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January 2026 - Daz 3D New User Challenge - Composition, Instancing, and Duplication

DAZ_ann0314DAZ_ann0314 Posts: 2,885
edited January 2 in New User Contests and Events

New User's Challenge - January 2026

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!

Back by popular demand (or well because we think it went well LOL), 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
  • Or if you have not participated in the January Composition Challenge

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
  • Or if you have all ready been spotlighted in the January Composition Challenge

*Please be sure to list in your post which Challenge you are participating in

 

Post edited by DAZ_ann0314 on

Comments

  • DAZ_ann0314DAZ_ann0314 Posts: 2,885
    edited January 2

    Beginner Challenge:
    "Composition"

    This is a general render challenge with the focus on how you compose your image. We are providing you with lots of great links on Composition from a variety of sources. Composition is key to pulling a viewer into your image and leading their eye to where you want them to see things. It is a fundamental skill that we, as artists, not only need to learn, but will continue to hone over the years. Read about and look at the examples, in these articles, for how composition works and how artists, from the Masters to people like you and me, put these compositional guidelines to use to make our pieces more appealing and invite the viewer to look around your image as you intended.

     

    For those completely New to Daz Studio, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND checking out the new MASTERCLASS!
     


    General Composition Rules:
    http://design.tutsplus.com/articles/5-fundamental-skills-every-artist-should-master--psd-28054

    The Golden Ratio:
    https://designschool.canva.com/blog/what-is-the-golden-ratio/
    http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/golden-ratio-in-moden-designs/
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A3JnWzgXGk

    Some Tools for Bryce:
    Golden Rules Composition Helpers for Bryce by David Brinnen and Horo


    Artists, filmmakers and photographers share similar traits in how we present our work, so you will find that a study of the art of photography will help, which is why you see various links to photographic articles included.

    Photography Composition:
    http://digital-photography-school.com/5-elements-of-composition-in-photography/
    http://digital-photography-school.com/5-more-elements-of-composition-in-photography/
     


    Color can be used as a compositional element, especially when you have color contrast. Here are some fundamentals on color:

    Color Fundamentals:
    https://99designs.com/blog/tips/the-7-step-guide-to-understanding-color-theory/

    Other Types of Contrast:
    http://photoinf.com/General/NAVY/Contrast_and_Framing.htm

    Examples of Composition:
    http://www.pinterest.com/dawnshiree/rules-of-composition/

    Examples from Netflix's The Queens Gambit (The Director of this series did an EXCEPTIONAL job applying the Rules of Composition):
    Composition of The Queen's Gambit (You may need a Facebook Account for this link which directs to a post - be sure to scroll through the pictures as there are TONS of excellent examples)

     

     

    This is a bit of a long read but offers excellent examples of different kinds of composition and camera angles.

    The Cinematography of "The Incredibles"

     

     

    I 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: January 31st 2026

    Post edited by DAZ_ann0314 on
  • DAZ_ann0314DAZ_ann0314 Posts: 2,885

    Intermediate Challenge:
    "Instancing and Creating Duplicates"

    This is a general render challenge with the focus on using Instancing and Duplication within a scene. We are providing you with some links on the topics from a variety of sources. Utilizinging Instancing and Duplication well is key to creating intricate scenes while saving on file sizes and processing power. It is a fundamental skill for those wishing to do large battle scenes, those wishing to create their own worlds, or those wishing to create an environment that seems full and complex.

    *If participating in this Challenge, please be sure to list what item(s) within your scene you have instanced or duplicated*


    General Instancing and Duplicate Creation Information:

    Node Instances

    1. Click on the item in the scene you wish to Instance
    2. Go to Create - New Node Instance (Good for Singular Instances)
     
    or

    1. Click on the item in the scene you wish to Instance
    2. Go to Create - New Node Instances (Good for adding Multiple Instances at once)

    Pluses:

    Doesn't use as many computer resources as loading in the items again (So it won't show as more Geometry Loaded in if you look at the Scene Info Tab)
    Great for filling in a scene with items that are going to look identical while keeping the computer strain down.
    Can Populate a scene fairly quickly

    Minuses:

    All the items will share the textures of the original item.
    Node Instances are an exact copy of the original, they cannot be morphed or posed separately
     

