DAZ Discussion Forum

WIP thread New Users Contest - May 2013

2013-05-01T09:27:57+00:00

Totte - 01 May 2013 03:26 AM
Sponsored by DAZ 3D
 Are you new to the 3D World? Are you at the beginning stages of learning 3D rendering? Have you been around for a little bit but feel you could benefit from some feedback or instruction? Have you been around awhile and would like to help other members start their creative journey? Well then come and join the fun as we host our newest contest…
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“3D Lights & Magic”

In creating a great looking render, light is at least 50% of the task. You can make any great looking prop of figure look flat and dull with the wrong light, and you can make a good looking figure or prop look absolutely fantastic with the right light.
Intent: To create a scene where lighting is used in clever ways to really make the scene look fantastic.
This months sponsor is ART Collaborations, store: http://www.daz3d.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=artcollaborations (bundles excluded)

I will be checking in on the WIP THREAD as will the rest of the Community Volunteers to try and help with anything you all may need.
For a list of the current contest rules, please see this thread: http://www.daz3d.com/forums/viewthread/3440/

A list of tutorials regarding lighting and how to set it up.
DAZ Studio 4: http://amandabb.com/daz-studio-tutorials/daz-studio-tutorial-4-adding-lights-and-rendering/
DAZ Studio 3: http://www.sharecg.com/v/50204/
Poser: http://poser.smithmicro.com/tutorials/lighting_basics.html
Poser: http://poser.smithmicro.com/tutorials/poser_IBL.html
Carrara: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0SfYlWc1nA
Bryce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C772CuZ6RgI
Bryce: http://www.bryce-tutorials.info/bryce-tutorials/lighting-and-skies.html#
Bryce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH58aGjCfR8
Bryce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_mzhnLRx0s

For those veterans of the forums that would like to help, because this contest is designed for the beginner to learn from, we will be randomly selecting posts offering helpful tips and/or critiques to receive a special voucher as well so whether you are a seasoned artist or an aspiring one, there is fun for everyone!

 Closing Date: May 31th 2013

New Users Contest - May 2013

2013-05-01T09:26:46+00:00

Sponsored by DAZ 3D
 Are you new to the 3D World? Are you at the beginning stages of learning 3D rendering? Have you been around for a little bit but feel you could benefit from some feedback or instruction? Have you been around awhile and would like to help other members start their creative journey? Well then come and join the fun as we host our newest contest…
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“3D Lights & Magic”

In creating a great looking render, light is at least 50% of the task. You can make any great looking prop of figure look flat and dull with the wrong light, and you can make a good looking figure or prop look absolutely fantastic with the right light.
Intent: To create a scene where lighting is used in clever ways to really make the scene look fantastic.
This months sponsor is ART Collaborations, store: http://www.daz3d.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=artcollaborations (bundles excluded)

I will be checking in on the WIP THREAD as will the rest of the Community Volunteers to try and help with anything you all may need.
For a list of the current contest rules, please see this thread: http://www.daz3d.com/forums/viewthread/3440/

A list of tutorials regarding lighting and how to set it up.
DAZ Studio 4: http://amandabb.com/daz-studio-tutorials/daz-studio-tutorial-4-adding-lights-and-rendering/
DAZ Studio 3: http://www.sharecg.com/v/50204/
Poser: http://poser.smithmicro.com/tutorials/lighting_basics.html
Poser: http://poser.smithmicro.com/tutorials/poser_IBL.html
Carrara: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0SfYlWc1nA
Bryce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C772CuZ6RgI
Bryce: http://www.bryce-tutorials.info/bryce-tutorials/lighting-and-skies.html#
Bryce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH58aGjCfR8
Bryce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_mzhnLRx0s
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When working on your submissions, if you would like to get feedback as you work or before posting your final image, please post your image to the WIP THREAD. People will be popping in to theWIP THREAD to give you some critique and advice on your entry and help along the way. Please keep all comments on entries etc to the WIP THREAD as well because comments or requests for help/feedback/advice will be removed from the contest thread and merged into theWIP THREAD. This thread is only for posting final contest submissions.
For those veterans of the forums that would like to help, because this contest is designed for the beginner to learn from, we will be randomly selecting posts offering helpful tips and/or critiques to receive a special voucher as well so whether you are a seasoned artist or an aspiring one, there is fun for everyone!

