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This new Billboard plugin looks interesting...

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  • Ghosty12Ghosty12 Posts: 2,080
    edited May 2017

    Looks similar to a product called M.O.M or Movement of Mass Crowd Generator that Powerage did awhile back for Poser.. This one looks interesting in being able to have groups of figures as one plane, about the one thing that may be of issue will be to get images to look like they belong in the scene and don't stand out like a sore thumb..

    diogenese19348 said:

    Powerage did something along these lines a couple of years back for Poser, I found it quite useful.  This looks like an updated system for use in DAZ.  Having something that will automatically point groups of billboards at the camera is a nice touch.


    Yeah was called M.O.M or Movement of Mass was very handy back then the only problem with it was that each pane was of one figure only sort of thing..  What looks to be good with this is the ability to use Ultrascatter with Insta Crowd..

    Post edited by Ghosty12 on
  • ScavengerScavenger Posts: 2,674

    So can someone explain what this new billboard stuff is? sounds very interesting from the discription I read... a self turning plane?

    Fishtales said:

    Do a render of an object with no background and save it as a .png. Use it by creating a plane in your scene, add the .png to the surface in the surface tab, set it to point at camera and render.

    .

    I was wondering if this is what they were. 

    I'll see what reviews are if it's better than rolling your own.

  • RobotHeadArtRobotHeadArt Posts: 917
    Artini said:

    The billboards works with Ultra Scatter. Below is an iray render of 72 instances of all 5 character billboards, included with the plugin.

    Render time under 2 minutes.

    image

     

    Great!  Thanks for sharing.

  • GreybroGreybro Posts: 2,606
    Artini said:

    I have bought the plugin, but could not find the way, using only .png image, so I have created a cutout mask for the render (white - to show the figure, black - to mask anything else).

    Below is a test iray render of Toon Duckie. On the left is a Billboard node (from the plugin), on the right, the plane primitive from Daz Studio.

    image

    Seems like the Daz Primitive method is slightly better looking with richer colors doesn't it?

    Here's my primative method image. I think a rather obvious advantage of doing it yourself is that you can render in the lighting you will eventauly use for the larger comp WHEN you create your images for the primative planes for a perfect match.

    3 Wolves and a Gal on Planes

  • hacsarthacsart Posts: 2,034

    reminds me of the old Bryce 2d picture object .....

  • ArtiniArtini Posts: 10,469

    I wish there will be a method, to create billboards, that looks equally good under different light conditions.

     

  • ArtiniArtini Posts: 10,469
    edited May 2017

    Does anybody know, how to create a cut out mask from .png images easier way.

    I have created mask for my billboard, using Photoshop magic wand by selecting transparent area around the character, but have had to edit it with the brush later.

    I do not know, how to easily select the shadow, to create the mask for it. Anybody know?

     

    Post edited by Artini on
  • GreybroGreybro Posts: 2,606
    Here's my process to get that cutout or trans map which I put in the opacity parameter in the shader tab. Does anybody know, how to create a cut out mask from .png images easier way. I have created mask for my billboard, using Photoshop magic wand by selecting transparent area around the character, but have had to edit it with the brush later. I do not know, how to easily select the shadow, to create the mask for it. Anybody know? Sure. 1. Render and save image of the character on the blank stage. 2. Open in Photoshop. 3. Select the shape and on a new layer above it, fill in it with white. 4. Select everythiing outside that by cliking control+shift+I and fill THAT in with black. 5. Save THAT black and white layer as your trans map.
  • Ghosty12Ghosty12 Posts: 2,080
    Artini said:

    I wish there will be a method, to create billboards, that looks equally good under different light conditions.

     

    The only way to do it would be to use the light setup that you are going to use for the scene you want the billboards in..

  • ArtiniArtini Posts: 10,469

    Thanks for the tips and the comments, Greybro and ghosty12.

     

  • diogenese19348diogenese19348 Posts: 929

    I've played around with the plugin, the fact that it automatically turns the billboards to the camera when you move it is awesome.  Saves a lot of time adjusting the scene.  As far as the transparency map, Two layers, black background on the bottom one, take your original no background png make it the top layer, then use exposure to adjust it to white.  Set exposure all the way up, then catch the shadows with Offset.

