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Post by hickoryghost on Nov 16, 2020 15:44:10 GMT -5
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Post by paddyjk19 on Nov 16, 2020 17:02:13 GMT -5
How do you get those photos looking so real? Very good PC or a bit of artistry before posting?
Looks superb!
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Post by hickoryghost on Nov 16, 2020 17:55:26 GMT -5
How do you get those photos looking so real? Very good PC or a bit of artistry before posting? Looks superb! I'm taking the screenshots at 200% scale rendering and then tossing them into Google photos and tweaking the pop and color a bit when needed. On some of the pics, I'm using the in-game camera settings to create a little depth of field blur. That may not be the case in these screenshots, but some of the other ones. There is a fine line with that though, or it starts to look like a miniature. Also, I've been using texture 22 a lot for fairways, which I think has a lot of realistic imperfections and also has a more vibrant color- not as drab as most. Imperfections are critical to deep fakes with human faces and there is a little of that in golf too. I would also say that making background forested areas completely dense adds a lot of realism. I've been using the multiplant to create a reasonably dense forest, but then taking a huge thick tree, expanding its size, and then lowering it down in the ground. I'll use that to create that blackout effect behind the first few rows of tree trunks at the forests' edges. It doesn't take much time, but I think it is crucial, especially for the Midwest or parkland look. I've started using the island plots and shielding the water with forests so that there aren't unrealistic backgrounds as they can look same-y to me. Messing with the depth of field and lighting obviously helps too.
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Post by paddyjk19 on Nov 16, 2020 18:24:56 GMT -5
How do you get those photos looking so real? Very good PC or a bit of artistry before posting? Looks superb! I'm taking the screenshots at 200% scale rendering and then tossing them into Google photos and tweaking the pop and color a bit when needed. On some of the pics, I'm using the in-game camera settings to create a little depth of field blur. That may not be the case in these screenshots, but some of the other ones. There is a fine line with that though, or it starts to look like a miniature. Also, I've been using texture 22 a lot for fairways, which I think has a lot of realistic imperfections and also has a more vibrant color- not as drab as most. Imperfections are critical to deep fakes with human faces and there is a little of that in golf too. I would also say that making background forested areas completely dense adds a lot of realism. I've been using the multiplant to create a reasonably dense forest, but then taking a huge thick tree, expanding its size, and then lowering it down in the ground. I'll use that to create that blackout effect behind the first few rows of tree trunks at the forests' edges. It doesn't take much time, but I think it is crucial, especially for the Midwest or parkland look. I've started using the island plots and shielding the water with forests so that there aren't unrealistic backgrounds as they can look same-y to me. Messing with the depth of field and lighting obviously helps too. Awesome! Great tips, thank you
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Post by bmckenzie69 on Nov 17, 2020 14:57:54 GMT -5
I took some time over lunch to give your beta a try. I enjoyed the round, but would not play it again. I am personally not a fan of the geometric shapes, but setting that aside, here are my thoughts. I see your comment above about using an island to avoid a backdrop that does not look real, but I think it is odd to see the vast empty space and ocean in the background while your shot is flying through the air. Even some auto gen trees in the background would help break that up. It would be nice to take advantage of that ocean since it is there, and have at least some views of it from the course.
There are several places where your sculpting is very abrupt. I gather that was your intent, but it many areas it looked like a little softening was needed. A few of your greens lapped over that abrupt sculpting and IRL would be impossible to mow. Same with a few fairways.
A few greens were pretty flat and dull, while others were really challenging. I think having some greens a little easier than others is a good plan, but a certain amount of consistency seems to make the course tie together. A couple of your greens were a little too cute, almost miniature golf like. I think it was 10 that is a big square with a plus sign in the middle. I don't gather this is intended to be a real course, but keep in mind how a surface would be mowed and walked on. If it can't be mowed nor walked on IRL, it is too steep for a green or fairway.
In general, I think your hazard placement was good, fairway width was done well. challenges and decisions were required. I think some refinement is needed though to keep the geometric nature but still make it a reasonably playable course.
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Post by tpetro on Nov 17, 2020 15:07:48 GMT -5
I took some time over lunch to give your beta a try. I enjoyed the round, but would not play it again. I am personally not a fan of the geometric shapes. There are several places where your sculpting is very abrupt. I gather that was your intent, but it many areas it looked like a little softening was needed. A few of your greens lapped over that abrupt sculpting and IRL would be impossible to mow. Same with a few fairways. A few greens were pretty flat and dull, while others were really challenging. I think having some greens a little easier than others is a good plan, but a certain amount of consistency seems to make the course tie together. A couple of your greens were a little too cute, almost miniature golf like. I think it was 10 that is a big square with a plus sign in the middle. I don't gather this is intended to be a real course, but keep in mind how a surface would be mowed and walked on. If it can't be mowed nor walked on IRL, it is too steep for a green or fairway. Geometric Golden Age stuff all the way! This is a great course. Agree that the background stuff feels a little odd but the playability, surfacing and sculpting is great. Completely disagree about the greens and slopes. I've seen much more severe IRL and they seem to be able to mow those just fine. Love to see another Golden Age designer around building cool stuff like this.
