I recently looked through the marketplace for some new backgrounds, and I had to give a pass to a LOT of the packages out there. Why? Because of water in the foreground. As an artist, I understand how attractive it is to use a flood filter and create a dreamy looking water scene. However, as a Poser user, I need a place to put my figures! Most of us aren't modelling ships or Jesus walking on water. We are rendering people, and people need a place to stand. I don't mean this as a criticism of anyone in particular, nor am I trying to tell anyone what to do. It is merely suggested here as a way to possibly improve the appeal of your products to the Poser users in the community. Best Blessings, --Invidia

Take a look at the background sets by the two merchants/artist, "Placebo" and "linwhite" here in the MP. VERY nice... and I'm sure your figures will find good footing in most of them. SWAMP (with wet feet)

What might also be better for your need, is to think about one of those prop sets like Daz's Cyclorama that give you both a background and an actual ground plain to place your figure. You will need to use images made just for them,but there are plenty to be found.

Be nice to have a river, water fall prop (Scenes), instead of using backgrounds, although backgrounds do help sometimes, and most here find em very usefull. And how long has Poser been around? Poser is lacking and putting me on hold from doing my animations, due to that now, I am starting to make props, scenes (learning), that these are as a need. I purchased "3d-Worlds Core Kit" here at renderosity, you could look into that for starters. :-)

Message edited on: 12/15/2004 17:53

SWAMP: Thanks for the suggestion. I actually do own the Cyclorama and a ton of textures for it. And I own everything linwhite has ever created - sheer genius (even though there is a certain amount of foreground water in some of her backgrounds too). But I'm a background maniac and I'm always looking to improve my collection. In fact, I have two sets of backgrounds for sale here myself - not too much foreground water in them either. LOL I only put up the post because I wanted to let other merchants know that this was an issue for me - and it is likely to be an issue to others too. Robo2010: I'm not an animator so I'll just have to take your word for it. Best of luck resolving your problem.

Invidia: I agree strongly with your observation/suggestion. I was looking for a suitable bg the other day and was amazed at how many had water foregrounds so were therefore unuseable for my purpose. Most of us aren't modelling ships or Jesus walking on water. btw: this comment really made me smile :)

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What size do you prefer them to be?

Nothing to do with size of BG.

What has nothing to do with the size of the background?

Message from RubicomDigital "What size do you prefer them to be?" What are you referring to?

In response to Invidia's comment, apart from the water issue, I was asking if there is any particular size that people prefer the background images to be, that's all.

Oh ok..I should have been clear. Sorry...miscomunication. I do not think Invidia has a problem with size of background. But I guess Invidia will have to reply, because you were asking him. Sorry for the interruption as well.

Message edited on: 12/15/2004 20:25

I am not overly concerned with the size of the backgrounds, though I think 1200 x 1000 (or in the neighborhood) is a good size. Whatever the size, I just want some terra firma to put my people on in the foreground. Lilybelles: I'm glad someone agrees with me. I see so much water in background sets that I was starting to think I was outnumbered. But people need a place to be, and as Poser artists we deal primarily with people. I just hope some merchants will take it into consideration in the future. :) Best Blessings, --Invidia

No problem Robo. OK Invidia, points taken.

RubiconDigital, Your backgrounds are actually on my wishlist. I couldn't decide about them. On the one hand, there was a certain amount of water in the foreground. But on the other hand, they look absolutely stunning. I don't know what photo effects you used to create that look - but they are gorgeous. --Invidia

Thanks for saying so :)

I've noticed that, too, and always wondered about it. Do people postwork dry land in? Do they crop their images so you don't see anyone's legs? Use terrain props to add land in front? Do a lot of boat pictures?

I've become attached to the Mil Environment from DAZ even though it's very tricky to work with, at least for me. I'm saving spare change to get a Platinum Club membership so I can get some of the other background sets that go with it because the ones that are stock are, by and large, ok but not great for that illusion of depth of field, IMHO. I've placed characters in the stream up to their keisters and had it look pretty much ok...the ground plane is adjustable for that. And, I have to admit, I'm a background junkie...as I get the cash, I buy what I can because I love scenario building. Must go back to my earlier incarnation as a war gamer building dioramas with lead miniatures and model train goodies...

"because the ones that are stock are, by and large, ok but not great for that illusion of depth of field, IMHO." ..I couldn't agree more :o) (& I made it & textured it,lol)..I'd say do all you can to get some of the textures LaurieS has done for it in the Platinum club..they really are impressive -Stefan

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Attached Link: Spinner's freebies.

There's some free textures at this site, not just for the Millenium Environment. Not the best I've seen, but good if they fit with what you want to do. Generally I find that default positioning for the plant props needs changing to suit the scene. Set up the camera angle, and then bring more grass and other small plants into the view. Some of the DAZ stuff has very big texturemaps; you can scale them down if you want to do a web-sized render. If you have three folders for the textures, you can have one which the prop/pose/scene points to, with copies of large and small textures in the others (same filenames) to copy as desired.