ashley9803 opened this issue on Jun 11, 2007 · 93 posts
ashley9803 posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 2:26 AM
Looking through the galleries it seems many Poser artists do no postwork on their renders.
As Poser characters' joints don't bend naturally, I find I need to postwork out the creases around shoulders, knees etc. Smudge some stark lines etc.
I see a lot of imperfections on my final renders regardless of how hard I try to perfect them with endless test renders.
A little postwork on some images would do so much to enhance the final result, turn a good picture into a great picture IMO.
Are people too lazy, don't look carefully, don't care?, or is postwork looked upon as being some sort of Poser heresy.
Im sure even the great painters throughout history did a little dab of paint here and there the day after "finishing" their work.
Casette posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 2:32 AM
'Postwork' is a nice word
Some obsessive people think they must use a 3D program as if it was one of the Immutable Universe's Rules. But all painters since Stonehenge corrected their little bugs doing their art
CASETTE
=======
"Poser isn't a SOFTWARE... it's a RELIGION!"
Acadia posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 2:35 AM
Some people post work, others don't.
Some who post work do so to an inch of the image's life so that they don't even look like "Poser" images anymore.
Some like to see what they can do exclusively inside Poser and try to learn how to push the program to it's maximum ability so they don't do any post work.
While others either don't have the proper tools, or talent or patience or even time to commit to spending weeks to post work beyond making a thumbnail...and some don't even do that and let the server generate them.
Art is individual and it's what you (general you not directed at anyone) want to make of it.
If you want to post work, then do so. But don't do it because you feel you have to do it to keep up with some of the Jones' around the galleries.
If you don't post work, don't feel bad about it either.
And then we have the ones who are only into Poser for the TITillation that it provides them :tongue1:
Think of all of those bad joints and what you perceive as "imperfections" as "abstract art", Picasso did. All of his figures are grossly distored and deformed....far from perfection.
"It is good to see ourselves as
others see us. Try as we may, we are never
able to know ourselves fully as we
are, especially the evil side of us.
This we can do only if we are not
angry with our critics but will take in good
heart whatever they might have to
say." - Ghandi
Arien posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 2:35 AM
Some people prefer their work to be "as it comes out of the application".
There is also a rule about not using postwork if you are producing images to be used as product promos.
But in general, I agree with you. I never quite understood the attitude, myself.
pjz99 posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 2:42 AM
I don't think anything is wrong with postwork at all, but I don't know a lot of it myself so I do very little. I also don't really care for a lot of the things that are done with postwork in an artistic sense, e.g. a heavily airbrushed or fogged look in an attempt to duplicate Luis Royo's work. I think there are good reasons for certain aspects of postwork that I am anxious to learn - on the other hand, achieving certain things with physical paint and brushes is a real measure of skill, running a canned Photoshop filter is not. Plus there is often no real artistic reason to do an obtrusive postwork effect, and it may take away from the image more than it adds.
Particularly in cases where you plan to re-use a character many times, like in my work (planned graphic novel), you really don't want to be postworking the same fixes every time if you can avoid it, imo it's a lot more sensible to fix as much as possible in the scene itself before rendering to avoid duplicate work.
ClawShrimp posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 2:59 AM
Some of my earliest images have no post work at all because quite frankly, I didn't know how; and I think this is true of many Poser users.
Now? I couldn't live without Photoshop. But I do admire those that aim for perfection in their raw renders.
There are extremes of both groups:
The Poser purists that refuse to post-work for no reason other than bias;
The Poser 'artists' that apply post-work far too liberally, regardless of their results out of Poser.
Whatever you do, stay away from lens flaire and diffuse glow. They're sooooo last year :).
If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards...checkmate!
vincebagna posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 3:00 AM
Postwork means a lot of things:
it could be a way to add an effect you could never achieve with your 3d app, or never succeed to learn how to do
It could be a way to correct your mistakes, or the app generated mistakes (or what you suppose to be a mistake)
it could be a way to enhance your pic if you're running after real-life look as Acadia said above (i.e. painted hair if you have the skills...)
it could also be a way to turn a color you don't like into another one
it could be so many things...
Sometimes, you realise your postwork has completely turned your pic into something completely different that you were willing to have. It could be a good thing or a bad ne, it depends.
I don't think postwork is different than prework, you do what you have in mind and what your picture requires.
Casette posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 3:00 AM
Joint points... usually they are 99% of my postwork
And... over all to get special effects and save time. If I need a DoF effect, I prefer an easy ten minutes Photoshop postwork than waiting zillions of hours Poser getting the same result (and most of times, imperfect)
CASETTE
=======
"Poser isn't a SOFTWARE... it's a RELIGION!"
ashley9803 posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 3:17 AM
I'm not really talking about a creative effect, more about renders aiming for "realism" (posted to the Portraits/Realism sections).
If your aiming for realism .... well my armpits and knees don't have gigantic flaps of skin sticking out, (not yet anyway). Nor are my nostrils a glowing light sourse. Two minutes in Photoshop or any 2D program is all that's needed.
Maybe we've been looking at renders of Mike and Vicki so long we've forgotten what real people like.
ps. I'm not into heavy postwork myself. If I can't go from idea to Poser to publication in2 or 3 days, I ditch the project. (Many would say that this explains the quality of my gallery and they probably have a point.)
thefixer posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 3:31 AM
When I first started out in Poser, Yes it was a dirty word for me, I wanted pure Poser renders. But now I have realized it's not possible if you want certain effects and enhancements.
Look at all the "top" artists here and all their work is postworked, very few actual renders. The postwork could be added layer effects, painted hair or cloth etc.
Nope, to me it's not a dirty word!!
Injustice will be avenged.
Cofiwch Dryweryn.
Acadia posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 3:35 AM
Quote - Nor are my nostrils a glowing light sourse. Two minutes in Photoshop or any 2D program is all that's needed.)
Gosh, don't let bagginsbill here you say that, LOL
FIxing Nostril Glow inside Poser
"It is good to see ourselves as
others see us. Try as we may, we are never
able to know ourselves fully as we
are, especially the evil side of us.
This we can do only if we are not
angry with our critics but will take in good
heart whatever they might have to
say." - Ghandi
pjz99 posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 3:58 AM
Quote - Maybe we've been looking at renders of Mike and Vicki so long we've forgotten what real people like.
This is a very good point in general and is completely separate from postwork. You'll see lots of people who are very fond of heavy postwork who make the same mistakes, and I'm not claiming to be any kind of perfect myself.
Acadia posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 3:59 AM
Then you have those who do so much post work that their images all start to look the same after a while.
I used to be able to tell certain artists images apart from others. However so many have taken to doing so much post work that those images all kind of look alike and don't really have anything that distinguishes them apart from their other images or images from other artists who also do heavy post work. At least that's what I find.
"It is good to see ourselves as
others see us. Try as we may, we are never
able to know ourselves fully as we
are, especially the evil side of us.
