As for the why of ambient strength, I offer you the example above. This was rendered in Lux using point lights (yes, its an ugly method) at the locations of the fire and the ice. I had originally set them to be light emitters, but the results made the texture 'blown out' as I wanted them to be fairly bright. The glare was added in post using Photoshop, not via Lux. Those are Jepes' Elementz. Essentially flat planes with alpha maps and textures to mimic fantasy effects. Arguably, such things can be added in post, but occasionally I have them partially obscured by scenery and the like, so it's sometimes useful to keep them in the scene.

Moving on from my own bad habits though, there is one issue I hope that has an easy solution. I have a lot of Genesis outfits, and many of them use mesh smoothing. In Daz, the smoothing seems to behave as expected, but when it's converted to Lux I see visible poke-through. A quick web-search revealed a post on the Pret-A-3D site which indicated the problem has been mentioned before, but I couldn't find a solution for it.

Have you had the opportunity to speak with Daz and discover what's causing the oddity? If so, was a solution ever proposed? It'd be extremely useful to be able to use smoothing without worrying too much about how it translates.

Quote - > Quote - So ... how do you use these, where are they installed? 

They are not "installed". You save them to disk anywhere you want. In the Reality light editor you add one of those files to any light that you want to turn into the light descibed by the IES file.

Cheers.

When you say light editor do you mean a file you have to open up?  Is there something in RUG about this?  

Quote - > Quote - > Quote - So ... how do you use these, where are they installed? 

They are not "installed". You save them to disk anywhere you want. In the Reality light editor you add one of those files to any light that you want to turn into the light descibed by the IES file.

Cheers.

When you say light editor do you mean a file you have to open up?  Is there something in RUG about this?  

Yes its in the RUG

Quote - As for the why of ambient strength, I offer you the example above. This was rendered in Lux using point lights (yes, its an ugly method) at the locations of the fire and the ice. I had originally set them to be light emitters, but the results made the texture 'blown out' as I wanted them to be fairly bright.

The blown out is simply a matter of having overexposed the scene. You need to to adjust the exposure for those lights and they will retain the amount of detail that you want. If the lower exposure makes the rest of the scene to dark that simply means that the contrast ratio that you have for your lighting is too high. In that case you need to add more ambient light so that everything is lit correctly for the exposure selected. 

Regarding the poke-through, that is something that has to do with how Studio passes the geometry to the plugins, there is nothing that I can do about it. It's in the hands of DAZ.

Cheers.

Quote - When you say light editor do you mean a file you have to open up?  Is there something in RUG about this?  

The Reality light editor is the Lights tab. You select the IES file for the light you want to modify.

Hope this helps.

Quote - > Quote - When you say light editor do you mean a file you have to open up?  Is there something in RUG about this?  

The Reality light editor is the Lights tab. You select the IES file for the light you want to modify.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Paolo I found it :) 

Quote - Good tip for removing the backgrounds. I have to admit, I hadn't considered using that method, and it's fairly straightforward and quick to do. I have Photoshop CS5, so the tecnhique is well known to me, I just never thought to apply it in such a way.

As for the why of ambient strength, I offer you the example above. This was rendered in Lux using point lights (yes, its an ugly method) at the locations of the fire and the ice. I had originally set them to be light emitters, but the results made the texture 'blown out' as I wanted them to be fairly bright. The glare was added in post using Photoshop, not via Lux. Those are Jepes' Elementz. Essentially flat planes with alpha maps and textures to mimic fantasy effects. Arguably, such things can be added in post, but occasionally I have them partially obscured by scenery and the like, so it's sometimes useful to keep them in the scene.

Moving on from my own bad habits though, there is one issue I hope that has an easy solution. I have a lot of Genesis outfits, and many of them use mesh smoothing. In Daz, the smoothing seems to behave as expected, but when it's converted to Lux I see visible poke-through. A quick web-search revealed a post on the Pret-A-3D site which indicated the problem has been mentioned before, but I couldn't find a solution for it.

Have you had the opportunity to speak with Daz and discover what's causing the oddity? If so, was a solution ever proposed? It'd be extremely useful to be able to use smoothing without worrying too much about how it translates.

