Images

[A Pork Chop]

Hey, I'm not new here but I had a question and didn't know where else to put it. How do people get images so fast? I've seen computer generated planets and spaceships. Is there a software that does that or what?

[Worldtree]

questions about images would normally go in the art thread

Celestia for planets

there's all sorts of 3d modeling software for the spaceships
anim8r
blendr (free)
sketchup

[Drashner1]

In terms of the speed that things appear - we are lucky enough to have some members who have the know how and the skill to produce artwork at high speed

Todd

[selden]

Some tools are listed on the Worldbuiding page at http://www.orionsarm.com/page/310

Strangely, a quick search of the site didn't locate any pointers to some of the more popular 3D model creation tools, although the Worldbuilding page does provide links to a few. For example, I didn't find any mention of the 3D modeling programs Anim8or (http://www.anim8or.com/) or Blender (https://www.blender.org), nor of Torben Mogensen's planet surface generator (http://www.diku.dk/~torbenm/Planet/)

[stevebowers]

I use Anim8or for most of my models. For post-render work, Gimp is a free alternative to Photoshop that can do almost everything I want (except sharpen fuzzy images).

Celestia is best for planets that need particular surface characteristics, and Space Engine for more generic ones. Space Engine also makes nice random planetary surfaces which can come in useful. I have used Torben Mogensen's Planet to create surface textures for planets, but for many planets I use a demo version of Fractal Terrains. Sometimes I use a demo version of Terragen as well - it takes a long time to render, but the results are worth it.

Quite often I use chopped-up bits of the Earth as a basis for Earth-like planets, coupled with an ocean texture generated by Fractal Terrains or Planet.
Gas giants can be quickly put together by chopping up large resolution images of Jupiter, which is almost infinitely variable in texture over time.

Incendia makes some nice 3D fractals, which can be used for Dyson Spheres and other megastructures, but it has a long render time too. The other free modeller I use sometimes is Sculptris, but it takes a lot of patience to get what you want.

I do have Blender, but rarely use it - still too much to learn. But it can probably do everything I want all in one package. Maybe eventually...