Digital Art Zone

Last updated 05/19/2013

Restarting the Black Is Beautiful thread from the previous forum.  Starting out with a revised version of the resource lists from the other thread.  Dead links pruned and new stuff added. Separated things out into categories which also includes a “Vendor” category for some who have a sizable number of products (as opposed to listing them individually).  I’ll try my best to keep this updated and certainly let me know if you think things should be reorganized.  For instance, I specifically added afrocentric hairstyles as opposed to everything that could validly work but if people want more in the list then that’s no problem.  I also eventually plan to alphabetize things.

Original Thread (archived)
http://forumarchive.daz3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=147544

Vendors

Syltermermaid @ Contentparadise Vendor - multiple
RecieCup @ RenderCandy Vendor - multiple
Tempesta3d’s characters Vendor - multiple
xilia78’s characters Vendor - multiple
Fireflightt’s characters Freebies - multiple

Children

Bisa K4
Tayisha for K4 K4
Jade for The Kids 4 K4
Children of the World K4
Toon Tones for Sadie & Sam for DS3 Sam/Sadie (FREE)
Sammy for Kids4 K4
Jamika K4
Coco for K4 K4

Female

V4 Becky V4
VYK_Ecstasy V4
Jamyla V4
SWD Kamea V4
American Woman for V4 V4
Mst Merchant Resource Sa V4
Mst Sasha Overloaded V4
Dollz Fab Fortney V4
Subira for V4.2 V4
Cinnia For V4.0 V4
Emily V4 V4
Cym56 Xeni Dark Elf V4
SM3D Ubasti V4
CGLF-Imani for V4 V4
RM Chantel V4 V4
Olivia for V5 V5
Ashiki for Aiko 5 A5
P3D Myra V4
Amisha for V4 V4 (FREE)
LR Alayeh for V4 V4
FR Kalisha V4
MDD Sakkara for V4.2 V4
Lila - Poser V4 (FREE)
Abbie for V4++ G4 V4 (FREE)
MRL Rhapsody V4
Zula Miki4
Madeleine V4
Kamilah V4
FW Meli for Victoria 4.2 / V 4 V4
Cailey V4.2 V4
Shades of Black: Hi-Resolution Texture Bundle for V4 V4
Maxi V4
Swilly for V4-G4 V4+G4
Dollz ToshaPosh V4/A4/G4
Gimbya V4
Savannah For V4.2 V4
RM Kanani V4
Ira for V4 V4
RM Tyara V4
Minx for V4 V4
Zina for V4 V4
RM Taquia Miki 3 Miki3
Kayla V4
Abeje V4
3DS Saree for V4/A4 V4/A4
Adanna Anastasia
Cym56 Xeni V4
Kiana For Victoria 4.2 & Genesis V4/Genesis
FR-Neeva V4
DTG Studios’ Dione for V4.2 V4
Candace for Stephanie 5 S5
Glam Girls: Shayana V4/Genesis
BBW Cora for V4 V4
SD Makayla for V4 V4
FRAD-NaChelle V4
Ambrette for Mavka Mavka
Chablis for Genesis/V4 Genesis/V4
GND: Shae Anastasia
Marie V4
Zaira V4
Mentha Piperata A3
BB V4
Alcione for V4.2 V4
Amaris for Victoria 4.2 V4
MiLinda for Victoria 4.2++ V4
Georgia for Victoria 4.2 V4
Kerry-Ann V4/S4
Nala and Nia V4/S4
Daiyu V4
Cherry Cola V4
Kendra V4
Dulce V4
Grace V4
Ebony Bundle V4
Bahiya and Zuwena V4 + G4 bundle
Keisha A4
Sanja V4
Zena V4/A4/G4/S4
Camielle V4
Kimani V4
Lecretia V4
RM Baby V4
Makumba V4
SamiraV4
Jadzia V4
Camilla V4
Afro Disiac V4
Nakida V4
Nachelle V4/A4
Nubya V4
Shatarri V4/A4
Zaraii V4
Celie & Bikini V4
Tawni V4
Xica:The Agent V4/G4/A4
Kayleigh V4
Jayla Alyson
Spice V4
V4 Celebrity Series: Super Model V4
Shanti V4/S4/Genesis
Jala of the Jungle V4
Ambra V4
Lil Sis Kaly V4
RMTH Khia V4/A4 V4/A4
Daisy May and Macy Day V4
Faces of Africa for Vicky 3 V3
Ghost V3 Black Character Pack V3
RMTH Clarissa V4
Kunja V4/A4/G4
Brianna V4
Anisa V4
Elapidae V4
Zoe V4
MRL- Nabila V4
Salome V4 (FREE)
Debra V4 (FREE)
The Candy Factory Genesis + Hitomi
Ola for V4 V4
Noni S4-V4 V4/S4
Tynashe for V4 V4
Leena International V4 V4/S4
Leena International Generations V4/S4/A4
Morphia V4/S4/A4/G4
Boopsie G4 G4/S4/A4/V4
Zahira for Vicky 4 V4/A4
Martine for Vicki 4 V4
PD Naomi V4
Sanura V3
Amani for Victoria 4.2 V4
VH_Maya & Jamila V4
Niara for Victoria 5 V5
P3D Carmen V4/Genesis
~ Tanya ~ V4

