Question: how to create feathers in Carrara 6

[craftsygirl]

Hello all I am new!!

I have a question about Carrara 6: how do I make feathers for my flamingo? I managed to create one feather using an alpha channel. It's a bit too thin as I just mapped it on a plane. I will try again with a very flat vertex object. The surface replicator didn't look right, and thick pink hair doesn't look right either. Is this simply one of those things I need to work on for weeks to get right or does someone out there have an answer?

thanks!

[3webjam]

Don't know much about this myself - but could you get away with a base of an image of photographed feathers?
Then add some of the feathers that you mentioned above? These alpha planes would add the depth that you need.

Just an idea...
Jacqueline

[-ash-]

Sorry, I've never done feathers, but I would think that alphas are the way to go.

[rickei]

Originally Posted by 3webjam

Don't know much about this myself - but could you get away with a base of an image of photographed feathers?
Then add some of the feathers that you mentioned above? These alpha planes would add the depth that you need.

Just an idea...
Jacqueline

thats how i would do it.

use a photo texture and bump map on the bird then put your feather planes wherever you need some extra realism.

or apply texture to the bird, then duplicate the geometry where the feathers go and make it slightly larger than the original geometry, (like a shell) and texture it with a photo texture with bump and alpha. this way the "outside" geometry(the shell), will allow some of the "inside" geometry(the bird) to show through. it will give you a little extra depth. and allow the outside feathers to cast a shadow on the underlaying feathers
don't know if that makes any sense or not