Behold the Shangri-La! (4k Flyby)

After seeing that shot in Picard of the Titan-A that called back to the close, swooping shot of the Refit Enterprise, I felt challenged to do the same with my model of Bill Krause's Shangri-La. I also figured out how to do gate flares in AE, and this was a test of that.
The original Shangri-la class design is by Bill Krause!
/ admiralbuck
As always this is rendered in 3DSMax 2022.3, using VRay 6 GPU Optix. I'm using a 4090 RTX. Render time averages were 1m30s and 2m30s respectively, with about .25s-.5s for post effects application per frame. It's 500 frames long at 24fps.
Post in After Effects, using Sapphire by BorisFX for the lens flares, and Red Giant Looks for the color correction.

[@Hylanvahr]

Howard, I'm not gonna lie. This looks like practical effects. The fidelity and details look so lifelike! It looks almost impossible to be cg. You've succeeded where countless other cg artists have failed for the last 20 years, and that's not hyperbole.

[@Syngekhoomei]

Definitely reminds me of shots in wrath of khan

[@ralalbatross]

I know how he did it. Its actually really subtle. He put lens flares on the warning lights. Its very indicative of the old model designers.

[@HowieDay82]

@@ralalbatross Partly! It's almost all in the color correction. The raw renders are entirely unimpressive. :D

[@chriswalker4370]

I'm way behind the time here but this is a seriously good render. It really does look like an actual model.

[@disdanzafilm]

​​@@HowieDay82like the beauty pass with models on Film.

[@paxtoncockrell]

The level of skill on display here is exceptional! You've absolutely nailed the look of the practical models in the the TOS movies. Just truly beautiful.

[@Sekir80]

I'm watching Picard season 3. Sometimes, there are exterior shots of the Titan. And then, I think of Howie and his work which is superior to those shots. Insane! I don't even know how a studio isn't capable reaching the level of beauty that one man can achieve! Well done Howie, well done! I hope the studios will finally be able to do something on this level.

[@peterandrew6755]

A few word to answer your assumption: tyranny, disunity, greed, capitalism - as result is a stress, which is not motivate at the studio's workers to earn this quality.

[@Sekir80]

@@peterandrew6755 How sad this is.

[@jfangm]

​@peterandrew6755 Capitalism would actually mean we get MORE quality like this because this is what fans want.

[@shogun2215]

​@@jfangmNo, it doesn't. Capitalism is all about giving the consumers the bare minimum while maximising profits.

[@jfangm]

@@shogun2215 That is incorrect. Capitalism provides whatever people are willing to pay for, which in turn maximizes profit.

[@et3inuyasha]

You just keep feeding my fascination with the Shangri-La. And TMP designs in general. Please continue - I need my fix.

[@Mjfox3145]

Can’t figure out why the ACTUAL tv show effects aren’t as good as this. Their ships are, fuzzy? Don’t look solid, but this is harking back to the days of photographing actual built models. Bravo sir. Bravo.

[@jfangm]

Shows are starting to get back to this aesthetic. The Mandalorian, for example, uses a combination of studio models and computer models.

[@earnestbrown6524]

That blue pops pretty nicely.

[@anxietygamingactual6554]

Holy hell that's some firepower on display. Love those torpedo banks right at the front. Ship is absolutely beautiful and the flyby was legitimately amazing with the detail and lighting.

[@BR-cq2hm]

Ok, why can't they light the ships on the show like THIS? It looks so much more visually appealing than what we see on the series. All the ships look dark and dingy, it's hard to appreciate the fine details. This is gorgeous.

[@stewartfitzgerald]

Poor art direction. Plain and simple.

[@NashmanNash]

@@stewartfitzgerald Also,fast CGI is good CGI these days...

[@Swanlord05]

They need to go back to models

[@raflamar4146]

The lighting is my biggest problem with the modern series, all this "impressive" CGI and all we get to see is shadow!

[@IchigoKurosakicool]

because the show one is more accurate to real life loghting conditions in space duh.

[@Ma77riK]

at first glance4 i couldn't tell if it was rendered or a physical model! awesome work!

[@Firefox13A]

WOW! If we do get a Titan series, we need a flashback of Robin Curtis as Captain Saavik on this version of Titan.

[@jeffery7281]

Just send Titan-A model to 3D print shop and waiting. This ship just couldn't be resistance.

[@mscupcakes]

I don't know how to properly describe it, but this is the most authentic look and feel of the TOS era movies. Really incredible work

[@macklee6837]

Beautiful and I love the colouring Idk why they went with every ship in Picard having to be gunmetal grey

[@jnathus]

This looks better than the show, making the show seem like a cheap knockoff.

[@davfree9732]

Much better than the Titan flyby. Ship was so dark the screen almost went black at one point.