 Closing Date: May 31th 2013

New User Contest - April 2013

2013-04-03T18:04:48+00:00

New User's Contest - April 2013

Sponsored by DAZ 3D & Eva1

Are you new to the 3D World? Are you at the beginning stages of learning 3D rendering? Have you been around for a little bit but feel you could benefit from some feedback or instruction? Have you been around awhile and would like to help other members start their creative journey? Well then come and join the fun as we host our newest contest...

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"Surfaces, Materials, and Shaders"

This month we will focus on learning materials settings, including how to customize these settings and how to apply a shader. We will be focusing on DAZ Studio, Poser, Bryce, and Carrara this month.

Intent: To create a scene in which at least one key item contains no diffuse texture maps. There are various approaches you can take, including using a textureless item, or retexturing your item(s) using shaders or shader presets. By eliminating the texture you will more easily be able to see the impact of changes to various materials settings. It will also encourage you to think creatively about lighting and composition.

This month's sponsor is Eva1. Eva1 will be offering a special prize to the contest winners from her DAZ 3D store: http://www.daz3d.com/eva1

I will be checking in on the WIP THREAD as will the rest of the Community Volunteers to try and help with anything you all may need.

For a list of the current contest rules, please see this thread: Contest Rules

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When working on your submissions, if you would like to get feedback as you work or before posting your final image, please post your image to the WIP THREAD . People will be popping in to the WIP THREAD to give you some critique and advice on your entry and help along the way. Please keep all comments on entries etc to the WIP THREAD as well because comments or requests for help/feedback/advice will be removed from the contest thread and merged into the WIP THREAD . This thread is only for posting final contest submissions.

For those veterans of the forums that would like to help, because this contest is designed for the beginner to learn from, we will be randomly selecting posts offering helpful tips and/or critiques to receive a special voucher as well so whether you are a seasoned artist or an aspiring one, there is fun for everyone!

Closing Date: April 30th, 2013

WIP Thread for New User Contest - April 2013

2013-04-03T18:02:53+00:00

New User's Contest - April 2013

Sponsored by DAZ 3D & Eva1

Are you new to the 3D World? Are you at the beginning stages of learning 3D rendering? Have you been around for a little bit but feel you could benefit from some feedback or instruction? Have you been around awhile and would like to help other members start their creative journey? Well then come and join the fun as we host our newest contest...

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Surfaces, Materials, and Shaders"

This month we will focus on learning materials settings, including how to customize these settings and how to apply a shader. We will be focusing on DAZ Studio, Poser, Bryce, and Carrara this month.

Intent: To create a scene in which at least one key item contains no diffuse texture maps. There are various approaches you can take, including using a textureless item, or retexturing your item(s) using shaders or shader presets. By eliminating the texture you will more easily be able to see the impact of changes to various materials settings. It will also encourage you to think creatively about lighting and composition.

This month's sponsor is Eva1. Eva1 will be offering a special prize to the contest winners from her DAZ 3D store: http://www.daz3d.com/eva1

I will be checking in on the WIP Thread, as will the rest of the Community Volunteers, to try and help with anything you all may need.

For a list of the current contest rules, please see this thread: Contest Rules

For those veterans of the forums that would like to help, because this contest is designed for the beginner to learn from, we will be randomly selecting posts offering helpful tips and/or critiques to receive a special prize as well so whether you are a seasoned artist or an aspiring one, there is fun for everyone!

Closing Date: April 30th, 2013

NEW USERS’S CONTEST March 2013

2013-03-03T09:00:12+00:00

New User's Contest - March 2013

Sponsored by DAZ 3D & IgnisSerpentus

Are you new to the 3D World? Are you at the beginning stages of learning 3D rendering? Have you been around for a little bit but feel you could benefit from some feedback or instruction? Have you been around awhile and would like to help other members start their creative journey? Well then come and join the fun as we host our newest contest...

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"Holding Hands"

We all need a hand from time to time, to help, to lend to hold. This month’s contest is about hands, hands that hold things or hold onto things.

Intent: To create a scene where the holding hand is the important part, posing, shaping and lighting, but also put the hand into a context of the image.

This months sponsor is IgnisSerpentus her store is here http://www.daz3d.com/ignisserpentus

I will be checking in on the WIP THREAD as will the rest of the Community Volunteers to try and help with anything you all may need.

