Winter Thunders In.....used the same fiber mesh hair prop as previous render, and manipulated it to create the horses' manes and tails.....added snow effects, motion blur and soft glow post render.....

Quote - This is sort of on and off topic.  Since we're dealing with reality and luxrender; lighting seems to always be the key.  I've looked all over for various light temperatures and have not found anything concise on it.  Recently I acquired a book on nude and portrait photography by Helmut Newton(long time playboy photo) and he gave a list he uses as light temperatures for his work.  For natural light they are as follows:
Sunrise, sunset 3200 K
High noon 5000–5400 K
Open sky 5500–6500 K
Overcast sky 6000–7500 K
Open shade 7000–8000 K
Partly cloudy sky 8000–10,000 K
Blue sky 9000–12,000 K

And temps for his most commonly used artificial light temps:

Match 1700–1800 K
Candle 1850–1930 K
Household bulbs 2500–2900 K
Quartz/Halogen bulbs 2800–3400 K

 

Hope this is able to help someone.  I'm going to be experimenting a bit more to see what kind of effects I can achieve.

 

some further info/links here... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_temperature

`¬)

Quote - It is late, come to bed

This is probably my last render till 2013. The next one should be the scene I've been working for the past 8 weeks.

Great image Doc! always full of details! (and John's props? - loved the chandelier in the previous one too...) `¬) ...look forward to seeing more in 2013. ;)

Quote - Winter Thunders In.....used the same fiber mesh hair prop as previous render, and manipulated it to create the horses' manes and tails.....added snow effects, motion blur and soft glow post render.....

great action shot! love the way they are posed... looks very natural with the snow effects too. `¬)

Quote - It is late, come to bed

This is probably my last render till 2013. The next one should be the scene I've been working for the past 8 weeks.

Nice one.  Wish I had an office like that. 

Here's one I just did as a concept piece for someone.  Thought I'd share it since I haven't been active on rendo much.

Quote - Here's one I just did as a concept piece for someone.  Thought I'd share it since I haven't been active on rendo much.

Pretty dope render.. I dig the entire concept.

Quote - Winter Thunders In.....used the same fiber mesh hair prop as previous render, and manipulated it to create the horses' manes and tails.....added snow effects, motion blur and soft glow post render.....

This is just beautiful!

Quote - Here's one I just did as a concept piece for someone.  Thought I'd share it since I haven't been active on rendo much.

Fantasitic Render love the concept.

Quote - Here's one I just did as a concept piece for someone.  Thought I'd share it since I haven't been active on rendo much.

Very nice! ...just been using the 'constructed' peice myself! (really must end the render soon, just have not had the time to stop it yet - RL and all that!) But this is really great ...where did you get the great 'accessories' from... `¬) ...reminds me of Davorama's mad lab stuff - which I really must get round to installing as well... just not enough time... ;)

I have a really dumb question, but I just can't figure it out. 

How can you make Genesis's fingernails longer?

Quote - I have a really dumb question, but I just can't figure it out. 

How can you make Genesis's fingernails longer?

Select Genesis on the Scene tab, then on Parameters tab select

Actor - Upper Body - Hands - Universal - Proportions

Quote - > Quote - I have a really dumb question, but I just can't figure it out. 

How can you make Genesis's fingernails longer?

Select Genesis on the Scene tab, then on Parameters tab select

Actor - Upper Body - Hands - Universal - Proportions

Another reason I hate 4.5. Why couldn't they just keep all that stuff under "Shaping" where it actually makes sense?

Quote - Winter Thunders In.....used the same fiber mesh hair prop as previous render, and manipulated it to create the horses' manes and tails.....added snow effects, motion blur and soft glow post render.....

As the English say "bloomin' marvellous!"

Quote - Here's one I just did as a concept piece for someone.  Thought I'd share it since I haven't been active on rendo much.

Very interesting scene and nice render!

Quote - > Quote - > Quote - I have a really dumb question, but I just can't figure it out. 