This we can do only if we are not
angry with our critics but will take in good
heart whatever they might have to
say." - Ghandi
ashley9803 posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 4:02 AM
I don't postwork nostrils anymore, though I used to. AO now kindly does that for me.
Hope you did a nice curtsey when you said His name Acadia.
He's a legend and has taught me so much.
vincebagna posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 4:06 AM
Quote - Then you have those who do so much post work that their images all start to look the same after a while.
Then they could use a photoshop automate script to save time... lol
Seriously, i'm trying to tend to realism for my part. And as my gallery is mostly filled with portraiture, i have not a lot of joint bug to correct :)
But some prob sometimes occur that NEED some postwork, i.e. map seams visible, or polygon shapes pointed up on rounded edges like shoulders (as i use Vue, there is no "smooth olygon" option).
dphoadley posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 4:18 AM
Attached Link: Pablo Picasso
> Quote - Think of all of those bad joints and what you perceive as "imperfections" as "abstract art", Picasso did. All of his figures are grossly distored and deformed....far from perfection.Not all of his art was like that, only those pieces that he produced towards the end of his life. A lot of his earlier work was more of a neo-classical form.
DPH
ashley9803 posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 4:42 AM
vincebagna posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 5:56 AM
I guess he had used the "auto balance" option here... ;)
pjz99 posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 6:25 AM
That underarm cut sure is high.
geoegress posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 8:48 AM
Post work is painting- and that is yet another skill set in a long list of skills sets in 3d that scares a lot of people.
archdruid posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 9:23 AM
I would suppose that I could be considered a universal heretic by purists.... my only guideline? if it does the job, use it... if something else does a better job, use that. Lou.
"..... and that was when things got interestiing."
Conniekat8 posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 11:43 AM
I use postwork when needed, and when it suits my end goal.
At the same time, postwork takes time, effort, know-how and extra tools that not everyone has.
There are people whom like to show off, or push, their technical skills by showing off how much can be done with no postwork.
If the goal if the image is to show off modeling and rendering technical skills, and one uses a lot of postwork, it can be considered cheating. Sort of like using a calculator on a math test that has a 'no calculators' constraint.
On a broader scheme of things, when the end goal is an image that tells a story, there's no reason why someone shouldn't use all the tools they have.
just my 2c :)
Hi, my namez: "NO, Bad Kitteh, NO!" Whaz
yurs?
BadKittehCo
Store BadKittehCo Freebies
and product support
archdruid posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 11:46 AM
Exactly, Conniekat8. Lou.
"..... and that was when things got interestiing."
jjroland posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 11:58 AM
I rendered something recently and due to being very busy at the time I actually forgot to postwork before I uploaded it. Pretty sure that was the only time that ever happened. Photography is my true love and postworking is my friend.
In the end if others like it, that's super - but I'm really only out to please myself so I don't much care what others think about postwork vs purity blah blah lol. I've probably been guilty of being over the top in filtering, - probably many times. With my art there is a vision - demon - in my head, and Ill do whatever it takes to get it out.
I am: aka Velocity3d
Conniekat8 posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 12:13 PM
Quote - With my art there is a vision - demon - in my head, and Ill do whatever it takes to get it out.
tee hee... I love the way you described that :)
Hi, my namez: "NO, Bad Kitteh, NO!" Whaz
yurs?
BadKittehCo
Store BadKittehCo Freebies
and product support
LostinSpaceman posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 12:52 PM
I rarely do postwork simply because most of my images are simply vignettes to tell a short story with an image. If my story comes across, no high art is needed. Sometimes I'll do a portrait nude male simply because I'm playing with a new skin texture, but those times I'm usually just playing with realism, not really striving for it.
thixen posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 12:55 PM
I usually only do post work on projects that I consider truly serious endeavors or for added effects that you can't get from Poser. Most of the images that I've posted on this site the by line is the only post. This is because I use this site as a way to work out my skills and to get knowledgeable opinions on how to improve them. If I masked the image with too much post members who critic my work wouldn't be able to give me honest opinions on what I need to work on. But this is just my preference, if you're goal to comming here is something different then you're workflow can be what ever makes you happy.
On the other hand I've seen several images on here that are in the Poser galleries that probably should be in the photoshop galleries. The work that they've done in Poser was beginner at best, but their post was outstanding elevating the work to a new level, but it would be like me working out a texture for Viki in Photoshop, rendering it in Poser and then posting in a photoshop gallery for opinions.
Ultimately I'd say post for the sake of post is just as bad as no post for the sake of purity IMHO.
Darboshanski posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 4:45 PM
I do post work on projects important to me or for a client. There are things that poser doesn't do well and post work is the only to get the affect or look you want. When I first started with poser many moons ago and got exposed to the 3D world and these forums post work was a must. There used to be a lot of tuts about post work hair painting being the biggest 'cause then there were really no good hair items like today. I feel post working is still very important and a necessary skill to have. It fits right in there with basic modelling.
XENOPHONZ posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 5:40 PM
I post-work when and as I like. It's just a tool like any other. LIke Poser itself.
Tiari posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 6:49 PM
I actually HATE the word "postwork". Why? Postwork is a general term slapped on any artist that uses poser for any reason....... so what i do is classified as postwork? Postwork?? Er...... no. I really find insult a lot of times in someone saying i am trying to "unposerify" an image, when i used poser only as a basic structure sketch and spent two months airbrushing, in yes, photoshop with a wacom.
People actually argue with me saying I can't call it "painting" because it has a poser "core". And because by some technical aspect, photoshop doesn't have physical "paint".
Some can actually get beautiful straight up renders out of poser. Kudos to them! However, oh, a good 80 percent can't. There are some images I see, where i wish ...... yes wish, that they WOULD postwork.
Do I use photoshop effects? Yes. Do I use poser? Yes. Do I try to hide its "poserness"....... well..... yes and no.
I use poser for what it was actually ....... deep breath deep breath MADE FOR! As a model when there is lack of a LIVE MODEL. Thats what its made for. But now, if you use it, you aren't a painter anymore....... sheesh.
I will continue to postwork images within an inch of their life..... (I know you didnt mean me specifically pjz99 lol, just the same fitting phrase), if thats what digital painting is called these days :)
ClawShrimp posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 6:53 PM
To be fair, that's what Poser 1 was made for.
I think it's safe to assume it's intended use has evolved over the years.
If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards...checkmate!
pjz99 posted Mon, 11 June 2007 at 7:08 PM
Tiari:
No, actually I treat your stuff and Ken's stuff as proper painting. As you say, they're not in the same category as "postwork" at all. There's a big difference between, say, RogueElement's finished result, and someone taking a minimally morphed V4, whatever the latest clothing item might be, and laying a canned airbrush filter over it, and kicking out 1 of those per day (not naming any names but I think some examples may come to mind).
