Loading...
> >

July 2016 New User 3D Art Contest “Portrait Rendering” – WIP Thread

1…6791112…20

Comments

  • IceDragonArtIceDragonArt Posts: 12,548
    edited July 2016

    Okay I think this is as far as I can take this one.  I tried moving the top arm down and re arranging but it just wasn't working in a way that looked right. I did darken it just a slight bit in the hopes of making it a bit more obvious that its her arm.

    Not sure if you can tell the minor tweeks I did but I tried to bring her eyes and her lips out a bit more without being too obvious.

    Lotus Flowers 3a.jpg
    800 x 1294 - 637K
    Post edited by IceDragonArt on
  • social_stigmasocial_stigma Posts: 107
    ewcarman said:
    tubbyfalls1 said:

    My images always seem darker after I post them than what I see in the render library on my computer. 

    I have that same issue. My gallery has several examples where I posted an image I thought looked great on my computer. Then you'll see the corrected one with more light right next to it. Maybe it's a Murphy's Law thing were the most glaring issues aren't discovered until you submit your work for public review. smiley

    Good to know I'm not alone in that, at least. Just have to remember that when preparing to post. Wish I still had Photoshop for quick adjustments of that nature.

  • social_stigmasocial_stigma Posts: 107

    After some adjustments, I'm pleased. Now let's see how dark it looks on here ...

    night is the notion.png
    579 x 938 - 726K
  • barbultbarbult Posts: 23,345
    edited July 2016
    tubbyfalls1 said:

    After some adjustments, I'm pleased. Now let's see how dark it looks on here ...

    Getting much better, but still way too dark. Here is a histogram of your image. It shows that almost all of your pixels are below mid brightness, with most of them way below.

     

    histogram.JPG
    213 x 131 - 12K
    Post edited by barbult on
  • Shinji Ikari 9thShinji Ikari 9th Posts: 1,168

    Here's version h. It didn't feel right when I tried to adjust his head to have his eyes more visible so I decided to try and give them a bit of glow.

    july2016h.jpg
    533 x 864 - 307K
  • social_stigmasocial_stigma Posts: 107
    barbult said:
    tubbyfalls1 said:

    After some adjustments, I'm pleased. Now let's see how dark it looks on here ...

    Getting much better, but still way too dark. Here is a histogram of your image. It shows that almost all of your pixels are below mid brightness, with most of them way below.

     

    I was going for a middle-of-the-night look, but I guess I need to learn the basics of lighting before I start getting too creative with it. You have to know the rules before you can break the rules, they say.

    Anyway, here she is brightened up a bit.

     

    night is the notion.jpg
    579 x 938 - 286K
  • evilded777evilded777 Posts: 2,448
    edited July 2016
    tubbyfalls1 said:
    barbult said:
    tubbyfalls1 said:

    After some adjustments, I'm pleased. Now let's see how dark it looks on here ...

    Getting much better, but still way too dark. Here is a histogram of your image. It shows that almost all of your pixels are below mid brightness, with most of them way below.

     

    I was going for a middle-of-the-night look, but I guess I need to learn the basics of lighting before I start getting too creative with it. You have to know the rules before you can break the rules, they say.

    Anyway, here she is brightened up a bit.

     

    Much better brightened up.  If you want to suggest night, change the colors of the lights rather than making them darker.

    Theres a strange shadow across her breast that I don't understand.

    This is nicely posed, well framed, with some nice materials.  But it doesn't have any life to it becomes the lights are flat.  There's not contrast between light and shadow, there's not much in the way of highlights except on the most obvious pieces (jewelry and lips--lips are a little overdone).  Her eyes are dead. There's a tiny little glint in there, but I can't make out her irises, they are just dark puddles.

    How are you lighting this? Maybe we can give some suggestions if you tell us what's going on. Have you looked at any of the references at the beginnig of the contest thread? I have read the Lighting Tips from the Masters article too many times to count.

    Post edited by evilded777 on
  • social_stigmasocial_stigma Posts: 107
    evilded777 said:
    tubbyfalls1 said:
    barbult said:
    tubbyfalls1 said:

    After some adjustments, I'm pleased. Now let's see how dark it looks on here ...

    Getting much better, but still way too dark. Here is a histogram of your image. It shows that almost all of your pixels are below mid brightness, with most of them way below.

     

    I was going for a middle-of-the-night look, but I guess I need to learn the basics of lighting before I start getting too creative with it. You have to know the rules before you can break the rules, they say.

    Anyway, here she is brightened up a bit.

     

    Much better brightened up.  If you want to suggest night, change the colors of the lights rather than making them darker.

    Theres a strange shadow across her breast that I don't understand.

