Texturing the models
Looking back on the Star Destroyer model I feel that I could have done things a bit differently. Rather than add the detail in the modelling process I should have used textures to create a similar effect. This way the model would have have had a lower poly count and so would have been easier to move around the 3D world. Thankfully by the time I modeled the Blockade Runner I had learned my lesson well.
Texturing the Ships
As I'm still a texturing newbie I haven't yet mastered the art of creating textures in Photoshop so basically I cheated a bit and hunted for my textures online. It wasn't an easy job finding a texture that matched and in hindsight it might have been easier to create my own from scratch which is exactly what I've started to do. I did manipulate the texture I found in Cinema 4D however just to get something that's a bit more of my own. There are some decent tutorials out there on how to create textures in Photoshop. Follow the link below and you'll find a real gem of a tutorial which looks at creating a metallic texture in Photoshop. This tutorial looks at using distortion techniques to create some interesting effects.
http://www.tutorialwiz.com/metallic_background/
This next tutorial looks at creating a stone texture. This will get you used to adding depth to a texture which will help you to create bumps and uneven sections on a metallic surface.
http://www.phong.com/tutorials/newstone/
I followed similar principles when creating textures for the Blockade Runner and Tie Fighters however with the Blockade Runner I added a bit more detail by adding layers. I was able to add some battle damage type effects using this technique. I learnt all about layers from this tutorial which shows you how to create a realistic water texture. What does this have to do with intergalactic spaces craft you may ask. Well I learnt a lot from this tutorial which I have applied to many different texture types from skin to rock; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrHabbtu0eY
When it came to texturing the planet I used a decent texture for planet earth. This tutorial explains how to create a realistic planet earth;
http://www.cinema4duser.com/tech_tutorial01.html
In the next part of this analysis I will look at arranging the models, the cameras and lights.