Paloth posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 1:00 AM
I have a theory that some artists who lack an ability to create art without computer assistance are more inclined to try for a “painterly” look through post work while those who have painted in real life are more likely to try for the "photo realism" of a pure render. This is a case of "the grass is always greener" syndrome. Still, postwork for joints is often required, unless you use Apollo--the only figure that comes close to bending properly.
Download my free stuff here: http://www.renderosity.com/homepage.php?page=2&userid=323368
ClawShrimp posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 1:12 AM
Interesting theory Paloth, and one that will no doubt win you some colourful replies :).
I don't agree, but then, that's just my opinion.
Art for me, someone who does not consider himself an artist, has always been about expression of a thought or idea...not about a look or style.
The evolution of many artists does not peak at photo-realism, but true creative freedom.
But what would I know? I'm just a hack! :) :) :)
If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards...checkmate!
stonemason posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 1:14 AM
*...while those who have painted in real life are more likely to try for the "photo realism" of a pure render
*I'd disgraee with that,I think those who have come from a painting or sculpture background will make use of all the tools available..it's about the final image rather than what you can do with one particular tool..
for me at least..postwork is where the fun starts,it's the part I look forward to the most when creating a final image
dogor posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 1:15 AM
Postwork can be a dirty word when a software company uses it to sell rendering software programs and does not admit or tell it's buyers the images posted around it could not have been created in the program all by itself. It's called false advertisement or misleading the consumer.
Saying there is no Postwork in an image can be impressive and it also makes clear that the image was created in "The one" program and that single program coupled with the artist's talents were all that were involved in the creation of the image or images. Other than that Postwork is fine. Some people try to see how good they can make renders without the use of it and take pride in their ability.
My opinion, :)
stormchaser posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 2:34 AM
**I personally use postwork in all my work, sometimes in small amounts to finetune the image or alot of postwork to create an added effect. I don't think there's any problems with using this method if the end result is all the better for it.
"**someone taking a minimally morphed V4, whatever the latest clothing item might be, and laying a canned airbrush filter over it, and kicking out 1 of those per day (not naming any names but I think some examples may come to mind)."
pjz99 - I defintely know of someone who does this. If seems as though they use the same lights in every image as well. I'm not really complaining, it's their choice to create what art they see fit. But when this kind of art gets all the plaudits over the true 'artists' on here, it does seem a little unfair.
Darboshanski posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 6:55 AM
Quote - I actually HATE the word "postwork". Why? Postwork is a general term slapped on any artist that uses poser for any reason....... so what i do is classified as postwork? Postwork?? Er...... no. I really find insult a lot of times in someone saying i am trying to "unposerify" an image, when i used poser only as a basic structure sketch and spent two months airbrushing, in yes, photoshop with a wacom.
People actually argue with me saying I can't call it "painting" because it has a poser "core". And because by some technical aspect, photoshop doesn't have physical "paint".
Some can actually get beautiful straight up renders out of poser. Kudos to them! However, oh, a good 80 percent can't. There are some images I see, where i wish ...... yes wish, that they WOULD postwork.
Do I use photoshop effects? Yes. Do I use poser? Yes. Do I try to hide its "poserness"....... well..... yes and no.
I use poser for what it was actually ....... deep breath deep breath MADE FOR! As a model when there is lack of a LIVE MODEL. Thats what its made for. But now, if you use it, you aren't a painter anymore....... sheesh.
I will continue to postwork images within an inch of their life..... (I know you didnt mean me specifically pjz99 lol, just the same fitting phrase), if thats what digital painting is called these days :)
For me I see nothing wrong with this at all. As I said back in the day, and some of the older folks here will agree, we didn't have all the wonderful clothing, hair, props, etc like we have now and we didn't have the powerful programs or computers to run them on. It was common place to bring your basic poser render into a paint program and go to town on it to get a decent finished image. My fear is postworking will become a lost art and to some degree you are seeing that now. But it is what the artist chooses to do some don't mind postworking and others really don't want to be tied down with it either. Then there is the everyday hobbist that just wants to make a nice image without all the other hassels. To each his/her own is what I say ; )
thixen posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 7:05 AM
Of course you can just keep pounding on that 'make art' button until something comes out :biggrin:
come on you knew someone had to say it
Joe@HFG posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 8:36 AM
If you're just making a still image, post work is fine. I'm more interested in animation than still images. So for me... "Postwork" is kind of a dirty word. You try painting over imperfections in 24 picture in such a way that the paint over doesn't dance around when you animate that 1 second animation and you'll understand. It's all the work of a single great render, then 24*(every second) that you not only need to postwork, but postwork EXACTLY the same way as the last fram but with the minor differences required each frame. Even outside animation, postwork is ussually something you want to minimize if you're using 3D. Not because it's bad, but because if your going to spend that much time changing the figure after you render it, you might as well have just painted it from scratch. I don't think Postwork should be considered a negitive, but lack of need for it is definatly considered a positive. If that makes any sense. Also... I consider any postwork in product shots false advertising.
mo·nop·o·ly [muh-nop-uh-lee]
noun, plural mo·nop·o·lies.
1. exclusive control of a commodity or service in a particular market,
or a control that makes possible the manipulation of prices
SWAMP posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 9:07 AM
Isn’t postwork the opposite of foreplay?
Robo2010 posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 10:51 AM
People like postworking an image made from a 3D program. I dislike postworking. Its either you can 3D an image perfectly with skill, or not at all. I choose to gain skill with out postwork, and I do not postwork at all. Gosh image, doing animation and then have to go frame by frame to postwork each frame. That will take forever.
jjroland posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 11:02 AM
""Its either you can 3D an image perfectly with skill, or not at all.""
OR you simply don't want to - care to - see the need to.
I also crop photographs. Not because I lack the ability to get the shot right the first time, but because I prefer to take a larger shot and ponder the crop later.
Some people (as have stated here) actually enjoy the postwork process. I think the view quoted is entirely too narrow.
I am: aka Velocity3d
manoloz posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 11:05 AM
I think it depends on the purpose of the postwork, and the purpose of the image itself.
still hooked to real life and enjoying the siesta!
Visit my blog! :D
Visit my portfolio! :D
Conniekat8 posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 11:42 AM
When preparing a commercial illustration, under constraints of time and budget, some things are more efficiently done with postwork, others are more efficient in 3D, any paid illustration I've done always involved a combination of the two.
there's a difference in goals people talk about here, one is for the sake of learning and practice and honing one's skills, the other one is for the sake of producing an image under constraints of time, budget or purpose...
Personally, I try to hit my skills from different angles at different times, so that when called for, I can do things more then one way, and in the best, most efficient way (that I can), given the purpose.
Hi, my namez: "NO, Bad Kitteh, NO!" Whaz
yurs?
BadKittehCo
Store BadKittehCo Freebies
and product support
Tiari posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 11:54 AM
Again, there are many images i've seen, that are just begging for a little postwork. Even if its simply to correct levels, gamma, and color correction. I do find it odd that there are some render purists who balk at the very idea...... but even professional photographers do this, its called retouching.
