Does anyone know how to make backdrops for the DAZ cyclotron, who would be willing to share the information (if it is not a proprietary sort of thing)? Thanks!

Do you mean the multiplane cyclorama? Daz has the texture templates for it on the Daz site. As far as I know, there isn't anything proprietary about creating your own textures for it (I've done it). It's pretty simple actually, just follow the template and you should be okay. Just remember that the bottom part of the template (or 65 to 70 percent of it) will be the horizontal part of the texture (the floor). You need to wrap the floor up the back onto the vertical part just a little bit.

The attached image is a background texture that I created for the Cyclorama.

Laurie

Here's another one. I've been doing experiments lately on creating "from scratch" textures for it rather than using photgraphs. The image is kinda dark, but I'm sure you get the gist of the whole thing ;o)

Laurie

WOW Laurie thats sweet work on the multiplane cyclorama .

Thanks tasquah :o). I like 'em ;o). Laurie

If you dont mind , How big did you make your back drops ? What i mean is the stanadard cyclorama comes 1600 x 2000 or 2112 x 2640 . And in the lighting did you find pointing light at or away more helpful . MY brain was kind of stuck on just useing it just for out door backdrops , but now i can see more versitility than i originally planed.

Hmmm...my textures are 1026x1320. Which one are you using? I used the templates at the size that they came from Daz. You can certainly increase the size if you wanted. I know there are a couple templates included with the Cyclorama. I'm using the one that has a rectangular part at the top and then a rounded rectangular part at the bottom at the size above. As far as the lighting goes, I found that globals that don't cast too much shadow work best, and lights that do cast shadow have to be coming from directly overhead or slightly from behind with lights in the front with no shadow. It's the only way you can keep the shadows of the figures from showing up on the back, although in indoor scenes that would be acceptable to an extent. Laurie

Yes, Laurie, that is what I meant! D'oh! What beautiful work - your backdrops are lovely and your central figure is gorgeous!

I've been thinking about putting some of the textures I made for it up for free at www.big-i.com. Anyone interested? No sense making MAT files and what not if no one will use them. Laurie

I think anything that expands the use of a product is welcome. What I've seen so far of your backgrounds, it's first rate and might inspire other people to experiment more with this particular tool. Good job!

Laurie - I'm interested! I'm interested! These look fabulous and I'm always looking for extra stuff for the Cyclorama! Gaurie

Laurie: Thanks for your imput and help . I am always happy to learn more about a item i am interested in. I would think others would be delighted to have free back drops , your work is very good. I have been thinking of making some myself and dug out some software that came with my camera that stiches pictures togeather to make a panoramic scene. Also thanks for the help with the lights . I see i will have to experiment with some indoor scenes as well. I was maybe thinking of adding some renders done in bryce to see what i can come up with.

You put these up and I'll be tempted to buy the Cyclorama. These are just gorgeous!

tasquah: I was thinking about doing the very same thing, but with Vue (I'm Bryce retarded ;o)). I need to figure out what the ideal size to render it in is. And the sun should probably be shining more like noon maybe? Guess I'll have to fiddle around in Vue now...lol. Crescent: Such nice comments! I'll be glad to put them up over at big-i - I just have to check the bandwidth usage for my website for the month. A lot of folks downloaded the textures I already have over there and I might be close to my limit ;o). I'll check and see and then decide when to upload them. Laurie

Laurie : Thats why i was pumping you for information. To try and get a better feal for it . I thought the forest one from Daz's was a bit on the drak side or i was doing it wrong. I like your idea of the noon sun . Besides i always add my shadows in Photoshop. I was thinking of something with pillars ( broken uprights and leaning ones ) in it to use the add-on and to give it more depth but it seems to confuse some of the people. I look foreward to seeing more . I might try 2 different renders a top and a bottom see how that works . The top from a horizontal / horizon view and the bottom from a birds eye view maybe, something like that .