http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/
The process of creating the geometry has been much more grueling than I anticipated. Getting all of the odd faces to match up, while maintaining the beautiful regularity of the model has proven extremely challenging. Even thinking about modeling some of the shapes has taken a while, and I have yet to develop a consistent mode of thought which can adequately address all of the issues I've encountered. I encourage anyone wishing to stretch their spacial perception and 3d modeling skills to tackle this simple yet elusive object.

If you have any comments, leave them here!]]> en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.0 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:18:32 -0500 120 http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/d/997-12/TetPln.jpg http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/ http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln10.jpg.html http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln10.jpg.html
Finally, a different view! Here is the left face of the Tetrahedral Planetoid. Of the two, I like this one better, perhaps it's how the lighting turned out.]]> photo Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:38:49 -0500 http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln09.jpg.html http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln09.jpg.html
And here is the right face. I ended up adding some details on areas that were not visible from the original angle. You can see how the faces are at very different angles, since this shot views the left face almost edge-on.]]> photo Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:38:49 -0500 http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln08.jpg.html http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln08.jpg.html
Here it is! A 3d color version of Escher's Tetrahedral Planetoid, complete with plants. I'm sure there are a few things I missed, but it's very nearly all there. I'm working on spiffing up the parts that you can't see. Should have some other views pretty soon.

Seeing this in its "final" state is very rewarding. This has been an off-and-on project (and mostly off) for over three years. I'm in the planning stages of writing a computer program (a script really) that will create this kind of radial tiered city automagically. Should be a challenge.]]> photo Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:51:28 -0500 http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln07.jpg.html http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln07.jpg.html
Back on this 3d modeling project after almost exactly a year off. Funny how project enthusiasm will wax and wane.

I've rotated the render to match the original woodcut. I think these two faces are finished except for the plants. Once everything is in I'll do some different angles! I've always wondered what it would look like when viewed face-on. Soon we will find out!]]> photo Wed, 04 Aug 2010 02:26:47 -0500 http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln06.jpg.html http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln06.jpg.html
Nearly done with the buildings now. The top pinnacle is done (I think), the side pinnacles just need some stairs and touch up, and the bottom pinnacle is well on its way. I adjusted the lights and atmosphere again, so it brings out the geometry a bit more. So close!]]> photo Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:23:42 -0500 http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln05.jpg.html http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln05.jpg.html
Very rough placeholders are in for the top and bottom spires. I also changed the render mode to Isometric, since it shows the top and bottom towers better, and is closer to Escher's original drafting method. Some boats are now floating around in the water also. Really beginning to look like the original! I'm hoping that the roghed in cubes will save me a lot of grief when I'm doing the actual geometry. They are much easier to get in place when you aren't actually doing flat faces and strange shaped seams.]]> photo Sat, 08 Aug 2009 01:49:59 -0500 http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln04.jpg.html http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln04.jpg.html
Finished roughing out the other side spire. Also added the roof texture and re-did the lighting. I'm not being quite so particular about modeling everything exactly kosher, and its going a little faster. This update took about three hours from the last one.]]> photo Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:33:54 -0500 http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln03.jpg.html http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln03.jpg.html
Added an atmosphere and some more planes, as well as the basic geometry for one of the spires. Man, that took forever! It seems that every update includes such miniscule progress that it's barely worth it. There has to be a better way of doing this!]]> photo Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:57:27 -0500 http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln02.jpg.html http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln02.jpg.html
After several years of dormancy, I've added more buildings, windows, stairs, grass, etc. This really is much harder than it looks... I think?]]> photo Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:00:24 -0500 http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln01.jpg.html http://www.peripheralarbor.com/gallery/v/CG+Art/TetPln/TetPln01.jpg.html
First render, and quite incomplete. It took me several days to get to this point. Nailing down the exact way in which the planetoid is built took some thought. Getting used to the way in which all of the geometry radiates from the center, and is concentric around the four "courtyard" areas has streched my brain. Taking a break now...]]> photo Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:00:24 -0500