Wether you spent 6 hours or 6 minutes on a poser render, its no different than a photographer (the means and work are different i grant you) who took 6 hours to set up or 6 minutes..... if the finished product has flaws, its flawed........ don't argue with the viewers eyes for pointing them out.
Simply stated, would you pay for a packet of school photos of your children, or a package of wedding photos or a friend's snapshot...... (not bought for that one fo course) and want it say, hanging on your wall to look at, if there's a big unpelasant streak of light across it, red blaring eyeballs, or it was washed out and overexposed? No? I sure wouldn't. I would tell them to have them adjusted, retaken or retouched. Wouldn't you?
So in the same stroke, when I see an otherwise beautiful render and think....."wow... the crease in the armpit looks like a crater"..... thats what viewers see, they do not tell themselves "Gee, poser sucks with the joints".
The basic problem is, we might use all kinds of electronically microchipped wonders to create things to look at, but inevitably, we are viewing them with HUMAN EYEBALLS. Poser, though making great leaps and strides in its capabilities, it is what it is. Though some can and have made splending perfect renders, it has some astronomical faults........ we don't have all day, so I wont list them all, but I'll add in the example of the general figures used tends to be the problem.
The new to average user will come across these problems, such as "bent crinkle hair", creased crackle joints, rubber band shoulders, lighting issues, unwanted shadows, or ill placed shadows, and my personal favorite "blank eyed undepthful gazes with no shadow under the upper eyelid".
Without clever and talented postwork there, all that hard work can be overlooked with a general consensus of "ugh". Our eyes are made to see whats just not right in front of them. There is a difference between a perception, such as expecting a viking to have a horned hat and the image doesn't, and FLAWS....... we are going to notice, judge, and turn away from that which is:
Too simillar to the last thing we saw (i.e. canned anything, same hair, clothes, figure, pose)
Obvious physical fault (wrong bent limbs, plastic skin, unnatural body movement and so on)
Wrong, too bright, too dark, or incorrect lighting
Too strong or too weak gamma/brightness/contrast
I think the new word of the day should be "retouching" for those that correct problems with renders .... its what the pros do to make a visually appealing image.
Conniekat8 posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 12:04 PM
*I think the new word of the day should be "retouching" for those that correct problems with renders .... its what the pros do to make a visually appealing image.
*I always thought that retouching and postwork are for the most part synonymous, or at least very much related terms. Postwork being of a more modern and colloquial origin, I think from animation and cinematography, smushed with photographic term of post-processing?
Either way, aren't we talking about the same thing, whether we say postwork, post-processing or retouching? :blink:
Hi, my namez: "NO, Bad Kitteh, NO!" Whaz
yurs?
BadKittehCo
Store BadKittehCo Freebies
and product support
jjroland posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 12:14 PM
I've spray painted white roses lime green before - because that's what the bride wanted. If that's not post work I don't know what is.
I spent upwards of 40 hours in the last month or so retouching yearbook photos for my daughters school.
I think in the end it is all about what the person who it is for wants. My images are for me, and it is what I want.
I am: aka Velocity3d
Conniekat8 posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 12:20 PM
Couple of years ago, my boyfriends daughter made me postwork her braces out of her Prom pictures LOL! Then she decided she looked too wierd without braces!
I was feeling sooo... unappreciated! sniffle ;)
Hi, my namez: "NO, Bad Kitteh, NO!" Whaz
yurs?
BadKittehCo
Store BadKittehCo Freebies
and product support
ghonma posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 12:23 PM
Quote - If you're just making a still image, post work is fine. I'm more interested in animation than still images. So for me... "Postwork" is kind of a dirty word. You try painting over imperfections in 24 picture in such a way that the paint over doesn't dance around when you animate that 1 second animation and you'll understand.
You may be surprised to know that a lot of work you see in big budget FX and CG animations is 'postworked' by hand. A typical render of one frame for this kind of work takes anywhere from 4 to 8 hours and a human cleaner can do the work in minutes per frame. 'Dancing' is not an issue at all, since many compositors have tools specially to do overpaints and corrections without artifacts of this sort.
This used to be one of the most lucrative fields in CG cause it was largely no-brain work anyone could do and get a decent wage. Of course now its all outsourced to cheaper coutries, but thats life.
Quote - People like postworking an image made from a 3D program. I dislike postworking. Its either you can 3D an image perfectly with skill, or not at all.
But the thing is, nothing we do in 3D is pure 3D. We always rely on 2d textures, bumps, environments and so on, and in the end we output as 2D as well. So whats the difference whether you enhance your work before or after a render ? In fact you may even think of post work as being one more 'rendering' step, albeit a hand driven one.
I agree about postworking marketplace products though. That's just plain deceit.
thixen posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 12:40 PM
Hey I got a neat idea for Tiari or someone who would like to tackle this. Take Tiari's list of imperfections above and create a tutorial out of them.
I see this working as a before and after type of thing show the image before the post with the flaw and then what it looks like after. I'm thinking that a certain amount of the population just doesn't realise what they can do to improve their images.
But yeah to another point that was brought up earlier. It really drives me nuts to see an image that I can best described as amateurish from many different points on the most commented/rated lists and see absolutely amazing pictures barely looked at just because the artist is an unknown. urggh drives me up the wall. The latter are usually the only ones I comment on.
dogor posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 1:23 PM
I agree with "It's how Postwork is used." Magazines correct so many skin flaws of the images of public icons on the covers of their magazines until the final image is almost completely fake. Nobody has skin that perfect. You decide if they just inhanced the photo or created a misleading perfect image instead of what was real. I call it Postworked. I feel sorry for the people who want to look as good as they do. Of course if they retouched there photos of themselves in a good 2d program, they can look that good too. No postwork means not altered after the fact. That's all.
later
stormchaser posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 2:14 PM
** Tiari - I think your post was pretty much spot on. I too see alot of images here that just need a little postwork to get rid of those imperfections. Even though some of these imperfections are slight, the human eye detects them & the image loses it's value, in my opinion anyway. This is not to say some artists work is perfect, I don't think anyone can get perfection, but even just a few minutes in postwork can make all the difference.
thixen - I like the idea of that tutorial. I think it would make some people change their perception on postwork, knowing that just small touchups can improve their final image.
I must mention the most commented/rated section in the galleries. They are in general a farce. Yes, I love to see some of the great work there, but I'm sick of seeing the very average renders with so many flaws in them with loads of 'friends' comments on them. Please, let the cream rise to the top, so many great artists get unnoticed. When I have the time I will search through the galleries & it's amazing what little gems you find that have largely gone unnoticed.**
geoegress posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 2:23 PM
Post working an image is over a hundred years old-probably a lot older.
Clear back to the 1904 San Fran earthquake the newspapers there postworked the papers photos to make it look like much much less damage had been done as had actually happened. Economic reasons.
And they were just as good as anybody is today.
Cryoc posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 2:53 PM
I as an inexpirenced 3d artist and I would say expierienced artist. Would say this....
