Novica & Invited Guest Contributors Tips & Product Reviews Pt 4

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Comments

  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,553
    edited June 2014

    @ Novica Looks nice Novica! Don't have Rodan, but those lights do well for your portrait.

    Post edited by Serene Night on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    edited June 2014

    Here's the overnight render so you folks can see the Romance Hair better.
    One thing about the Peplum top- due to the flesh colored pattern in places, you might do a double take when you first look at it, thinking it is pokethrough! (If you go back and look at the one on the previous page, you'll see what I mean.)

    Will have to watch the inside of the lip/nostril glow a bit with either this lightset or the character. Didn't touch it up so you can see it. If you look at the previous one, you can see the lip glow slightly.

    EDIT: BTW, I did nothing with that hair. It lays down beautifully over the shoulder, right out of the box. A good one to wishlist.

    CLICK TO ENLARGE/CLICK AGAIN. Huge render.

    Lotus2.jpg
    1428 x 1800 - 1M
    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    edited December 1969

    http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/43086/

    This is a link to the "good deals" PC+ items in the MEMBERS ONLY thread. (That makes the most sense as to where to put it.) If you find some good deals, you can continue to post them here and I'll add them, or you can add them directly. Trying to make finding the PC+ deals as easy as possible. However, I am NOT taking on that responsibility as a "only me, I'll keep you informed." It's time permitting and it's for everyone who wants to pitch in, to do so. (In other words, don't say "Wow, I missed a deal because she didn't post it." SHE has so many products that she isn't going to test many of the things she already has, lol)

  • IndigoJansonIndigoJanson Posts: 1,100
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    Here's the overnight render so you folks can see the Romance Hair better.
    EDIT: BTW, I did nothing with that hair. It lays down beautifully over the shoulder, right out of the box. A good one to wishlist.

    I had skipped that hair (have plenty long styles) but I have to say, it looks gorgeous! Lovely render, and it will be going on my wishlist.

    Will also check out the other thread and add anything good that I come across.

  • SasjeSasje Posts: 835
    edited December 1969

    Invited Guest Contributor

    Used :
    - Boris Hair for Genesis 2 Male(s) http://www.daz3d.com/new-releases/boris-hair-for-genesis-2-male-s
    - Skin Overlay for V5 and M5 Skin Sets http://www.daz3d.com/skin-overlay-for-v5-and-m5-skin-sets
    - Aging Morphs 2 for Genesis 2 Male(s)/M6 HD http://www.daz3d.com/aging-morphs-2-for-genesis-2-male-s-m6-hd
    - DragonLord for Genesis http://www.daz3d.com/dragonlord-for-genesis
    - Genesis 2 male

    Hope you like it Enjoy :-)

    old_man_3.jpg
    1066 x 800 - 209K
  • Thadeus72Thadeus72 Posts: 408
    edited December 1969

    Sasje said:
    Invited Guest Contributor

    Used :
    - Boris Hair for Genesis 2 Male(s) http://www.daz3d.com/new-releases/boris-hair-for-genesis-2-male-s
    - Skin Overlay for V5 and M5 Skin Sets http://www.daz3d.com/skin-overlay-for-v5-and-m5-skin-sets
    - Aging Morphs 2 for Genesis 2 Male(s)/M6 HD http://www.daz3d.com/aging-morphs-2-for-genesis-2-male-s-m6-hd
    - DragonLord for Genesis http://www.daz3d.com/dragonlord-for-genesis
    - Genesis 2 male

    Hope you like it Enjoy :-)

    excellent render !

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    edited December 1969

    Sasje said:
    Invited Guest Contributor

    Used :
    - Boris Hair for Genesis 2 Male(s) http://www.daz3d.com/new-releases/boris-hair-for-genesis-2-male-s
    - Skin Overlay for V5 and M5 Skin Sets http://www.daz3d.com/skin-overlay-for-v5-and-m5-skin-sets
    Hope you like it Enjoy :-)

    I really noticed the skin on his arm- it looks so real with the discoloration. I haven't use the Skin Overlays yet- can you tell us exactly how that works? Do you load the character and then just do the morph sliders for certain parts of the body?

    That hair looks good too- thicker clumps (or so it seems.) Very nice job!

  • SasjeSasje Posts: 835
    edited December 1969

    Hi Novica

    It’s not that difficult
    Load figure and texture
    Then under content library under script you find the skin overlay, click on it
    And you can choose what you want less ore more click process, done
    And In New Layered Editor you can also chance a few things after the process
    No sliders
    With the product is a tutorial :-)

  • SasjeSasje Posts: 835
    edited December 1969

    thank you thadeus72 :)

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    edited December 1969

    Sasje said:
    Hi Novica

    It’s not that difficult ......
    .....With the product is a tutorial :-)

    Thanks, will have to give it a try.