    This is nicely posed, well framed, with some nice materials.  But it doesn't have any life to it becomes the lights are flat.  There's not contrast between light and shadow, there's not much in the way of highlights except on the most obvious pieces (jewelry and lips--lips are a little overdone).  Her eyes are dead. There's a tiny little glint in there, but I can't make out her irises, they are just dark puddles.

    How are you lighting this? Maybe we can give some suggestions if you tell us what's going on. Have you looked at any of the references at the beginnig of the contest thread? I have read the Lighting Tips from the Masters article too many times to count.

    Reading and learning before just jumping in? Who does that? Just kidding. Thanks for the advice. I'll keep working on it.

  • franktuttlefranktuttle Posts: 67
    edited July 2016

    Thanks for all the incredible images in this thread! I learned a lot by studying them and the accompanying comments.

    @barbult asked this question about my image a couple of pages ago:

    I'm curious - what character and outfit is this? I don't recognize either one.

    The character is Finley -- see her at: http://www.daz3d.com/fwsa-finley-hd-for-victoria-7-and-her-jewelry

    The outfit is Victoria Iven -- see it at http://www.daz3d.com/victoria-iven-for-genesis-3-females

    I put Victorian hair on the Finley shape, since the woman I'm trying to portray is described that way in the books. The outfit is perfect too; long skirts, full sleeves, and high necks are her go-to clothes. There's a variant availble for this which features a white coat and a red dress. 

    I've learned how to increase me render times to get rid of the noise that plagued my early efforts. Now if Windows would just stop updating twelve hours in, and the power would stay up, I'll be in business!

     

     

     

    Merface.jpg
    1007 x 942 - 387K
    Post edited by franktuttle on
  • dawnbladedawnblade Posts: 1,723

    Here are the updates to my latest render:

    • Changed to more of a portrait format (not sure if I did it right: I used letter 17 x 22 dimension preset and then changed the global pixel sizes to 1,000 x 1,294)
    • Used Sorcery for Genesis pose product
    • Changed the special effect in his right hand to Jepe's FlameZ
    • Used DOF to blur his left hand and flame/right hand, to help prevent distracting from his face/expression
    • Changed his expression to contempt
    • Adjusted tone mapping because my renders are also darker than what appears in the viewport

     

    WarMagePortrait6.jpg
    1000 x 1294 - 530K
  • barbultbarbult Posts: 23,345
    dawnblade said:

    Here are the updates to my latest render:

    • Changed to more of a portrait format (not sure if I did it right: I used letter 17 x 22 dimension preset and then changed the global pixel sizes to 1,000 x 1,294)
    • Used Sorcery for Genesis pose product
    • Changed the special effect in his right hand to Jepe's FlameZ
    • Used DOF to blur his left hand and flame/right hand, to help prevent distracting from his face/expression
    • Changed his expression to contempt
    • Adjusted tone mapping because my renders are also darker than what appears in the viewport

     

    That's a big improvement, I think. I suggest closing his fingers around that fireball a little so it looks like he is grasping it (or move the ball into grasping position). Point his eyes directly at the camera so the threat is aimed squarely at the viewer. I think you are almost done with this one.

  • Kismet2012Kismet2012 Posts: 4,252
    Shinji Ikari 9th said:

    Here's version h. It didn't feel right when I tried to adjust his head to have his eyes more visible so I decided to try and give them a bit of glow.

    Those eyes!  They really make a difference giving him a very menacing look.

  • Kismet2012Kismet2012 Posts: 4,252
    tubbyfalls1 said:
    barbult said:
    tubbyfalls1 said:

    After some adjustments, I'm pleased. Now let's see how dark it looks on here ...

    Getting much better, but still way too dark. Here is a histogram of your image. It shows that almost all of your pixels are below mid brightness, with most of them way below.

     

    I was going for a middle-of-the-night look, but I guess I need to learn the basics of lighting before I start getting too creative with it. You have to know the rules before you can break the rules, they say.

    Anyway, here she is brightened up a bit.

     

    It is very difficult to get a dark render to look good.  Working on one myself.  What looks good on one monitor can be a black blob on another.

  • Kismet2012Kismet2012 Posts: 4,252
    franktuttle said:

    Thanks for all the incredible images in this thread! I learned a lot by studying them and the accompanying comments.

    @barbult asked this question about my image a couple of pages ago:

    I'm curious - what character and outfit is this? I don't recognize either one.