  • DkgooseDkgoose Posts: 1,451

    I didn't realize this was to create your own I just figured it a optional requirement for the other billboards released, I added all the stuff to my cart but if I can actually make my own character billboards with this then it's more useful than I thought :) my bank and husband will definitely hate me for a while lol 

  • BlueIreneBlueIrene Posts: 1,318
    dkgoose said:

    I didn't realize this was to create your own I just figured it a optional requirement for the other billboards released, I added all the stuff to my cart but if I can actually make my own character billboards with this then it's more useful than I thought :) my bank and husband will definitely hate me for a while lol 

    What it does is add an entry to the menu enabling you to create a blank billboard that always points towards the camera. It also adds a pane which enables you to control all your billboards at once.

  • RGcincyRGcincy Posts: 2,862

    Not to take away form the new product, but mCasual has a free script to orient billboards to the camera. I discuss it's use here. If a billboard orients to the side instead of the front, you can change one parameter in the script to change the angle. The new billboard plugin appears to make this process easier.

  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 40,460

    casual has done just about everything first, the man is a legend yes

    Sadly most would probably not pass Q&A at the store as customers want things click load use put brain idle, he does constantly tweak his stuff but its always a WIP.

    I am not much of a DAZ studio user myself, it's mostly there as a way to get things into Carrara and iClone which do a lot of this stuff already and what Casual and his scripts bring to the table for DAZ studio, if I do need to use D|S Casual's Google page is frequently perused to try and solve any missing functions I need, he is sadly underrated.

  • pkappeteinpkappetein Posts: 506

    Call me stupid, but

    How do I load "Createbillboards" or "CreateBillboards_grouped"  etc?  (those scripts)

    I don't see anything in the Create dropdown in Daz.
    I just loaded a character and trying to create a billboard.

    Do I need to install the EXE installer too?  

    "The plugin adds two interface elements:

    • Entry in the Create menu called "New Billboard Node"
    • New "Billboard" pane

    Create Menu
    To create a new billboard node, simply click on "New Billboard Node" in the Create menu. This will create a plane primitive that is oriented automatically to your view."

    I don't see these options?..  

    Or am I thinking the wrong thing here..   Load a scene or Character, and trying to create a billboard out of it.

  • duane_moodyduane_moody Posts: 132

    IIRC, billboarding as a term predates CGI; it's the cheat Ub Iwerks used to keep Mickey Mouse's ears always facing you no matter what direction his head was facing (in both the animations and the comic strips), and now used digitally in current animations.

  • LindseyLindsey Posts: 2,011
    pkappetein said:

    Call me stupid, but

    How do I load "Createbillboards" or "CreateBillboards_grouped"  etc?  (those scripts)

    I don't see anything in the Create dropdown in Daz.
    I just loaded a character and trying to create a billboard.

    Do I need to install the EXE installer too?  

    "The plugin adds two interface elements:

    • Entry in the Create menu called "New Billboard Node"
    • New "Billboard" pane

    Create Menu
    To create a new billboard node, simply click on "New Billboard Node" in the Create menu. This will create a plane primitive that is oriented automatically to your view."

    I don't see these options?..  

    Or am I thinking the wrong thing here..   Load a scene or Character, and trying to create a billboard out of it.

    The plugin and sample scripts needs to be installed via DIM or Manually.  Daz Connect can only install the sample billboards.

  • pkappeteinpkappetein Posts: 506

    I did use the DIM and not connect.

  • LindseyLindsey Posts: 2,011
    edited May 2017

    If you don't see the missing two Plugin installers, the plugin and sample scripts, check your Download Filters on the Ready to Download Tab and make sure the Plugin is checked.

    Edit: After making the filter change, you may need to click on the refresh icon on the upper right if you don't see the plugin and sample scripts installers.

    DIM Download Filters.jpg
    974 x 759 - 101K
    Post edited by Lindsey on
  • BlueIreneBlueIrene Posts: 1,318
    pkappetein said:

    Or am I thinking the wrong thing here..   Load a scene or Character, and trying to create a billboard out of it.

    Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but you can't just load a character, push a button and create a billboard out of it (I wish :) ). The menu option just creates a blank billboard that's always facing the camera (mine come out really small for some reason). You then go into the 'Surfaces' tab and add a render of a character that you did earlier, plus a matching transparency map that you've created in Photoshop or similar.