    FYI folks- Over in the members only thread for the PC+/Good Deals, have posted Cake One and 3D Universe store items that relate to current sales or PC+ discounts. Only listed things 65% up. Here's the one from Cake One: (65%)

    Cake One PC+
    http://www.daz3d.com/m6-attitude
    9.95>3.48

    (Members only)
    http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/43086/

  • TJohnTJohn Posts: 10,991
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    Sasje said:
    Hi Novica

    It’s not that difficult ......
    .....With the product is a tutorial :-)

    Thanks, will have to give it a try.

    FYI folks- Over in the members only thread for the PC+/Good Deals, have posted Cake One and 3D Universe store items that relate to current sales or PC+ discounts. Only listed things 65% up. Here's the one from Cake One: (65%)

    Cake One PC+
    http://www.daz3d.com/m6-attitude
    9.95>3.48

    (Members only)
    http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/43086/
    The Skin Overlays work like Skin Builder, and can even be used to overlay Skin Builder skins.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    edited December 1969

    This is interesting. My question is- if I find a set that is for Poser, can it be used at all in the studio? I did find this and it's interesting but a bit overwhelming for a quick yes or no answer. SO the answer is...?

    http://www.calida3d.com/tutorials2.shtml

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    edited December 1969

    Hopefully, I'm just missing it. Does the mermaid clothes top have adjustments? I went into the item in Parameters, I went into the item>Chest in Scene then Parameters, and no go. That is an itsy bitsy not there top that ruins any attempts at rendering family friendly. Here's the top with the d-former that I'm working on. One side done, the other obviously not (to show comparison.) I might use Polygon Editing tool and reduce the size of the beads, but those may not need any tweaking. A bigger top, bigger beads.

    http://www.daz3d.com/mermaid-clothes-genesis-2-female-s

    mermaidTop.jpg
    1081 x 1482 - 111K
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    edited June 2014

    D-Former Settings: Family Friendly Mermaid Top and G2F Bikini/s / Tops

    Don't know how to do a D-former? No problem. Want the general coordinates to start playing with ANY top around the bra cup areas on the Genesis 2 Female? Here we go with the steps and coordinates that will get you in the general area, then you can adjust based on the G2 character.

    FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY.

    1. First, you load the TOP onto G2F.

    2. Next, select the TOP, not the G2F in Scene.

    3. Go to upper left of your screen and select Create>New D-Former>name it "Bra" (for this tutorial to follow along. You can name it whatever.)

    4. Over in Scene, click on the original TOP and open it up.
    You'll see Bra_Base and when you click on that, the d-former (with a spinning top avatar) is a sub-item under that. So you'll see:
    Top
    >Bra_Base
    >>(Spin top) Bra

    Then Bra_Field also under Top. So we're going to refer to these as Base, Bra, and Field.

    5. Type in these coordinates in Parameters.
    The X, Y, then Z translation coordinates are listed in order. For instance 1/2/3 will be X as 1, Y as 2, and Z as 3.

    Base:
    xyz translations: -10.40 / 132.50 / 19.33
    xyz rotations: 0 / -187.16 / 0
    scale and xyz scale: all 100

    Bra: (the actual d-former)
    xyz translations: -0.17 / 0.98 / -0.51
    xyz rotations: 2.96 / 0 / 21.36
    scale then xyz scale: 112.5 then 193.8 / 145.2 / 105.6

    Field:
    xyz translations: -9.29 / 134.88 / 12.09
    xyz rotations: 11.91 / -18.98 / -211.66
    scale and xyz scale: 846.8 and 105.8 / 117.8 / 100

    6. Now select the original TOP again. Go to Window>Pane (Tabs) Dform and click.

    7. Click "Create Root Control Parameter" and "Apply Spawned Morph." Do not select the option of deleting the morph. You want to use it again for the other side (by putting the OPPOSITE numbers for the x coordinates.)

    8. Click Spawn Morph and enter a name. (Mermaid Top Right) then OK.

    9. Now in Parameters, you can scroll down and see "Morphs" Click on it and you'll see Mermaid Top Right as the very first one. Click on the cog that's to the right of 100% and select Parameter Settings.

    10. Check Use Limits and uncheck Use Percents (unless you want to.) Go up to Paths and click on it, do Actor>Upper Body>Chest and then just move your mouse away. It will form that as the path. That means you will find your morph there when we're done with this popup.

