Actually, only 15. That's all I could think of for this essay. And yes, I did actually spell-check this. Alright, here we go!

Before you make that big push for your first ever picture to land in the Bryce Hot 20, here's some advice that you should consider first.

I am a typical gallery-browsing 3D art viewer. And I am picky.
You will NOT get my vote if I see:

1. Your image is titled something like '~~xX#$#$|Title|/#@Orz~~'. 1337 does not belong at Renderosity.

2. There is an excessive amount of nudity in the image and/or thumbnail. I'm not attempting to limit your artistic potential; it's just that I don't find big quantities of nudity tasteful. I myself am a horny 15-year-old; I don't think many of the older artists will be much more tolerant.

3. Preset textures from the Bryce texture library. Most Brycers here have quite a few years of experience and will recognize just about any preset texture out there. They generally diminished the perceived creativity of the artwork, taking it down a notch in my opinion. Take on the texture editor, create some originals. Get a digital camera and use some image textures. 'Tis the way of the masters. You think Rochr gets his textures out of the preset library?

4. You have covered more than 50% of the image in models or textures that you have not created yourself. Yes. I believe in sharing, and I extremely respect all the artists kind enough to share their artwork as freebies or purchasable products, but I believe art needs to have a strong originality. Which brings me to the next point ...

5. The main object of focus in your image is a freebie. Unless your image is a true tribute like Rochr's recent "I, Human", then you will simply violate my originality law discussed above. Now, I admit it, Bryce is just plain incapable of modeling on par with sub-d and NURBS programs, so if the focus is partly a foreign mesh and the rest is well done, I will continue to judge its worthiness of my vote.

6. The Bryce default sky. The default Bryce sky, as lovely as it is, is still an integral part of the primitive-over-water concept. It screams carelessness and will cause you to be labeled as a blundering n00b.

7. The Bryce preset Starfield sky. You should be smart enough to know that it sucks.

8. You keep the default POV. Now my particular style favors somewhat perpendicular set-ups similar to the camera POV in the default scene, but many Brycers will see that the horizon line has not moved from the default and you will be deemed lazy. Play around with the camera controls, those gray dots you've always wondered about let you save your viewpoints that you like.

9. I can find several instances where just a bit more detail would have brought it another step closer to greatness. Take a look at mrdodobird's gallery; every spare inch of rusty metal has a vent or pipe or ladder attached to it.

10. A watermark of any kind. They distract and can be interpreted as childish bragging. We all know of a few artists who go overboard with protecting their work from the scum of the internet.

11. Blatantly impossible physics or violations of common design sense. If the defiance of the laws of physics is a theme of your image, so be it. However, if I see a horse bigger than a tree or hovering primitives or ugly clipping or a steering wheel mounted on the bottom of the seat, I will literally mumble something about the image's likelihood of being created by a clown and dismiss it from the judgment.

12. Unintentional pixilation ANYWHERE. It simply isn't professional and again shows carelessness. Avoid resizing your pictures in postwork.

13. The only real 'zing' in your image comes from postwork. I will dismiss it as unworthy for the Bryce gallery altogether.

14. Your object mask is the picture's grayscale. If you don't yet know what this means, it's ok, but if you tend to use the gray scale instead of making an object mask, you end up with a low quality translucent object. Learn to use the magic wand tool.

15. I don't see the beauty. This is the hardest. If your image does not particularly speak to me and shows itself as an outstanding achievement in Bryce, I will probably not vote for it. This is primarily based in what people want to see, which you have to figure out for them. Make your attitude to produce an image that rules and knows it. There is a balance that I like to think of. It consists of the idea that you are trying to communicate with the art balanced against the quality of its execution. The first part is entirely subjective, but any idea is better than no idea. The second is simply raw skill. If the ratio is 1:1, it is vote worthy.

Well there you go. This is just based on me and what I've observed, but I will likely be true for some other artists. The best way to see what is well done is to simply browse the masters' galleries.

So go get pumped. Close the blinds. Dim the lights. Turn on some good soft classical guitar music. Take a deep breath, and immerse yourself in the world of Bryce.

