Agree with the above... I tried daz studio and gave up after a couple of tries proved that lights and shadows did not behave as expected from real life. Reality came along and opened the door to the promise of utilising the realistic real world lighting by allowing the use of LuxRender. I must admit that I still use ds3.1 and reality 1.25 and lux 0.8, but as soon as I started using it I found it crazy addictive. To actually get renders that I could set up as it would be in a photograph meant no learning all the bad habits that go with trying to 'simulate' lighting.

Even though I have not jumped to daz studio 4.5, I can assure you that Paolo and the very happy band of followers and users will always be available to offer constructive advice. The best solution available right now, (In my opinion), is to render via Luxrender using the Reality plug-in... I'm sure you will not regret it! `¬)

Quote - Some nice stuff here lately, wish I had something to share.  Maybe I'll dust off Daz this weekend just so I feel like I'm doing something. 

I've spent the past two weeks very, very slowly learning my way around Cinema 4D and Vray (and Maxwell render, and Mental Ray, and Indigo...I have a million different trial versions installed right now).  Tried out Carrara first and it was nice, but I figured if I'm learning something new why not just go all out and work with one of the big boys.  Only complaint is that I can't find any Lux plugins.  

Have you looked at Blender (free) which can also use Lux Render I believe... Would be interested if you have, as when I get some time (when do I ever!) I'd like to have a go at learning it... seems to be a big following, and so far all that have tried it seem very positive about it. If you have, I'd be interested in your opinion compared to the other 'big boys'... `¬)

...sorry if this is a bit off topic?

Quote - Did this image for a calender submission with a fetish theme. I needed those boots for the image so went back to V4 for this one. I use genesis so much that I forgot how nice V4 still is, especially with all the fix morphs. LOL. Face is mostly JKings Bianca at DAZ, FBM is mine and texture is mine.

Thanks to Callad for the lux/lighting tips!

...just trying to catch up again! ¬) ...very nice image indeed! ...also loving your Justine, Callad! ...hopefully will get some time to myself again soon to render something!¬)

Quote - > Quote - Quote - 2 questions.  How would I add a water plane, and have it so im looking up through the water?  I tried, had the camera under the water, the model was half and half, but it just mirrored the bottom part, which was under the water.

 

Can I have it so the camera is half inside the water, and half outside, so that the bottom half of the camera is distorted by water?

 

Mbinz has done what you have described, he is often here but you can also contact him over at DA. This link will take you to one of the images he has created -

http://mbinz.deviantart.com/art/Fish-and-Fresnel-279347475

 

Somewhat like that, but I would also want the top to be scene, but obscured by the water.  So you can see somewhat up above, but somewhat foggy...

Thank you for the link, I will ask them.

There are a couple of things to remember here... Firstly, if you want the surface of the water to be halfway up the camera lens, so that the top half is looking above the water and the lower half is seeing under the water, you will need to move the camera up/down to get the surface to cut the camera lens; more so if you also have ripples on the water surface. The view (in daz 3.1 at least) with the camera view having the surface bisect the lens is not altogether acurate when you get to see the view in the render. You may need to set it so the surface is exactly in the middle and render, then tweak the camera up/down and re-render until you have the view you want.

Secondly, if you have the camera completly under water, and you want to look up through the water to see what is actually above the water surface, then you have to get the angle of the camera correct. If the angle is at a grazing angle, then you will see a reflection in the bottom of the water surface of what is below. (as per the image linked to above). The angle gives the 'fresnel' effect. http://www.3drender.com/glossary/fresneleffect.htm

If you can only see the reflection on the under surface of the water, then you need to change the angle of the camera to be more 'upright' until you get to see through the water surface. You will find that if you have a rippled surface that the image of what's above the water will be 'rippled' due to the varying angle of the water surface due to the ripple.

Again, you may need to change the angle of the camera and re-render until you get what you want... `¬)

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

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 - 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 - > 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!

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 - 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? `¬)

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?

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... `¬)

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... ;)

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.

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. ;)