Turning Over A New Leaf

This is not an environmentally friendly car.

The beautiful white shell on this Aventador is actually a pure ivory veneer made from the tusks of twelve elephants, each one certified as personally shot by the King of Spain.

Look, there wasn't any parking space outside. I had to leave it here in the lobby.

With expert handling this car will achieve an impressive 0.1 miles per gallon. That's per gallon of champagne. When the tank is running low the on-board satellite navigation computer will guide you to the nearest off-license to fill up.The rainforest mahogany dashboard is perfectly complemented by the tigerskin seats, sewn together in India's finest sweatshops. And each time a child grows up and buys one, a fairy dies.

This AMG-something is also not an environmentally friendly car.

But it's really fast... and it's got wings!

While the evil planet-destroying sports cars were all parked in the lobby, the hybrids or electric cars like this Ampera (European version of the Volt) were outside, hidden away down a side road. This is an environmentally friendly car.

You can tell because it's got crazy headlights. In accordance with EU regulation 224 section 2 paragraph 8c all electric or hybrid vehicles must have crazy headlights by April 2014.

This is an environmentally friendly car.

It's a limited edition Tesla Roadster. It's 100% electric and range is limited however can be extended if you happen to have a central groove and two metal strips along your road. Tesla have not read the memo about crazy headlights.

This is an environmentally friendly car.

The Leaf feels good to test-drive, and handles like a similar-sized family car. It can be charged from your home using a regular extension lead, or from a dedicated charging point, or even from an induction plate. Apparently you can't charge it from the cigarette lighter.

[Pictures: Sci-Fi Gene. Cars: Motor Expo 2012, Canary Wharf. Some of the Aventador features above may not be standard on all, or indeed any models]

Work In Progress: Microbial [update 3]

An alternative method for the scanning electron microscope look: this time the material has a fresnel diffuse shader, and no specularity or transparency. Lighting is a single spot immediately behind the camera and in line with it, plus a little environmental light and mist.

Basic material settings. There are also two cloud procedural textures influencing displacement and normals. I think with a few minor tweaks I'll probably go with this method. Incidentally there's a vimeo tutorial here with some good tips for electron microscope effects.

[Produced in Blender 2.64]

Work In Progress: Microbial [update 2]

Tried out a few approaches to get an electron microscope look: this render uses environment lighting and a transparent material on the microbes, plus mist and DOF. Now working on some animation tests: more to follow.

[Produced in Blender 2.64]

Work In Progress: Microbial

A chain of single-cell organisms with base material and texture.

Setting up depth of field

A virus-like particle

To be continued...

[Produced in Blender 2.64]

"Soupremacy" screening: Braine Hownd

I am pleased to announce a screening of "Soupremacy" at Braine Hownd, at the Hideaway Bar in Tufnell Park on 6th November.

She's Electric! [Tears Of Steel]

The latest short film from the Blender Foundation, Tears Of Steel. It's not as emotionally affecting as last year's movie Sintel but (sob) what is? (sob) I like the plot: I like eccentricity and unnecessary-but-cool, you can never have too many evil roboticists or armies of killer robots, and the Amsterdam setting is a nice touch too.

Technically I was blown away: this live-action/CG is a world away from Sintel and shows that Blender has evolved from an animation tool into a filmmaking tool. And there's more: I understand this film was produced from start to finish using only open source software.

Six Of The Best [Music Videos]

A selection of music videos from the indie film scene, mostly seen at short film nights: great opportunities to meet other filmmakers or artists and share war stories. I've mentioned one or two of these films before but I thought it would be good to bring them all together. So make yourself some popcorn and enjoy your own music video festival...

A fantasy antidote to a busy life: "Lazy" Juliet Russell, directed by Ayala Sharot (spotted at Rotoreliefs)

An intergalactic love story: "Cold Caller Love" Me & The Neck, directed by James Spinney (spotted at Kino London)

"Ivan" Leika Mochán, directed by Carlotta Cardana & Marcos Villaseñor (spotted at Kino London and everywhere)

"Young People Love Noise" Lazarus directed by Angelo Calarco (spotted at Kino London)

"Lover" Bandish Projekt Feat. Shaa'ir directed by Geoffrey Gilson

And finally a heart-broken robot tries to escape the clutches of his moonshine-making hillbilly captor: "Purity Of Heart" Pearson directed by James Scott (spotted at Moviebar)