The Parthenon

[SnS CEO]

So, I randomly got the urge to completely hyper-realistically recreate the Parthenon based off measurements I've compiled from far and wide off teh internets (and libraries). So far, I've got the columns and stylobite (the floor) measurements done, but there is much to do left. I am unfortunately breaking every rule of level design: I am working with horrible units and no consistent grid (besides what the measurements tell me), so its going to be a headache. Oh well. I will end up doing custom textures for this, but I don't know how much. If anyone wants to make a nicer model for the columns (there will be 4 different sized columns, I can give you the dimensions and pictures), I would love it.

Here's the WIP:
[img=http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2226/parthenon0000gq0.th.jpg]
[img=http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9498/parthenon0001ax1.th.jpg]
[img=http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/3513/parthenon0002qh6.th.jpg]
[img=http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2356/parthenon0003ky4.th.jpg]

The reason it just looks right is cuz the dimensions are exactly correct, even if not all the parts of the building are in yet.

[SnS CEO]

And...with the custom marble column texture with extreme normal maps on it to make it seem like ridges



[/img]

[Spas12]

Nice, but looks too metallic. Try giving it a more rocky look.

[SnS CEO]

Yeah, the texture will be tweaked
Does anyone know how many pixels = 1 unit for textures? Given the default .25,.25 scale, how many pixels = 1 unit?

[fonfa]

4 pixels per unit

[SnS CEO]

Thanks . This might help for complex normal maps later on for stuff I don't want to (read: can't) model.

Pics will come tomorrow (later today, actually, lol) of a rather nice update!

[Woe Kitten]

Surely it depends on the resolution of the texture? Is that 4px/Unit thing based on 1024 or 512?

Don't forget to include some roughed up sections in the normal map at some point. Also the pillars of the Parthenon are made up of blocks rather than a single piece of stone. You should include the seperations between the blocks in your normal map.

[SnS CEO]

Yeah, I know, the pillars are still WIP. The hard part about those pillars is that they should slope in towards the top in a non-linear way (as well as not in a single section). What I'm going to do, I think, is make the texture a little more gritty at the intersection of the column drums and maybe turn it into a displacement for alpha painting (blend it with grime/dirt perhaps?)...
Once I get home from work today, you will see more...

[SnS CEO]

Update!

Added:
1) Correctly curving columns (bulge towards bottom slightly)
2) metopes and triglyphs (those blue and red things)
3) Correctly setup the frieze (the triangular roof, which will later hold surprises )
4) New custom marble textures made by yours truly

[Spas12]

looks nice, but the pillars still need to look like rock, something like that marble floor.

[SnS CEO]

Thanks, I'll work on that. I think its mostly due to the extreme normal mapping that kinda gets washed out or something. More C&C plz!

[Melina11]

Parthenon was `double temple' with two unconnected principal interior spaces, similar to the so-called Old Parthenon that preceded it, though it was lengthened by one & widened by two columns. Most of the building rests on Old Parthenon's massive foundations that built on south side of Acropolis, with slight shift to the north and west. Whether or not this influenced the precise proportions of building, care nevertheless appears to have been taken to incorporate into its north colonnade naiskos, or small shrine & its round altar, which originally stood just beyond the Old Parthenon.

Acropolis Parthenon

[Gary]

These bots scare me...