For a list of the current contest rules, please see this thread: Contest Rules

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When working on your submissions, if you would like to get feedback as you work or before posting your final image, please post your image to the WIP THREAD . People will be popping in to the WIP THREAD to give you some critique and advice on your entry and help along the way. Please keep all comments on entries etc to the WIP THREAD as well because comments or requests for help/feedback/advice will be removed from the contest thread and merged into the WIP THREAD . This thread is only for posting final contest submissions.

For those veterans of the forums that would like to help, because this contest is designed for the beginner to learn from, we will be randomly selecting posts offering helpful tips and/or critiques to receive a special voucher as well so whether you are a seasoned artist or an aspiring one, there is fun for everyone!

Closing Date: March 31th 2013

WIP THREAD FOR NEW USERS CONTEST, March 2013.

2013-03-03T08:46:32+00:00

Totte - 03 March 2013 03:00 AM
New User's Contest - March 2013

Sponsored by DAZ 3D & IgnisSerpentus

Are you new to the 3D World? Are you at the beginning stages of learning 3D rendering? Have you been around for a little bit but feel you could benefit from some feedback or instruction? Have you been around awhile and would like to help other members start their creative journey? Well then come and join the fun as we host our newest contest...

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Holding Hands"

We all need a hand from time to time, to help, to lend to hold. This month’s contest is about hands, hands that hold things or hold onto things.

Intent: To create a scene where the holding hand is the important part, posing, shaping and lighting, but also put the hand into a context of the image.

This months sponsor is IgnisSerpentus her store is here http://www.daz3d.com/ignisserpentus

I will be checking in on the WIP THREAD as will the rest of the Community Volunteers to try and help with anything you all may need.

For a list of the current contest rules, please see this thread: Contest Rules

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When working on your submissions, if you would like to get feedback as you work or before posting your final image, please post your image to the WIP THREAD . People will be popping in to the WIP THREAD to give you some critique and advice on your entry and help along the way. Please keep all comments on entries etc to the WIP THREAD as well because comments or requests for help/feedback/advice will be removed from the contest thread and merged into the WIP THREAD . This thread is only for posting final contest submissions.

For those veterans of the forums that would like to help, because this contest is designed for the beginner to learn from, we will be randomly selecting posts offering helpful tips and/or critiques to receive a special voucher as well so whether you are a seasoned artist or an aspiring one, there is fun for everyone!

Closing Date: March 31th 2013

WIP THREAD FOR NEW USERS CONTEST, February 2013.

2013-02-01T12:44:40+00:00

WIP THREAD FOR NEW USERS CONTEST, February 2013.

Sponsored by DAZ 3D and David Brinnen & Horo

"Designing a landscape"

This thread is intended to be used to share your progress or possible final submissions with the members of the community as well as those running the contest. Please feel free to post your images for advice and tips, to get feedback, or to even just simply show off your hard work! Throughout the month myself and others will be popping in to give help and advice as you work to make your creative visions for the contest come to life.

We are concentrating on using Bryce this month, as it is the program in the DAZ 3D stable of programs most often used for creating terrains and landscapes. Many of you will have downloaded it when it was free, and now we will help you get to grips with using it.

Intent: To produce an environment that can be used as it is in Bryce or rendered out to use as a background image for use in Daz Studio or Poser.We will also talk about transferring it from Bryce to Daz Studio using the built in bridge.

We have people standing by to give you hints and tips varying from how to get your orignal terrain into the working panel to how to edit it to a lesser or greater degree, depending on what you wish to acheive.

Bryce is very simple to use to produce a simple terrain, but we will try and guide you through how to customise it and add other features so that you can produce a useful and useable background for your scene, and eventually maybe even a landscape that is complete in itself.

Most important thing to remember is that we want you to have fun and learn at the same time.

David Brinnen has made a tutorial video to help you in getting started

Bryce 20 minute beginners project - simple landscape - a tutorial by David Brinnen

"We would like to thank David Brinnen and Horowho have graciously decided to sponsor this month’s contest" They will be awarding a special prize to the winners of this month’s contest. To view some of David Brinnen and Horo items please see their store fronts here David Brinnen's Store & Horo's Store

NEW USERS’S CONTEST February 2013

2013-02-01T11:56:43+00:00

New User's Contest - February 2013

Sponsored by DAZ 3D and David Brinnen & Horo

Are you new to the 3D World? Are you at the beginning stages of learning 3D rendering? Have you been around for a little bit but feel you could benefit from some feedback or instruction? Have you been around awhile and would like to help other members start their creative journey? Well then come and join the fun as we host our newest contest...

