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Tyche Shepherd · 09-01-2009, 07:43 AM

I'm starting a project to build a functioning Camera Obscura loosely based on The Portmeirion Camera Obscura (Portmeirion is the Welsh Village where they filmed the 60's programme The Prisoner).

Here are a couple of pictures of the real building I'm using for inspiration

As very much an amateur builder I'm going to be using this thread to ask for tips and ways to over come problems

The camera obscura part I've got working already - Essentially it displays the in world map of a named region and moves a pointer round to point in the direction of that region - It communicates with my online region survey database and takes the coordinates and map texture UUID from there - You can see the map part of this (displaying Ahern) in the bottom right of the following picture.

As you can also see perversely I've started with the roof first (I'm still working on the main wall textures ) - and I've got my first problem The main part of the roof is a single truncated and hollow pyramid prim but when I apply a texture it seems to rotate part of the texture by 90 degrees on each of the 2 visible surfaces as you can see (its the same on all surfaces). The texture isn't my final one but it does illustrate the problem.

Is there a way round this ? Or will I need to build that part of the roof out of 4 trapezoids - and if so how do I make a trapezoid in SL ? ... And if I have to go that route is there a way to make ones which are slightly concave so they curve like the real roof ?

EDIT: Solved my problem - found how to build a trapezoid but the default settings for textures produce the same problem . Turns out setting the mapping to Planar fixes both the trapezoid and the pyramid texture issue .

Khamon · 09-01-2009, 11:37 AM

Planar will usually scale correctly at one-tenth the normal repeat settings.

**Humps** · 09-01-2009, 12:46 PM

Looks like a cool concept Tyche. I has a sad because I was not here soon enough to jump up and down like a goon shouting PLANAR before you discovered it but I shall live

Can't wait to see it develop .......and then for you to build the rest of Portmeirion around it

Not sure if you want to use sculpties (I have always been a bit meh about using them in builds until recently. I use the odd one now) but if you do there are some full perm maps around with various domes and concave roofs like on the pics above. IIRC Caroline Ra has used them to with great effect in her builds. She is not around to ask at the mo but I am almost sure I have seen a pack listed on SLX.

Tyche Shepherd · 09-01-2009, 02:23 PM

Damn it I hate RL

. I was looking at the 2nd source photo above and tried to find the camera controls so I could pan round and see the side I don't have a photo of

Ben Hoark · 09-01-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyche Shepherd

The camera obscura part I've got working already - Essentially it displays the in world map of a named region and moves a pointer round to point in the direction of that region - It communicates with my online region survey database and takes the coordinates and map texture UUID from there...

Wow. Where's the :worship: emoticon?

Khamon · 09-01-2009, 03:34 PM

Tyche Shepherd · 10-01-2009, 01:30 PM

A month later and some progress - I moved what I have already down from my sandbox to the ground where the tower is to stand. It's in a shared mainland region.

I've finished the main structure - the exterior textures are my own - the interior a mixture of library and mine and a couple of purchased ones.

I don't like the dimensions , but felt that the SL camera forced my tower to be wider (and hence squatter) than my RL influence. I am however very pleased with my blue shutters.

The Camera Obscura is all working - It listens for a region name on a channel and changes the map to that region maps and rotates the pointer arrow round to point out the direction the region lies in .

Most of the tower is finished but I want to do some landscaping around it, adding some climbing plant textures to break up the stonework and also build a landing jetty by the main entrance - Maybe I'll get round to that by next month

- Also need to do a bit more work on the optics as well.

Here are some piccies of work to date

Quantum Destiny · 10-01-2009, 01:36 PM

It looks great Tyche!

PS I always work from the roof down, too

MoxZ Mokeev · 10-10-2009, 01:07 PM

I'm totally impressed! Got any updated photos?

Tyche Shepherd · 10-20-2009, 07:24 AM

I'm still playing around with climbing ivy textures but for all intents and purposes I've finished this project and placed it in search.

Today I added a final touch - A brass plaque by the entrance which displays Grid Size statistics (Total Regions, Total Private Estates, Mainland,PG, Mature, Adult & Offline).
The plaque changes automatically to the next statistic every 15 minutes but you can toggle through them by touch . They are as up to date as my latest daily survey

If anyone wants to visit and play with the Camera Obscura, the SLURL is
http://slurl.com/secondlife/hyppa/232/218/21/