Male

Neo for David 5 D5
TerryB Bundle for M4 M4
Derek for Freak 5 F5
Jack for M4 M4
LK-Jomo M4 M4
PD Marvin M4
Adham M4/Genesis
Obi for Genesis M5/Genesis
Raw VooDoo M4/Genesis
Trey for M4 M4
Slade M4
Rapper for M4 M4
FLAME for M4 M4
Rob M4
Double Trouble M4
Derek M4
Victor For M4 M4
!Tyrese! for m4 M4 (FREE)
Faces of Africa for Michael 3 M3
Carlos M4/F4
Tyrell for M4 H4 Fr4 M4/H4/F4
Jerome M4/F4
Tyrese for M4 M4
Morphus M4/H4/F4
Noah for M4 M4
SAV Lynn M4
Benjamin for M5 M5
Shades of Atlantis Cobalt Hierophant M4
Men of Character M4
Men of Character II M5

Male + Female bundles

Ethnic Bundle Pack M4 & V4 bundle
Faces of Africa Bundle for M3 and V3 M3 & V3 bundle
Egyptians V4 and M3 M3 & V4 bundle

Hair

Asteria Hair V4/M4/Genesis
Asteria Hair V4/M4/Genesis
SAV Alpha Scalp V4/M4/Genesis
Afrodesiac Hair V4-A4-G4 V4/A4/G4
Hr-087 V4/M4 + more fits
Afro Magic 1 Genesis/V4/M4
Afro Magic 2 Genesis/V4/M4
Dryades Hair V4/A4 + more fits
RDNA Stylez 5 - Alicia - Mega Morphing Afro Style *UPDATED* V3/M3/V4 + more fits
Dreads Hair V4/A4/G4 V4/A4/G4
Hr-064 V4/A4/G4/S4
Caleb Hair M4/V4/A3 + more fits
Evan Hair Genesis/M4/V4 + more fits
Hr-061 M4/V4 + more fits
Hr-048 M4/H4/V4 + more fits
Hr-058 M4/H4/V4 + more fits
Cool Coils G3/A3/V3
Wild Dreads V4/A3/M3
Skyla Hair V4/M4/A4
Keysha Hair V4/M4/A4
Delia Hair V4/G4/A4
SAV Lynn Hairsets Genesis/V4/M4
RocknHair V4/A4/G4
Beautiful Black HairStyles Genesis/V4/M4/K4
Romana Hair Genesis/V4/A4
ModaCuts AtoE V4/M3 + more
Frizzed Head V3/A3 + more
Paul Hair for Genesis and M4 Genesis/M4/V4

Clothes & Props

Kimani Clothes for V4 clothes V4
Kimani Bundle clothes V4 + clothes + props
Props Pack - African Weapons Props
Pharaohs of the Sun for Genesis Male clothes Genesis (Male)
Pharaohs of the Sun for Genesis Female clothes Genesis (Female)
Pharaohs of the Sun for V4 clothes v4
Ancient Cultures Construction Set by 3-D-C scenery props
Kingdom of Marrakesh 2012 scenery props
Marrakesh Souks 2012 scenery props
Serpent Goddess clothes v4
African Village Toolkit by AM scenery props
Maman Brijit clothes v4