An essay by Andrew Bloom.

MoonGoat
(Do remember to get out of the house once in a while)

Message edited on: 04/03/2005 01:32

A tough critic.... Going to your gallery now, knowing I will find some pure bryce magic!

My rules on the subject: 1. If I like it, I comment. 2. If I like it a lot, I vote.

moongoat is wise. drac

I'm sorry - I don't think it is fair to criticise someone because they use free models. Some people can model and some can't. Everyone has to start somewhere what I don't often see here is encouragement for beginners.

Sorry but I watermark every single image and or graphic that I make. I value 'my' copyright. :)

Yeah, I'm with Bea. I started out with free models, and if it had not been for them, I probably wouldn't be here today. Well, maybe I would do some primitives over water with a default sky preset.

MG isn't saying that you shouldn't use freebies, or defaults, or watermarks, or anything else. What he's saying is that if you do, then you're unlikely to get his vote. So the question is, how much do you value MG's vote? Subconsciously I probably follow a lot of these rules when voting. Although at the moment, I'm silently protesting against the H20 by withholding my votes. (Is my protest working?) No one should tailor their art to the views of others, just to get comments and votes. That is going against everything (I feel) that art should stand for. This is a place of learning and of creation and of fun. As long as you enjoy what you're doing and have fun and feel proud you've created something you want to share with the rest of the community, I say, post it.

"I don't see the beauty." That's cool. You want what you want. "This is primarily based in what people want to see, which you have to figure out for them." That's not. I don't give a flying ffffffffffffffig for what people want to see. I create images that I like. "Turn on some good soft classical guitar music." No way. :-)

I agree with those that say there's nothing wrong with using free models, and all sorts of models that are from others. If I tried to model anything in a modelling proggie I dread to think what result I would get..heck if I tried to model teh cube I would have at least one side out of true :-). I can do the sort of limited modelling that comes native to Bryce, because basically its like kids building blocks, with booleans thrown in for fun. Well until you get on to terrain modelling that is.

hey, i got like 200 downloads of TEH CUBE! :D drac (HQ MODELS INC.)

Yes Drawbridge, your protest is working. I won't vote for dragons, the ones that are used in pictures these days are just wimps. Vermitrax, now that was a dragon (only 2 legs and 2 wings, like it should be). But i think that Moongoat named some very valid points, a combination of those usually means that you won't get a vote from me, there are exceptions. And looking at some who seems to go on "forever", is this guy using a script or something to get those rather colorfull pictures? And there is at least one in the H20, of wich i am now certain is actually one person but who is using more than one account here at renderosity, now that is something that has to be looked into. Not in the last place because those works are further away from Bryce than the Northpole is from the Southpole.

But what some of you are saying here is that if you create something using someone elses model or whatever then thats not good and yet in the same breath this is a place of creating and learning and fun. But if you look down on people who don't have the same skills as you then how can they learn or have fun? I am not saying that a beginner should get into the Hot 20. To be quite honest I think you should get rid of the Hot 20. I think it is totally useless as it stands and means very little. I am saying that it would be really nice if some of the really good artists here could spend a little time commenting on some of the beginner's artwork.

No, Moongoat brought forward 15 rather good points that people could keep in mind when the make something with Bryce. Using a free model can still work and people can produce a good work with it. There is nothing wrong with that. An imported free model of a car can be made into a stunning picture, but only if people do stop using the default POV, the standard bryce-textures, standard sky, no post work and so on. Dare to experiment.

Bea is very wise :)

CrazyDawg
(Gone to delete 3 gigs of models others have made)

Message edited on: 04/03/2005 09:39

Awww CD, shame you changed your ps since I just modelled "four" nuts and had a big joke planned. Which is totally lost now. :-)

Well, now I know what I`ve been doing wrong all this time.

Using freebies is a great way to start making good pics with Bryce.I am always pleased to see images using my freebies but I also hope the users have pulled them to bits and found out how they were made.

