No one likes the delays when a texture is missing. Never had a lengthy 10 minute wait. For me it's about a minute or less wait for the window to open for starting a search. -TOM-

Quote - I always run with noscript going. Its site evaluation links say nothing.

I like "noscript", thanks! -TOM-

...great looking texture! Will load it up and give it a try...

and will try some "noise", thanks!

Quote - "I would like to try the hair room but I wouldn't know where to begin."

Suggest clicking on the Hair Room Tab and seeing how it compares to the Chapter on the hair room in the manual. :)

Load a prop.

Use the hair room grouping tool to define a hair group. Suggest the entire prop to start with. Then click the "grow hair" button.

Turn the hair length dial.

Experiment.

Another thing to consider will be what level of detail you require. Unless you are doing an extreme close up you may be better off creating a long cylinder in a 3D modeling application. Give it a few small offsets so that it does not hang perfectly straight. In Poser apply a depth or displacement map to give it some "fuzziness".

To my view, yes the hair solution can work but I feel that it will get very complicated very fast, the 3D model will be much simpler and just as effective.

I am trying several different things. Would like to try your "displacement map" idea. Can you suggest one to use that's "freeware"? I would really like a fuzzy appearance of the string that will show up in the forefront of the composition.

Quote - Inspired by the classic MPC plastic model kit, from the 1970's TV series "The Bionic Woman", here's a small freebie set of a operating theatre styled room. Contains a fully assembled room set with 2 "computers", lamp and operating table. Plus standalone versions of the computers, lamp, empty room and table. Download [3.23mb .zip] from.... http://www.sparkyworld.co.uk/3d10own.htm For now click on any freebie on that page to get to the download page. Please Note: As with all fan art models, this one is understandably non-commerical.

Thanks!

Just starting experimenting with MakeHuman a few weeks ago. Would be nice to share tips with other users. -TOM-

Quote - Why not use the hair room?

Grow a few hairs on the cieling? (turn it upside down again to let them hang down)

Yo can select the polys to grow from, the number of hairs, and you can control how they behave.

We'v used the hair room to make hair, short and long grass, furr.. why not strings hanging from the cieling.

Your suggestion sounds very interesting. Problem for me is that I've never been in the hair room. It's foreign soil . I had no idea I could "grow" hair. Ideally I'd like the string to have some tiny fuzzy hairs to help make it realistic. I would like to try the hair room but I wouldn't know where to begin.

Quote - Have you tried Masa's "Gordian Knot" program? It exports in obj format, the string accepts common textures and works well with Poser. Simply export a "core prop" from Poser as an OBJ, load it into Gordian Knot, wrap it up and export the string back into Poser.

Here's the link:

http://www.eurus.dti.ne.jp/~masasi/index.htm

Downloading the program now. Sounds like a great program. Many thanks! -TOM-

For those of you who have never rendered in the above formats don't be alarmed when you view the results. The render will likely appear "washed out". This is because these formats contain more information regarding the intensity of white than other filetypes. Try out the HDR Toning and you'll be amazed at the crisp quality of the colors you can achieve along with other corrections such as Gamma. Do some Google searches on these filetypes and you'll quickly learn just how valuable they are in the commercial environment. You can even take a Poser rendering and create a Stereo3d image! -Tom-

Quote - Here is the tricky part.

What I see towards the end of that video is a scene with a time of 6:30pm.

Then when he applies gamma correction I see a 8:30am in the morning on a slightly foggy day.

If you use gamma correction to portray "daytime" your scene, FINE.

But instead of using gamma correction you could of just done the lighting correctly in the first place which will give better results since you're shooting for a realistic lighting position instead of a bandaid/quick fix aka Gamma correction.

That's my opinion. 

Instead of applying gamma correction to the end scene he should of just increased the lighting right?

Every rendering has it's own demands. Bright lighting, deep shadows, the artist makes the final decisions. It's true, you could correct the lights and not worry with Gamma. Very possible that method would have good results. Here's the important feature of correcting the Gamma at the "end" as mentioned in the Video. When you render to HDR or EXR you can then take the 32-bit image into PhotoshopCS4, 5, or 6 and make some incredible adjustments using the Gamma setting. I urge everyone to try rendering an image in either HDR or EXR and then take it into Photoshop or any software that supports these two formats. I use Photoshop CS5 and have upgraded the plugin to the new "OpenEXRalpha" version available free from Adobe. You can take a rendering that has given you some trouble getting the right FireFly settings and easily tweak it to look perfect. Also there are some amazing special effects available but for now we're focusing on Gamma.

Here I have loaded an .EXR file rendering into Photoshop CS5.

**You can adjust Gamma on jpg's, png's, etc but you'll get the best results using HDR or EXR as they are high quality industry standard filetypes.
**

Follow the menu and open the HDR Toning Window.

Now you can begin Gamma Correction on your rendering. When you "Save" your final image choose which filetype you want and now you have a corrected Gamma image.

Note: To keep your image in 32-bit format you will have to use the "Save as" feature and keep it either as an HDR or EXR. If you use "SAVE" (even though it's already in 32-bits) you will loose the 32-bits.

Enjoy!

-TOM-

Quote - A false dichotomy in my opinion.

Gamma correction is a workflow choice: I wouldn't be without it because it makes things simple, consistent and predictable. Others might enjoy pigging around with extra lights, strange shader setups and goodness knows what else - all of which are to compensate for the lack of a gamma corrected, or 'linear' workflow - and achieve really good results.

It has nothing intrinsically to do with 'render quality'. If you switch GC on and your renders look like crap, you have understood nothing of the implications of and requirements imposed by a linear workflow.

If that's the case, in addition to the huge amount of info peppered about here and at RDNA, you head over to this page (designed for LightWave users, but highly relevant), watch the video, download the PDF.

I downloaded the Video Tutorial regading Gamma, EXCELLENT! By far this is the best simple explanation of the term Gamma and how it should be used to create a great looking rendering. Although the Video is designed for Lightwave users it applies easily to Poser artists. Thanks for your post! -TOM-

There really seems to be a mixed bag of opinions regarding Gamma Correction. I've read posts on other Forums warning everyone to stay clear of GC, uncheck it. Here on this thread there are some positives mentioned. All of this has prompted me to do a little experimenting. -TOM-

Nice face... lot of realism!

Quote -
Thank yoy...but you cut out the best part of the image!   LOL

I like your whole composition but we'll let the forum members visit your links if they want to see "the best part of the image" !!!

Enjoyed your rendering Shante. I like the rats a lot. They look mean and hungry. -Tom-