I did a simliar image awhile back. Used a small ball meshlight which gave me all the lighting I needed in the scene and then postworked the actual effect. Would be cool if it could all be done in Lux though.

as for the pokethru, only had it happen a couple of times and increasing the collision iterations fixed it

@ FMSCDesign

Very kewl! You gave me an idea! :)

@ John

Lookin' good! Yeah, your name was the only one I could think of when Lasserine asked "who can make me a mermaid tail" ..but she already got your name from others before I gave it to her..

You must love us all.. grins

@ John

Lookin' good! Yeah, your name was the only one I could think of when Lasserine asked "who can make me a mermaid tail" ..but she already got your name from others before I gave it to her..

You must love us all.. grins

Thank you Callad, how should I put it - Doc is a friendly little devil :) If I can help, I will always make time.

When you came up with the lighting technique you gave me an idea for a render scene (basically a upright cylinder with a rounded top), I used it for the above render and it gave me an eff reading of 5000+. No idea what it means but 5000 % eff sounds good :)

The lighting is very good in your image! Care to share a screen shot with the setup?

...pretty please? :closedeyes:

Attached Link: SecondSkin mini-tut

Well Bob, here it is..

This is an easy way so results may vary.. In my example I lost the pure 'red'. I am pretty sure that can be refined but I just went for the 'quick fix' :P

..and here is the Reality render..

Can someone help me please?

Somehow the Reality_scene data does not get loaded when I merge a scene into an existing scene.

Here is what happens:

I save  scene-1 in DUF format.

I load this scene as 'new scene' and everthing is fine, reality data present as it should be.

Now I create another scene and merge scene-1 into it.

Now the Reality_data of scene-1 isn't loaded at all, only the reality_data of my first scene is present.

What am I doing wrong here?

If I remember correctly, the only time when it doesn't load the Reality settings from the saved scene file, is when the scene you are merging it into, contains the same objects, props, etc. Saving a scene as a subset doesn't preserve the Reality settings either.

Quote - If I remember correctly, the only time when it doesn't load the Reality settings from the saved scene file, is when the scene you are merging it into, contains the same objects, props, etc. Saving a scene as a subset doesn't preserve the Reality settings either.

Oki, but my 'scene-1' only contained a meshlight and a camera, in the previous loaded scene there wasn't a meshlight at all. So now what? :)

As I don't know how you created your scenes, this is how I do it (create the scenes that is).

1. New Scene. Add props, and set the Reality settings, etc. Save it in Reality.

2. Close and create New Scene. Add something, and merge the saved Scene.

As I can't attach scene files, download this test scene. Create a new scene and merge this test scene. The cube should be red in Reality :)

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/57aw3b62unukw65/n9uq3KDG4l

Quote - As I don't know how you created your scenes, this is how I do it (create the scenes that is).

1. New Scene. Add props, and set the Reality settings, etc. Save it in Reality.

2. Close and create New Scene. Add something, and merge the saved Scene.

As I can't attach scene files, download this test scene. Create a new scene and merge this test scene. The cube should be red in Reality :)

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/57aw3b62unukw65/n9uq3KDG4l

Thanks Anton :)

Nope.. white when merged, red when opened as New scene.. sigh must be something in my configuration then..  

You are using the latest version?

Quote - You are using the latest version?

I wonder..

DS 4.5.1.6 Pro Edition (64bit)

Reality 2.50.1.107

Reality version is the latest. DS is now up to 4.5.1.56

http://www.daz3d.com/forums/viewthread/14562/

I'm pretty sure it should work with your version tho' :)

Changed the material of the blade to glass with a diamond preset and a normal map. Also added vascularity maps to Penny's texture.

Used Callad's floor and back wall, 2 meshlights.

Quote - > Quote - You are using the latest version?

I wonder..

