April 2025 - Daz 3D New User Challenge - Open Render Challenge

DAZ_ann0314

New User's Challenge - April 2025

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 render challenge.

As with the previous months, we are breaking down each month into 2 different challenges. A Beginner Challenge and then also an Intermediate Challenge.

So which "Challenge" should you choose?

Follow the Beginner Challenge if you are:

• New to the New User Challenges
• New to Daz Studio
• Newer to 3D Rendering in General

Follow the Intermediate Challenge if you have:

• Participated in the New User Challenge for awhile
• Know the basics of Daz Studio and would like to learn more in depth topics
• Been using 3D Rendering Applications for awhile and feel comfortable with learning Intermediate Topics

*Please don't forget to note in your post with your render whether the image is for the beginner or intermediate challenge, and to also mention which of your new skill set(s) you used in creating your image!*
 

---

"Open Render Challenge"

The Open Render Challenge is also referred to as a "free" month, where you can concentrate on using and combining the skills you learned in the past few challenges.

---

If you would like to review the previous topics and information you can find the topics/threads here:

• Beginner/Intermediate : Composition/Instancing & Duplication 
• Beginner/Intermediate : Lighting/Light Effects
• Beginner/Intermediate : Posing/Posing II

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

For a list of the current challenge rules, please see this thread: Challenge Rules

 

Closing Date: April 30th, 2025

Shinji Ikari 9th

Here's my start for the month.  Texture work on the set and the outfit of the character on our right is still needed (both are pre-Iray), and I plan to add a third charcater at the console as if they are working on getting the door in the background opened faster then it is so the teem can escape.  Might also see if I can kitbash a muzzle flash to one of the weapons being used to both help with the lighting, and show that they are fighting something/someone that we can't see, as well as some return fire from said foe.

 

Here's hoping that I don't have problems finding the time to work more on things this month like I did last month.

Shinji Ikari 9th

Here's version b.

Did some retexturing of some of the surfaces, added a third character at the console who's gotten the doors opening, opened the door more then it was, and added muzzle flashes to the weapons of the characters who are holding the line.

SapphireBlue

Shinji Ikari 9th The updates definitely add more interest to the whole scene. The muzzle flashes really help to add some more light and set the mood. Feedback: I think you can increase the light levels a little more even, maybe with some form of ghost lights. A couple of other small things. The guy at the console is floating above the ground, and his pose seems a little laid back for the situation. Maybe having him hunch over the console, while also making himself smaller to avoid being a target for any return fire could add to the tension. Just some thoughts in case it helps!

SapphireBlue

NOT AN ENTRY

Happened on this part of the forums tonight, and thought I'd use the challenge as an opportunity to try out puppeteer with a few poses in a quick animation test. I've used it with expressions before and it worked beautifully. But this time using puppeteer to move between poses in FilaToon was painfully slow. Don't know what I was doing wrong, but I'll definitely have to try it a few more times and see... (Oh there's also things wrong with the pose transitions in the video, but it was good to try things out as a quick test.)

 

(Suggestion: I think a lot of users of intermediate and above level would benefit from these monthly challenges too, as there's always a lot more to explore and learn. An idea might be to have a similar set of challenges running in parallel in Art Studio or the Commons or elsewhere. No prizes or anything, just with similar topics to focus on and links to resources to learn and try out things every month. That might interest a number of us).

Aki3d

intermediate

DazStudio

THE FARM

it's kitbashing with alot of instances, new shaders and volumetric lights

Shinji Ikari 9th

Version C here.

It was pointed out that the character at the console was floating a bit off the ground and seemed too relaxed for the situation so I tried to adjust that.

He's on the ground better, and his arms are adjusted so his hand aren't clipping after he was bent in closer to things.