How can you make Genesis's fingernails longer?

Select Genesis on the Scene tab, then on Parameters tab select

Actor - Upper Body - Hands - Universal - Proportions

Another reason I hate 4.5. Why couldn't they just keep all that stuff under "Shaping" where it actually makes sense?

Actually, it is on Shaping as well.

Select Genesis on the Scene tab, then on Shaping tab select

Hands - Universal - Proportions

I hate 4.5 too if it were not for the future need to follow Reality I would go back to 4.0 & not needing to use Genesis for face genning back to 3.. Alot of folks on the DS forums claim going back to 3.

Bob, unfortunately not upgrading, with any software, is really not a choice. Going back to DS3 is simply absurd. There is no support for that anymore, DAZ has discontinued it and new product will nit work. The same is for DS4.5 or any software in General. You can postpone the upgrade for a small period but sooner or later it will become necessary to upgrade.

If a software beco,es much if an inconvenience it's better to loock at alternatives than to use outdated versions.

This is just a friendly advice, I don't get anything out of anybody upgrading or not to Studio 4.x :)

Cheers. 

Quote - Bob, unfortunately not upgrading, with any software, is really not a choice. Going back to DS3 is simply absurd. There is no support for that anymore, DAZ has discontinued it and new product will nit work. The same is for DS4.5 or any software in General. You can postpone the upgrade for a small period but sooner or later it will become necessary to upgrade.

If a software beco,es much if an inconvenience it's better to loock at alternatives than to use outdated versions.

This is just a friendly advice, I don't get anything out of anybody upgrading or not to Studio 4.x :)

Cheers. 

I know but if we want Reality 3 we have to follow

For Reality you will have the choice to use Poser as well ;)

Quote - For Reality you will have the choice to use Poser as well ;)

Poser sounds much more complicated I am fine with my workflow

Quote - > Quote - > Quote - > Quote - I have a really dumb question, but I just can't figure it out. 

How can you make Genesis's fingernails longer?

Select Genesis on the Scene tab, then on Parameters tab select

Actor - Upper Body - Hands - Universal - Proportions

Another reason I hate 4.5. Why couldn't they just keep all that stuff under "Shaping" where it actually makes sense?

Actually, it is on Shaping as well.

Select Genesis on the Scene tab, then on Shaping tab select

Hands - Universal - Proportions

Thank you both!  I found it.. Now to just remember where it is again. lol

A render for Paolo.. the background is of the beach in Callabria in the winter.  Added a bit of blur to fake some dof and away she goes.. no post-work other than that and a bit of contrast correction  See it full size for best effect.

Quote - > Quote - > Quote - I have a really dumb question, but I just can't figure it out. 

How can you make Genesis's fingernails longer?

Select Genesis on the Scene tab, then on Parameters tab select

Actor - Upper Body - Hands - Universal - Proportions

Another reason I hate 4.5. Why couldn't they just keep all that stuff under "Shaping" where it actually makes sense?

I concur.. I had just gotten to the point where I could do my customizing fairly quick.  Now, I'm seaching every single time I want to alter something.  Gee daz.. way to fix what isn't broken.

Quote - I concur.. I had just gotten to the point where I could do my customizing fairly quick.  Now, I'm seaching every single time I want to alter something.  Gee daz.. way to fix what isn't broken.

It's still easier to use then Poser :) For me, anyway.

Thank you Sharkybytes.

Calabria is indeed one of the most beautiful regions of Italy. 

The biggest issue with Studio's UI is its messiness. There is a simple concept of UI design that is violated regularly in Studio. The concept that I'm referring to is: have one single way of doing something. Instead, Studio is going to great length to provide multiple ways of doing the same thing, with the result of confusing newcomers and experts alike. Having multiple ways of performing an action is not flexibility, it's simply confusion.

Take content management. The content manager in DS3 needed improvements but was usable. Now we have two CMs: the Smart Content and the Content Library. Some things are found in one place, others are found in the other. The only way to find out where is to poke around and soend valuable time Getting frustrated.