    The character is Finley -- see her at: http://www.daz3d.com/fwsa-finley-hd-for-victoria-7-and-her-jewelry

    The outfit is Victoria Iven -- see it at http://www.daz3d.com/victoria-iven-for-genesis-3-females

    I put Victorian hair on the Finley shape, since the woman I'm trying to portray is described that way in the books. The outfit is perfect too; long skirts, full sleeves, and high necks are her go-to clothes. There's a variant availble for this which features a white coat and a red dress. 

    I've learned how to increase me render times to get rid of the noise that plagued my early efforts. Now if Windows would just stop updating twelve hours in, and the power would stay up, I'll be in business!

     

     

     

    She has a very mischevious look on her face. 

    The white background is quite stark but really puts the focus on her face.

  • Kismet2012Kismet2012 Posts: 4,252
    barbult said:
    dawnblade said:

    Here are the updates to my latest render:

    • Changed to more of a portrait format (not sure if I did it right: I used letter 17 x 22 dimension preset and then changed the global pixel sizes to 1,000 x 1,294)
    • Used Sorcery for Genesis pose product
    • Changed the special effect in his right hand to Jepe's FlameZ
    • Used DOF to blur his left hand and flame/right hand, to help prevent distracting from his face/expression
    • Changed his expression to contempt
    • Adjusted tone mapping because my renders are also darker than what appears in the viewport

     

    That's a big improvement, I think. I suggest closing his fingers around that fireball a little so it looks like he is grasping it (or move the ball into grasping position). Point his eyes directly at the camera so the threat is aimed squarely at the viewer. I think you are almost done with this one.

    I agree with Barbult.  Nice image.

  • Kismet2012Kismet2012 Posts: 4,252
    Ice Dragon Art said:

    Okay I think this is as far as I can take this one.  I tried moving the top arm down and re arranging but it just wasn't working in a way that looked right. I did darken it just a slight bit in the hopes of making it a bit more obvious that its her arm.

    Not sure if you can tell the minor tweeks I did but I tried to bring her eyes and her lips out a bit more without being too obvious.

    You have the focus on her face.  Sometimes those subtle changes work the best.

  • Kismet2012Kismet2012 Posts: 4,252

    It has not been easy keeping up with this thread.  Everyone is giving/getting great advice and doing a wonderful job. 

    You are not going to make this easy for the judges.

     

  • ewcarmanewcarman Posts: 180
    dawnblade said:

    Here are the updates to my latest render:

    • Changed to more of a portrait format (not sure if I did it right: I used letter 17 x 22 dimension preset and then changed the global pixel sizes to 1,000 x 1,294)
    • Used Sorcery for Genesis pose product
    • Changed the special effect in his right hand to Jepe's FlameZ
    • Used DOF to blur his left hand and flame/right hand, to help prevent distracting from his face/expression
    • Changed his expression to contempt
    • Adjusted tone mapping because my renders are also darker than what appears in the viewport

     

    Nice work with the pose here. Moving the special effect really works better - not overwhelming the actor. Barbult's suggestion is spot on. 

    There's still a lot of time until you have to submit. I'd suggest you experiment with the backgrounds some. I can almost see him in a dragon's lair or a magician's tower with books strewn about. You might even play with adding some dirt to his face and clothes and/or a stubble beard (I have no idea how to do the beard. sad) None of this is required, your image is really shaping up. Just thought it might be fun to play with.

  • ewcarmanewcarman Posts: 180
    Ice Dragon Art said:

    Okay I think this is as far as I can take this one.  I tried moving the top arm down and re arranging but it just wasn't working in a way that looked right. I did darken it just a slight bit in the hopes of making it a bit more obvious that its her arm.

    Not sure if you can tell the minor tweeks I did but I tried to bring her eyes and her lips out a bit more without being too obvious.

    Really pretty. Really a great job with this. Wish I'd have thought of it. smiley

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 23,345
    edited July 2016

    Ice Dragon Art, please don't forget to title your image in the Entries Thread.

    I hate to keep harping, but we do have Rule 6:

    6. Include the following information in the in the post that accompanies your entry:
    ----Image Title
    ----Software Used to Create the Image.

    Edit: I adjusted the link to the rules in the first post, to try to make it go to the beginning of the rules thread. I don't think people are ignoring the rules, but maybe they are not seeing the rules! I apologize for not getting that link right the first time. It was going to the "latest" post in the rules thread instead of the first post.

    Post edited by barbult on
  • IceDragonArtIceDragonArt Posts: 12,548
    ewcarman said:
    Ice Dragon Art said:

    Okay I think this is as far as I can take this one.  I tried moving the top arm down and re arranging but it just wasn't working in a way that looked right. I did darken it just a slight bit in the hopes of making it a bit more obvious that its her arm.

    Not sure if you can tell the minor tweeks I did but I tried to bring her eyes and her lips out a bit more without being too obvious.