    11. The fun part- pick your colors for your sliders. Color A and Color B. Just click on the text box and the color picker will pop up.
    Click Accept. Now go to Actor>Upper Body>Chest and there's your pretty morph. Notice when you move the slider, I've put in bunch of neat details- the morph rotates the bra in addition to moving it up and down and enlarging- so you can really tweak it for your figures. And remember you can go to that cog>Parameter Settings and uncheck using the limits, so you can make the bra even larger for bigger busts.

    BUT IT ISN'T SAVED. If you were to save your scene and exit, that DOES NOT save the morph.

    12. Go back and select the original TOP in Scene Tab.
    13. File>Save As>Support Asset>Morph Asset>(Name It) Mermaid Top Right. Be sure your name is in the Vendor name because that is the file name where your morphs will be. Note your ASSET DIRECTORY name (Mine is D: DAZ:Content because I took stuff off my C Drive. Remember, I did an entire thread on how to do that so your C Drive isn't overloaded.)

    14. Open up Actor>Upper Body>Chest and click on Chest.
    15. Click Accept.

    Your morph is made and permanent. You can leave that scene and come back.

    You can now go back to your morph (because we didn't delete it) and do the other side. Your x settings will change (put a - if the number was positive, and vice versa) and follow the same steps.

    Now, what I need to know, is how to save this top so I can put it on other figures. A Save As what? There's Wearable Preset, Shaping Preset... so how do I do that?

    Anyway, enjoy your family friendly tops. These coordinates should get you in the ballpark for G2F bikinis, and definitely the mermaid top is solved. :) It's 6:30am and I am going to get some sleep!

    Post edited by Novica on
  • KharmaKharma Posts: 3,214
    edited December 1969

    Thanks for the tutorial on D-Forms, I was just looking for something clear on how to do them. I tried on my own but wasn't getting wht moved what....now I know :)

  • KhoryKhory Posts: 3,854
    edited December 1969

    This is interesting. My question is- if I find a set that is for Poser, can it be used at all in the studio? I did find this and it’s interesting but a bit overwhelming for a quick yes or no answer. SO the answer is…?

    The answer is a tentative yes..maybe. The basics are still the same. Poser and Studio still read bump and displacement maps differently and poser generated files still have settings that are far to low to look right in studio. None of those core things have changed. The tentative yes comes from changes in how some people create Poser files now. Back when Simon and I did that tutorial most products came out with at least a bump map and most of the time it was properly connected to at least show up in studio. Now, because of how nodes can be set up the to compensate for the lack of a bump or displacement map not everyone makes them any more. And even if they do create them they may not show up in studio so you will have to go look for them.

    So if your dead set to use something that has not been clearly marked as compatible by the content creator then at a minimum you should expect to check the bump and/or displacement settings and increase them to 100 with adjustments (often to the negative setting) to the + and -. If what ever it is loads with no bump or displacement maps you can go look for them in texture files and often they are in there. If there is are no maps you can sub in the diffuse color and hope for the best. That works sometimes. You should also expect to make adjustments to the specularity settings because those carry over poorly.

    When we worked on that tutorial you often had no choice but to live with buying products that had no optimization for Studio. I have long since stopped taking the risk of buying new products that I may have to be fixed to look decent in Studio. I stick to products by people who I know can and will do proper surfaces for Studio and I never risk my money on something that the creator says "may" work because if they can't be bothered to at least do test renders then the odds are they don't have a clue about studio and the chances of nothing working properly rises.

    btw, If any of the surfaces uses poser procedural textures (not map based) then the answer becomes "no, not unless your willing to create or find your own studio procedurals to replace them".

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    edited June 2014

    If you're doing the other side of the mermaid top, and haven't ever done an opposite side before, thought I'd tell you what to change (because I just did it and had to test a few things.) Not saying this is correct but it's what I did :) and it looks symmetrical.

    All settings the same except the following:

    Base:
    xyz translations: 10.40 / 132.50 / 19.33
    xyz rotations: 0 /-171.97 / 0 (Is NOT an opposite number. Using the other number was asymmetrical.)
    scale and xyz scale: all 100

    Bra: (the actual d-former)
    xyz translations: 0.17 / 0.98 / -0.51
    xyz rotations: 2.96 / 0 /-21.36
    scale then xyz scale: 112.5 then 193.8 / 145.2 / 105.6

    Field:
    xyz translations: 9.29 / 134.88 / 12.09
    xyz rotations: 11.91 / 18.98 / 211.66
    scale and xyz scale: 846.8 and 105.8 / 117.8 / 100

    Edit: attached picture- it's interesting how one pose put the two mermaid cups together due to the pose.

    braTest.jpg
    614 x 900 - 279K
    braFinal.jpg
    2000 x 1364 - 185K
    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    edited December 1969

    Patience55 has answered a question for me on how to save the dformed top as a piece of clothing for other figures. Been a big help. :) I haven't tried this yet.

    http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/43166/

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    edited December 1969

    Khory said:
    The answer is a tentative yes..maybe.