09-01-2009, 07:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
Tyche Shepherd Fortuna vitrea est enjoying the victor's spoils Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 5,464 My Mood: SL Join Date: 26th April 2007 Awards: 1	Camera Obscura I'm starting a project to build a functioning Camera Obscura loosely based on The Portmeirion Camera Obscura (Portmeirion is the Welsh Village where they filmed the 60's programme The Prisoner). Here are a couple of pictures of the real building I'm using for inspiration As very much an amateur builder I'm going to be using this thread to ask for tips and ways to over come problems The camera obscura part I've got working already - Essentially it displays the in world map of a named region and moves a pointer round to point in the direction of that region - It communicates with my online region survey database and takes the coordinates and map texture UUID from there - You can see the map part of this (displaying Ahern) in the bottom right of the following picture. As you can also see perversely I've started with the roof first (I'm still working on the main wall textures ) - and I've got my first problem The main part of the roof is a single truncated and hollow pyramid prim but when I apply a texture it seems to rotate part of the texture by 90 degrees on each of the 2 visible surfaces as you can see (its the same on all surfaces). The texture isn't my final one but it does illustrate the problem. Is there a way round this ? Or will I need to build that part of the roof out of 4 trapezoids - and if so how do I make a trapezoid in SL ? ... And if I have to go that route is there a way to make ones which are slightly concave so they curve like the real roof ? EDIT: Solved my problem - found how to build a trapezoid but the default settings for textures produce the same problem . Turns out setting the mapping to Planar fixes both the trapezoid and the pyramid texture issue . __________________ Vanguard of the LolCatz Revolution This Post was financed by The National LolCatz Archives Clancy Sullivan :Yeah. YEAH! The sultry seamstress of mirth is definitely in charge now. Certified 7.8 on the Official Non-Arbitrary Trout Algorithmic Slut scale A public copy of my Second Life Main Grid Survey Database can be found at http://www.gridsurvey.com - Now with added Second Life Incidents !! Last edited by Tyche Shepherd; 09-01-2009 at 09:02 AM. Reason: Edit: don't need help

09-01-2009, 11:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
Khamon BUY TREES MOAR1 Iz a timeout Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 4,819 My Mood: SLShopper Ads: 2 SL Join Date: November, 2003 Business: Fate Gardens Flowers and Trees	Planar will usually scale correctly at one-tenth the normal repeat settings. __________________ But of bliss and glad life there is little to be said, before it ends; as works fair and wonderful, while still they endure for eyes to see, are their own record, and only when they are in peril or broken for ever do they pass into song. - Quenta Silmarillion Please Visit Our Gardens and Our Website

09-01-2009, 12:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
Humps Senior Member SLU Supporter I refuse to edit my status Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 2,347 My Mood: SL Join Date: 19th May 2006 Business: Fab Pads! XBOX Leaderboard: 31^st Awards: 1	Looks like a cool concept Tyche. I has a sad because I was not here soon enough to jump up and down like a goon shouting PLANAR before you discovered it but I shall live Can't wait to see it develop .......and then for you to build the rest of Portmeirion around it Not sure if you want to use sculpties (I have always been a bit meh about using them in builds until recently. I use the odd one now) but if you do there are some full perm maps around with various domes and concave roofs like on the pics above. IIRC Caroline Ra has used them to with great effect in her builds. She is not around to ask at the mo but I am almost sure I have seen a pack listed on SLX. __________________ "The Other Blog!"

10-10-2009, 01:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
MoxZ Mokeev Invisibly Delicious Wewtie! I has Two Ghosties Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arkansas USA Posts: 812 My Mood: SL Join Date: 8/25/07 Blog Entries: 2	I'm totally impressed! Got any updated photos? __________________ Wipe your mouth, there's still a tiny bit of bullshit around your lips.

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09-01-2009, 02:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tyche Shepherd Fortuna vitrea est enjoying the victor's spoils Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 5,464 My Mood: SL Join Date: 26th April 2007 Awards: 1	Damn it I hate RL . I was looking at the 2nd source photo above and tried to find the camera controls so I could pan round and see the side I don't have a photo of

09-01-2009, 03:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Khamon BUY TREES MOAR1 Iz a timeout Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 4,819 My Mood: SLShopper Ads: 2 SL Join Date: November, 2003 Business: Fate Gardens Flowers and Trees

10-01-2009, 01:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tyche Shepherd Fortuna vitrea est enjoying the victor's spoils Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 5,464 My Mood: SL Join Date: 26th April 2007 Awards: 1	A month later and some progress - I moved what I have already down from my sandbox to the ground where the tower is to stand. It's in a shared mainland region. I've finished the main structure - the exterior textures are my own - the interior a mixture of library and mine and a couple of purchased ones. I don't like the dimensions , but felt that the SL camera forced my tower to be wider (and hence squatter) than my RL influence. I am however very pleased with my blue shutters. The Camera Obscura is all working - It listens for a region name on a channel and changes the map to that region maps and rotates the pointer arrow round to point out the direction the region lies in . Most of the tower is finished but I want to do some landscaping around it, adding some climbing plant textures to break up the stonework and also build a landing jetty by the main entrance - Maybe I'll get round to that by next month - Also need to do a bit more work on the optics as well. Here are some piccies of work to date

10-01-2009, 01:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
Quantum Destiny Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 2,149 My Mood: SLShopper Ads: 2 SL Join Date: 25 July 2004	It looks great Tyche! PS I always work from the roof down, too

10-20-2009, 07:24 AM	#10 (permalink)
Tyche Shepherd Fortuna vitrea est enjoying the victor's spoils Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 5,464 My Mood: SL Join Date: 26th April 2007 Awards: 1	I'm still playing around with climbing ivy textures but for all intents and purposes I've finished this project and placed it in search. Today I added a final touch - A brass plaque by the entrance which displays Grid Size statistics (Total Regions, Total Private Estates, Mainland,PG, Mature, Adult & Offline). The plaque changes automatically to the next statistic every 15 minutes but you can toggle through them by touch . They are as up to date as my latest daily survey If anyone wants to visit and play with the Camera Obscura, the SLURL is http://slurl.com/secondlife/hyppa/232/218/21/

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