and gals?

-Yes, Alberte, do it!

-OK, here we go... Caaaassspeeerrrrrr! Artistry is one of the inherent skills needed when making a route in Trainz -in other Railsims it's almost impossible- and you have tons and tons of it.

-(Done, guys, said).

The spokeman side of Alberte :wave:

========================================

BTW, the thread is 3-star now. Somebody must hate nature over here. :hehe:

========================================

Later BTW, back to 4-star in a wink of time...

 

[mezzoprezzo]

Thank you Alberte.

I’m not sure that sort of praise is deserved. There is a lot of creative talent around here.

Having the time to practice, and doing it for fun without any deadline pressures helps enormously.


Here’s another little doodle, just to let you know that Deane’s cows are still thriving up in the mountain foothills.

Cheers
Casper

Imageshack

 

[zatovisualworks]

Deane’s cows are still thriving up in the mountain foothills.

...And admiring pitifully Vendie's wonderfully-scrapped coaches!

The really scrapped aging side of Alberte :wave:

 

[Dermmy]

Not up to Casper's standard, but crikey - those cows get around! I spotted them recently at Campbell Bend on the North Fork of the Kentucky River...

Andy

 

[zatovisualworks]

But, Andy, those cows are grazing as merriful as Casper's.

I can hear their pleased moos from here... :hehe:

Nice bend corner... :Y: . 2- 3-plane veggie assets are still essential to the Trainz experience.

The grazing side of Alberte (yes, I also graze, I can't be less than a cow!) :hehe:

 

[mezzoprezzo]

Nice shot Andy!

Great to see that these bovine marvels are appearing in so many different routes. They must have now reached every continent.

I guess that reproduction will now have to be self perpetuating since the demise of “all version” DLS uploading. It’s a damned good job the bulls and calves made it prior to the barn doors being closed.

What I like about them is that although there is a large variety of poses and breeds, there seem to be so many more. I guess it’s seeing them at different angles and in such a variety of landscapes that make each one seem to be almost individually different.

Nice work Deane!

Ever grateful for all of the great assets.

Cheers
Casper

 

[mezzoprezzo]

Rural landscape, southern England.

Cheers
Casper

Imageshack

 

[mezzoprezzo]

Free beer!

Imageshack

Following some interest from one or two Trainzers – beer details!

1. Bottle:
MV Bierflasche <kuid:206616:1031>

2. Glass
BierGlas <kuid:413760:100217>

3. Single beer crate & bottle
BTragl <kuid:413760:100099>

4. Beer crate stack
BTragelStapel <kuid:413760:100100>

Possibly on DLS. All (and loads more!) from Trainzdepot.

Bottle: http://www.trainzdepot.net/infusions/pro_download_panel/download.php?rowstart=320
Last three: http://www.trainzdepot.net/infusions/pro_download_panel/download.php?did=1343

Cheers
Casper

 

[Dermmy]

Rural landscape, southern England.

Cheers
Casper

Awesome!!!!!

 

[BobCass]

Main..

 

[Longbay]

Rural landscape, southern England.

Cheers
Casper

Imageshack

Always love your screenshots mezzoprezzo.

This one reminds me of the countryside around where my parents live in Devon, your following post reminds me of where they live, a village called Beer (if people don't beleive me use Google Earth).

Keep up the good work
Longbay

 

[drstrach]

Hi Casper,
Where can I buy milk from these cows .
Cheers,
Stan

 

[mezzoprezzo]

Good morning everyone.

~snip~ This one reminds me of the countryside around where my parents live in Devon, your following post reminds me of where they live, a village called Beer (if people don't beleive me use Google Earth). ~snip~

Thanks for your kind comments.

I remember Beer in Devon very well. We used to go sea angling out of there using local fishing boats which were hauled over the shingle beach for launching and recovery. It’s a lovely place to visit.

Hi Casper,
Where can I buy milk from these cows .
Cheers,
Stan

Possibly from the Auran “dairy”, courtesy of the Brew Crew?

Alcoholic milk – now that’s a thought!

Cheers
Casper

 

[vendel]

Hey Gentlemen, to see your images and read your comments is like a recreation course to me. You are the explorers of the cowert side of Trainz! :wave:

(the bystander side of)
vendie

 

[mezzoprezzo]

@ vendel

Hi Vendie,

Nice shot of one of the old masters. I reckon if Thomas Gainsorough had been born later, we’d have seen some steam trains in his work!



@ drstrach

Stan,

I’ve found the answer!

Anyone know how or where to fit the coolers?

Cheers
Casper

Imageshack