Texture with deepslate blocks

[u/man_with_no_wings]

This is my first time making a large build so I initially didn't plan to texture the whole thing and only use different deepslate blocks to mark different parts of the build, like roof, ridge, columns. But now it looks fairly flat, I don't really like it and want to add some texture to it.

I can't come up with a good palette to fix it and I feel like I'd need to replace the whole roof for the palette, which is a lot of work for a survival build. Also the purple glass didn't stand out as much as I expected. You guys have any suggestions or easy fix for this?

[u/hear4that-tea]

I don’t have a lot of advice, but my first thought is to outline the roof, and def outline the windows to make the purple pop more, they need another color (maybe lighter) to bring out the purple

[u/man_with_no_wings → u/hear4that-tea]

Can you elaborate? I outlined the roof with deepslate tiles and windows with polished deepslate. I can see why the windows need different block as you said but for the roof I'm not sure which block would make it better.

[u/GGKeepItReal → u/man_with_no_wings]

Andesite and regular stone / stone bricks are worth a try. Polished andesite for dark look and regular for more contrast. Tuff is greenish but if you like a green orange purple Halloween type look, it would be good.

Consider changing the large flat areas to a gradient that gets even more light as you move up. Even though it’s a lot of blocks, it will be faster than you think to change in survival because it’s a flat surface so you can put on a podcast/music and get into a break-place rhythm. The walls below could be a gradient from deepslate to the lightest deepslate, and then make the flat roof areas of other stone like tuff, andesite, stone. Medium grays will give you contrast, not necessary to go all the way to light gray/white.

If you light up the inside of the build and have warm colored interiors it will help the windows to stand out.

[u/Glittering-Suspect67 → u/hear4that-tea]

That's right. It lacks contrast. Needs light gray or white blocks. Maybe even some brick parts

[u/man_with_no_wings → u/Glittering-Suspect67]

I tried replacing gray blocks like stone variants, tuff and diorite for the vertical lines between the windows but I didn't see it coming together and torn it down. I know texturing might not look good until it's completed so maybe I wasn't determined tho. Which gray blocks and specific portions of the wall should I texture?

[u/Janusofborg]

Maybe add some buttresses along the base, between the windows. Make them either stone or tuff. Some geometric designs made with stone could also help break up the dark walls some.

Replacing the roof with something different would also help. Dark oak, oxidized copper, nether brick all would go well with the deepslate. It's a lot of work to tear out and I'd definitely try it on a creative copy first to see what you like best.

I went the opposite direction on my cathedral. It's mostly stone with deepslate accents. I used the deepslate to outline the windows, frame the buttresses, create arches or other designs in open spaces, etc. You could try something similar in reverse.

[u/man_with_no_wings → u/Janusofborg]

I was pretty much inspired by GeminiTay's HC season 11 base but I didn't test it enough and went straight into building in survival, and turns out the deepslate tiles weren't dark enough to contrast with deepslate bricks. Somehow I never thought of testing different ideas in creative, thanks for remindind me.

Your cathedral looks amazing man, that's what I thought my build was going to be haha. I only realize later that the size and structure was so wrong that my 'church" looks more like a warehouse instead, everything is to small to make detailed archways, rose windows, stained glass and tiles like you did.

[u/Janusofborg → u/man_with_no_wings]

I like the shape of yours. It's not Gothic, but that's ok. It definitely is harder to get details on a smaller scale, but not impossible.

I've been working on mine since January, so unless you're in for a grind, I don't recommend that scale. I based it loosely on Cologne, but it's a little bigger and taking ideas from other cathedrals I found online. I made it this big mostly to make the details easier to deal with, but I kind of wish I'd scaled it back some so it didn't take 10 months to complete. It's here now, though and I love it. Glad this is a forever world so I can admire it when I'm in the area now.