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Post by hickoryghost on Nov 17, 2020 15:33:59 GMT -5
I would really love for HB to just have a dead flat and forested plot in each of the themes. It is really rare in the Midwest in particular to see anything at all over the tree line. The island solution is the only one that really allows for that at the course level. If you're doing flyovers or following your shots in the air, then of course it will look odd. I don't mind the low hills of the Delta theme either, but that is more upper Michigan/ Wisconsin than Chicagoland.
On this course, I've only play tested it for a couple rounds. I'll spend more time to make sure that the greens are fair and may soften some of the bugs... features.
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Post by paddyjk19 on Nov 17, 2020 18:43:00 GMT -5
I would really love for HB to just have a dead flat and forested plot in each of the themes. It is really rare in the Midwest in particular to see anything at all over the tree line. The island solution is the only one that really allows for that at the course level. If you're doing flyovers or following your shots in the air, then of course it will look odd. I don't mind the low hills of the Delta theme either, but that is more upper Michigan/ Wisconsin than Chicagoland. On this course, I've only play tested it for a couple rounds. I'll spend more time to make sure that the greens are fair and may soften some of the bugs... features. I wouldn’t take any of that sculpting criticism to heart, obviously hasn’t seen quirky and old school shapes like winged foot, oakmont etc with their wild slopes and unusual shapes on both greens and bunkers. I completely get what you’re doing with it, nice work
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Post by scottish67 on Nov 18, 2020 7:52:50 GMT -5
hickoryghost really liked the course, i'm a big fan of this type of design. Do you think your Lido Club (beta NLE_TEST_12) will get published, I've been playing your beta non-stop and I really love that course! I'm in the rookie contest and designing a heathland inspired course, but I think my next endeavor will resemble something like this or your Lido Club. You do great work.
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Post by trip4563 on Nov 18, 2020 12:40:28 GMT -5
Is the lido the original MacDonald raynor design? You should publish it is really fun!
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Post by hickoryghost on Nov 18, 2020 15:49:48 GMT -5
Macdonald spent a lot of time designing the Lido. It was the only course that he ever have a complete blank slate, since it was all under sea level when he started. Raynor did the construction.
I will definitely publish it, just waiting on access to an archive that will hopefully give me some additional information and photos.
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Post by joegolferg on Nov 18, 2020 16:26:23 GMT -5
I would really love for HB to just have a dead flat and forested plot in each of the themes. It is really rare in the Midwest in particular to see anything at all over the tree line. The island solution is the only one that really allows for that at the course level. If you're doing flyovers or following your shots in the air, then of course it will look odd. I don't mind the low hills of the Delta theme either, but that is more upper Michigan/ Wisconsin than Chicagoland. On this course, I've only play tested it for a couple rounds. I'll spend more time to make sure that the greens are fair and may soften some of the bugs... features. Use the countryside theme with the lowest back drop and raise your plot up to near the max. From ground view you'll see nothing but tree tops. Course looks interesting and I'll play and comment on it tomorrow.
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Post by joegolferg on Nov 18, 2020 16:30:00 GMT -5
Is the lido the original MacDonald raynor design? You should publish it is really fun! Not their first collaboration but certainly their most outlandish. First course was Chicago GC. Macdonald designed it and Raynor renovated it at the request of Macdonald to the membership at the time. He firmly told the membership to not hassle Raynor or try to get involved in the redesign whilst he was there. Today's Chicago GC that you see is the work Raynor, not necessarily Macdonald.
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Post by trip4563 on Nov 18, 2020 18:46:01 GMT -5
Can't wait to see this totally done to where you want it... It is my #1 ranked course I've played.
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Post by hickoryghost on Nov 18, 2020 18:52:09 GMT -5
I would really love for HB to just have a dead flat and forested plot in each of the themes. It is really rare in the Midwest in particular to see anything at all over the tree line. The island solution is the only one that really allows for that at the course level. If you're doing flyovers or following your shots in the air, then of course it will look odd. I don't mind the low hills of the Delta theme either, but that is more upper Michigan/ Wisconsin than Chicagoland. On this course, I've only play tested it for a couple rounds. I'll spend more time to make sure that the greens are fair and may soften some of the bugs... features. Use the countryside theme with the lowest back drop and raise your plot up to near the max. From ground view you'll see nothing but tree tops. Course looks interesting and I'll play and comment on it tomorrow. Ah, interesting technique. I hadn't thought to try that. Can you post some pics of what it looks like?
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