To me it depends on what you are going for I think images such as fantasy can have alot added to the image using post work. I am working on one now infact that if I can pullit off will utilize quite abit. It all depends on what you are going for. I would most definatly like to become one of the greats on here that can push poser to its limits but that will all come with time wich I dont have a ton of right now. To me art is what ever you decide it is but that is how I grew up in the art world not everyone is goona like it. some will be more then others. Dont worry about what other people think. If you are fullfilled doing what you do then do it. Now if you are trying to go professional and make money doing it. Then you will have to do what the people you are working for wants. That is why I never want to go professional in art because it woudl take the fun out of it for me.
Tiari posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 3:03 PM
re·touched, re·touch·ing, re·touch·es
*v.**tr.*1. To add new details or touches to for correction or improvement.
2. To improve or change (a photographic negative or print), as by adding details or removing flaws.
3. To color (recent growth of hair) to match hair that was tinted, dyed, or bleached at an earlier date.
4. Archaeology To modify (a flaked stone tool) by secondary flaking along the cutting edge.
An amusement of note: Postwork, Post-work, Post Process, Postworking and all derivitives are not found in the dictionary lol. Something new I learned today. We use the word, its not in the dictionary how odd!
conniekat: Actually the word retouched is the correct word for fixing or improving a render. This though isn't an english word class, that wasn't my point. Its the "idea" of the word we use Post-work, has a stigmata attached to it by some render purists. I actually find a huge load of big brown stuff (use your imagination) with 3d-art purists, who feel any form of any retouching is sacrelidge. EVERY image, wether photograph, render, scanned in oil painting can use gamma correction, sheesh lol. They use it too, they just don't say they do, because correcting gamma or levels well, thats postwork!
Postwork implies post and work, meaning any work done after the initial process..... So drying my dishes after washing them is postwork, flossing after brushing is postwork.... retouching implies a certain media, not generalization.
I know I'll tick a few off, but here goes! Lemme get into my kevlar for the aftermath!
*Quote - "People like postworking an image made from a 3D program. I dislike postworking. Its either you can 3D an image perfectly with skill, or not at all."
*Or not at all? Really?
To assume users who use a 3d program for any other purpose than 3d are in the "not at all" catagory is rather ballsy of you. That assumes that those of us that use the program or any 3d program who expand it beyond the realm of the render window are somehow unskilled. Its quite insulting actually, such a vast generalization.
To say, that someone who retouched an image to fix a figures joint problems has failed some great challenge of elistist perfection of 3d usership, frankly, is beyond arrogant and pompous. It is my desire and hope that that is not what you meant of the comment, but that is precisely how it reads...... something like, "If you have to use photoshop, go home!".
I have a better question for the general arena, on the subject of postworking/retouching. Why are people making art? This is not to say, everyone must have a concrete reason for making art of any kind, but its a question to ask yourself now and again.
What worries me is a slew of poser users...... who couldn't draw, paint, take good pictures, or color coordinate a wardrobe........ buy a copy of poser, pop in some figures and they are "artists".......... and pulling loads of soap box diatrabes of drama on their rights as artists.
There are new users of course, and then there are, "I wish i could be artistic .....wait, lemme get poser". No names of course, but I've seen that around on other sites as well, canned vic, canned pose, lack of clothes (cant paint them dont want to buy them), with the gray default background. C'mon now, you know you've seen these!
Its that darn "make art" button that caused a lot of the postwork/nonpostwork issues in the first place. I get a distinct feeling the rift between those who do, and those who dont will get wider and wider, the more people who failed art class get a copy on their computers.
Conniekat8 posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 3:20 PM
Quote - conniekat: Actually the word retouched is the correct word for fixing or improving a render. This though isn't an english word class, that wasn't my point. Its the "idea" of the word we use Post-work, has a stigmata attached to it by some render purists. I actually find a huge load of big brown stuff (use your imagination) with 3d-art purists, who feel any form of any retouching is sacrelidge. EVERY image, wether photograph, render, scanned in oil painting can use gamma correction, sheesh lol. They use it too, they just don't say they do, because correcting gamma or levels well, thats postwork!
Ah! Gotcha! I hear ya - emphatetically!
Personally, I've given up trying to correct or worry about various peoples' misconceptions, extremisam, deviations and prejudices... it's too much like beating my head against a brick wall, and whether something has their approval or understanding really doesn't change whether someting is a fact or not.
LOL, to play a devils advocate, even saving a jpg at 80% or whatever it needs to be to fit the image size for the gallery could be seen as postwork. So... where does one draw the line?
See, that's just it, when people are generalizing about things, it's impossible to draw the line.
Eventually I found it much easier tto train myself into not worrying what the perverbial 'they' think and do my thing ;) Look at it this way, there's so many of 'them' and only one of me. Plus, most often 'their' criticizing has very little to do with the actual value of techniques, and everything about personalities and feelings.
Hi, my namez: "NO, Bad Kitteh, NO!" Whaz
yurs?
BadKittehCo
Store BadKittehCo Freebies
and product support
Cryoc posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 4:16 PM
You know this conversation goes on and on in every thing we do in life, for instance Welding I say this because I by trade am a welder. The same standard conversation goes well your not realy a welder because you can't weld pipe or you can't use every process out there. Same stuff. Its all about the desire to be on top. You know what I have learned about the top? There is always some body better then you I don't care who you are you might be on top for a while but then someone is going to make it there goal just to take you down. They will succeed!! Why? Because that is there burning desire to do so. To me in the world of art and I know some would disagree there is no place for it. Art is for people to enjoy and create a common ground on wich people who care for it can unite. I know that I am not the best artist out there and am definatly not in the top 6,0000000 Do I care not at all!! I strive to get better and that is all that matters. There are so many amazing artists just on this site alone. I am awwed and humbled by some of the images I see here and I am even more humbled when people who are that great share there knowledge. I am also humbled by the people out there that create textures and differant props and such for free.
dogor posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 4:24 PM
Real is extreme? I guess fake is also. I don't care either way as long as nobody is misleading me by telling me fake is real and real is fake. Some people don't know the difference and some people don't care either way. Whatever. You decide.
dvlenk6 posted Tue, 12 June 2007 at 5:09 PM
I figure you just use whatever tools you need to to make the final image look the way you want/need it to. If you are aiming for a certain effect that your renderer can't duplicate or can be done better/faster/easier with something else, then you use that something else.
I'm not aware of any single application that can do everything, or that can do everything that it does do better than all the rest. It would be foolish, IMO, to limit yourself to an inadequate tool for a specific purpose when a much better one for the same purpose may available to you.
I gave up some time ago trying to please anybody else's tastes, unless they are the one signing the check.
Friends don't let friends use booleans.
Madrigal posted Thu, 14 June 2007 at 4:20 AM
Sometimes you use a brush... sometimes you use a palette knife.
Sometimes you draw with a pencil, sometimes with charcoal.
Sometimes you take a little piece of cloth or a scrunched up piece of paper or a putty eraser or a brush loaded with a different color - and you just fix that bit that went wrong...
