Unlike alpha planes which only provides a background image, the DSU allows you to use your photographs for both background and the ground.

This assumes no prior knowledge of Vue, is fun, quick, simple to use, doesn't overwhelm your system and helps you produce some great life-like pictures.

http://www.sparkyworld.co.uk/3d10own.htm
 

The Spitfire image used a single photograph taken at the 2008 Shoreham Airshow during the Scramble display - [hence the explosion] for the background and ground and was lit using IBL sunlight - the 'sunlight' being taken from the original image.
 

Attached Link: http://www.sparkyworld.co.uk/3d8own.htm

Plus theres also a Poser Version as well ..link above.

Just getting back into Vue - this should be very useful. Permit me to be the first to say thank you. :) 

...and the first to complain. :-D I can't find the Poser version. I got the Vue version ok, but the link for the Poser version takes me to Vanishing Point, where only the Vue version is listed, which in turn takes me back to ShareCG... Still, I have the OBJ and so forth so probably don't need a specific Poser version anyway. I can figure it out for myself - but I thought I'd let you know before anybody else does. 

Thanks for the terrific gift. You put a lot of thought and effort into creating this and it shows. Looking forward to the Poser link.
cheerio  lululee

Thank you Mr Sparky - looks like a great idea - will try it out asap

Thank you!  This looks very helpful.

Downloaded - can't wait for my long render to finish so I can give it a try.

Thank you

Attached Link: http://www.sparkyworld.co.uk/3d8own.htm

*Freebies are delicate little things, sometimes a bit over sensitive, so if you scare them by complaining they tend to scamper off and hide in their burrows. :) LOL

Just kidding - for the poser one use the link above.  

many MANY thanks, MrSparky!!!!  (and thanks to peggy for pointing out this link in the Vue forum)

Very cool.  Many thanks.

What's the difference between your DSU and using an environment map in Vue? Sounds pretty much the same to me, except that the photo shouldn't be used for lighting the scene, since it isn't HDR, it has a very limited dynamic range, and it isn't panoramic, so it can't be mapped on a skydome ...

Found the Vue version ok but cannot find the Poser Version.Cheers

Like mrsparky said, the DSU's got scared and were trying to hide. Here are some links, to get them out of their burrows. ;)

DSU (for Poser) at Vanishing Point.
DSU (for Poser) at Content Paradise

DSU (for Vue) at Vanishing Point.
DSU (for Vue) at Content Paradise.

DSU (for Poser): the link at msparky's site leads to the Free Stuff pages at Vanishing Point.
DSU (for Vue) at mrsparky's site, which leads to ShareCG.

What's the difference between your DSU and using an environment map in Vue?

Good question - thanks.

To get a really sharp background image in Vue you need to use a huge image for the environment map. Something like 10363 wide x4132 high.  Use anything smaller and you'll see the jaggies. You can see this very clearly in the HRDI city image included  with Vue.

Another is when you use very large environment map, is memory. If you change that map a few times you can run out of memory very quickly.  Vue is good and will warn you but really you need to restart the PC after seeing that message.    

With the DSU you don't get this. Nor do you have to spend ages creating a very large image -  any standard size photo will do as long as you crop it to 4:3.

*except that the photo shouldn't be used for lighting the scene, since it isn't HDR, it has a very limited dynamic range, and it isn't panoramic, so it can't be mapped on a skydome ...

Thats right - but thats easy enough to solve. Use HDRShop, or if you need a quick probe use the method Accadia suggested - Flaming Pear's Flexify filter. OK maybe thats not 'true' HDR for the purists but it can do the job.  

Thats another reason for the DSU and the way the tutorial is written - to make life easier for us Average Joes.

While it's nice to have the knowledge and skills to create technically accurate things, sometimes after a long day you just fancy throwing a quick NVITWAS off the wrist :) 

Forget to add...

Thanks to Mr J for the links - and to Peggy who as ever is a real sweety - thanks again. 

BTW - if you want some more background/ground images for the Vue version,  grab a copy of the Poser one - thats got a few more in it. 

1 more important thing  - HAVE FUN !

Thank You MrSparky... I think my Poser/DAZ characters will get along much better now using Vue rendered scenes in Poser instead of always getting them to look right in Vue.

Quote - Plus theres also a Poser Version as well ..link above.

That's fine and dandy for Vue but the information on the site doesn't say "Also for Poser". There is nothing to indicate that. U're shure you got it on the site there????

For those folks having troubling finding things - have a look now - don't forget to refresh the page.

mrsparky, I confess I didn't see those links... But thanks for the gift. Got it from CP... Looking forward to using this in my renders.

*mrsparky, I confess I didn't see those links...

• Thats because they wheren't there when you first looked :)
  Saw your post and put them up to help you find things *