Improve Render + basic Questions

[KingOfTheRoad]

Hi,
this is my first post in this forum, I am sure you can help me with my problems and maybe I can contribute something too .I am using Maya and Mental Ray for Rendering.
I modeled a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo a few weeks ago and I am still stuck in rendering . I am just not happy with the result... How could I improve it? Any ideas whats wrong? Is it just the materials/lighting or the mesh?
I also cant get the headlight shader right, I used a chrome material for the reflector and a dialectric material for the lense.
The other Glass is a mia_material with a bump map.



Another question about modeling: I watched a few threads and I always wondered: "How can you get the mesh that smooth?" Just with simple verticies pushing? Everytime I try to add more edgeloops the surface gets bumpy...





Thanks in advance

[Briex]

Use attachment sys next time just go advanced and manage attachments....

Anyway, i won't use a chrome mat, if u mean dsg_mat, is too low on tweakings....usually a mia_mat_x looks good for both chrome and glass...

For smoothing press 3, and u're right, u'll always get a bump if u add a loop without calibrating the mesh around it...is a matter of distance between edges, and is all about experience keep working and learning as i do!

[KingOfTheRoad]

So next time when I start a new project, I should just use quads, make the spaces between the edges equal, and add more polys? Btw I ve seen a lot of pictures of modeling which show curves. Do you use them as guideline or do you create the basic mesh out of them?

[Briex]

only guideline if it isn't nurbs modeling....u can keep working on this model, but when u add a loop u should slide the nearest ones.....what u mean with "I should just use quads"? if u mean trying to keep faces as most squarish as u can, yes...

keep workin!

[KingOfTheRoad]

ok and thanks for the motivation

[KingOfTheRoad]

Just reworked the Side, I am now working on the Bumper again

Side.png

I think this looks a lot better now...

[KingOfTheRoad]

I worked on the Bumper again, added a detail and tried to improve the topology. I also made a second Version of the Bumper. I dont know if anybody reads this, but posting some progress in this forum is kind of motivating

OldBumper.jpg
NewBumper.jpg

[Briex]

I do like the second one...maybe lowering the hood to fill a bit more the front grill, where the logo as been removed

[KingOfTheRoad]

Like this?

newHood.png

I am wondering if I should use a texture for the gril l instead of a mesh to get better control over it

[Briex]

ye it should work...for the grill, i think that the result is completely different using a texture or modeling it, and man....texture is not admitted here XD u get better control, but usually i use to model it to be able to rebuild the shape very easily...in maya using deformers is the best way...and gives u a lot of control

[KingOfTheRoad]

Ok, just made the grill out of a mesh and it worked like a charm

[KingOfTheRoad]

Hi,
well I decided to stop working on this project because I am just tired of it.
Before I start another car somedays I should probably practise a lot shading and rendering
But thank you very much Briex for your help

LancerWheel.jpeg

Lancer.jpeg

[Briex]

don't worry, i did the same with my second model, it was an year ago, and i was there just like u keep up! i worked a lot and i improved a bit..now i'm still trying to reach the top but is not impossible! u'r on the right way!

[KingOfTheRoad]

Well this is my 4th car and it doesnt improve much^^ I guess its just a motivation problem, if I start a project I always think" This time I'll make it perfect" but everytime towards the end I just want to finish it