Hi Friends,
I've made this sphere/orb/ball, and want to ask you all for comments, and suggestions for improvement.



I made it at around 600% zoom. And already I notice that the highlight's gradient is too....not smooth enough, at its finished size. When zoomed, it looks smoother. So I'm pretty sure I'll need to fix that. Other than that, it just seems to be missing something, although I'm not quite sure what.

What other issues or features do I need to address, in your opinions. As I'm planning to use it, it will be suspended in space, so to speak. It will not be sitting on any kind of surface or anything. And I realize it will need some more highlights to represent reflections from other objects nearby. But I haven't actually created those objects, so I'lll have to add those reflections later.

Oh, I should say that I want it to have a flat, smooth. opaque surface -- maybe something like a smooth leather. But I'm also thinking about sort of a hard plastic kind of surface -- like what a typical keyboard is made of, or computer case. I haven't decided for sure yet. Ooh, or maybe waxy, like the surfact of a candle!

Oh hey,I know! It needs some indication of ambient light. I might not be using the word 'ambient' right here. But the major highlight represents more or less the light source. And I'm thinking somehow it needs some indication of the light that fills the space the sphere/orb/ball is in. What do you all think?

And certainly I'll appreciate any and all comments and suggestions.
Thank you very much

Ok, I tweaked the gradients some. Is this any better?



Still welcoming comments, suggestions.
Thanks

Both spheres look fine. A number of factors determine how light will react to an object--on it's own there nothing that makes the first less realistic than the second. It's totally open to your own preference.

Perhaps some criticism or suggestion could be made if they were used in a scene where you would need to ensure consistent lighting on all objects. But with one object there's nothing really to say.

Your use of the term "ambience" is mostly correct though

Hhm....sounds like I need to complete more of whatever I'm making, which honestly, I don't know yet, exactly, lol!

Ok, thanks micro

I like what you've done. As you can see from the tutorials below, orbs/spheres can be made using various techniques. It really comes down to your specific tastes. Just like microUgly said, there are a bunch of different factors that determine how an object will end up. All I can say is use your best judgement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OEG5zmbM_M
http://ryanler.wordpress.com/2007/02/16 ... ll-bubble/
http://designcast.wordpress.com/2007/12 ... -inkscape/
http://inkscapetutorials.wordpress.com/ ... -inkscape/

I honestly think they all look good, so it's really up to you.

Thanks Mavis.
I can't get the video/screencast kind of tutorial to display. And one of the text tutorials, I had already seen. But the other has been very helpful!
All best

i think it's good , whats wrong with it ... i think it can't be better than this