[@FoxerBoxerNaaniwa]

The Titan A really is just a slightly sovereignified shangri-la, isn't it?

[@ChristopherSloane]

Hate the design.... Love your work

[@thenextmrsbrownful]

Just Gorgeous and Brilliant. To capture a "Model" look rather than a "cgi ship" look is so good and hits you in the authentic visuals. Then you add the sound. Please please do a couple of shots from Picard.

[@blue18404]

Looks great. But I ask you: more OT Star Wars. You are better than ILM

[@DarkRavenProductions]

pleeaaseeee do some modeling and texturing tutorials your work is breathtaking

[@cluthapotboy]

That is amazing Its looks so much like practical model the pearlescent shine is just magical!

[@WO2uni]

Absolutely gorgeous! I want a series based upon this beauty!

[@BenjaminWhitley]

Please share how you make your CGI look like real models. This is incredible work! I love the design of the Shrangri-La, and it makes me very sad that there's no movie I can pop in to watch it in action.

[@HowieDay82]

Working on a quick tutorial. :D

[@adamjely]

Damnit! Why don't the new shows look like this!?!?! Beautiful work!

[@Dellan42]

This an absolute artform. I've always missed the character and depth that miniatures and models have, the inherent warmth they bring that purely digital effects can often replace with a sterile quality. Best of both worlds, man. Top shit.

[@paulladdie1026]

Howard, this scene looks better than TV quality, its photorealistic 🙂

[@3SpeedGeek]

Wow,so beautiful!😮

[@Gigas0101]

Watching this feels good. It reminds me of when Sulu arrives in the Excelsior in Undiscovered Country, like this ship could show up and you'd think "Everything's going to be okay, it's here now."

[@Valkyrie77]

This looks really great! Wonder who made it? "Howard Day" Of Course...

[@CinematicHypeTV]

This looks better then the shows CGI. Respect. Only thing left is the engine ambient being really dominant to sell the size. In the old days the shipss felt big but nowadays they seem somewhat small. So I love what you did here :)

[@KnightRiderowner]

23rd century eh more a 25th century well Lit guy myself...cough odyssey class*

[@Strideo1]

More! I always want the shot to last longer!

[@DoctorMerlinv12]

I would SWEAR that this is a physical model. I know it isn’t, but DAMN. 👍🏻

[@Lee-cx4eq]

I'm posting again, because this literally takes my breath away 😂😱

[@blueharvest77]

Looks great! Ever consider getting with Adywan and helping him finish his Star Wars: Revisited project?

[@LtCdrRoyFokker]

Nicely done! I like the version in Picard s3 but I prefer Bill's original TMP ship more.

[@PHENOMENON360]

This looks superior to Picard Season 3. Stunning!

[@chefjason1983]

Amazing more of this ship please!!! would love to see it kicking some klingons

[@Pandenhir]

So beautiful! Can't really say more. Just looks so good!

[@HellFox83]

Now that's a ship I could see being in the old Star Trek films. You've done it again Howard!

[@Throw_Down]

Much better as a TMP era-only vessel, in my opinion. Beautiful!

[@chbloss]

Yeah, okay, so, uhhhhhh, we're going to need you to go ahead and, uhhhhhh redo all the ship shots from the original movies because this is perfect. Oh my, the pearlescent sheen on the hull is gorgeous. That's a BIG detail that was missing from the models used in Star Trek II through VI. I want to see a Constitution class like this!

[@HowieDay82]

Sooo, uh: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXW6onWVndqpf6s

[@joeswanson733]

basically another heavy cruiser that's above the constitution class but below the federation class dreadnought. definitely below the excelsior class. this might be on par with a constellation class.

[@stevelegg22]

As good as Picard season 3 is in some respects, there are a few shots where the CGI is GOD AWFUL! Example, dorsal shot when the Titan comes out of spacedock. Looks like it was done by a 10 year old in a pirated copy of TrueSpace. This shot? UNREAL (IN A GOOD WAY)... the mix of direct and bounce light is ON POINT. Great work!

[@superginrai8036]

I have to agree. That looks like a practical effects model. Well done.

[@xman007007]

you would think in star trek, the tech would go past impulse engines to something faster

[@Spiel-Film]

A great "Day" with Howard! Happy eastern and as always, thx for ur work! ❤

[@CaseyOntiveros]

It had drop shuttlebays like the NX-01!

[@Lee-cx4eq]

This is absolutely incredible. Finally CGI that looks like it isn't!

[@dan1273]

Passion. It's how individuals and small teams consistently produce content that surpasses that of huge studios.

[@dexoearth9167]

This ships Legacy will be carried on by it's Neo Constitution class successor, and even carry the name "Enterprise."

[@ProvVFX]

Take my worthless dollars! 😅 That's one good looking render! I like how you did the anamorphic lens flare and the shadows.