I think it is fair to say that just filling the screen with models, whether freebeis or original creations, will not produce a good final image...which is really the goal. (Unless of course you're just trying to highlight modeling skill...in which case see drac's display kit.) If the artist did not bother to comment on where the models came from and you didn't know they were freebies somewhere then you'd be left with judgning the pic for the pic...which, in my mind, is what it is all about. Of course if you use someone's gear you SHOULD credit them but not, I think, to your disadvantage in getting kudos for the final image. As to boycotting the HOT20 by not voting...hmmm...if the folks who participate most in the community stop voting, those who participate least will fill the HOT20. Would you really want a newcomer to the site to view some of what we have seen, and not liked, there and think that that is the quality of work in this community? I wouldn't.

If I read it right from some comments here then my last 2 gallery images, both of which made the 20, are of no value to some people. OK I admit the last had about 19 imported poser figs (but I did make most of the textures myself) and 13 0r 14 plant meshes, and the 2nd last had..ooh dare I say it 33 poser figs and 4 freebies (same comment about textures). OK the rest of both images is pure bryce, and I put it all together! But does that count? BTW Moongoat I have a grandaughter who is older than you!.....just thought I would throw that into the mix!

hmm..I'm about 2/3rds on the 'good list'..I make almost all my own models, except for figures..that's what Poser was made for..;) I've got over a thousand mats, and still seem to use the same 20 or 30..go figure..;) I move the camera, move the sun, the lights, etc. Haven't made the top 20 yet..;) I dunno, I like what I like, and I have yet to vote..

Whether you use freebee models, or do all your own modelling yourself is not important. what you do with the models is! How you present it...the textures you use...the lighting you employ...how well it it integrated into the scene...is of greater importance. This is an artist community...so the creativity exhibited in an image is of equal value too. 10 different artists, if asked to do an image of the dreaded 'sphere over checkerboard plain' will most likely produce 10 different views consisting of those elements. And the difference between each image will be generated by their creativity. Another point. Your preview image is the first thing that people browsing the galleries see, and the interest generated by your preview will go a very long way in determining if your image will be viewed. Some artist's will present their entire image in the preview....others will only provide a small portion of the entire image in the preview...either one is fine, as long as the preview generates enough interest in the viewer to get them to click to see the enlarged image. As far as I'm concerned, originality, creativity, detail and presentation are what I look for when browsing the galleries...and the previews that hint to me that these elements are present in the image will get me to click to see the enlarged image...and also to vote.

Ha ha, chohole. I think your last comment rather echo`s my thoughts, namely that I do not appreciate being lectured to by a condescending near feotus.

I think freebies save time on the person time as they do an image . There nothing wrong with it . Just try to give the person credit who made the modell. Put your name on a read me file in the zip so people can remember who it is. Now if you change the textures on the modell so it will fit your image better; that is even better. I mean if you look at it; "why reinvent the wheel when you have one" It a freebie that someone took the time to make and out of the person kind heart give it to you.

dont thow away things give you. You donot thow money away when someone give it to you do you. I dont; I happy and use it. Plus I think the person. hope I make cent here

Phil: Let me get this straight. You stopped voting but one of your pics is currently in the Hot20. Something seems odd to me, but I just can't put it into words, really. :^)

Good valid points MG. All hail The Supreme Wombat Overlord.

Very nice, Moon Goat, and spell-check was a nice touch !!! :D

"Vermitrax, now that was a dragon (only 2 legs and 2 wings, like it should be)." That's a wivern, not a real proper dragon, Draco Nobilis.

Okeee, but it sure kicked hell.

Thanks everyone. It seems this is turning out to be a relatively peaceful Hot 20 thread, which is what I hoped for. Everyone should know that this list does not outline a sub-par image; instead it illustrates an image that will not personally recieve my vote. I have not seen myself in the hot 20, but neither has the bulk of artists browsing these galleries, which is why, I think, this list is a somewhat trustworthy guidline. You all have also made some good points on the freebie aspects of the list, particularly post #25 by vangogh. Waits while everyone scrolls up to read it. I also forgot to add to the list points 16-17. 16. Uncredited sources. Be it texture or model or sky or even a model you've created in some outside application, adding the source shows professionalism and respects the wonderful masses of freebie-creators and merchants here. 17. Jpeg fuzz. You should know that renderosity accepts uploads from only .jpg and .gif formats. I've uploaded in GIF once or twice, but with jpegs you must remember not too save it with enough compression to cause the infamous fuzz around edges. This can honestly prevent me from voting for an otherwise quality image, and it has happened before. Alright, that's all I can think of anyway. MoonGoat (Currently browsing the gallery for vote-worthy images) P.S. - This post has not been spell-checked.