The same is petty much valid for everything else. We ave the usual Parameters tab, and then some for Cameras and Lights that do exactly the same thing.  The scattering of data between the Posing and Parameters tabs is just puzzling.

One way of performing a task. It's an old rule and valid one. Change Studio to work in that way and you'll have improved the usability of the program ten-fold.

Best.

I'm still happy using daz studio 3.1, I have loads of content collected over the last 18months that it will be a long time before I've explored it all. I have no desire to move to Daz 4.5; maybe one day? I suspect that next year I will probably start delving into Blender, but meanwhile daz 3.1 does everything that I need it to... I've actually only made one or two purchases from Daz in the last few months - none of it requireing Genesis, (but then I don't do as many character based renders anyway... `¬)

Mbin. Just that you know, there will be no further development of Reality for DS3. The next version will be for DS4 only. DS3 is simply a discontinued, dead product, and there is no way for me to continue to support two very different versions of the program. I have no agenda about it, it's just a decision based on the evolution of the product, which is determined by DAZ.

I would suggest to install DS4 side-by-side and gradually start getting familiar with it.

Cheers.

What I dislike is that it destroyed almost all the scenes that I had saved

It not only refused to open them or only partialy opened them but made them unopenable in the earlier version of DS

Files made with a newer version of a program are rarely usable with old versions of the same program. That happens with pretty much all program and is a results of new features being ... new. The old verison doesn't know how to handle the new format. It's just a way of life. It's like trying to install an new model engine inside a old style chassis. The mount points, transmission and everything else don't match :)

A lot of software has the ability to open files from an earlier version, for backward compatibility, if you want to then use it in the new software it is advisable to save as a different file. If newer software mangles old files without prompting, then that is not a good thing - it should either prompt to ask if you want to continue if it needs to changes saved data, or at least give the oportunity to save in the old file format with lost functionality... I can't comment on what compatability exists between ds3 and ds4, but suspect that there is very little commonality in the file versions?

Completely OT, but absolutely awesome. I think we have some fans here, so I wanted to share this.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4Fn06MvcNe0

Now I need to go find some starship models to render. 

Quote - Completely OT, but absolutely awesome. I think we have some fans here, so I wanted to share this.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4Fn06MvcNe0

Now I need to go find some starship models to render. 

Wow.  JJ will be pissed. 

Quote - Files made with a newer version of a program are rarely usable with old versions of the same program. That happens with pretty much all program and is a results of new features being ... new. The old verison doesn't know how to handle the new format. It's just a way of life. It's like trying to install an new model engine inside a old style chassis. The mount points, transmission and everything else don't match :)

I think you misunderstood me the files were made in DS3 and DS4 but 4.5 choked on them and manged to make them unusable even though I didn't allow it save them as a new file

DS4 opens .daz files but it now uses a new file format ending in .duf. The .duf is a vast improvement comapred to the old verison. There are no external dependencies from the files stored in the object cache. In this way it's possible to move Studio scene from one computer to the other, provided that the runtimes match.

Thanks for all the nice responses to my last post!

I reworked the scene to maintain a cold, sterile laboratory environment, but to have a machine that was more like a sci-fi cat scanner with a mutated humanoid figure.

Quote - Thanks for all the nice responses to my last post!

I reworked the scene to maintain a cold, sterile laboratory environment, but to have a machine that was more like a sci-fi cat scanner with a mutated humanoid figure.

Really like these images you are doing... but where are you getting the models, they are very cool! ...are youi modelling them yourself? `¬)

Rendered in two layers... Scene set up here http://fav.me/d5ofgbe includes links to the original renders before combining. Was going for a subtle effect, and deliberatly over exposed the stained glass window as it didn't look right with the light beams. Minor bloom set in Lux on the candles... I inserted John's candles into the top of the existing ones to get the candle flames... couldn't find an option in Sacrament to light them... lol!