DS 4.5.1.6 Pro Edition (64bit)

Reality 2.50.1.107

Windows 7 or 8? If it is 8, then it might be that :)

Quote - I did a simliar image awhile back. Used a small ball meshlight which gave me all the lighting I needed in the scene and then postworked the actual effect. Would be cool if it could all be done in Lux though. as for the pokethru, only had it happen a couple of times and increasing the collision iterations fixed it

I tried that, but no matter how crazy I went with the collision iterations it would still render the same way in Lux. It got to the point where it was taking literally 5 minutes to calculate before I gave up trying. The problem is that it shows just fine in Daz Studio, so I have no visual reference to go by to say that it will work in Lux. I have to keep exporting after playing with settings to try and fix it. Since the majority of stuff I do is with Genesis at the moment which uses smoothing liberally, it's quite the conundrum.

Still if there's nothing that can be done, however frustrating it might be, then there's no point in crying over it. I appreciate the update though. Guess I'll just have to be extra careful which outfits I use with Reality for the time being. At least until Daz fix the issue.

I've never been asked how I set a render, does that mean I'm getting better :)

A very simple light set-up, but the room I've made bounces the light back at the character etc (at least that is what I intended with it).

Quote - Reality version is the latest. DS is now up to 4.5.1.56

http://www.daz3d.com/forums/viewthread/14562/

I'm pretty sure it should work with your version tho' :)

I've updated but the problem persists as you thought :)

That sword looks amazing Reggie! And your girl looks her pretty self awf cuz!

Quote - > Quote - I did a simliar image awhile back. Used a small ball meshlight which gave me all the lighting I needed in the scene and then postworked the actual effect. Would be cool if it could all be done in Lux though. as for the pokethru, only had it happen a couple of times and increasing the collision iterations fixed it

I tried that, but no matter how crazy I went with the collision iterations it would still render the same way in Lux. It got to the point where it was taking literally 5 minutes to calculate before I gave up trying. The problem is that it shows just fine in Daz Studio, so I have no visual reference to go by to say that it will work in Lux. I have to keep exporting after playing with settings to try and fix it. Since the majority of stuff I do is with Genesis at the moment which uses smoothing liberally, it's quite the conundrum.

Still if there's nothing that can be done, however frustrating it might be, then there's no point in crying over it. I appreciate the update though. Guess I'll just have to be extra careful which outfits I use with Reality for the time being. At least until Daz fix the issue.

Did you have displacement set to any of the items that got poked-through? If so: disable all displacement settings on those items (and also on the model that is doing the 'poking')

Quote - > Quote - The lighting is very good in your image! Care to share a screen shot with the setup?

...pretty please? :closedeyes:

I've never been asked how I set a render, does that mean I'm getting better :)

A very simple light set-up, but the room I've made bounces the light back at the character etc (at least that is what I intended with it).

Ah! So the cylinder isn't a light, just a room. Thanks for the screenshot John!

Quote - Did you have displacement set to any of the items that got poked-through? If so: disable all displacement settings on those items (and also on the model that is doing the 'poking')

No, it's all smoothing and no displacement at all. A bump map is the only depth given to the outfit. It's not an issue I have with all outfits, mercifully, but as a good number of my favorites are heavily meshsmoothed it's something I've learned to be wary about.

Quote - Or use an IES profile from a real world spotlight

Hmm, there is no IES option for a DAZ Spotlight.

Quote - > Quote - Or use an IES profile from a real world spotlight

Hmm, there is no IES option for a DAZ Spotlight.

you mean in studio? You have to use the Reality light editor to enter the IES file.

Keep in mind that the IES data will take over the shape of the light, no matter what type of light you use. Apply it to a point light and it will still project a spotlight cone. I suggest to apply it to a mesh light. It will make it easier to point it to the right direction.

Quote - > Quote - > Quote - Or use an IES profile from a real world spotlight

Hmm, there is no IES option for a DAZ Spotlight.

you mean in studio? You have to use the Reality light editor to enter the IES file.

Keep in mind that the IES data will take over the shape of the light, no matter what type of light you use. Apply it to a point light and it will still project a spotlight cone. I suggest to apply it to a mesh light. It will make it easier to point it to the right direction.

In Reality light editor itself. There is for meshlights, but not Spotlight.

Because spotlights in Lux don't support IES files. 