? save with compression? Hmm..is this done in Bryce, or postwork? My goal is to get sharpness and detail (when I remember to turn the atmospher off, for example..;)
As for uncredited sources, I try; but there are some folks who neglect to accredit themselves..one of those things..;) In over 3 years I've gotten exactly 3 votes, so it's no nevermind to me..;) I still think that if you peruse the entire gallery, you'll see the 'hot 20' anyway..everyone has their own 'hot 20'..;)

Sorry, ICM, but that's not vote worthy. You'll be punished to spend the rest of eternity setting up Bryce lightning.

Ahhh...We have to rebuild...It's two feet short...

hmm, is ICM trying to tell us he needs a foot up. @Bea, thank you for pointing this out "But what some of you are saying here is that if you create something using someone elses model or whatever then thats not good and yet in the same breath this is a place of creating and learning and fun. But if you look down on people who don't have the same skills as you then how can they learn or have fun?" Sometime ago i was upset over the fact that this forum/community was becoming cliquey. Now that you have pointed out the above i am sure others will understand why i was thinking like that. Well done, you are one ver wise person and i hope the others realise it is their attitued towards new users that CAN NOT model that will force them away from this community. CrazDawg (Minus all free models)

Message edited on: 04/03/2005 22:58

Hi! I've spent all day reorganizing my downloaded stuff (mostly freebbies). 3.6 gig down, 2 gigs to go. Then I'll burn it all to cd. Then I'll reinstall everything. Then I'll be able to find what I'm looking for again. I have actually reached the point at which it is faster for me to locate and re-download an item than it is to find it on my hard drive. xenic101 (save early, save often) (moonie is wise) (drawbridgep is wiser and older) (crazydawg is crazy)

Wait a minute,..............I'm lost here,.........I am modeling challenged,........don't have the eye or inclination or paitience for it, however, I always try to give credit where credit is due,.......does that some how make me a less than, a posuer(spelling), a dilettante, a wannabe ? I admire people who can model and if there going to give or sell their work, I'm all for it. (goes back to trying to beat farts out of a dead mule).

I have yet to meet one person who cannot model, my opinion is that we all can learn anything with a right software (tool) and right tutorial (tutor), we just need to find them, and creativity, essential ingredient, is always there, hidden inside of us all !

Of course, dissapointment and frustration, as an opposite force to creativity, can often make us think that we actually cannot do it, but, trust me, it is deceiving, been there before (many times).

If we try for long enough (it took me almost 2 years), one day, suddenly, all which was confusing to us is gonna be crystal clear, and I'm not lying here, it really does happen, you just wake up one morning and that's it, you understand it, and then you say to yourself, hell yeah, gimme some more (I sound like Neo here, lol)!!! :D

It all boils down to one single thing: Giving up is our biggest enemy ! :D

My 2 cents :)

@ Sackrat: It is a prefference thing too, not just challenging IMHO, you certanly like to create scenes more then model things for them, on the other hand, i like to make models more then anything else (which does not mean that modeling is less artistic, and vice versa).

I think that Moon Goat was just pointing out that he appreciates more work of art based on time spent on it, and more vote worthy, which is understandable ! :D

sackrat you and i are in the same boat as far as modelling goes, pity others tend to forget that may be there are some out there that don't have the eye, inclination, paitience or capabilities for modelling. I know i don't that is why i try my hardest to build a model in bryce but because of a small medical problem that i have i tend to drift off and forget what others have told me or i forget what i am doing and close bryce down without saving anything. Guess i'll just stick with models i buy, oh hang on can't do that even. So it looks like i'll be doing nothing but the floating spheres over water or terrains.. @Kemal, well i guess you have finally met one person who can't or will never be able to model.