Nobody's perfect :D
svdl posted Thu, 14 June 2007 at 5:46 AM
An artist uses the tools of his/her choice, usually it's more than one tool.
The division of galleries by tool is quite artificial IMO, and a source for (often rather heated) discussion of "purity".
I'd rather see the galleries divided by genre (as it is now), possibly with "sub-genres", and drop the tool selection. Instead, a "Tools used" section on the upload page, similar to the merchant credit upload facility could be used. Most images of mine would then look like this:
Genre: stills/fantasy
Merchant credits
(...)
Tools used, in order of importance to the image
Poser
Vue
3DS Max
Photoshop
The pen is mightier than the sword. But if you literally want to have some impact, use a typewriter
tainted_heart posted Thu, 14 June 2007 at 5:25 PM
I realize I'm coming a bit late to this thread, but I found it interesting. My view is that there are very few images rendered with Poser figures in them that don't need a little "postwork". There's almost always a bit of poke-through, an odd looking joint, a missing shadow, a too dark area that needs fixing.
I agree 200% with svdl!
Quote - An artist uses the tools of his/her choice, usually it's more than one tool.
The division of galleries by tool is quite artificial IMO, and a source for (often rather heated) discussion of "purity".
I'd rather see the galleries divided by genre (as it is now), possibly with "sub-genres", and drop the tool selection. Instead, a "Tools used" section on the upload page, similar to the merchant credit upload facility could be used.
As an art community, it's time we move away "software centric" gallery catagories and just went with the genres ala deviantArt for example.
It's all fun and games...
Until the flying monkeys attack!!!
Conniekat8 posted Thu, 14 June 2007 at 6:18 PM
Postwork makes my tail fur get all wet and smelling of turpentine.
Hi, my namez: "NO, Bad Kitteh, NO!" Whaz
yurs?
BadKittehCo
Store BadKittehCo Freebies
and product support
Morgano posted Thu, 14 June 2007 at 7:00 PM
I don't have any philosophical problem with postwork / re-touching and I even make ham-fisted stabs at it myself for Poser or Vue images. As far as photographs are concerned, I may remove little specks of dust, but doing much more than that seems to me to defeat the object of photography, which is essentially to record what is in front of the camera. OK - if you have made that once-in-a-lifetime-trip to, say, Namibia and you took a film camera, so you don't know until the films are developed how the final photographs will look, a little bit of repair work is acceptable. It may be possible to turn a badly taken photograph into a very successful image, but I think that it ceases to be a true photograph in the process.
Cropping is a separate matter, obviously, as there's no reason why the photographer should employ the full frame, except where cropping is consciously used as censorship. There was quite a good book, published about a dozen years ago, called "The Commissar Vanishes", which showed how photographs of Bolshevik bigwigs would be doctored to cover up their having become unpersons. Quite often, it was done with an appropriately brutal lack of subterfuge: the censor obliterated the deceased with a black pen. On other occasions, though, considerable efforts were made to edit photographs, to make the edited versions look seamless and authentic. There is a famous picture of Stalin with Lenin that is really a concoction from two completely different photographs. Books covering the period quite often make the mistake of treating it as genuine.
It wasn't just photographs, either. While the Belomor Canal was being constructed, at a huge cost in human life, Genrikh Yagoda was the big cheese in the secret police. The slave labour even, it is said, had to create an ice sculpture of him. By the time the canal was approaching completion, however, Yagoda was in terminal trouble. At the official opening of the canal, Stalin was accompanied by Yagoda's executioner, Nikolai Yezhov, who was sketched at the scene with Stalin and a few other yes-men for a large-scale oil-painting. The trouble was that, round about the time that the painting was nearing completion, Yezhov paid his own one-way visit to the Lubyanka's basement, so the painter received instructions to edit Yezhov out of the picture, which he dutifully did.
In the UK, traffic cameras used to contain film. Part of the reason for that was that digital photography was in its infancy, but the better reason was that a photographic negative is very hard to fake. Digital images were not considered acceptable as court evidence, because they could so easily be manipulated. In recent years, photo-manipulation has become ever easier, but digital images are now accepted in the courts of England and Wales (and, judging by the number of speed cameras between Glasgow and Argyll, the Scottish courts probably don't object, either).
So I suppose the lessons for Poser-folk are twofold: don't drive at 65 mph between Loch Lomond and Inverary and don't accept the top job in the Russian secret police.
AnAardvark posted Thu, 14 June 2007 at 7:11 PM
Attached Link: Example of postwork
> Quote - *I think the new word of the day should be "retouching" for those that correct problems with renders .... its what the pros do to make a visually appealing image.*I always thought that retouching and postwork are for the most part synonymous, or at least very much related terms. Postwork being of a more modern and colloquial origin, I think from animation and cinematography, smushed with photographic term of post-processing? > > Either way, aren't we talking about the same thing, whether we say postwork, post-processing or retouching? :blink:
No, because sometimes postworking involves compositing, and sometimes it involves even more work, whether via digital painting, or filters, or whatever.
For example, if one didn't know any better, could one tell that the linked to figure is basically a poser render?
ClawShrimp posted Thu, 14 June 2007 at 7:12 PM
I know professional photographers that would disagree with you Morgano. But then, I know others that wouldn't :P.
The point or purpose of photography is as ambiguous as the definition of art. It's entirley individual.
Knowledge of your equipment and conditions will yield limited results, regardless of how they are exploited. But if the desired result is beyond what is possible via traditional means, 'post-work' then becomes a must.
The problem then becomes at which point does a photograph cease to be a photograph? There's that ambiguity again! :)
If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards...checkmate!
Morgano posted Thu, 14 June 2007 at 7:47 PM
No, I don't agree. Manipulation of photography is a perfectly valid art-form, BUT the degree of manipulation potentially diminishes the right of the eventual image to be regarded as a true photograph. Photographers may manipulate their work as much as they like, naturally, but that manipulation can soon go beyond the point where the image genuinely represents what was in front of the camera. Now, the magistrates' courts may refer to the results as "evidence" and the photographers may refer to their "art", but I don't think anyone can legitimately describe a heavily doctored picture as a "photograph".
ClawShrimp posted Thu, 14 June 2007 at 7:53 PM
I'm not sure what you don't agree with Morgano.
Your statement was complimentary to mine, not opposing :).
If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards...checkmate!
Morgano posted Thu, 14 June 2007 at 8:28 PM
What I was trying to say was that the initial creation of the camera is the true photograph. That can survive minor corrections and still be considered, more or less, the true photograph. Once more drastic adjustments are made, it may become a work of art, or it may become a train-wreck, but it can no longer legitimately claim to be the "original photograph", or, by extension, a true photograph at all.
ClawShrimp posted Thu, 14 June 2007 at 8:37 PM
My point was the same - although I went on to say that the title of 'true Photograph' is ambiguous.
Are level adjustments acceptable?
What about grey-scaling?
Emulating Infra-Red via post-work?