[@F10F11hm]

Photorealistic. Looks like an in-camera model!

[@pixelforge4858]

nice color usage and well placed

[@vermillion4971]

amazing shot! I like it so much, god i wish to see you making some high end movie or series, i always seen Star Trek like this and not like J.J. Abrams`s movies, Phaser and Torpedo hits are best possible way of awesomeness too! Do not stop your work please.

[@tychoman]

Way better than the effects on the show. You can't see anything.

[@danielcunningham1144]

I love Star Trek Picard it completed the canon Star Trek situation. We got to see the fleet museum and Star Trek online game methods of having old designs of ships such as this one with all new equipment are shown.

[@Uchilsson]

So impresive!!!

[@Ephisus]

i don't understand why nutrek can't ball park trek aesthetics even half as well as this.

[@carldobehere]

Your work is magic my man, hope you do halo one day! (What is the music you used in here, I desperately want to listen to it over and over)

[@Stellar_Hearth1701]

In hopes I do not get shanked I do not like the Titans design maybe I like the more smooth designs, maybe I like a full saucer not odd angles, and maybe I don’t like the way to many impulse arrays.. …then that all fades seeing this I love it. My all time ship is the Excelsior; and Im glad to say this ship is a good 3rd

[@FrostUK]

Outrageously good!

[@keru80101]

This looks so much better than the Neo Constitution class

[@wolfstriker3992]

My grandfather's old ship use to be an engineer

[@tallgeese01]

I hope Bill lets then make it a legendry Ship is STO

[@andrewheslop400]

I prefer the look of these ships compared to the one's in Picard, no lense flare.

[@Justphred]

“Dear god, it’s beautiful” -Mugatu

[@loganholmberg2295]

Man I need a physical model of this in my life! If the Enterprise refit shows where starfleet was going in this era the Shangri-la shows what a new build ship of the line would be in this era. Man is it beautiful.

[@CNC295]

Very nicely done

[@darkfalldoug]

man it would be so epic if they could use the new unreal 5 engine to make a new Star Trek mmorpg that looks like this

[@bigsarge2085]

Awesome, man!

[@scorpioncoreuniverse8981]

Man I love how you did that that looks so exquisite great job.

[@BVCStudios]

F**king excellent...excuse my language =)

[@ram64man]

To some a labour of love, to others a hope for a new series , the graphics were that good

[@BillKermanKSP]

Looks awesome, this shot could easily be put into any Star Trek series/movie, looks perfect. (I'm being extremely nitpicky here, but I feel like that subtle brown ambient occlusion/dirt type effect on some parts of the ship makes it look a bit more CG than a studio model somehow)

[@tonygiordano3616]

Shangri-La ???????????????????????

[@J4CKC00P3R]

God damn that render is gorgeous. I honestly thought it was a practical model

[@J4CKC00P3R]

God damn that render is gorgeous. I honestly thought it was a practical model

[@freelancenerd4804]

Really great looking ship!

[@chrislea1000]

What magic is this? Just incredible

[@davidsa2047]

This is better then from the show. Much better!

[@Korgano]

Someone hire this guy to make a Star Trek movie!

[@Pravuss]

Beautiful, absolutely flawless!

[@leightoncressman6188]

Awesome awesome awesome awesome work as always. I just love how you were able to make the ships look and feel like actual physical models.

[@davidalexander2007]

Absolutely incredible! Fantastic work

[@MTLMedia]

Amazing shots. I wish we could see this style of lighting and detail on the new series. Look amazing, just like practical models.

[@HowieDay82]

Thanks a lot!

[@Ridgerunner2270]

That's really well done!

[@mark__glass]

Unbelievable. What 35mm equivalent FOV are you using on your shots?!

[@HowieDay82]

Just a 45deg one. Nothing fancy!

[@evabin]

That is absolutely stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow! The detail. The clarity. The angle.

[@brusstoc]

That is a good looking ship.

[@GrandLordGeek]

These tracks really get ya

[@Unknown.NotRegistered]

Nostalgic. I like it.

[@Neilhammond64]

Absolutely perfect!

[@georgehaze]

Well, hello beautiful!

[@1garysan]

Wow! This is incredible! Also, absolutely love the pearlescent colouring on the hull (0:05)

[@HowieDay82]

Glad you like it!

[@bigwhitehound]

Love it! Best ship ever.

[@patruddy-m8n]

This is beautiful!

[@WayOutWestCali]

Cinema quality!!!

[@LauraMakesStuff]

This is beautiful!

[@SGTBizarro]

Ohhhhh WOW! The movement of the model is so great. It's like you've recreated the slightly imperfect movements of the motion control camera which immediately made me feel like I was looking at a model. The flares are fantastic, small embellishments that don't distract or obscure but really help sell the illusion.