At least I can turn my PC off tonight `¬) ...total render time 19 1/2 days - not sure I needed to leave it that long, but I'd been too busy to get back and stop it... least that's my excuse! (click twice to get full view)

Preaching to the Converted? (daz3.1 Reality 1v25 Lux 0.8)

Quote - > Quote - Thanks for all the nice responses to my last post!

I reworked the scene to maintain a cold, sterile laboratory environment, but to have a machine that was more like a sci-fi cat scanner with a mutated humanoid figure.

Really like these images you are doing... but where are you getting the models, they are very cool! ...are youi modelling them yourself? `¬)

The first one is a Cybertenko (sp?) model from Rendo.  The second one I made myself in Hexagon.  I had to rush to finish it in a 2 hour window, so it doesn't have all the bells and whistles on it, but I was also trying to keep it simple and clean.

Quote - Rendered in two layers... Scene set up here http://fav.me/d5ofgbe includes links to the original renders before combining. Was going for a subtle effect, and deliberatly over exposed the stained glass window as it didn't look right with the light beams. Minor bloom set in Lux on the candles... I inserted John's candles into the top of the existing ones to get the candle flames... couldn't find an option in Sacrament to light them... lol!

At least I can turn my PC off tonight `¬) ...total render time 19 1/2 days - not sure I needed to leave it that long, but I'd been too busy to get back and stop it... least that's my excuse! (click twice to get full view)

Preaching to the Converted? (daz3.1 Reality 1v25 Lux 0.8)

Love the stained glass.  It reminds me a bit of the ending of Caprica, where Clarice is preaching to a church full of Cylons.

Quote - > Quote - > Quote - Thanks for all the nice responses to my last post!

I reworked the scene to maintain a cold, sterile laboratory environment, but to have a machine that was more like a sci-fi cat scanner with a mutated humanoid figure.

Really like these images you are doing... but where are you getting the models, they are very cool! ...are youi modelling them yourself? `¬)

The first one is a Cybertenko (sp?) model from Rendo.  The second one I made myself in Hexagon.  I had to rush to finish it in a 2 hour window, so it doesn't have all the bells and whistles on it, but I was also trying to keep it simple and clean.

Good job! looks very effective... look forward to seeing the final bells and whistles version too! `¬) ...thanks for the info!

Quote - Love the stained glass.  It reminds me a bit of the ending of Caprica, where Clarice is preaching to a church full of Cylons.

Thanks, don't think I've seen that, but certainly remember Battlestar Galactica! I'll have to look up the series! `¬)

Quote - Rendered in two layers... Scene set up here http://fav.me/d5ofgbe includes links to the original renders before combining. Was going for a subtle effect, and deliberatly over exposed the stained glass window as it didn't look right with the light beams. Minor bloom set in Lux on the candles... I inserted John's candles into the top of the existing ones to get the candle flames... couldn't find an option in Sacrament to light them... lol!

At least I can turn my PC off tonight `¬) ...total render time 19 1/2 days - not sure I needed to leave it that long, but I'd been too busy to get back and stop it... least that's my excuse! (click twice to get full view)

Preaching to the Converted? (daz3.1 Reality 1v25 Lux 0.8)

Very scary, dark and moody. Nice one mbin!

Well... past weekend I merged my content from folders Daz3, Daz4 and Daz 4.5 into one seperate folder C:3D-Content and I mirrored the 60GB folder onto my other (old) Vista 32bit pc.

Then took a deep breath, a Xanax, a glas of white wine (2 actually) and opened up Daz4.5 very well knowing my content database would be a mess.

..it was..

One of the options of the content database is to change the relative path where content is. Did it work? Yeah, it did for almost 5% of my content. All other folders in my manually made structure were empty...

So now I move and categorize each folder from DazContent one by one to my (understandable) folder structure.

The nice thing is that .duf scenes load perfectly fine and when I call Reality all I have to do (for some items) is 'Reload Daz textures' to make it work in Luxrender.

