Model will be avaliable to download in the next few days.

The concept behind the DSU is to simulate distance in Poser, in the simplest way possible.
Plus to do this without bogging down the system with large meshes.

Another factor in it's creation was to use standard sized (4:3 aspect ratio) digital photographs straight from a camera for the planes without having to crop or resize the photographs.

The background is mapped at 4:3 and the ground is mapped at 4:3x3. So for example, you could use one photograph at 1600x1200 for the background and use 3 copies of an 1024x768 image (making 1 image at 1024x1365) for the ground.

As folks use Poser for single figure shots, the long ground was created so you easily may place objects behind your figures. For example bushes and trees. However there is a finite limit (roughly 2/3rds back from the backdrop) you can draw back on the camera, even at a high focal of 70-100, before the edges of the background will show. 

So the trick for creating large scenes is to load the DSU mutiple times. The sides of the DSU (unlike on some commerical products) are not curved or warped but flat. So you can load 3 or 4 copies, texture each one and and move it along left and right with the parameter dials. The distance between each copy is roughly 1.6 units on the X trans. Just jiggle it to suit :)
 
Another feature of the DSU is it's thinness. This allows (mainly) the background to be transmapped. Then you can place objects behind the background, which is a particulary cool effect for animators. Obviously the grey background of the poser window will show, so you just import a background picture of a sky.

If you load the included MAT pose "02_Mountain_T" and use "01_Clouds.jpg" as the background Picture for Poser. You can see this effect.

Another fun use for the DSU is to make a render and use that as the background image. Again a sample of how easy this is included. Just select the DSU in the scene window and load the "02_City_Ruins" MAT from the Poses Libary.  

This looks  very cool! Thank you for making and providing it.  Will you post to this thread again (ie, bump it) when the model is actually available?  Thanks again.

Thanks. :)

Yep. I'll post again when it's ready.  

Wow!  What a totally cool idea!  You're brilliant!

Attached Link: Distance Simulation Unit (DSU)

VERY nice job!!!!  I'm really looking forward to this!  Thanks! 

Way cool - thank you!

WOW! I want it :)

Now that looks way useful! Thank you kindly. :-)

Add me to the list of 'cool' and 'I want it' and 'thanks man'

Very cool!  Always looking for more tools to add to the 3D CGI tool-box of art materials.  More flexibilities equals more chance for good renders! ^__^  Thanks for the addition!

Wow, this is awesome, thank you very much :-)

Are there any texture add-ons on their way ? Texturing the background (wall) part is rather easy, but the ground requires getting ground/dirt/grass photos from somewhere, and those are harder to find than landscape photos.

"Are there any texture add-ons on their way "

Yep :) And for free.  

Vue is endering a planet basey thingy for as I type.  It's taken longer than I'd hoped because Daz's Mons Hanger won't load into poser so I've had to play around with the OBJ. :(

Plus I'm making a 3 unit DSU pose set as well but thats a surprise :)

"but the ground requires getting ground/dirt/grass photos"

Try here....http://lemog.free.fr/lemog_v5/index.php?cat=4

These are seamless as well. One was used in the DSU - but I forgot to credit Lemog - sorry for that. I'll add a credit to the file later.    

Ok, got this last night...can't wait to get home from work to play!!    Thanks so much for letting us have access to this!

nickedshield - nice. you should release that as a freebie. You (actually anyone) is welcome to re-write the MAT poses and CR2's as needed.

Also the new freebies are ready. Information below.

The download link will be ready tommorow (UK time) thanks to VP for hosting this.  

You need the DSU [Distance Simulation Unit] avaliable from...[http://www.vanishingpoint.biz/freestuff.asp] ...for free.

There are 6 backgound maps in this free set.
 
Hanger - SF moonbase thingy.

Triptych (3x) - Fantasy landscape.
These 3 Triptych images can be can be joined to create a large scene.
Easy to follow instructions for this can be found in the readme.

Old Barn - This photo is taken from my Medieval Village Photoset coming soon from the marketplace here: http://market.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/index.php?vendor=25700  

It would be nice to release it but alas, the top image is work done ny Northern_Studios for Bryce and the bottom picture came from Lemong. There is only ony issue that is inherent with this type of prop, the dividing line at the ground and background. I like the prop any way:) Boy, it's much easier appling my own textures, don't have to fiddle with fitting like some others I have.

The bottom picture shoul be OK as Lemogs licence seems to allow that. Don't know who/what northern studios are/is/does - I don't use Bryce.     

"There is only ony issue that is inherent with this type of prop, the dividing line at the ground and background."

Thats right. Thats something I considered here, a lot of backgrounds kits use a curve. Too much and the image curves too badly, too sharp  and you get a really sharp line. Another effect you'll see with these kits is an odd banding effect - you can this in the sky in the image above  your post.

Lighting pays a big part here. Many lights light the base differently from the rear. Then again backgrounds kits are really a quick workaround instead of rendering large scenes.    

"I like the prop any way:) "

Thanks. It seems to have been well recived by everyone. Theres always a nice buzz when you make stuff and Artists like it.

"don't have to fiddle with fitting like some others I have"

Thank John for that idea :) He suggested making it a figure (instead of a prop) so it can take MAT poses.

The way some kits got around the sharp edge is to make the top and bottom seperate figures. Then a little fix morph way in the back to tidy it up. Yup, lighting from a pre-made background can be a real dog to try to make the rest of the scene look realistic. Always have to look at it and figure out where the light is originating from.

New textures look great, can't wait to get them and try them out !

DSU is certainly easier to texture than stuff like Multiplane Cyclorama, even though the lighting is still a real pain in the back ;) I know I'll be using it quite often, and in spare time even make some textures for it (if I ever get to using Bryce more that is :D ). Thanks again for brilliant new toy :)

Attached Link: DSU Bonus Pack

Thanks John.

Found a quick way to solve the sharp edge problem. Use a small morphing piece of ground, like the RNDA freebie, place that towards but not touching the back. Or just use a few rocks or props. OK, it's cheating but it works :)   

nick - yep that works.

Though the fairy should be neeked:)  

Thank you for these most excellent freebies! I've used similar props in the past but found many times that they don't contain the length needed to prevent light from casting shadows onto the background image but yours looks like it's going to work perfectly. Just finished downloading both sets and can't wait to try them. I especially like being able to use my own backgrounds, too. Thanks again!