November Entry: Pocketwatch

So I'm throwing this together but space is really not my fortey (spelling?)

Anywho, I have a fascination for the steampunk sub-culture. I wanted to make a sort of portable Orrey for the space-traveler on the go, so I took the mechanism and shrunk it down to pocket-watch scale. Found a photo of a pocket watch (source) and replaced the time dial with my own solar-system dial.

You have to use some imagination: the little planets would orbit the sun the same way the hands of a clock rotate.

Might add some additional details, but this is pretty much it.
### Latest WIP ###

That is a great idea ! Maybe a couple of details could make it better, though (I think...).

- Did you intentionally left the original background ? If yes, keep it that way but I wonder if another background wouldn't fit better (maybe a simple black bg, or another picture that would emphasize the steampunk look of the whole thing)...

- I think the hands themselves could use a bit more substance. Maybe a "Bevel and Emboss" layer style if you are using PhotoShop... I think it would really help for the realism.

Anyway, great job. Hope my ideas can help...

Brilliant...maybe an animated gif?

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Originally Posted by Korrigan

- Did you intentionally left the original background ? If yes, keep it that way but I wonder if another background wouldn't fit better (maybe a simple black bg, or another picture that would emphasize the steampunk look of the whole thing)...

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The background was semi-intentional... I'm worried a background would remove the focus from the subject of the image though: the map. I'll experiment though... maybe something basic like a coridor with copper piping.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Korrigan

- I think the hands themselves could use a bit more substance. Maybe a "Bevel and Emboss" layer style if you are using PhotoShop... I think it would really help for the realism.

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Ah, good thinking, I'll add that in. Still new to the whole Photoshop world, especially since I usually do my stuff by hand. I know what I want to do to the image, i just don't always know how.

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Originally Posted by ravells

Brilliant...maybe an animated gif?

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The problem with a gif is the size of the image... I'm also not sure of the difficulty involved. But once I finish the look, I'll see what animating would entail.

This is another super cool idea...lovin it. I would add a background for the watch face sort of like the Ystraad map but with a brushed metal texture...like a bronze. Then put in a drop shadow of the planets and hands to make them stand up from the face. Lookin sweet so far.

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Originally Posted by Darken

The background was semi-intentional... I'm worried a background would remove the focus from the subject of the image though: the map. I'll experiment though... maybe something basic like a coridor with copper piping.

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I'd say use the graphic basics : use color and/or saturation contrast and direction to put the focus where you want it to be. e.g. if you use a black and white background, your watch will naturally be the main element.

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Originally Posted by Darken

Ah, good thinking, I'll add that in. Still new to the whole Photoshop world, especially since I usually do my stuff by hand. I know what I want to do to the image, i just don't always know how.

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Lots of tutorials here and anywhere on the web. If you need some help with a specific question, I guess me and some other can help (I'm not that good at mapping but I definitely can use Photoshop ;) )

I'm trying to learn some basics for 3D studio max in time to try making this in 3D, but I likely won't finish (again :( ).

maybe I'll be ready by next month?

Whoooo-hoooo ! I think it takes more than a few days to learn such basics in 3DSMax ;)

I think to add some more interest and make the pocket watch even more useful for charting a flight path perhaps you could add in some orbit rings like the attached, and maybe put some sort of coordinates around the outside of the "face".

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Originally Posted by RPMiller

I think to add some more interest and make the pocket watch even more useful for charting a flight path perhaps you could add in some orbit rings like the attached, and maybe put some sort of coordinates around the outside of the "face".

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:!:ah, but the problem with the elliptical orbits is that the hands would have to somehow change size

for those interested though, I'm coming along with my 3DS Max learning: attached are 2 early renders.

1. The glass is too refractive (bends the light too much); you can see this especially in render2. It should appear as a glass cover over the faceplate, but it is instead acting as a lens... I may have to turn refraction off completely at the loss of some realism.
2. I'm trying out gems, but I may use a more literal representation of the planets.
3. Things to finish modeling: clock hands, knob, chain, cover, (faceplate background?, scene background?, additional details?)

[P.S.: Odd :?: the black backgrounds of the PNGs are instead transparent... oh well ;)]