A very interesting site surfaced the other week, dedicated to the sphere. Check out the site over at CGSphere.
“Sphere: [sfeer, noun] a space or solid enclosed by a surface, all points of which are equidistant from the center. – The Penguin Concise English Dictionary
“The sphere is arguably one of the most basic and fundamental primitives in computer graphics. Its uniformly curved structure allows for wide field of view coverage, as well as full diffuse tonal range shading. When reflective, its convex shape can reveal more of it’s surrounding environment than any other primitive, and when refractive it can bend surrounding light into a single concentrated caustic point. The sphere is an inherent form chaotically evident in nature and continually apparent in man-made designs. From the smallest atomic structures to the largest planetary globes, the sphere continues to be perhaps the most common geometric form in existence.
“The Sphere Project is a website dedicated to the evolution of technical and creative 3D sphere design. The purpose is simple; to create the most captivating and visually appealing sphere from our provided scene using your 3D program and renderer of choice. We encourage everyone to submit his or her renders regardless of their skill level so long as they adhere to the rules. However, those with the best renders will receive the highest ratings and possibly make the front page. Your goal is to rise to the top, through the use of clever ideas, thoughtful execution, technical expertise, and dazzling presentation.”
The beauty of a CG Sphere
Above is the basic 3D scene provided to create something imaginary out of. I think I will take a few hours to give it a shot and see what I can come up with. I love the idea behind this project. So simple, so intriguing.