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Designing a landscape"

This month’s contest will take you trough all the steps needed to create a simple landscape environment to use in your 3D renders.

We are concentrating on using Bryce this month, as it is the program in the DAZ 3D stable of programs most often used for creating terrains and landscapes. Many of you will have downloaded it when it was free, and now we will help you get to grips with using it.

Intent: TO produce an environment that can be used as it is in Bryce or rendered out to use as a background image for use in Daz Studio or Poser.We will also talk about transferring it from Bryce to Daz Studio using the built in bridge.

Bryce is very simple to use to produce a simple terrain, but we will try and guide you through how to customise it and add other features so that you can produce a useful and useable background for your scene, and eventually maybe even a landscape that is complete in itself.

I will be checking in on the WIP THREAD as will the rest of the Community Volunteers to try and help with anything you all may need

David and Horo will also pop in from time to time to give you any hints and tips you may need..

For a list of the current contest rules, please see this thread :Contest Rules

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When working on your submissions, if you would like to get feedback as you work or before posting your final image, please post your image to the WIP THREAD. People will be popping in to the WIP THREAD to give you some critique and advice on your entry and help along the way. Please keep all comments on entries etc to the WIP THREAD as well because comments or requests for help/feedback/advice will be removed from the contest thread and merged into the WIP THREAD. This thread is only for posting final contest submissions.

For those veterans of the forums that would like to help, because this contest is designed for the beginner to learn from, we will be randomly selecting posts offering helpful tips and/or critiques to receive a special voucher as well so whether you are a seasoned artist or an aspiring one, there is fun for everyone!

"We would like to thank David Brinnen and Horowho have graciously decided to sponsor this month’s contest" They will be awarding a special prize to the winners of this month’s contest. To view some of David Brinnen and Horo items please see their store fronts here David Brinnen's Store & Horo's Store

Closing Date: February 28th 2013

New User’s Contest - January 2013

2013-01-02T23:53:06+00:00

New User's Contest - January 2013
Sponsored by DAZ 3D and Cliff Bowman

Are you new to the 3D World? Are you at the beginning stages of learning 3D rendering? Have you been around for a little bit but feel you could benefit from some feedback or instruction? Have you been around awhile and would like to help other members start their creative journey? Well then come and join the fun as we host our newest contest...

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Past and Present"

This month’s contest is about taking inventory of your growth as an artist. As this is a New Year and a time of reflection and new beginnings, we thought it would be fun for you all to take a composition you have created in the past (your very favorite) and re-create/ re-render it now to see how your perception, artistry, and skills have grown from then to now.

When doing this, you do not need to "Copy" your exact image but rather recreate the image using different aspects you have learned since creating your original work. That may mean the posing changes, the lighting, the environment. It could mean you approach this image from a completely new and fresh perspective or it could even mean taking something you have hand drawn and translating it to 3D using new tools you've discovered.

For this contest, we ask that you post both the original image (you can post scans or photos of things done in hard copy that may not be on your PC) as well as your new version of it. We will be getting back to tutorial and concept based contests starting next month but we thought there was no better way to start a new year then with reflection on just how far you all have come!

Intent: To look at your previous work, apply new skills you've learned, and be able to visually see the growth you have accomplished from when you created the original to now.

*PLEASE NOTE: This does not mean your original was poorly done by any means. Art is something that is always evolving and changing based on changes in the artist over time. There is a natural progressions to anyone's work, it's a wonderful thing to be able to compare and contrast how things have changed whether it be based on new techniques, technology, or even your mood between then and now.

I will be checking in on the WIP THREAD as will the rest of the Community Volunteers to try and help with anything you all may need.

For a list of the current contest rules, please see this thread: http://www.daz3d.com/forums/viewthread/3440/

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When working on your submissions, if you would like to get feedback as you work or before posting your final image, please post your image to the WIP THREAD. People will be popping in to the WIP THREAD to give you some critique and advice on your entry and help along the way. Please keep all comments on entries etc to the WIP THREAD as well because comments or requests for help/feedback/advice will be removed from the contest thread and merged into the WIP THREAD. This thread is only for posting final contest submissions.

For those veterans of the forums that would like to help, because this contest is designed for the beginner to learn from, we will be randomly selecting posts offering helpful tips and/or critiques to receive a special voucher as well so whether you are a seasoned artist or an aspiring one, there is fun for everyone!

