"You never truly finish art, you merely decide to abandon it".

So true! Knowing when to stop is my problem!

Quote - Wow! This last render is definitively a catcher!

Thanks, I think I've got those highlights right now but they eyes are not quite right. But time to move on now I think.

I think it may be time to start again. I have to say thank you to all of you who've shown interest. I REALLY appriciate your help.

Quote - The 2nd render looks worse than the first, even though the first has eyes that are too dark. Why? Because the 2nd render has FAKE highlights painted on the texture map! Let the lights in your 3d scene create the highlights in your character's eye (like in your first render).

bB

I think I have to agree with you on this! The reflections though are real in the image map for the eyes but I think there are too many, it's too busy. The only highlight I had in the first render was that from the spotlight so it was like the model was lit from one light in a darkened room. I'm using an IBL here aswell so how can I generate reflections from that?

Oh well, on I go...

Also have a look around the lacrimals, there shouldn't be a black area there should there? It looks like here eyes don't fit her sockets! And there are a few AO artifact floating around too. I know I can sort these things out in post but I'd prefer to get it as good as I can without Photoshop.

Well I feel I'm getting there and learning lots but I've a way to go I think. What do you guys think?

Quote - I can see in the preview window (for the cornea reflection) that it is entirely black.  I'm not sure which setting is off, though.  It does look like you may have overdone the AO, though.

I think you're right about that as I can see some spotting on the render but where do you see how I've overdone it so I can see next time?

Anyway any sort of help/info would be gratefully received.

Thanks for these ideas, but before I proceed with them I've been looking at the eyes again. The texture that ships with the model has a good reflection of a window or something and the lacrimal's have highlights too. Now, my question: why then does my render not show this while I can see it clearly in my preview?! I can see how the spotlight I've placed causes the highlights in her eyes that you can see but why do the reflections from the texture file not show through?!

Wow, the eyes sure are complicated but are, in my opinion, the most important part to get right.

Anyway, anyone have any ideas on these things?

Yes, you're right! I'm looking into that now, finding a way to reflect a window or something.

Thanks to all of you for your feedback. It was interesting to read your opinions and knowlageable suggestions. I was interested to read about the sclera being a very light shade of the persons skin, and that the eyelashes are too sharp. Excellent stuff. A couple of you have mentioned that I should move the eyes away from a direct camera gaze, but what if the person is looking at me? I take your point about a smile but this will end up to be a dark image, you know, melancholic.

I've a couple of questions:

How could I create tears, the kind of tears that you get when you're just 'filling up'? You know, not in floods but just starting to get emotional. I've noticed that there are 'streaks' of highlights from the water on the lower eyelid. What would you do?

Finally, I've used an IBL to light this with a spot for the highlights, how should I proceed if I wanted a different shape highlight, i.e. a window? Is this the specular? Would I create a specular map? 

So many questions!

Thanks for all you're feedback, it's very reassuring when experts lend a hand.

Yes, I see. The thing is I've checked over the whole PC and the last couple of things I worked with have simply vanished! Oh well, at least doing the stuff again helps me learn!

Thank

Rob

Hi,

Yes, I see what you mean. I wondered whether there was a default location. But a good idea to search for all .pz3 files, I'll give that a try now.

Thanks, sorry for the confusing post.

Rob

Thanks very much for this. So you'd suggest that I use the AO nodes in the material room and remove the AO on the light. Also add some specular (via spot lights?). Great stuff, I'll pop along and check out your tuts.

Rob

Thanks for the tut, I has helped and as you know when we start with something new it's always good to have as much info as possible to hand. I'm getting to grips with P5 slowly!

Yep, DBLCLK got me! I've now added some clothes (the button that's needed in P5 is the one at the bottom of the poses/hair list on the RHS etc. called 'create new model; that confused me!). Thanks for the idea of the mat/morphs, I've not played with that; I'll give it a go.

Thanks