United3dArtists Archive

Research Subject: Mikomdude's CG style

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The Keryx hazardous environment robotic freighter is designed for conditions too dangerous for living crews. The most common use is to resupply floating gas mines in gas giant planets and to deliver the mined materials to orbit. They are not designed for extra-orbital use or interstellar travel. The engines are dual mode functioning as jets in atmosphere when the composition supports that and rockets in space. Due to the extreme conditions they operate in they do not have traditional aircraft control surfaces instead using the same small rocket thrusters to steer in space and atmosphere. I have researched his style specifically for spacecraft and attempted to produce examples. Mikom does spaceships in Star Trek style as well. The shapes of his Star Trek style vessels is not included in this project but other aspects are.

My research indicates the key features are:
- well designed logos
- background subjects include planets, stars, nebulae, clouds and sky, occasionally other ships
- background planets often have a significant glow or bloom at the limb
- background planet lighting may be independent of the lighting on the featured ship
- spacecraft have model names and company names
- visual and sculptural design is preeminent but engineering, purpose, and function are considered
- Mikom presents his ships in beauty shots and top, bottom, side view images
- Mikom's beauty shots feature prowess in art composition likely relying on intuitive artistic sensibility more than formal technique
- ships often have interiors
- ships often resemble aircraft having wings or wing-like parts
- ships feature “up” and “down” or “top” and “bottom” in construction and orientation in images
- ships usually have jet and/or rocket engines with fire or glowing exhaust behind them
- Mikom uses bold markings as accents but ships are usually white or subdued in base color
- spaceplanes are sleek or aerodynamic while pure space vehicles sometimes feature more angular shapes
- many ships are armed

Mikomdude provided additional advice.

Credits:
- Planet textures by Rob Sanders from his fictional star system Kappa Ceti available here.
- Free starfield by Jamie Takahashi on Deviant Art.