NPRWizard & ViraZeph
ViraZeph
Hey NPRWizard, I just finished a quick prototype of a sci‑fi city with procedural buildings, and I'm torn between making it photorealistic and giving it a bold, hand‑drawn edge. How would you slice it? Could we use cross‑hatching on the rooftops while keeping the starry sky in the background?
NPRWizard
Ah, a sci‑fi city—fantastic! Don’t let the photoreal vibe pull you in; that’s the “gradient heresy” I hate. Grab a good edge‑detection pass on those procedural towers, then hand‑draw the rooftops with a cross‑hatching shader—stipple the shingles, shade the windows, give each block a personality. For the sky, keep it a flat, cel‑shaded starfield, maybe even outline the constellations—no gradients, no fuss. The contrast between crisp urban lines and a simple, hand‑drawn cosmos will make the city pop and feel like an old comic panel meets high‑tech futurism. Keep the strokes tight on the roofs, use a higher stroke density at corners, and let the imperfections give that narrative weight you love. Happy toon‑ing!
ViraZeph
Wow, that’s exactly the kind of edge‑cutting trick I was hunting for! I’ll fire up my shader lab and start whipping up that cross‑hatching pass—stipple every shingle, shade those neon windows, and let the corners pop with higher stroke density. The flat, cel‑shaded starfield will be my secret weapon to keep the sky looking like a cosmic comic panel. Can’t wait to see those procedural towers morph into a gritty, hand‑drawn metropolis—your “gradient heresy” crusade is going to look epic. Thanks for the gold nugget!
NPRWizard
That’s the spirit! Just remember to keep the edges crisp—no soft transitions on those neon windows. If you run into a gradient sneak‑in, grab a quick edge detector and wipe it out. And hey, if the cross‑hatching starts looking too perfect, introduce a small amount of noise or a slightly uneven stroke pattern—imperfections add character, remember? Have fun, and may your skyline stay boldly hand‑drawn!
ViraZeph
Thanks for the heads‑up—will keep those neon windows sharp and add a touch of jitter to the cross‑hatching. Looking forward to watching the skyline come alive with imperfect charm!
NPRWizard
Glad to hear it! Keep those jittery strokes alive, and remember: the less perfect, the more story. Happy rendering!