Resources: LaFemme + morph set, Photo reference set

Tools: Poser 11, Blacksmith3d Pro, Photoshop, Filterforge

Plan: Create a character for LaFemme with new skin, makeup, clothes, eyes with no other resources but the ones listed above,(I do not plan to do hair :D )

Here is my progress as of the 19th: Basic morph done, working on skin and makeup

Bill

Nice kick off, beautiful morph!

I'm liking it too. 

Great start!

Wow 

Please don't get mad, but I'm not liking that makeup at all. She looks like some girls I knew when I was in junior high and they were just starting to learn how to put on make up. The morph looks okay.

LOL, that is the first time I have ever tried to do makup on my own.  Just did it to get down the mechanics of layers in BS3d.  I have no expectations that I will even be able to start makeup for weeks.  doing a skin texture from photo reverences will take a while since I have  never done it before.  Not looking forward to fingers and toes.

Skinhead is done and that took a week to get to the point I like it, ears are fun :D

Bill

If you want to “makeup” your life easier, I use Classic Genesis 2 for my makeups. It’s licensed for free and commercial products.

That looks like a nice package, and does not have the usual restriction to not use for any other figure, and I will probably get it :D

But the object of this exercise is to develop a complete character from scratch.  The only MRs I am using is LaFemme and a photo reference set.

The rest must (for my purpose) needs to be the software I have and my skills (which I expect to improve in the process)

I have no idea if the result will be a commercial product, as I stated this is for my development :D

Bill

Makeup is hardly ever what our muscle memory seems to think it is - I suggest searching for reference :)

Pinterest is great to look for photos of nice makeup.

More often than not, I paint my character makeup directly on Photoshop. Can end up feeling more natural than using resources.

A tip for eye makeup.

Since you are using Blacksmith 3D, you should be able to use the Eye Blink dial to close her eyes. It's much easier to gauge where eye makeup should lie if you apply it with the lids closed. And yes, use online references as Afrodite Ohki suggests. 

maybe this image gives you an idea how to contour and place the make up

Thank You :D

more contour ideas. As you see the base is almost everywhere the same.

Basic Texture finished except finger and toe details, going to take a break and do a set of eye colors before I do that :D

Bill

There is nothing worse than a texture with built in highlights imo. the highlights come from the lighting and will vary with viewing direction. Sorry, eye textures with built in reflection are worse!

Areas that will be highlighted based on lighting should be addressed in the Specular map.

If you want to add contoured areas, it would be best to include them as face makeup presets or layers. 

The base color map should contain as few as possible highlighted and shadowed areas. Anything else in addition should be provided as an option.

Also, I don't use Blacksmith 3D that often. Is there a way to soften or blur those contours a little more in Blacksmith? It looks like they need to be blended a bit more.

Eye textures have NO built in specular.  What are seeing is specular from a Fill Light.  And at this point, the eye texture is is default LaFemme, not one that I created.

Please read my sig line.

Bill

Image with no Fill Light:

specular  in the body is from EZskine

@DCArt: BS3d has most (maybe all?) of the options of photoshop, but applied in 3D, along with brushes to paint over seams, add noise.  I have found a problem with the reference photos, since they are by design flat lighting, the contours tend to darken on the edges where the skin falls away.  Some of the problems I have seem to be with the lighting.  I like a backlit image, and if using Rembrant lighting, there is no or little direct light on the eyes.

Bill

Some Progress.  Still need to do fingers and toes, so worked on Eyes and some simple makeup

Bill

Your character has a beautiful and atypical face

And further progress:  Fixed mouth problems, playing with makeup and eyes

Trying to decide if she needs to be darker or go with a more nordic look

Bill

My Final (?) Character :D

LaFemme

Tee shirt from Jeans and Tee Shirt, Renderosity

Jeanz for V4 DAZ

My morph, makeup, Texture

Background from Free-images.com

I will continue to play with makeup etc, but as of now I have Two textures, one normal and one Tan (and not just color chip, full maps)

Bill