Trav 3D space help needed

[daltoncalford]

For those of you who have not been reading my posts, I am working on some new materials for my traveller home rules.

I am now getting to the graphic part, the one area where my talents do not naturally reside.

I am working on the display format for a 3d rendering of space, using a hex grid.

I need some help on the appearance side of things right now so, any guidance to make the display better is appreciated.

Here is the current viewpoint

(I hope it turns out ok since this is my first picture post).

best regards

Dalton

 

[daltoncalford]

I am currently thinking of making the grid a large hexagon, 16 hexagons across.

I need ideas as to whether I should make the grid hang in the centre instead of the bottom.

I also need suggestions for the layout of the legend, border artwork, etc.

I am open to any ideas. Once this is finished, I am going to find a location to post this stuff for everybody to use.

Best regards

Dalton

 

[Ptah]

I'd keep the grid on the bottom. If you move it to the middle then drop down a line that is only -1 Z, for instance, from a distal hex, it is going to be obscured ovelap with the grid itself.

Different line styles could help witha center grid along with a number notation in teh line that indicates how much + z or -z there is.

I'd like to see what you come up with, I tried doing this a couple of years ago and the presentation/obscurement problems became too much. Even when I started dropping UWP stuff.

 

[daltoncalford]

Hi Ptah

The concept is that the grid holds all the economic data such as starbase, alignment, bases etc.

The floating display will hold icons for the different types of stars and such.

After talking with Phil, I have to agree with him that a 16 hex across, hex layout map would be best (think of the J6 maps only with a J8 layout).
If I do that, combined with a ly per hex vs. a parsec per hex, the system density should be low enough that combined with rotating displays, will allow for easy navigation.

The final design for this will be set up for web as well as print formats.

I just wish I could find a CSS guru that I can dump some of the formating work onto so that my workload would lighten a bit.

I should have a new diagram up by tommorow with the new layout.

best regards

Dalton

 

[fredofmars]

If the grid holds all the UWP stuff, what do you do when there is more than one system in a column?

 

[parmasson]

I am working on the display format for a 3d rendering of space,

I am always surprised at how long the rumor has gone on. Space, is flat not curved.

Seriously . . .
Is this actually a 3D model or isometric?
Is it mapping program or a graphic that you are building yourself?
Either way it looks cool . . .

 

[daltoncalford]

Hi Joseph and Kurega,

I am working with ly's vs parsecs along with the gleise star data (all stars within a 1000 ly radius)

The idea is a rotatable data structure. That is why the grid is 10x10 or a 16 across hex. It allows me to rotate the data display and the system closest to the grid is what is displayed.
I was thinking a javascript/css combination with layers to place the data and respond to user clicks.

The idea is to use real star data to populate local space.

I just had my software crash (again) man, I hate windows.

Anyways, Everything is based upon interlocking graphics so that a person can either assemble the graphics as they wish (that is why the use of isometric graphics) or use a display program (I am planning a browser based display system).

Most of the decisions that need to be made concern borders, colours, icons for planets vs icons for economic data, etc.

I am right now getting all the work done in a mechanical sense but, I am a programmer by trade, not a graphic artist. I tend to choose colours not for thier appearence but for how well they contrast the rest of the display.

Anyways, back to work.

best regards

Dalton

 

[parmasson]

I know little about computers but could some of the info be displayed in a box when you move the mouse over the planet to save space on the main screen?

 

[daltoncalford]

Originally posted by Kurega Gikur:
I know little about computers but could some of the info be displayed in a box when you move the mouse over the planet to save space on the main screen?

Yes, a CSS layer on the side can change it's data on a mouseover event. It is not that hard. It is harder with static displays.
I did not intend to put the full UWP on the screen, only the system economic data such as a symbol for bases, starport, hi-pop etc.
Our home system uses our own UWP anyways and it is very different from the norm.

Anyways, my program crashed again so I am going to go watch some firefly.

G'nite folks.

best regards

Dalton