    Thank you for the explanation Khory :) I had to laugh at the outcome though- I forgot about the cart and the sale ended, so it saved me some money, lol! I really liked the set though, wish I had Poser but I am finding it hard enough to find time for DAZ Studio as I want to keep playing around with Silo. (Haven't touched it in a week, busy.)

    Mermaid render coming up (with the original top though.)

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    edited June 2014

    Mermaid Genesis 2 Female(s) (Sickleyield / Fuseling)
    FW Merfolk (FWArt)
    FW Naida and Nalin (FWArt)
    Mermaid Clothes Genesis 2 Females(s) (Sickleyield / Fuseling)
    UltruMarine Ocean (Marshian)
    Regina Malorum Hair (IgnusSerpentus)
    Hard Liquor for Regina Malorum Hair (IgnusSerpentus)
    Defenders of the Deep For Genesis 2 Female(s) (Feral Fey)
    Multiplane Cyclorama (DAZ3D)
    Heart of the Ocean For Multiplane Cyclorama (DAZ3D / LaurieS)
    Gardens of Poseidon- Reef Rocks (Orestes Graphics)

    http://www.daz3d.com/mermaid-genesis-2-female-s
    http://www.daz3d.com/fw-merfolk
    http://www.daz3d.com/fw-naida-and-nalin
    http://www.daz3d.com/mermaid-clothes-genesis-2-female-s
    http://www.daz3d.com/ultrumarine-ocean
    http://www.daz3d.com/regina-malorum-hair
    http://www.daz3d.com/hard-liquor-for-regina-malorum-hair
    http://www.daz3d.com/defenders-of-the-deep-for-genesis-2-female-s
    http://www.daz3d.com/multiplane-cyclorama
    http://www.daz3d.com/heart-of-the-ocean-for-the-multiplane-cyclorama
    http://www.daz3d.com/gardens-of-poseidon-reef-rocks

    These aren't full scenes (with coral, seaweed, etc) because I just wanted to test the Heart of the Ocean scene for Multiplane Cyclorama. It has several scenes. I wish the large ship anchor wasn't smack dab in the way though, I would have like that scene without it (so didn't use it.) One thing I wanted to point out is the lighting included on the background plane which is fake, can easily be lined up with the lighting from the UltruMarine product, as I did in the render. I did use the Gardens of Poseidon Reef Rocks.

    Second, was testing the Regina Malorum Hair for floatiness- it does quite well- but remember to turn up smoothing to get rid of the crinkles. (I didn't, these are test renders.) You can't hardly see the hair in the first render, so with that Multiplane Cyclorama you might consider lighter hair colors or put the hair in the blue water part by the dolphins. So the second test render I put the hair out in the water.
    With that hair, it's pretty much blowing back or left and right, the strands do separate a bit.

    On the first render, click to enlarge and look at the scales on the outstretched arm and her tummy. That is really neat and is from Merfolk.

    EDIT: You can make the tail one color, I put it in two colors because I was testing the "bends" and wanted to see what two colors would look like. Just playing around.

    I just have to point out something adorable for all the Aiko 3 fans- and I've wishlisted this for the next time there is a get 30.00 and get $5 off (because this vendor never goes on sale.) Little Keiko the mermaid is so cute, includes the character, leg poses, and other options.
    http://www.daz3d.com/keiko-the-little-mermaid

    mermaid2.jpg
    900 x 1000 - 774K
    mermaid.jpg
    1599 x 1018 - 1M
    Post edited by Novica on
  • KharmaKharma Posts: 3,214
    edited December 1969

    Novica your mermaids are fantastic,..the lights, the position of her hands, you can almost feel her floating through the water! I don't have that hair but may wishlist it for future

  • starionwolfstarionwolf Posts: 3,666
    edited December 1969

    How did you make the rays of light shining through the water? Did you use a special camera or a light set? Just wondering.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    edited June 2014

    The UltruMarine Ocean has the gobo lights and you will actually see more of a dappled wave pattern on the ocean floor if you don't add a distant light (which I did.) The Multiplane Cyclorama has the lights painted into it, those beams of light are part of the image :) That's why I was saying it's really cool to use the Cyclorama because you can line up those painted on rays with the gobo rays from the included lightset of UltruMarine- and you don't have to do a THING to get those pretty rays :)

    EDIT: To be clear- all you do is click the gobo lights. That's it! :) Great product as the lights are included. Some of the light coming down is the gobo, but all of the light on that background are painted on. Look at the foreground rocks and the mermaid, all that is the gobo light.

