2D Graphics

Thought I would compile a few movie era 2D graphics that I’ve worked on and posted over the years.  My 3D models require I create some 2D graphics to help in the surface texture department, and this is my contribution.  I’ve tried my best to duplicate the on screen appearance of many graphics I’ve appreciated from the Star Trek franchise over the years, but despite the huge quantity of reference materials available to just about anyone, I find even that remarkably lacking in relation to the sheer level of detail that many of them actually depict.

First up…

Some bridge and other starship graphics inspired by Star Trek: The Motion Picture and its more immediate sequels.

Important helm and navigation station elements.

The main astrogator wheel display within the central base of the conn station.

A small panel at the base of the astrogator just to the left of the navigator’s station.

Another small astrogator panel just to the right of the helm station.

Main technical specs for the ship’s gravity generator at the artificial gravity station. The station most likely offered fine tuning of the tractor beam control functions as well.  With the limited references available, most of these text labels rely on some artistic license.

A panel incorrectly labeled for a never realized “internal transporter station,” designed for the bridge, based on original reference drawings from the abandoned series Star Trek: Phase II.  This panel would nevertheless be implemented for the movie sets, its labels eventually refashioned as part of the artificial gravity station.  I plan on tweaking the graphic’s text to reflect its final implied functions.

Though also designed for the Phase II “Enterprise” bridge and labeled specifically for tractor beam function, this graphic was only visible during TMP from inside the control center of the Epsilon IX communications station.  It eventually made its way to the Enterprise‘s main engineering section for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, within the transparent barrier compartment where Spock would sacrifice his life for crew.

My attempt to mimic some back lit effects on some diagnostic monitors located at the environmental control station.

A far less glamorous, though still unquestionably vital element of environmental control.  At least on of these is also seen at a console in engineering.

A blend of station elements from environmental control to damage and repair.  This is my latest attempt and is still being tweaked with new elements added.

Communications console elements.

Communications main overhead display.

Internal security control monitors.  There are four such monitors at this particular station, two pair flanking either side of the station’s main console.  These two separate displays can be duplicated however, to match the four monitors.

Here are several elements from consoles dedicated to primary engineering access and control.  There are two of these major consoles that, though not identical, have remarkably similar features.  One is on the bridge and provides major remote access to main engineering command.  The other is, of course, located in main engineering itself.  This particular graphic is based mainly on the engineering location.

Engineering station monitors located on the main bridge.

Upgraded version of the radiation emission indicators (far right) in the console’s impulse control section.  The blue graphs to the left were always seen on the bridge.

  The red graphs were seen in engineering in TMP but, like many color alterations between productions, were changed to green for TWOK.

Some elements seen on panels surrounding the primary intermix core in main engineering.

Control panel for the airlock/elevator room seen in TMP and later used near the torpedo room airlock in TWOK.

Seen aboard the Reliant in TWOK, I’ve attempted to recreate this telemetry array monitor, although my current references make it very difficult to make out some of the smaller text labeling.

A standard sickbay biobed monitor.

When Michael Okuda’s  “Okudagram” exploded onto the scene in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Trek-tech ran with it and rarely looked back.  It practically redefined the way Trek production design would be seen for years to come.  Star Trek: The Next Generation made it The standard, but the Kirk era movies to follow were still fictionally set many decades prior to Picard’s TNG times.  Thus, distinct styles were developed to help distinguish the two periods more effectively.

Here I’ve attempted to replicate or mimic some graphics used in the later Kirk era films.

A communications station display of a subspace communications network.  It was meant to mimic the style of Okuda’s first efforts for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.

A updated version meant to mimic the more varied color ranges visible in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

This display is some type of wide angle map or far reaching sensor scan seen in ST VI: TUC, and several of the spin off series when they featured flash-back scenes to Kirk era times or featured Starfleet vessels considered antiquity by TNG’s period setting.

A wonderful list featured in ST VI: TUC, indicating the current missions of several Starfleet vessels during the film’s key events.  TNG also has several such fascinating trivials, though I rarely delve into that era for inspiration these days.

After incorporating many of my 3D mesh interiors into my previously built 3D construct of the Akyazi Class- Perimeter Action Ship, USS McCook, it required I have some nice backup graphic textures, featuring technical and orthographic views of the vessel, on hand.

Orthographic top.

Port.

Fore.

Technical system’s overview.

Warp engine technical specifics.

A collection of cargo labels, initiated for use in several of my interior cargo bay models. Some are attempts to replicate the genuine versions originally designed by Lee Cole for use in The Motion Picture, but I only ever saw a limited assortment of symbols. I wanted to increase the semiotic lexicon of cargo labels meant to represent the enormous variety of materials that would be necessary for a ship to stockpile before journeying across the stars. So, while keeping with the standardized form, I threw in a few new icons and colors to help expand the options.

Some have little in-jokes or homages (like this one). While perusing the internet for grain symbols (mostly in an attempt to create a label meant to represent “quadrotriticale” from TOS’s “The Trouble with Tribbles”), I stumbled across this deliciously simplistic symbol for the now defunct Canadian Wheat Board. While intended as a mildly abstract though recognizable symbol for an ear of wheat, its use of a mere four grain florets made it perfect for my needs, so I incorporated it into my label. I gave it the code QT4 (directly below the symbol), to help represent the name and nature of the product, while I also aimed for a more “harvest” oriented color palette.

More later…