"We would like to thank Cliff Bowman who has graciously decided to sponsor this month’s contest" He will be awarding a special prize to the winners of this month’s contest. To view some of Cliff Bowman items please see their store front here Cliff Bowman's Store

Closing Date: January 31st 2013

JANUARY 2013 New Users Contest WIP Thread

2013-01-02T23:43:36+00:00

This thread is intended to be used to share your progress or possible final submissions with the members of the community as well as those running the contest. Please feel free to post your images for advice and tips, to get feedback, or to even just simply show off your hard work! Throughout the month myself and others will be popping in to give help and advice as you work to make your creative visions for the contest come to life.

To start things off I wanted to give you all some links that may be of use when approaching your image this month:

Previous New User Contest Tips and Help (Hey it's reflection time for us as well )

July New User's Contest Tips and Help
August New User's Contest Tips and Help
September New User's Contest Tips and Help
December New User's Contest Tips and Help

Special TY to the Community Volunteers for all their hard work on these contests over the last year...you all truly are the BEST, I can't say it enough

Helpful Steps while approaching this Project/Contest:

1. Examine your original image. What do you love about it? What do you dislike (as artists there is always something LOL)?
2. Did you convey the feeling or message you wished to in your original? Did you set the mood as you intended?
3. Did you focus more on certain aspects of your creation while possibly missing smaller details in other areas?

Once you have looked over your original and begin looking at it from a different perspective, then ask yourself these next questions (tied in with the three above):

1. In the areas I dislike, what could I do that would make me like it more. Have a learned something new? Is there a new approach to the image I could try?
2. If you dislike the mood or feel you missed the message or feel you were trying to convey, are there new ways you could approach it? New lighting, a different pose, different post work?
3. If you focused on one area more then the overall image (I have this trouble all the time LOL) could you improve the overall details of the image? Add more that would help pull everything together for a more complete look?

Please also note for those brand new to 3D in general you may use a sketch you created or drawing or a 2D image you created in an app like GIMP or PSP or Photoshop and translate it to 3D as well. When you post in the contest thread just be sure to attach a scanned image or photograph of your original sketch if its a hard copy or post the original image from GIMP etc. If you need help doing any of that, please just let me know.

In the coming days I'll post some before and afters of my own to this post to show some examples to try and help show how sometimes revisiting a composition can help you gain insight when approaching new compositions as well as how it can additionally help with confidence as you see your own growth over time

As promised here is a rework of mine as an example The original (or the one that is mostly blue) I did back in 2005 It is by far one of my fav images and was something I did not when I was necessarily new (but sadly I lost alot of those images :() but rather something I did a few years after getting into 3D.

So I picked this image and went through my little self assessment. I picked it cuz I always liked it but there were things I thought maybe I could do a little better or that may be fun for me to try to do different

So here is my assessment (just as an example) so you know what I saw when I looked at it the other day and chose it.

1. I love the general concept...cute and sweet and has my two fav things...fae and dragons I disliked that the pallet I chose was "so blue" to me that it lost some of the magical quality I was hoping for. Also I've learned quite a bit about lighting and adding slashes of color etc that I thought would be fun to add in and quite a bit more about painting clothing and hair so I wanted to try those things out on it.

2. Maybe all that blue may make it a touch "sad" looking as where I wanted this to be more sweet and touching and colors can convey mood (or rather pallet choices) so I wanted to get away from that and also possibly add more separation so the focus (the fae and dragon) don't blend in so so much. I think I missed the mood possibly a little because the pallet was blue. Maybe not horribly but it seemed fun to see what a change there would do.

3. I focused alot on the Posing of the girl in the original and not so much the dragon so the dragon kinda looks disinterested or not as invested? Also I noticed while she went in to smooch her friend, her eyes weren't closed which I thought maybe took away from the softness of her giving her "pet" a little smoochie hehe

So after looking it over, I reworked it as you see in the second image that contains the multiple colors with the pinks etc in it. I paid more attention to the Pose of the dragon so it seemed (at least to me) more engaged in the scene, added some splashes of color, added in a little DOF to accentuate the foreground more, repainted the hair and clothes and added a little jewelry as well this time. Had her eyes closed so it looked more sweet and loving and softer. (Though I do note I liked the initial pose of the girl a little better in the original but try as I might I couldn't seem to replicate it ROFL)

Now, whether the first image or the second is better for the viewer, I'll leave up to you all...but it was fun to see how I could apply things I've learned since 2005 as well as get to see comparatively how little tweaks and changes here and there would affect the outcome