  • pkappeteinpkappetein Posts: 506
    edited May 2017

    I have a
    Billboard Nodes Plugin Content
    Billboard Notes Plugin Sample Script
    Installed.

    nvm..   I did have the plugin unchecked..   missed a tiny file.
    it's there now :)
     

    Post edited by pkappetein on
  • erostewerostew Posts: 237
    edited May 2017

    Seems like it might be useful but it is kind of non-intuitive and the readme pdf is a joke. I haven't tried to make my own billboard yet... just loaded the samples but I can't even figure out how to change their position in the scene. Translation moves them in weird directions without seeming to actually move them like it's mixed in with the scaling. Probably a side effect of pointing at the camera I guess? The Billboard pane has nothing except a randomization option. 

     

    I'm probably missing something obvious but at the moment I'm feeling like I wasted my money. The complete "documentation":

    Introduction
    The Billboard Nodes plugin creates flat planes that always align to the view of the user. This works 
    automatically with all cameras and views in the viewport.
    The plugin adds two interface elements:
    1. Entry in the Create menu called "New Billboard Node"
    2. New "Billboard" pane


    Create Menu
    To create a new billboard node, simply click on "New Billboard Node" in the Create menu. This 
    will create a plane primitive that is oriented automatically to your view.


    Billboard Pane
    The pane is not necessary but provides a couple convenience features.
    1. Select All Billboard Nodes – this makes it simple to select all billboard nodes in the scene
    2. Randomize PointAt % - this will change how strongly the billboard nodes will point at the 
    view. This affects all selected billboard nodes.


    General Notes
    While content created with this plugin will work best with the plugin, it isn't actually required. If the
    plugin is not present the billboard content still loads but doesn't automatically face the camera. The 
    user can then manually set the billboards to point at an object or camera in the scene.

    Post edited by erostew on
  • morkmork Posts: 278
    edited May 2017
    LeatherGryphon said:
      And where'd this new term "Billboard" come from??? indecision

    In computer graphics, I can recall to have seen it for the first time in the game Castle Wolfenstein (1981). The enemies, the powerups, they're all billboards.
    Which is a plane always facing the camera, with a texture on it, to fake a real object. In early days of gaming most things were billboards instead of real 3d objects, because there was no computing power to do them as real models. Those were the days before GPUs were born, mind you. So, it's actually a really really old term.

     

    As for the billboards asset: It's not difficult to create some on your own, it is finding good textures for them what makes it somewhat time consuming and difficult. You need to consider that.

    Post edited by mork on
  • pkappeteinpkappetein Posts: 506

    OK,  why is the numbering so weird for this.
    Are we missing something?

    IM00037839-02_BillboardNodesforDAZStudio45Win64bit
    IM00037839-06_BillboardNodesPluginSampleScripts
    IM00037839-05_BillboardNodesPluginContent

    What is  01,03 and 04 ?   

  • IceDragonArtIceDragonArt Posts: 12,928

    I have this in my wishlist for as soon as I can swing it.  I also immediately thought of Jepe's products of which I own almost all.  This would make them really easy to use.

  • erostewerostew Posts: 237
    edited May 2017
    pkappetein said:

    OK,  why is the numbering so weird for this.
    Are we missing something?

    IM00037839-02_BillboardNodesforDAZStudio45Win64bit
    IM00037839-06_BillboardNodesPluginSampleScripts
    IM00037839-05_BillboardNodesPluginContent

    What is  01,03 and 04 ?   

    Just look in your Product Library. -01 is Win 32-Bit and -03 and -04 are Mac versions.

    Post edited by erostew on
  • pkappeteinpkappetein Posts: 506
    edited May 2017

    Aah,  makes sense..

     

    btw.  if the creator is here.   the  windows 64 Bit version, doesn't install anything.   it only does some registry things and creates an empty folder.

    and the uninstaller is in the same folder as where I downloaded the 32 and 64 bit versions.
    The shortcuts are not right either for it.
    My guess the EXE is for 4.5 only ?

     

    Post edited by pkappetein on
  • pkappeteinpkappetein Posts: 506

    Well, played with it, and asked for a refund.
    All it is is an plain item and loading a png file and change the properties..
    Was already doing some of that, I thought it was more, but it wasn't.
    and don't get me started about a manual,  since there is none..  
     

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