Improve Building Dirt Decals (1660 level)

[tedbarnett]

The harborfront area of 1660 Manhattan will be used in some very high-resolution films this fall (using the Volume technique). We need to ensure that the fronts of those buildings (and ideally all buildings) look as realistic as possible close-up.

All of the buildings (and objects) in the view below will be used in the filming. The circled buildings will get particular attention and need work.

The circled area is likely to be the main "stage" of our scene, so anything visible from those areas needs to look great.

Currently, the "dirt" decal on buildings often looks like a "camouflage" pattern when seen from a (reasonable) distance. See the rooftop of the Stuyvesant house above. Can we vary/rotate/whatever the decal texture to avoid this? It doesn't look realistic. Realistic dirt tends to accumulate around windowsills, roof edges, at ground level.

[tedbarnett]

This Unreal Youtube series suggests some high-quality techniques: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sNP2UDPSaGk

[tedbarnett]

Highest priority would be the 3 large buildings on the harbor. Their roofs look too "camouflage" like. Should be more moss, water stains, bird poop, etc. And maybe drip marks below window ledges and near wall edges.

And something along the ground level to hide the model "seam". Grass? dirt piles? The Dutch are neat so it should be "tidy".

[tedbarnett]

Note the dirt, moss, smudges on these actual Dutch homes (built in 1650 in most cases)

[tedbarnett]

Note black metal "tie plates" on the front of all of these buildings. Can we add some of these as cheap decals?