some constellation panels

JimP

I thought I had posted something about this some time ago.

Anyway, I am kinda working on constellation panels for Crestar. I came up with a very simple star color chart by temperature/type.

Only problem I've been having is... how to draw a nebula, distant galaxy ( without my arms falling off from the thousands of dots to make up a spiral galaxy), etc.

Color chart first.

JimP

panel 1

JimP

panel 2

JimP

panel 3

I tried shrinking these panels down by 25 percent but they didn't look good in jpg. My pngs didn't want to show for some reason.

Remarks ? Don't like them ? Like them ?

Thanks.

Terraformer_Author

Hi Jimmy!

I don't know if your using CC2, or CC3 - but if your using CC3, then I have a great link for you brother:

http://www.diardsoftware.com/

I use the shareware version (free version) of their "Universe" program to make the stars and star fields for my 3d space images, and it could feasable also be used to make star symbols for CC3 as well. Could be a great companion tool for that. You could make the stars - or whatever - crop them down - and just import them straight up into CC3 (you'll have to convert them from bitmaps to png first though) - If you have Cosmographer - then Universe should also compliment that rather nicely bro. Below is an example of what the star image outputs look like:

Terraformer_Author

Also - if you want some research info on star mapping (REAL star mapping techniques), then this site is the perfect braintrust for that:

http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/starmaps/index.php

It has all the math references, formulas, and background info that you would EVER need for mapping stars realistically. A treasure trove of information bro!

JimP

I've got the Cosmo annual that shows local to Earth stars. CC3 and add-ons is what I'm using.

But Crestar is a pocket artificial universe. So, they have artificial stars.

I'll check into Universe because just color dots don't work for me. The 'fuzzy cicrles' you show are more like real stars.

JimP

fourth one I did. Going to get some sleep, tropical storm Isaac is out there... so far, I'm on the distant edge and may just get rain and wind not the full force... of course, these things can wobble. So far, so good.

JimP

Here is one I thought I had misplaced...

1) The Bee of Annoyance. Ancient: a bee that flew around in front of an ancient king, pestering him constantly. Nothing seemed to get rid of the Bee. So the Bee was added to the Royal Entourage. The stars that make up this asterism are not very bright and difficult to see without a telescope.

2) The Queen's Rolling Pin. Ancient: Normally an item used to roll bread dough flat, an ancient Queen used it to thump an ancient King on the head almost as often as the Bee of Annoyance buzzed around in front of him.

3) the King. Ancient: King's Crown, King's Cape of Office.

Terraformer_Author

Hey Jim,

I made some star symbol images in PNG format for you - they are in the zip attatched to this post - and the image below shows what's in the zip.
Try importing these into CC3 using a plain BLACK map background / colorfill for star maps / constellation panels. Note - these are opaque and NOT transparent - so you'll have to put them onto a BLACK map background / color fill. If anybody out there want these - and you manage to successfully make them transparent - share them back please.:

Mateus090985

Posted By: Terraformer_AuthorHi Jimmy!

I don't know if your using CC2, or CC3 - but if your using CC3, then I have a great link for you brother:

http://www.diardsoftware.com/

I use the shareware version (free version) of their "Universe" program to make the stars and star fields for my 3d space images, and it could feasable also be used to make star symbols for CC3 as well. Could be a great companion tool for that. You could make the stars - or whatever - crop them down - and just import them straight up into CC3 (you'll have to convert them from bitmaps to png first though) - If you have Cosmographer - then Universe should also compliment that rather nicely bro. Below is an example of what the star image outputs look like:

It seens that they are not seling the software anymore. There is a mensage about "wait for the new version".

Terraformer_Author

The freeware version 1.63 is still available though. It's sufficient enough for star and starfield images.

JimP

Gracias ! pngs downloaded. I was thinking about making symbols next month, thanks !

JimP

I'm using the Universe program to make nebula and cluster pngs to add to my star maps. Wowsers !

Terraformer_Author

Ok Jim (and whomever else is interested in this thread) - I just did a new package and included Alpha (Transparency) maps for each star. Use the maps in GIMP or PHOTOSHOP to make transparency layers for these image - tweak as necessary. Zip is attatched to this post - and image below shows contents. If the masks make the stars look goofy - then try "retrofitting" the "A_STAR_ALPHA" image as a trans map for all of the star types.

NOTE - this package does not contain the type "T" Brown Dwarf.:

JimP

Here is the constellation map I made with the first set of stars. I used Universe to make some star clusters and nebulae. Not all stars are converted, but you can see the differences then.

Terraformer_Author

Swwwweeeeeeetttttttnnnnneeeeeesssss - sweetness!

Terraformer_Author

Ok Jim - I took the entire panel image and I did a little experiment. I re-opened the image in GIMP, I went to FILTERS > Light And Shadow > Supernova. I selected yellow for the nova color to approximately match the star color. I then adjusted the nova radius to 4 - and moved the spokes slider on the filter to 38 spokes - and this is what I got!

You would first apply the icons that I made for you - and then in GIMP - do post production by slapping a supernove effect over each star - creating as final product a very realistic constellation map amigo!

JimP

Don't have time to try the transparency thing, I'm waiting for recall from employer to go into my job for Isaac. I'm on the ride out team.

Here are all of the stars updated to the png symbols. I know, green stars don't exist, but in my game universe they do.

JimP

Does anyone know of a computer program, perferably free but I can afford a bit, that makes different types of galaxies ?

The program above has it disabled for the shareware version.

I just need something I can use to add galaxies to my Crestar star maps.

Thanks !

sdavies2720

Or you could search NASA archives and just cut out the ones you like. There are literally thousands (maybe even millions) to choose from.

One place to start: Nasa's astronomy picture of the day archive:
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html

Steve