Resources and Other

Totally Bazaar Bundle Clothing texture shaders
DieTrying’s 182 V4 Morphs for Genesis Morph pack (FREE)
Diversity for Genesis Morph pack
SF Variety for Genesis Morph pack
Jewels of Egypt Patterns and textures
Warm’NSoul Lights Lights (Poser only)
Studio Moods for DS Lights (DS only)
wc Black Skin Skin textures (FREE)

Render Setting Tips and Suggestions

From Fisty on the previous forums:

In your opinion, does darker skin need more lights to stand out more times than not? I notice your girl POPS. Many times my characters faces are barely shown

I don’t think so, really.. I actually added a good deal of grey to the diffuse color ‘cause the lights were making her a bit too light for my taste.. it’s the same basic light setup I use for almost everything unless it’s a really complicated scene.. sometimes I will start with it and drop the fill light in favor of uber environment if I think the picture needs AO to look right, in this case it didn’t.

I make a distance light and apply active viewport settings from my main camera, I look through that new light and move it slightly to a side and up (which side determined by where the face is, try to position it so it’ll get the glint in the eyes) I set that light to 90-100% intensity and cast shadows. I make another distance light off the main camera and move that one down and to the other side to be a fill light, it can be left off if you want to use a low intensity uber environment light instead, I set it at 20-30% and not casting shadows. (if I do uber environment instead I use the plain white one at like 30-50%, have to test render that to get the intensity right, doesn’t seem to be a perfect number). The third light I look through the “back” camera and create a distance light with those settings, then I rotate it very slightly to the side opposite the main light. That’s the rim light, I usually turn that one up to at least 150%, I had it at 200% for this last render and I’ve gone as high as 500% on it for special effects like if you use a coloured light.) I turn shadows on for that one too, though have to be careful with what is behind the character, I had to turn off shadow casting for the green backdrop thing so it didn’t block the rim highlights. I find it a great help to click off visibility of the main and fill lights (the little eyeballs in the scene tab) temporarily after adding the rim light to check how it’s hitting the edges, saves a lot of test rendering.

A number of other posts also noted that the culprit tends to be specularity settings as opposed to the actual lighting in the scene.  Darker skinned characters tend to need the specularity on their skin turned up a little more or a dedicated spec light should be added to the scene.

KerWar’s settings for converting a lighter skin tone to a darker one: http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=2145237&user_id=303046&np;&np;

Similar conversions from wancow: http://wancow.deviantart.com/art/African-Skin-Example-Shahana-Character-306497356

Discussion of material settings for darker skinned characters: http://www.daz3d.com/forums/viewthread/13065/

Decent Lighting the Easy Way - While not aimed at darker skinned characters in specific, still a decent tutorial and at least one of the examples uses Benjamin M5.

You forgot Marie Elite V4 from Daz.
http://www.daz3d.com/shop/v4-elite-texture-marie

A couple more:
http://www.daz3d.com/shop/zaira (had her on wishlist a while!)
http://www.daz3d.com/shop/mentha-piperata (maybe too Anime-styled for this list?)

Some very nice freebies here:

http://www.rendercandy.com/index.php

Oh Hi Everyone its good to be back and I’m still waiting on Neftis3D to release his Beautiful Black Hair styles, but I’m missing all the input that we had on our other postings on the Old forum…....But I have been playin with the Basic Genesis figure and Nata and Chibi models….OMG!!! I removed the images because they were HUGE!!!!!!!!! BFN…...
Tryin for another smaller picture 900x900 was still to big…...Whoo Ooo looks like 450x450 it is!!!

Slimer_J_Spud - 24 May 2012 02:30 PM

You forgot Marie Elite V4 from Daz.
http://www.daz3d.com/shop/v4-elite-texture-marie

A couple more:
http://www.daz3d.com/shop/zaira (had her on wishlist a while!)
http://www.daz3d.com/shop/mentha-piperata (maybe too Anime-styled for this list?)

Sorry for the absence, I’ll try to get these added.  Can’t believe I forgot Marie.

Nice to see this thread back.  Let see if I can post an image.  I started out with Betomelo’s Bruuna and tweaked the morph a bit.  The texture is Jazz by Reciecup and hair is Portia by AprilYSH.  The top is a freebie by Lully and Cybrea.

