Topic awaiting preservation: Realisic snow?

Hi everyone.

I've been searching on the web for a tutorial on how to make a realistic snow effect. But i havnt found anyone

*If this is the wrong board, please move it then *

(Edited by Dexx on 10-13-2004 17:46)

Tutorials are a great way to help you in getting to know a program, but at some point you're going to have to do things on your own, since there aren't tutorials on everything.

Are you looking for falling snow? fallen snow? sleet? snowmen?

I'd suggest first using google's imagesearch* to get pictures of what you want, and trying to replicate that. Post it here, and we can help you with tips to make it better.

* http://images.google.com



(Edited by mahjqa on 10-13-2004 16:58)

"realistic snow effect"

Couldn't even tell you what that means, honestly. How snow looks depends very greatly on where it is, what state it's in, whether it's falling, laying 3 feet deep on the ground, melting, wind blown in thing layers across the rocks....etc....

if you're talking about something like snow covered text or the like, realistic isn't what you want anyway.

So yeah, as Mahjqa said - look around. First figure out *what* exactly you're trying to create. Then give it a try. Give it a few tries. Then come back and post what you've got, and where you'd like to get.

This is what i could do

But it doesnt look good, i dont know what i could add to improve it :-/

It doesn't look bad to be honest. Some pointers:

It's soft - use a harder brush/don't blur it. Some snow is light and flaky, but yours has the appearance of cotton, which I've never seen with snow.

Snow doesn't tend to "drip" or hang over edges. Ice can form in that pattern, however.

More definition/depth. Unless you're trying to go for a "freshly fallen light snow" look, add some more depth to your pile.

Work on it some more, and show us what you've got.

"Nothin' like a pro-stabbin' from a pro." -Weadah

The main points, which synax already mentioned -

1) define your edge. don't use soft brushes.

2) depth. Even if freshly fallen, there will be indications of depth.


And again - make sure you are using references. Very often the problem lies with *thinking* you know jsut how it should look. Then you get references and realize your mind was way off.

Thanks for the replys

I ended up with this

And happy with it, but can it be improved ?

 - | -

(Edited by Dexx on 10-14-2004 22:01)

Definately better.

it can always be improved, of course

There isn't really much in the way of specific advice though - just keep playing around. and of course, keep checking references!

The one thing I will offer in critique - it feels a bit unnatural. It looks like it was put there more than that feel there.

I'll play around a bit more

Thanks for your help and advice!

 - | -

It's a little early for Christmas, but there's a long-lost Christmans-time signature around here with some really good snow on it.

[F1...come in F1...where are you?]

Okay, we have some depth, that is good.

*when you are painting anything, never use the absolute value, 100% white or 100% black. They contain no depth and look flat. That was part of the problem with your first attempt. Because 100% black and white are extremes they should only be used sparingly to highlight the image.

*snow has a bit of sparkle to it. Use some 100% white to add some sparcle hightlights. I would suggest using the Add Noise option, on a later blend, and then mask out bits here and there. You just want a little bit of bright highlights. Just a pixel here and maybe 2 pixels there...

*Gravity. Weight. Snow should fall and pile UP ontop of what ever it is falling ontop of. What you have looks like it fell and then started to ooz its way down the face of the doohickie there. It needs to pile up onTop of the doohickie.

Anyone know the correct spelling of doohickie?

Yah, look at references... also try to find snow others have made in PS.

I believe it`s "doohicky".

actually, I would have to go with 'doo-hicky'. 'y' ending, but hyphenated