How about removing a logo from a building?
Smoothing a figures complexion?
Removing clouds to improve composition?
My point is, there's really no way to draw a line in the sand. I for one would not be comfortable defining what is and isn't a photograph based on the post work it has recieved.
If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards...checkmate!
Conniekat8 posted Thu, 14 June 2007 at 10:37 PM
Quote - My point is, there's really no way to draw a line in the sand. I for one would not be comfortable defining what is and isn't a photograph based on the post work it has recieved.
No kidding! That would be like trying to determine which shade of gray is the separation between calling something white or black.
[kitty looks at her tail and ponders how to separate hairs making up different color stripes]
Hi, my namez: "NO, Bad Kitteh, NO!" Whaz
yurs?
BadKittehCo
Store BadKittehCo Freebies
and product support
Peelo posted Fri, 15 June 2007 at 12:26 AM
Sometimes I think that the answer to these types of questions is really simple: It's your picture, so do what ever you wanna do. If it's "art" then there are no rules. Do what ever it takes to get your idea on canvas, or on jpg or whatever. Unless ofcourse that "do whatever it takes" involves hurting other people, then it gets complicated....But that's extreme.
Othertimes I'm constantly worried about what other people might think of what I do.
Most of the time I realise that people don't really care, and what I do is not "art", so I really don't have to worry about upsetting anyone.
Many times people here say that :"It's the end results that count", and I think there is some truth to that. If it's a good picture, it's a good picture, no matter how it was done (unless ofcourse you had to hurt other people while doing it and even then it might be a good picture).
But I have to say that I really do not consider myself as an artist, in any shape or form. It makes things simpler. I do a picture and try to make it look good and that's all there is to it. Let the wiser men and women be artists. Idiots like me keep rendering till judgement day come ;P
-Morbo will now introduce the candidates - Puny Human Number One,
Puny Human Number Two, and Morbo's good friend Richard Nixon.
-Life can be hilariously cruel
thixen posted Fri, 15 June 2007 at 3:48 PM
Ahh Peelo, I've seen your gallery and calling your self 'not an artist' isn't exactly correct. I think a lot of the problem here is the snobbery of the 'Art World' technically anything borne out of creativity regardless of quality is art and anyone who creates from creativity an artist. It doesn't matter if they work in oils and canvas or mashed potatoes thrown against a wall (would adding gravy after the fact be concidered postwork?).
Tiari posted Fri, 15 June 2007 at 7:24 PM
in photography, that would be retouching vs. manipulation. Once you Manipulate a photograph, that is, change the contents drastically, its no longer a photograph persea....... as, a photograph is a still life of reality captured on film. Change the reality of what was before the camera, well then, I suppose its a farce. Its still art, but its not a true to life photograph. Changing color corrections does not change the actual contents of the image..... so on so fourth, yadda yadda lol.
I still think, most poser corrections are retouching........ once you start manipulating a poser render, to me, thats more like painting. The sample image of the poser render, well, thats not telling me was it rendered as a sketch, outlined somewhere else, so I cant lable that one, but I'd assume thats more of "sketch art" than poser work. Unless of course sketched by poser.
Since I'm not omnipotent, I'll wait for the methods used lol.
A poser image ceases to be a poser image, when it wasn't one in the first place. If you are rendering out a pretty much blank crash test dummy figure in greyscale and take it to a paint program (like i do most of the time) and airbrush the whole thing, it never was a "poser" image in the first place, and could hardly be considered "postworked". The poser influence is minor....... so minor in fact, its litterally only performing a minescule function in some cases.
drifterlee posted Fri, 15 June 2007 at 10:35 PM
Clawshrimp said, "Whatever you do, stay away from lens flaire and diffuse glow. They're sooooo last year". How about a nice page curl effect, LOL!
Conniekat8 posted Fri, 15 June 2007 at 10:40 PM
I was just gonna use some default paint daubs on mine!
Hi, my namez: "NO, Bad Kitteh, NO!" Whaz
yurs?
BadKittehCo
Store BadKittehCo Freebies
and product support
Peelo posted Fri, 15 June 2007 at 11:36 PM
Quote - Clawshrimp said, "Whatever you do, stay away from lens flaire and diffuse glow. They're sooooo last year". How about a nice page curl effect, LOL!
You know, I use those things all the time. So apparently it is a newbie thing to do, but it still looks good. If it makes people laugh, then I guess thats something. You have to start somewhere and making people laugh seems like a good start to me. Hey atleast it's something.
I read somewhere that art has been hijacked by intellectuals and maybe, that's not far from the truth. All the time we spend wondering, what we can and cannot do. What's art what's not. It's like a never ending philosophical debate, when the only real questions is: "Under what section should I upload my image?"
-Morbo will now introduce the candidates - Puny Human Number One,
Puny Human Number Two, and Morbo's good friend Richard Nixon.
-Life can be hilariously cruel
cmcc posted Sat, 16 June 2007 at 12:20 AM
some contests don't permit postwork because they mean to measure how well the 3d app ur using works and how well u can use it. they usually don't permit any photography either and it makes sense because their end is to measure how well the app works and what the individual artist can do with it. i remember coming across one artist that was showing her work in a gallery made for poser. it didn't even look like she used any poser at all. there were a bunch of beautiful nude pictures of herself that looked like they were worked in with a lot of adobe work to look like they were made with poser. i evidently wasn't the only one that wondered about her work because some months later i looked at her work and instead of it being in the poser gallery it was in the photo gallery. poser 5 i think may have used photos for some of its textures and i wonder if they didn't take them out just because they were worried about the phot issue. many people i know when they show their work in the poser gallery at renderosity use photos as backgrounds and textures and do a lot of postwork as well. i certainly can see nothing wrong with it. i do think though u should be creating with the app whose gallery u r exhibbitting in and following their rules of sub mission.
jjroland posted Sat, 16 June 2007 at 1:17 AM
*""What I was trying to say was that the initial creation of the camera is the true photograph. That can survive minor corrections and still be considered, more or less, the true photograph. Once more drastic adjustments are made, it may become a work of art, or it may become a train-wreck, but it can no longer legitimately claim to be the "original photograph", or, by extension, a true photograph at all.""
*I can understand your ":opinion" on this when it comes to significant changes - ie photoshop filters what not - but I've taken a few classes on the subject and haven't had an instructor yet who snubbed the idea of fixing flaws.
