33 replies to this topic

[Big Poppa]

Never really tried sand before. I think I got it looking okay. I stuck some exotic shells on there. Any ideas of what else could fill the spaces? I though of beer cans but it kinda looked outa place.

Edited by Big Poppa, 03 October 2008 - 11:14 PM.

[Aliya]

Maybe some small bushes? Some rocks would be nice, too.

[Jazhara7]

Is this for a picture, or another project like Candlekeep or the Friendly Arm Inn?

In any case, I think the pattern of the Sand is a bit too reguar, still. Also, the edge to the sea is too clear, at least if it's a painting. If it's for in-game, I realise that will be covered partially by water most likely.


Have you thought about Sand Dollars?

Or Amber. I included some links to sites showing pictures of amber, including Amber in its natural state (before being made into jewelry, for example), here.


Hmm, what else. Patches of beach that are littered with bleached shards of shells. Few beaches don't have at least one spot of that type somewhere along it. Awful to walk on barefoot, depending on the type of shell.

Clusters of seaweed that got washed ashore.

A dead seagull. ( Kidding. Or maybe not. )

Stones and pebbles.

piles of disturbed sand, where maybe someone or something dug for something.

Driftwood.

Pieces of broken fishernets, if it's somewhere even remotely close to where people live (if it's in absolute wilderness, it's still possible, as it can easily be washed a long way by the ocean currents. But it's still more likely if people get close to it at least on the sea when out fishing.


A dead cat in a bag (We found one of those once. It wasn't on a beach, exactly, but on the top of a high cliff by the sea on one of the Canary Islands, which was being beat by the high waves. It's likely it got washed up there during a storm.).

Dead jellyfish.

Hundreds upon hundreds of Horseshoe Crabs, piled upon each other as they mate, and at the same time being picked at by seagulls.


Hermit crabs.


Old fishing hooks.



That's about all I can think of right now.


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Edited by Jazhara7, 03 October 2008 - 11:31 AM.

[WeeRLegion]

Mmm... I think such wave patterns in sand are more a desert and underwater thing; on beaches, the waves and tides wear them down faster than they form.
Of course, if that's a riverbank... .p

Otherwise, just what the others said. :]

[Big Poppa]

Thx alot for the ideas and links. Here's what I've got so far anyway.

[Aliya]

Much better.

[Big Poppa]

Good ideas. I tried to add some sink holes at the base of some of the weed to make it look like it has rooted in the sand. Also tried to make it look like sand dust has burried some of the ends of the weed.

As for the sand. I tried several types and this just simply looked the nicest. It may be more of a barron landscape sand but what the heck. Same goes for the grass I end up with. Sometimes it looks a little thick and lush but I go with it as it seems to look the best.

[Big Poppa]

And I couldn't resist myself. Unlikely, but I stuck the skull of a beluga whale on the beach for good measure.

[Icendoan]

LOL Busy beach!

Poor Beluga...

Watermark at the bottom right, 'no beluga whales were harmed in the making of this map. We like Beluga whales!'!

Icen

[Jazhara7]

Looks great now!

Um...except that I don't think Seaweed would try and take root on the beach, seeing as any seaweed you'll find there is dead. First of all, they are not constructed to survive on land (heck, many species of seaweed don't have cell walls, as they would have the water supporting its structure. But that doesn't work if there's no water, which is why any seaweed on land just lies there), and if they take root on land (some species do, relying only on sea spray), it's usually rocky ground (they don't take "root" as plants do, since they're not actually plants, only "plant-like". They're just very large-celled, sometimes even single-celled algae. Anyway, they just attach themselves somewhere hard, and are happy as long as they get enough sunlight to perform photosynthesis. No roots needed.).

Still, this is a minor detail, just thought I'd point that out.

So, the seaweed on a sandy shore would just be the type that got detached from its anchoring, and washed ashore to die there.

EDIT: You can read more than you ever wanted to know about Seaweed here.

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Edited by Jazhara7, 04 October 2008 - 12:00 PM.

[Big Poppa]

Good point. I actually thought of that and thought that the larger piles off weed with the root holes were not washed up, but are simply there because the tide has gone out. I don't know if weed would grow that close to shore however. I darkened the sand a little near the water to try and show that it's wet or damp and that the tide comes in a little. That however isn't something I can do unless I once again create a seperate night map in which case I could have the beach submerge at night.
In fact, that would be pretty cool.

[Jazhara7]

Good point. I actually thought of that and thought that the larger piles off weed with the root holes were not washed up, but are simply there because the tide has gone out. I don't know if weed would grow that close to shore however. I darkened the sand a little near the water to try and show that it's wet or damp and that the tide comes in a little. That however isn't something I can do unless I once again create a seperate night map in which case I could have the beach submerge at night.
In fact, that would be pretty cool.

Some seaweed does indeed grow that close to the shore, and lies on the beach while the tide is out. Like I said, some seaweed grows actually pretty much outside of water, just relying on sea spray for sea water (they need at least brackish water, for some reason, so only rain won't do it.). Wikipedia states most seaweed is actual found in the littoral zones, which extend beyond the water in part.

And I agree, that would be pretty cool if the water would submerge the beach at night.


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[Kaeloree]

Personally I think that's a little too busy--I'm not sure it would fit with the rest of the area. I should dig around my texture collection and see if I can find something for you.

[Yovaneth]

It's not necessarily 'too busy' but my 2P worth says that the objects are too evenly scattered. They should really be piled at the furthest reach of the wave; alternatively, if the waves arrive at an angle, the objects should all be piled to one side.

-Y-

[Big Poppa]

All good points. I have partially covered most shells with sand now. They jumped out a bit to much just being sat there. I will also add some kinda cave which can only be accessed when the beach is at day time. That makes the effort of submerging it at night worth while.
I will probably keep poking away at it before I'm done.

[Kaeloree]

Here's a couple of textures I found, if you wanted to take a look--they're the ones I tend to use whenever I have to model sand. Hopefully they might be at least somewhat useful in future!

Attached Images

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[Big Poppa]

Thx guys n galls.

See if you can guess who final battle ground this was. Another no brainer from yours truely

[Icendoan]

Anyone who can cast FireBall.

Icen