Well we were on page 4 of the Commons, so does this mean we have moved down the forum or Up??? This is a trial posting…....OK so now we are on page 8. The only thing I’m waiting at the moment for is Neftis3D Black hair styles…......

Oh, I forgot to mention here that I decided to release the character file of the dark-skinned fantasy heroine I use in most of my pics, Smacky.

http://www.snowsultan.com/free/smackyINJ_by_snowsultan.zip

You’ll need V4, her morphs++, her muscle morphs, and Aiko 4 if you want the cuter face. No texture is included, but I use Elite Marie. Works in both DAZ Studio and Poser.

I hope to see any art you make using her, and if you make any art at all that is supposed to be her (the character Smacky), I will feature it and your art on my deviantArt page. 

Hopefully you can see a preview of what’s in the zip file and a test image I made of Smacky below. Thanks for taking a look!

SnowS

Wow! We get Smacky?!  Thank you very much!!

OK so the forum is back again, was trying to find a ‘we are not worthy’ smiley but they don’t have one available…....Thank You for this fantastic share SnowSultan, already got a render brewing…....We are now on flippin page 11 now…...‘Arrhhh’

These may be duplicates but I found these today:
AA Candy for Victoria V4
http://contentparadise.com/productDetails.aspx?id=20541
Ebony & Ivory
http://contentparadise.com/productDetails.aspx?id=20068
mst BB v4
http://www.runtimedna.com/mst-BB-v4.html
Kayla
http://www.runtimedna.com/Kayla.html
EF-Mak’umba
http://www.runtimedna.com/EF-Mak-umba.html
Ethnic Beauty Tanya
http://contentparadise.com/productDetails.aspx?id=21065

Kalypso - 03 June 2012 12:10 AM

Wow! We get Smacky?!  Thank you very much!!

You’re very welcome!  Please read the Readme for more information on using her when you have time, and remember like any MOR, the shape looks a lot better when it’s on a figure with clothing and hair. It may look a little strange on a nude figure, but this really is the same shape I use in my renders. 

“Thank You for this fantastic share SnowSultan, already got a render brewing…....We are now on flippin page 11 now…...‘Arrhhh’”

Awesome, I look forward to seeing it!  And yeah, I really wish these old threads would get bumped like the new ones are now. No one’s ever going to find us back here this way, and Zamuel’s list of resources is amazing.

SnowS

OK SnowSultan here she is: Oh Blast I will have to reduce her…....

SnowSultan - 03 June 2012 09:43 AM

And yeah, I really wish these old threads would get bumped like the new ones are now. No one’s ever going to find us back here this way, and Zamuel’s list of resources is amazing.

Thanks, but a lot of the credit is for those who made the original list(s) and the vendors for making the products.  Doesn’t help that the forum update thing is really fickle.  Didn’t even know there were new posts.  I find this thread the same way I found it on the previous forum when it dropped off by doing a forum search for the word “Africa”.

A public version of Smacky’s morph?  Interesting.  Since you’re here, you might want to stick your head in on RDNA’s 1.99 sale since they have some fantasy scenery stuff.  Might be helpful for Scott Livingston as well.  Hmm…bookmarked his site so I might link him to this new thread.  EDIT: Or I would have if there was an email address…

Here’s Smacky not so much as a warrior as a sorceress - hope you’re not too disappointed, I stopped fiddling with the lighting cause I just made it worse   I’m having so much fun with her, need to try out some other textures too.  Thanks again Snow!

@ Angel: Thank you very much, you did a good job!  :D It’s interesting, she looks a bit Indian to me in your image. Textures can make a huge difference in how a character looks.  I saw it on your dA page and I will link to it and your gallery soon.  :)  Can I send an image to your email address (if I can have it)? I lightened your render a little because it’s very dark for me, and I’d like to see if it looks too bright to you.

@ Kalypso: Oh wow, of course I’m not disappointed, it looks terrific!  :)  Do you have a deviantArt page where I can favorite that image too? I set up a folder for any Smacky-related renders by other users.  ;)

“Thanks, but a lot of the credit is for those who made the original list(s) and the vendors for making the products”

True, but your list is really useful and so definitive. I don’t even know half of half of the items on there, will have to take a look myself.  ;)  Will also take a look at RDNA’s sale, although I already have a ton of environments from DAZ I haven’t gotten around to using yet, lol.

Very glad you’re finding her useful!

SnowS