Quote - Because spotlights in Lux don't support IES files. 

My apologies :) I read the posts wrong.

Quote - Earlier this week I said I would make a mini-tut to show how to adjust the glossiness of second skin materials.

Well Bob, here it is..

This is an easy way so results may vary.. In my example I lost the pure 'red'. I am pretty sure that can be refined but I just went for the 'quick fix' :P

Prolem is the image does not expand that small its really hard to read anything

Attached Link: 3 spots on Justine

Therefore I have parented a camera to each meshlight. Now I could look through the 'mesh-cam' but I had to reposition the meshlight using the translate sliders.

It would have been easier to parent the meshlight to the camera, but then the meshlight isn't recognized by Reality anymore. (Must find a way to seduce Paolo into making this possible..)

An alternative way is to parent the meshlight to the camera, position the camera, then unparent the meshlight before calling Reality.

 
Slightly see-through nudity so I had to check 'Nudity'.

Quote - Prolem is the image does not expand that small its really hard to read anything

Bob, go back to my original post, then use the link provided above the text I wrote.

Then the image will open in a new window, there you can click it to maximize.

:)

Quote - > Quote - Prolem is the image does not expand that small its really hard to read anything

Bob, go back to my original post, then use the link provided above the text I wrote.

Then the image will open in a new window, there you can click it to maximize.

:)

 Nice rendner BTW

Doh! Got it any thanks :)))

Attached Link: http://bobvan.deviantart.com/#/d5sxa4o

Quote - It would have been easier to parent the meshlight to the camera, but then the meshlight isn't recognized by Reality anymore. (Must find a way to seduce Paolo into making this possible..)

I finished yesterday to add supoort for IES files with spots in Reality 3. You use the spot in Poser as usual and then select an IES file in Reality. Even though Lux doesn't support IES files for spots Reality operates its own magic bahind the scenes :). No need to oarent anything, just use spots as usual. Of course the same will be available for the Studio version.

Cheers.

Attached Link: http://bobvan.deviantart.com/#/d5sxa5g

Attached Link: http://bobvan.deviantart.com/#/d5sxa17

Attached Link: http://bobvan.deviantart.com/#/d5sx9z7

Attached Link: http://bobvan.deviantart.com/#/d5sx9wn

Quote - > Quote - It would have been easier to parent the meshlight to the camera, but then the meshlight isn't recognized by Reality anymore. (Must find a way to seduce Paolo into making this possible..)

I finished yesterday to add supoort for IES files with spots in Reality 3. You use the spot in Poser as usual and then select an IES file in Reality. Even though Lux doesn't support IES files for spots Reality operates its own magic bahind the scenes :). No need to oarent anything, just use spots as usual. Of course the same will be available for the Studio version.

Cheers.

Ah! That IS good news!

Since I don't use Poser (I have bought it years ago, but it drove me nuts.. I consider every Poser user to be a total genius) I will have to wait until R3 is available for DS.

Patience is a virtue (they say..)

Nice series Bob! Love the warm colors used.

Quote - Nice series Bob! Love the warm colors used.

Thanks like I said above LOVE what lux did with this set

Edit and I am with Paolo regarding rendering times. I have cranked out what I consider to be 13 quality renders since Friday and well over a thousand renders coming up on a year.

Quote - > Quote - > Quote - It would have been easier to parent the meshlight to the camera, but then the meshlight isn't recognized by Reality anymore. (Must find a way to seduce Paolo into making this possible..)

I finished yesterday to add supoort for IES files with spots in Reality 3. You use the spot in Poser as usual and then select an IES file in Reality. Even though Lux doesn't support IES files for spots Reality operates its own magic bahind the scenes :). No need to oarent anything, just use spots as usual. Of course the same will be available for the Studio version.

Cheers.

Ah! That IS good news!

Since I don't use Poser (I have bought it years ago, but it drove me nuts.. I consider every Poser user to be a total genius) I will have to wait until R3 is available for DS.

Patience is a virtue (they say..)

Since I now understand Reality I am looking forward to 3 as well...

Forgot to metion the Film Response is Kodack Gold 100