    Duplicate Nodes

    1. Click on the Item in the Scene you with to Duplicate
    2. Go to Edit - Duplicate - Duplicate Node(s)

    Pluses:

    Creates a copy of the Selected Item
    You are able to change textures, manipulate, repose etc as if you added in a new copy

    Minuses:

    Doesn't Save on Computer Resources since it is basically the same as loading in a second exact copy (Rig, Bones, and All)

    *Duplicate Node Hierarchies * 
    (Duplicates the entire node tree below the Selected Node)
    Example: If you select Genesis 8 that has clothing and hair attached then it will Duplicate Genesis 8 as well as the attached hair and clothing.

    1. Click on the Item in the Scene you wish to Duplicate
    2. Go to Edit - Duplicate - Duplicate Node Hierarchies

    Pluses:

    Creates a copy of the Selected Item and all items attached to it. (Great for creating a copy of a Figure with included clothing, accessories etc)
    You are able to change textures, manipulate, repose etc as if you added in a new copy

    Minuses:

    Doesn't Save on Computer Resources since it is basically the same as loading in a second exact copy (Rig, Bones, and All)


    Generally you want to use Duplicates or regular full figures with varying poses etc in the forground of the scene and then use the instances more in the background or as scene filler where it will be less likely to notice they are the same (especially useful when using Depth of Field etc) It can also be used to help cut down computer load when you actually want or need to identical things (props etc) in the scene..such as two chairs in a livingroom, two tanks (or 20 tanks) on a battlefield, multiple candles in a scene that are all the same color, books placed on shelves, potion bottles that can be moved to various places across the scene, or things like trees and grass.

    Examples of Using Instances and/or Duplication within Daz Studio:

    Instances used for the Spectres that are Attacking Ater Eterwood
    (Special Thanks to Totte - Code 66 for the Example)

    Instances used for the Crates and Barrels. Barrels were rotated to avoid the repeated look.
    (Special Thanks to Totte - Code 66 for the Example)

     

    Instances used to add more Patrons to the tavern
    (Special Thanks to Totte - Code 66 for the Example)

     

    Handy Products to Use while Instancing:

    FlockIt
    Traffic Patterns Script and Prop Collection
    Have a Seat
    Stack'Em Up
    UltraScatter Advanced Instancing for Daz Studio
    UltraScatter Pro
    Instances Plus+ for Daz Studi


    I 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: January 31st 2026

  • DAZ_ann0314DAZ_ann0314 Posts: 2,885
    edited January 2

    EXTRA CREDIT:

    This year I also wanted to start the year with a couple additional things that are a little bit different. I would like to start a little "Refer a Friend" BONUS. 

    Starting this year, if you refer a friend to the challenge that is newer to the website (or introduce someone new all together) and they participate in the challenge both you and they will get an extra little prize. To get the prize, simply mention your referal in this thread by their forum Username after they participate. heart

    In addition, we are looking for some ideas on how to make the challenge more interesting and fun. We want people to be able to step through learning and that is our main goal here. As such, we want to keep the general topics in the order they are (which we feel is easiest to learn everything). That said, if anyone has any thoughts, feels anything should be moved to a different spot in the timeline, or feels there is something extra that could make for a more fun and enjoyable experience, please add your ideas to the thread here: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/752606/new-user-challenge-ideas-thread

    Post edited by DAZ_ann0314 on
  • Sunkissed PapayasSunkissed Papayas Posts: 24
    edited January 20

    This is just my attempt at the Begineer challenge. 

     

    wendysnowboarding1.png
    2560 x 1440 - 5M
    Post edited by Sunkissed Papayas on
  • Poisoned MindPoisoned Mind Posts: 30
    edited January 28

    I wanted to try this challenge to get some input. The character was instanced with the head gear attached. Daveyabbo's DA-15Y Lvl 4 HD Morph for Genesis 8 Female(s), Ansiko's Surgical Strike, Feng's Skyrail Bridge. Off set instances slightly.

     

    robotfactory01.jpg
    1900 x 1068 - 1M
    Post edited by Poisoned Mind on
  • yuyu.atemyuyu.atem Posts: 472
    edited January 29

    Hi! This is my entry to the intermediate challenge!

