I have these two done, but can't decide wich one deserves to be kept, it's becoming a habit to keep both and I don't want a bunch of doubles. Sooo I was hopeing that you would all put your thoughts in here for me.

The darker one to me has nicer shadows (and I usually have a heck of a time getting them!) but the other one is much brighter so I just can't decide!

Thank you muchly for your opinions I am looking forward to doing just "one" this time lol.

Smiles from
Rita

Do you still have the Poser file? If so, re-render #2 with just the figures themselves showing as a .tif file and then put it on top of #1 in a photo-editing program. You'd get the best of both worlds that way IMO.

there both mediocore, your figures are very ridgid and artifical looking, re-pose them, and the fix the lighting, (the second pic has better lighting and the figures are centered ergo that is my pic of the two.).

If you have the .PZ3, reload and change some of the lighting. I would suggest the following 4 lights: 1) x@0 y@0 z@0... Shadow=0, Map Size=0 (shadows OFF), Intensity=50% 2) x@0 y@120 z@0... Shadow=0, Map Size=0 (shadows OFF), Intensity=50% 3) x@0 y@240 z@0... Shadow=0, Map Size=0 (shadows OFF), Intensity=50% 4) x@-60 y@-45 z@0... Shadow=.75, Map Size=2000, Intensity=75%

The first three lights are your "ambient lighting" and should not cast shadows. The fourth light is your "sun". Move the sun around as required on the X and Y axis to get the shadows you wish.

If the picture still seems too dark, then gradually increase the "intensity" of the first three lights - one at a time starting with "0" - until you are satisfied with the results.

Unless I am trying to achieve a particular mood, I keep all of my lights set on a white color.

Good luck.

The second one seems brighter and happier, so I prefer that one. May just be my frame of mind at the moment though. :) The shadows seem about right for a sunlit scene.

I prefer the second one too, the shadows are ok in it.

I think I'd prefer the brighter figures of the second one, with the darker background from the first one.. a pretty easy photoshop composite. I alsways keep copies of everything I do, even variations.. you can burn MANY images onto a cd that costs only pennies...

1. If you are outside in bright sunlight, you should not have more than one shadow (unless you are on Tatoine). If there are 2-3 shadows, a scene looks like it was shot by a department store photographer with a pull-down backdrop. Fake. 2) Outdoors lighting should be white to yellow for most scenes, with cool shadows where they are picking up the sky color. 3) Shadow strength is an indication of how strong and harsh the sunlight is... find Dr Geep's tutorials on light intensity and shadow map size so that your shadows are just dark enough and anti-aliased enough. 4) Remember that those wings will cast shadows even though they are supposed to be filmy... same with the hair. Careful positioning of wings and sun direction will help. 5) IIRC, I told you some time back that the eye goes first to the area of strongest contrast... in this case the blond hair against the dark face. The face just disappears into the shrubbery (they both do). If the faeries were holding a light between them, their faces would be lighted against the dark (making them stand out more), and a sparkly wand or partical ball would give the picture a badly-needed focal point. AND, you wouldn't have to fret about ground shadows. :) 6) If you don't have such a prop, Snowsultan did a globall here in freestuff. Anton made amgic candles over at DAZ, but the lights would need to be brighter. Dodger made a dungeon-lighting kit. I think somebody else... AZL?... made a room prop sort of light. You need a prop with 6 lights going in each of the directions facing outwards. 7) If you don't want to use a light source between them, you need to otherwise give them a reason, a story, an excuse to be standing there. (Moths are attracted to light, so nobody would question faeries oohing and ahhing over a pretty light source.) Right now it looks like they are playing patticake, which makes no sense. 8) Having one clothed and the other naked seems a bit odd. HTH, Carolly

I vote for #2, too. I like the brighter colors. I'd try the light set up TygerCub has suggested to get the light you need and better shadows and... hey look!, there's a shiney object over on my bookcase...*

Is the figure on the right handing the figure on the left something?

Thank you all very much for the input. Tyger cub, I did just like you said, and here is the result, I think it's good now, the picture needs some work, but I like the lighting anyway! I never really played much with the lighting and seem to learn better with an explanation like yours and the hands on trial on my part so I really do appreciate it alot!! Carolly, I think yes you did tell me before about the light and the focal point. It's so hard to keep it all straight sometimes but I do appreciate the reminder. I think in the new picture here, you will see one wasn't naked lol just my bad lighting!! ;) Yes they are badly posed, that is my first attempt ever at posing figures entirely on my own without anyone elses pose files. Obviously I need to work on it lol. They actually are playing pattycake, just like kids, they do it for no reason other than something fun to do; just playing is all. :) Again thank you all for your input, good and bad both are appreciated. Smiles :)

It is quite a good picture and they are not that badly posed. I have seen much worse poses (done by me).