    Really pretty. Really a great job with this. Wish I'd have thought of it. smiley

    Thank you very much!  I usually think of this stuff AFTER the contest is over lol.  I'm thrilled I not only thought of it before it ended but managed to finish it as well!

  • IceDragonArtIceDragonArt Posts: 12,548
    barbult said:

    Ice Dragon Art, please don't forget to title your image in the Entries Thread.

    I hate to keep harping, but we do have Rule 6:

    6. Include the following information in the in the post that accompanies your entry:
    ----Image Title
    ----Software Used to Create the Image.

    Edit: I adjusted the link to the rules in the first post, to try to make it go to the beginning of the rules thread. I don't think people are ignoring the rules, but maybe they are not seeing the rules! I apologize for not getting that link right the first time. It was going to the "latest" post in the rules thread instead of the first post.

    Ah sorry totally missed that, off to fix it now.

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 23,345
    Ice Dragon Art said:
    barbult said:

    Ice Dragon Art, please don't forget to title your image in the Entries Thread.

    I hate to keep harping, but we do have Rule 6:

    6. Include the following information in the in the post that accompanies your entry:
    ----Image Title
    ----Software Used to Create the Image.

    Edit: I adjusted the link to the rules in the first post, to try to make it go to the beginning of the rules thread. I don't think people are ignoring the rules, but maybe they are not seeing the rules! I apologize for not getting that link right the first time. It was going to the "latest" post in the rules thread instead of the first post.

    Ah sorry totally missed that, off to fix it now.

    yes Looks good now. Thanks.

  • dawnbladedawnblade Posts: 1,723
    barbult said:

    That's a big improvement, I think. I suggest closing his fingers around that fireball a little so it looks like he is grasping it (or move the ball into grasping position). Point his eyes directly at the camera so the threat is aimed squarely at the viewer. I think you are almost done with this one.

    Thanks @barbult! Great suggestions. Funny, in the viewport it looks like his fingers are tighter around the fireball, but it renders slightly different. I'll work on it from from another angle and see what's going on. I'll work on the eyes too.

  • dawnbladedawnblade Posts: 1,723
    ewcarman said:

    Nice work with the pose here. Moving the special effect really works better - not overwhelming the actor. Barbult's suggestion is spot on. 

    There's still a lot of time until you have to submit. I'd suggest you experiment with the backgrounds some. I can almost see him in a dragon's lair or a magician's tower with books strewn about. You might even play with adding some dirt to his face and clothes and/or a stubble beard (I have no idea how to do the beard. sad) None of this is required, your image is really shaping up. Just thought it might be fun to play with.

    Thanks @ewcarman! I'll see what I can come up with!

  • dawnbladedawnblade Posts: 1,723
    Kismet2012 said:

    I agree with Barbult.  Nice image.

    Thanks @Kismet2012!

  • SaphirewildSaphirewild Posts: 6,653
    edited July 2016

    Ok here is my WIP again I fixed some things like her morphs and skin also changed direction of the camera plus changed the pose and the background, I am still looking for suggestions and comments on this not ready to enter it yet.

    Lady In Red Peace.png
    1500 x 2427 - 4M
    Post edited by Saphirewild on
  • SaphirewildSaphirewild Posts: 6,653
    edited July 2016

    Here is my second WIP I think I will also be entering this one as well once the other is finished, any suggestions or comments welcome

    Singing Diva stripes.png
    600 x 971 - 651K
    Singing Diva stripes2.png
    600 x 971 - 692K
    Post edited by Saphirewild on
  • Kismet2012Kismet2012 Posts: 4,252
    Saphirewild said:

    Ok here is my WIP again I fixed some things like her morphs and skin also changed direction of the camera plus changed the pose and the background, I am still looking for suggestions and comments on this not ready to enter it yet.

    I'm not sure how to fix it but that hat still looks like it is floating above her head.

     

    I like your choice of background colour.  It allows all that red to really pop.

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 23,345
    Kismet2012 said:
    Saphirewild said:

    Ok here is my WIP again I fixed some things like her morphs and skin also changed direction of the camera plus changed the pose and the background, I am still looking for suggestions and comments on this not ready to enter it yet.

    I'm not sure how to fix it but that hat still looks like it is floating above her head.

     

    I like your choice of background colour.  It allows all that red to really pop.

    Maybe it really is floating. Use the perspective camera (so you don't lose your real camera position) and rotate around,  looking from various angles. Is the hat to far to the front? If it is positioned correctly, it might be a lighting issue, preventing the hat from creating a realistic shadow. Do you have a lot of lights in your portrait?

Sign In or Register to comment.