But since you guys won't look at re-runs of old scenes I also want to make new scenes.. :P

Don't expect anything new soon since I will be categorising my content for the next month or so.. sigh I knew something like this was going to happen but my scattered content needed to be centralized 'one day'.

Why I need my old pc besides back-up reasons? Cuz Daz4.5 still crashes on my Win7 64 bit when using 'Dynamic Clothing > Drape'. If that happens I need to re-boot my pc to make it work again -sometimes-. My old pc drapes just fine... (Also Daz4.5).

taking sip from prosecco where was I? Oh yeah.. select, move, categorize.. select move categorize...

Quote - > Quote - Completely OT, but absolutely awesome. I think we have some fans here, so I wanted to share this.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4Fn06MvcNe0

Now I need to go find some starship models to render. 

 

Wow.  JJ will be pissed. 

Paramount was too.. the vid is gone..

Quote - But since you guys won't look at re-runs of old scenes I ..

Says who :ohmy:

Quote - Preaching to the Converted? (daz3.1 Reality 1v25 Lux 0.8)

Absolutely beautiful. I too though of Caprica, with the Cylons being the adopters of the monotheistic religion.

BTW, here is a trick taken from the movie industry about avoiding overexposure from the windows:

• On a movie set, if the window is visible in the frame, the crew often covers the window with a slightly dark transparent film. This film is called a "Neutral Density" ND film and it act like applying a gigantic set of sunglasses to the windows. It comes in different gradation or it can be doubled.

• The cinematographer then lights the interior with additional lights, like large softboxes or other sources that complement the light from the window.

This technique is used very, very often. If you see a scene in any Hollywood production with windows perfectly exposed then you can count on them being covered with ND films. 

The result is great lighting with the subjects well visible and the windows perfectly exposed. With Reality you can do the same. Place a pane of glass outsite the window and set the transmission to medium grey (127,127,127).

Cheers.

Quote - With Reality you can do the same. Place a pane of glass outsite the window and set the transmission to medium grey (127,127,127). Cheers.

Why not set the transmission of the windows itself to that?

Paolo, you caught me! I used the same technique over the dingy window on the far side, except I used a plane outside and altered its opacity. It was the only way to get the 'grunge' in the panes to look right! ...I felt the over exposure on the stained glass gave it a better look for the exposure inside... Some handy information! `¬)

Quote -
Why not set the transmission of the windows itself to that?

That would work with a neutral window but would not work with stained glass.

Cheers.

...and thank you Doc! probably my last for this year too now! `¬)

Quote - Thank you Sharkybytes.

Calabria is indeed one of the most beautiful regions of Italy. 

The biggest issue with Studio's UI is its messiness. There is a simple concept of UI design that is violated regularly in Studio. The concept that I'm referring to is: have one single way of doing something. Instead, Studio is going to great length to provide multiple ways of doing the same thing, with the result of confusing newcomers and experts alike. Having multiple ways of performing an action is not flexibility, it's simply confusion.

Take content management. The content manager in DS3 needed improvements but was usable. Now we have two CMs: the Smart Content and the Content Library. Some things are found in one place, others are found in the other. The only way to find out where is to poke around and soend valuable time Getting frustrated.

The same is petty much valid for everything else. We ave the usual Parameters tab, and then some for Cameras and Lights that do exactly the same thing.  The scattering of data between the Posing and Parameters tabs is just puzzling.

One way of performing a task. It's an old rule and valid one. Change Studio to work in that way and you'll have improved the usability of the program ten-fold.

Best.

I couldn't agree more, LOL. I don't use smart content and delete all metadata for this very purpose, i know where my files are and where to get them.

Sucks to hear some of the horror stories here, my transistion to DS 4.5 was seamless. It opens all my DS3 and 4 files with no problems. i was able to map the location of my runtimes and old DS files with no issues and have not had any app issues so far. I am to a point that the only time I go back to poser 2012 is to create a part for a scene, usually with dynamic cloth and then import it into DS. I use the smoothing modifier and collision in DS4.5 so much, I can't imagine not having them.