How to render like this?
I'm trying to achieve renders that looks like this:
(Credit: Blackhearted)
I'm trying to achieve renders that can really accentuate the form like above, rather than being too smooth. The way the bones and muscle forms are really clearly defined like that.
When I render I often get results that looks way too smooth.
What's the key to getting this look? The shader, light setup?
I'm using Victoria 8 model and rendering with Arnold 5 in Maya 2018, btw
(Removed for nudity. Please review Acceptable Ways of Handling Nudity ~Mod)
Post edited by Cris Palomino on

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The mods will remove your image, I'm afraid. No nudity allowed - not even censor bars.
D: Then how do I link the example image? Should I just indirectly link it? Or is there a subforum?
help help mods i am getting blind !!!
I am not sure whether you are allowed to link to a Deviant Art page (if you have one). Best check with the mods to be sure.
looks like a 3dl V4 render
nothing special
Might very well be a Poser render as well.
As to your question, I'm pretty sure that the lighting is the key. A single light from the front will not pick out the muscle structure - you need something like rim lights and back lighting. There are tutorials if you search.
Yeah, but I'm pretty new at rendering, so I'd need some tips on how to set up the lights, to accentuate the forms like that.
Like 3-point, HDRI, etc.
IIRC, Blackhearted did use Poser to render it.
@marble Oh I see, where do you think the ideal angles key light should be facing? The pic I posted seems to be from the top
it's a specific V4 model morph that is rendered in poser and seeing as most here don't have access to high end apps like Arnold or Maya, it will be hard to give specific ideas on how to achieve this look. Lighting and the detail in the model will be the keys though.
funny that a maya user comes here to look after a poser render
just set a link to Deviant Art and name it with nudity tag
if you do not delete it the mods wil very quick
I can't really give much advice considering the software you use - I'm not familiar with it. There are different methods for IRay and 3DL just within DAZ Studio so beyond that is out of my experience. However, I still play with lighting angles and strength until I like what I see. Some of the pro photographers here might give you better tips.
OMG . . . not what I was expecting. Lucky no clients in the office when I opened this thread. They may have fled, thinking I'd turned strait or something equally horrific. LOL
Yeah, I'm just looking for general tips on lights and shaders, rather than software-specific guides
Since it presumably isn't your image, as you are asking how to achieve the effect, you may be able to link to the original if it's on a (non-adult) site with filters (deviantArt, Renderosity). You shouldn't upload others' images even if they aren't nudes.
Shaders tend to be software specific, I'm not sure on lighting but I do know that Poser lights work quite differently than DS lights so it may well be the same with other software.
Most of Gabe's (Blackhearted) V4 girls were rendered in Poser Firefly.
Laurie
Some of Blackhearted's stuff is actual nude models. Some of it is heavily postworked 3D + photos. Some of it, I think, is just 3D. What was the image?
He does a lot of heavy morphing in ZBrush.
His V4 Girl Next Door (here) is still available and a very good start for matching that sort of physical form though it won't help you with lighting.
I believe GND2 - 3 for v4 is the only DS character I know thats BlackHeart made everything else is pretty much created for Aylson which is poser.
I didn't see the picture you posted so I can't tell you which is which.
I think it was Girl Next Door 2. Athletic which I think is for Victoria 3
GND2 is V3. GND4 is V4. Irina is Steph Petite. He uses all kinds of DAZ characters.