    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    edited December 1969

    Kharma said:
    Novica your mermaids are fantastic,..the lights, the position of her hands, you can almost feel her floating through the water! I don't have that hair but may wishlist it for future

    Kharma- that's Defenders of the Deep for the pose :) I didn't tweak at all except on the first one, to rotate her around- it was an "on your back" pose. There's a lot of neat poses in that product.

  • KharmaKharma Posts: 3,214
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    Kharma said:
    Novica your mermaids are fantastic,..the lights, the position of her hands, you can almost feel her floating through the water! I don't have that hair but may wishlist it for future

    Kharma- that's Defenders of the Deep for the pose :) I didn't tweak at all except on the first one, to rotate her around- it was an "on your back" pose. There's a lot of neat poses in that product.

    Awesome pose, going to check that out, I only bought a couple items when the mermaid theme was out, I'll have to take a second look.

  • luci45luci45 Posts: 2,649
    edited December 1969

    Sasje said:
    Invited Guest Contributor

    Used :
    - Boris Hair for Genesis 2 Male(s) http://www.daz3d.com/new-releases/boris-hair-for-genesis-2-male-s
    - Skin Overlay for V5 and M5 Skin Sets http://www.daz3d.com/skin-overlay-for-v5-and-m5-skin-sets
    - Aging Morphs 2 for Genesis 2 Male(s)/M6 HD http://www.daz3d.com/aging-morphs-2-for-genesis-2-male-s-m6-hd
    - DragonLord for Genesis http://www.daz3d.com/dragonlord-for-genesis
    - Genesis 2 male

    Hope you like it Enjoy :-)


    Sasje, this is a beautiful render! You used the hair, aging morphs and skin overlay beautifully. I love the lighting too. Is it LuxRender?

    The UltruMarine Ocean has the gobo lights and you will actually see more of a dappled wave pattern on the ocean floor if you don't add a distant light (which I did.) The Multiplane Cyclorama has the lights painted into it, those beams of light are part of the image :) That's why I was saying it's really cool to use the Cyclorama because you can line up those painted on rays with the gobo rays from the included lightset of UltruMarine- and you don't have to do a THING to get those pretty rays :)

    EDIT: To be clear- all you do is click the gobo lights. That's it! :) Great product as the lights are included. Some of the light coming down is the gobo, but all of the light on that background are painted on. Look at the foreground rocks and the mermaid, all that is the gobo light.

    Nice renders, Novica! I love how you used the cyclorama background with the lighting. I am not brave enough to try underwater stuff.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    edited June 2014

    Luci45 said:

    Nice renders, Novica! I love how you used the cyclorama background with the lighting. I am not brave enough to try underwater stuff.

    I failed miserably a few months ago when I tried that underwater camera thing, with adjusting the murkiness, etc. I'm going to have to tackle that again. SereneNight does gorgeous underwater stuff, so Sarge will have to hop on a submarine and tool on over when I get stuck.

    One thing I am sad about is that Lisa's sea plants aren't available anymore. I have them and they are really nice. Anyone wanting more kelp, etc, I'm sure she sells it elsewhere. I'll probably try a more involved ocean scene because I bought all this stuff and might as well use it. (EDIT- there's none showing in the scene.)

    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    edited December 1969

    Take advantage of the Fast Grab and get some of the products featured in the mermaid showcase :)

    http://www.daz3d.com/fast-grab-3d-models/fw-naida-and-nalin showing $4.24
    http://www.daz3d.com/fast-grab-3d-models/fw-merfolk showing $2.49

  • KharmaKharma Posts: 3,214
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    Take advantage of the Fast Grab and get some of the products featured in the mermaid showcase :)

    http://www.daz3d.com/fast-grab-3d-models/fw-naida-and-nalin showing $4.24
    http://www.daz3d.com/fast-grab-3d-models/fw-merfolk showing $2.49


    Wouldn't you know it...those are the 2 mermaid items I purchased when they first came out..lol. Maybe some more will show up in Fatgrab soon like the mertails....

  • MelanieLMelanieL Posts: 7,092
    edited December 1969

    @Novica - I like your mermaid pics. I picked up Naida & Nalin and Merfolk yesterday in the 75% grab but haven't rendered them yet.

This discussion has been closed.