I am: aka Velocity3d
dogor posted Sat, 16 June 2007 at 1:57 AM
My individual taste. I like real and origanal things. I like to see things that are real as they are. Photos of popular people now are so doctored that the real person is erased and covered up(to me anyways). There was this popular female star that had a noticable gap between her two front teeth. Nowadays they might fix that with dental caps, but I thought it was for her sexy and gave her character. Like breast implants and other body alterations. It's plastic and artificial. "Cookie Cutter." Take fat stars for instance. Is it the their body or personality that makes them adorable or otherwise? Not naming names but some stars have zit craters all over their face, but when they get put on the cover of a mag' their skin is smooth and soft looking(after postwork). It's also true some stars will only be photographed from say the right side because their profile looks better that way or in their films made to look taller than they really are. Old films revealed more natural flaws than todays, but we relate to them anyways because many of use may have these same flaws. By erasing them they make them appear perfect and we relate less and cannot reflect and think hey, if they can look that good with it maybe I don't look that bad either. Maybe it even enhances my looks like it does theirs, but today they often erase or repair these so we never see them. pity! It propagates the idea natural flaws are to be ashamed of. Are they flaws even? Does everyone have to fit the same mold?
jjroland posted Sat, 16 June 2007 at 2:06 AM
"Are they flaws even? Does everyone have to fit the same mold?"
Absolutely not. On the other hand my bridesmaid wasn't too thrilled with that giant zit on her cheek in the wedding photographs. There is obviously a line.
I am: aka Velocity3d
vincebagna posted Sat, 16 June 2007 at 2:32 AM
Another question then:
If some people claim that postwork is a shame, and that all have to be done with your 3D ap. Then, what about pre-work?? I mean, when you prepare a texture map in Photoshop, when you model something in another ap to import it in your scene after,...
If these "purists" were hearing themselves, they should only use node made textures, even not importing third party models (V3 and other banned? Hard for Poser... ;)
We would see a lot of James with strange colors on his shirt... lol
roadblock posted Sat, 16 June 2007 at 3:54 AM
Whatever you can get out of a 3D app no matter how good you are or think you are , the image can be improved with postwork , isnt the whole goal about the best end result you can get !
These threads are about as comical as the photographers that say Photoshop is cheating LOL
Rod
pjz99 posted Sat, 16 June 2007 at 5:02 AM
Quote - Whatever you can get out of a 3D app no matter how good you are or think you are , the image can be improved with postwork ...
It can also be made worse with postwork. It can also be made into something different, but still gain no improvement from postwork. ^_^
vincebagna posted Sat, 16 June 2007 at 5:17 AM
Too much postwork kills the work...
ClawShrimp posted Sat, 16 June 2007 at 7:09 AM
Well said pjz99.
Last night I worked on an image in Photoshop for over an hour. I thought I had finally gotten somewhere when I decided to compare it to the raw render...and it looked worse!
I don't completely agree with your point Tiari, that photography is only within the realm of capturing the moment as it is seen before the camera. How about those wonderful light anomolies from lens refraction, or any of the countless, (sometimes luck accidents) that occur that couldn't possibly be seen with the human eye. Knowing your equipment, knowing your conditions, and purposley captureing something on film that could not be seen...doesn't that go against your definition?
Just playing devil's advocate here. I don't personally worry about defining or categorising 'art'. I simply like whatever knocks my hair back :).
Peelo. Don't worry about the lens flair and diffuse glow comment. I use them all the time too! :). They're great tools, just used in moderation.
If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards...checkmate!
dogor posted Sat, 16 June 2007 at 1:24 PM
Yea, a big zit is where the line could be drawn. A temporary unsightly thing, but maybe a funny conversation piece or memory. However acne craters are permanent. Later somebody may ask what happened to your face. Were you in an accident? It's not in any of your photos. Then privately they think to themselves afterwards, they must be ashamed of their appearance or they wouldn't of had it removed. A picture is worth a thousand words they say. I think it's true.
Tiari posted Sat, 16 June 2007 at 6:33 PM
Capturing a lense flare that isn't put in after with photoshop is a photography phenome thats awesome to see, its part of how the camera works, and is captured....... but I wont debate on that point.
PJZ99 Ha haha! Yes I've seen some "attempts" at postworking and retouching and alterations so bad........ i just sit there in awe like.... no offense but we've all thought it....."someone really thought this was a good effect?"
I've seen good renders, renders that, seriously left me dumbfounded as to why it was created in the first place....... again, eyes going to the laws of nature and physics half the time....
Henceforth, I throw my own final thoughts on this matter. Yes I love postwork. I adore it, though some go mentally insane (and innane!) with it, on the whole, its a gift to me...... a sheer treasure I relish. Why? I'm glad you asked!
After "trying out the latest daz item" at about the fifty trillionth time, I dont care how good the image is....... I've seen it. Would you watch a rerun of the jeffersons as many times as you see the same figures? Probably not. Those that "Postwork" it or paint their own hair, yay!!!! My eyes TINGLE at the new sensation that greets them! LOL.
So for reitteration....... Koz Hair, the MFD in all its disguises, eyes with no depth and blank stares..... you get the idea. If people can render those out great, wonderful and i've seen good stuff, but trouble is, after seeing it rendered out BEAUTIFULLY oh.......... how many times? It gets old fast.
Since no one can afford the amount of money it would cost to have oodles of stuff in their folders to have new eyecandy in EVERY picture they post....... i say yay for postwork.
svdl posted Sat, 16 June 2007 at 7:46 PM
Quote -
Since no one can afford the amount of money it would cost to have oodles of stuff in their folders to have new eyecandy in EVERY picture they post....... i say yay for postwork.
True.
Same goes for most of the postworking tricks - we've seen them, over and over again.
But It's not the uniqueness of a model, a texture, or painted hair/clothes/whatever that makes an image unique. And using the same old building blocks over and over again doesn't necessarily lead to the same old images. Although it often does. I agree, the typical blank stare of the umpteenth new Victoria character set doesn't tell the viewer anything but "Look, I bought this new character. Cool, isn't it?"
It's the vision of the artist, and the way he/she gets the vision across. Doesn't matter what tools or techniques are used. Does the artist want to tell the viewer something, and does an image manage to tell the viewer what the artist meant? That's what makes an image worth looking at, IMO.
The pen is mightier than the sword. But if you literally want to have some impact, use a typewriter
Tiari posted Sat, 16 June 2007 at 9:05 PM
agreed!
RorrKonn posted Mon, 18 June 2007 at 3:33 AM
RogueElement is a fraken 2D God that can hold his own against Royo,Boris.
Royo is my Fav Artist.
Not that I care but some would argue there not realistic.
I get conforming hair and cloths are used more then dynamics,there faster easier to pose.
It's fatter to paint 2d hair.
But if ya going for realist not going to work.
If you wanted realistic.
Ya would use dynamic, hair cloth fix bad bends with morphs.
Then again if ya want realistic why not take a photo,it's faster.
Some post renders every other day if not every day.
RogueElement does not.
Realsitck 100% 3D does not.
Do you want a 100 kool renders or 1 absolutely killer work of art ?
Do ya think the Killer Artist care what others think about there media ?
RorrKonn
http://www.Atomic-3D.com
============================================================
The
Artist that will fight for decades to conquer their media.
Even if you never know their name ,your know their Art.
Dark Sphere Mage Vengeance
Richabri posted Mon, 18 June 2007 at 2:29 PM
'I dislike postworking. Its either you can 3D an image perfectly with skill, or not at all.'
... also, if you use too much postwork in your renders you'll have to give back the propeller beanie :)