    Title: The Angel of Apocalypse

    What was duplicated:

    Hum... Almost everything! cheeky No, seriously:

    • I started duplicate the Coach House and the houses 1 & 3 from the Cozy houses set, in order to create a village.
    • Then, addeda plane to createthe ground of the village, and I instancing some flames from the Pro Pyro - Fire and Flame VDBs. However, since I wanted a huge fire accros alle the village, I used the UltraScatterPro to instantly create all the instances on the plane (not sure if it was allowed, but since it's not the only way I used to duplicated the objects, I hope it will be ok...)
    • However, I realized my plane was not wide enough to cover all the village area; so, rather to rescale it, I duplicated the node hierarchy twice, and positionned the duplucated objects where i needed to cover the village area. (Of course, that's also dupplicated the flame instanced linked to the plane)
    • After that, I also duplicated twice the wings of the Dark Ascendant, to give him a seraph-demon aspect; however, i chaged the materails of each wing pair afterward.
    • Finally, I also used instances of the magic ribbon from the SBibb Magic at Their Fingertips Props. The idea was to stylize the souls of dead people during the apocalypse.

    However, I had quite difficulties to render the scene: even after having reduced some maps, the scene was too cumbersome for my computer, so I had to render separately the sky background, the village with fire, and the Dark Ascendent with the maginc ribbons. Then, I renconstructed the final images with GIMP.

    I hope you'll enjoy it!


    Edit: Oh, and I forgot I also diplicated point lingts in the scene: because of the HDRI I used, I needed several point lights around the Dark Ascendent to make its material correctly visible.

    Apocalypse Angel.jpeg
    1600 x 1066 - 3M
    Post edited by yuyu.atem on
  • LinwellyLinwelly Posts: 6,069

    Poisoned Mind said:

    I wanted to try this challenge to get some input. The character was instanced with the head gear attached. Daveyabbo's DA-15Y Lvl 4 HD Morph for Genesis 8 Female(s), Ansiko's Surgical Strike, Feng's Skyrail Bridge. Off set instances slightly.

     

    that is a very good idea and I love the fade out into the background. I have the feeling the focus on the first one could be a bit sharper or give a little more free room without the green mist for the distance to the first one 

  • LinwellyLinwelly Posts: 6,069

    yuyu.atem said:

    Hi! This is my entry to the intermediate challenge!

    Title: The Angel of Apocalypse

    What was duplicated:

    Hum... Almost everything! cheeky No, seriously:

    • I started duplicate the Coach House and the houses 1 & 3 from the Cozy houses set, in order to create a village.
    • Then, addeda plane to createthe ground of the village, and I instancing some flames from the Pro Pyro - Fire and Flame VDBs. However, since I wanted a huge fire accros alle the village, I used the UltraScatterPro to instantly create all the instances on the plane (not sure if it was allowed, but since it's not the only way I used to duplicated the objects, I hope it will be ok...)
    • However, I realized my plane was not wide enough to cover all the village area; so, rather to rescale it, I duplicated the node hierarchy twice, and positionned the duplucated objects where i needed to cover the village area. (Of course, that's also dupplicated the flame instanced linked to the plane)
    • After that, I also duplicated twice the wings of the Dark Ascendant, to give him a seraph-demon aspect; however, i chaged the materails of each wing pair afterward.
    • Finally, I also used instances of the magic ribbon from the SBibb Magic at Their Fingertips Props. The idea was to stylize the souls of dead people during the apocalypse.

    However, I had quite difficulties to render the scene: even after having reduced some maps, the scene was too cumbersome for my computer, so I had to render separately the sky background, the village with fire, and the Dark Ascendent with the maginc ribbons. Then, I renconstructed the final images with GIMP.

    I hope you'll enjoy it!


    Edit: Oh, and I forgot I also diplicated point lingts in the scene: because of the HDRI I used, I needed several point lights around the Dark Ascendent to make its material correctly visible.

    Very nice work here, maybe position your character a little deeper so that the wings are not clipped off on the upper edge? 

  • DAZ_ann0314DAZ_ann0314 Posts: 2,885

    This Challenge is now closed! Thanks to everyone who participated heart

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