CrazyDawg
(going back to playing DA)

Message edited on: 04/04/2005 00:16

Hey, I tought I will never get married, and see what happend, lol ??? :P Kemal(brainless ex-pothead) :P

Message edited on: 04/04/2005 00:21

Quoted in Christopher J. Robinsons, "The 'Recognized Stature' Standard in the Visual Artists Rights Act," Fordham Law Review, vol. 68, n. 5 (April 2000), One person's art is another person's garbage. David Cazares, Sun-Sentinel, September 29, 1995 Art is a subjective thing. Everyone interprets art from the standpoint of their upbringing, education and status in life, in general, what they have been taught to believe. As alluded to in the above quote, even when administering law, the question of what is art comes into question. You can set your own judgmental standards as to what you may interpret art to be and award accolades accordingly but that doesnt make it art or disqualifies it as such. To me, for image to be elected into the Hot 20, the piece must move me (speak to me) sublimely in some way, involve viewer mental participation. And it doesnt matter if its amateurish or not and it doesnt have to floor the viewer with awe. The image must attempt to bring the viewer into it. This takes many nuances into consideration such as composition, chiaroscuro (play of light and dark), color, intensity, formall those artistic techniques that help to breath life into the image. If the image fails to do this, in my opinion, it has no business being anyway near the Hot 20. As for people using other artists models, crediting the source not withstanding, is perfectly alright as far as Im concerned. It would be a good thing if everyone learned how to model but not everyone has the time, the experience and know-how or the talent necessary to produce believable models and incorporate them into their projects immediately. Many artists want to jump in and get their hands dirty right away and if they had to stop to first learn a 3D modeling package then try to produce the models they need for their conceived images, it would be months before they get any creative work done if at all. For surely, those lacking the patience and skills necessary, would become disenchanted and more likely than not, abandon Bryce in no time at all and walk away from the creative process. Another thing is this; composition is an art in and of itself. Take for instance the art of photography. We all can agree that photography is considered a visual art form although it wasnt always like that in its early days but for our purposes well accept it as an art. The photographer also composes his image using the objects at his disposal to do this. If the photographer had to model everything in his image himself, when will he ever have the time to develop his film? And because he has to barrow from his surroundings the elements that compose his image, does this make him less of an artist? I think not.

One addition to all that, Quest: "The image must attempt to bring the viewer into it" "Attempt" is what Renderosity H20 should be all about (key word here), "Must" is for other, more proffesional communities (like CG Talk). Nicely said, BTW ! :D

for me personally, none of my worthless poser renders will ever make the HOT 20. I don't really come here for that. I'm still new so to me it doesn't matter in the least. Im reaching the point where I wan to make my own stuff I'm getting tired of using paid models and free ones. I just dont feel like I'm making it when the program is doing it for me, time to fireup Bryce again.

People who make pictures strictly to get hot 20 votes are not being true to their own art. Do what pleases you and damn the hot 20.

GROINGRINDER is right.Hey GOAT never vote my image when I submit it to Bryce section.I dont need hot 20.

Well, being a total newbie, I havent figured out how to make my own stuff, so in other words, I wont be posting any of my stuff because you would basically say it sucks. How encouring.

Hey now Izy724....post you stuff please. Don't let one member put you off. Most in the bryce forum are really friendly, and try to be helpful. This forum has always been one of the best places to learn, and if you post WIP's then you will get constructive feedback and lots of help if you ask questions.

Well at least i can try doing some abstract art with bryce. Don't need to use anyone elses models to do them :p

Whoa, Izy, relax. I'm not saying any art sucks at all. Please post your stuff, it's probably a lot better than the credit you're giving it.

CrazyDawg please use the free stuff. if you dont it be a put down on the ones that made it and give it to you. that like someone giveing you a cake and you thow it in they face. Now take the modell and you can change the textures or blow a hole in the castle wall or blow make smille face looks silly [ that was fun what you all did to that one hahaah]if you wish. They there to save you time to do your art. That little space hoover I used it was free but I put the paint job on it to make it fit my image "excape" it just came in blue os a freebe