October, 2026 - Daz 3D New User Challenge - Atmosphere, Ghosts and Special Effects

Leana · October 2

New User's Challenge – October, 2026

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 challenge.

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

Closing date for both is October 31, 2026

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

They apply for both versions of the challenge.

Leana · October 2

Beginner challenge - "Atmosphere"

Evoking a particular emotional or aesthetic quality
Atmospheric perspective, also known as aerial perspective, refers to the effect the atmosphere has on the appearance of an object as it is viewed from a distance
In addition to creating a sense of depth, atmospheric perspective can be used to express environmental conditions and time of day in a work of art

Creating atmosphere in art is more than simply using some godrays, fog or dust in an image. It is creating a feeling; a sense of place or time. It needs to enhance and bring attention to the subject matter.

Tutorials

for DAZ Studio Iray:

http://sickleyield.deviantart.com/journal/Tutorial-Creating-Dust-And-Atmosphere-in-Iray-522291773

http://rawart3d.deviantart.com/art/Raw-FogCam-535959358 free product

https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/334586/tutorial-adding-atmosphere-with-a-depth-canvas - this tutorial explains how to use a Depth Canvas

DAZ Studio 3Delight:

http://www.omnifreaker.com/index.php?title=UberVolume

Linwelly's Simple Atmosphere Tutorial for 3Delight ( may also work in Iray ): https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/1654176/#Comment_1654176

for Carrara:
https://carraracafe.com/tutorials/atmosphere-tutorial/

for Bryce:
Artist’s guide Sky Lab page 759
Bryce: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahiyabdeUBI DOF in Bryce by David Brinnen

Bryce 7.1 Pro Easy - Spooky trees in Dan's fog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-lDcqH78Is

Bryce Basics - Free content cloud over Big Sur https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs9490Co-XE

Atmospheric Basics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyLOZWevi8g A Blender tutorial but the first 46 seconds really give you an idea of what atmosphere can be like.

What are some other elements for creating atmosphere:
https://prezi.com/dmvb-nlsj_wr/creating-mood-in-art/
http://www.zevendesign.com/mood-lines-giving-designs-attitude/

Don't forget to look at previous themed contests where information and hints are available.

October 2015's contest

October 2016's contest

October 2017's contest

October 2018’s contes t

October 2019’s challenge

October, 2020's challenge

October, 2021's challenge

October, 2022's challenge

October, 2023's challenge

October, 2024's challenge

October, 2025's challenge

Leana · October 2

There are many products in the DAZ store which can be of help. You are not required to purchase any of these products to create your images. They are simply being listed for your convenience and/or inspiration. The promo images are also excellent examples of atmosphere using props and/or lights. Below is just a small sample.

DAZ Studio - Iray

Plane Easy Atmospheres

Fast Fog Iray 2: Electric Fogaloo -

IG Iray Dawn to Dusk 2 Atmospheric Lighting

FSL Rigged and Morphing Atmosphere Props and Shaders

Fog Camera

Time Inside Light Gels Bundle

Cinematic Light FX plus Atmosphere

Epic Props: Godrays & Volumetric Light for Iray

Atmospheric Smoke Camera

Iray Dust

SY dForce Rain Iray

SY Fast and Easy Fog Iray

SY Fast Fog and Atmosphere Iray

MartinJFrost's "Atomsphere" 1, 2 & 3, 4 and 5

DAZ Studio - 3Delight

Above the Fog for Iray and 3Delight

Simple Godrays

Expanded Godrays - Celestial Bodies

Heavy Rain for 3Delight and Iray

Daz Studio - Filament

Atmosphere for Filament

SY Atmospheric Blur Filament

Poser

Widow’s Woods: Forest

RDNA Atmospherics – Fog Vol 1

Spooky Light Gels for Poser

Bryce

Bryce ATMO

Some other items that may be of help in this Challenge:

Composition helpers:

Bryce: http://www.daz3d.com/golden-rules-composition-helpers-for-bryce
DAZ Studio: https://www.daz3d.com/canary-s-composition-helpers

Also, DS has a built in thirds golden rule.

Here are various links to other things that may help you in this month's challenge. Credit is given to Szark for this wonderful thread.
Tutorials by Szark https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/2765/time-for-sharing-what-i-have-no-idea/p1

Leana · October 2

Here are some examples of images using "Atmosphere" provided by CV L'Adair.

Heart Of Winter

In The Misty Moonlight

Dubious Shelter

Nocturnal

Here are some examples of atmosphere using lighting.

Strange Discovery

Yuzuru Full

Yuzuru

This was my home once

Leana · October 2

Intermediate Challenge - Ghosts and Special Effects

Working with Magical Elements and Forces

In this challenge you can use lighting, effects, atmospherics, special effects and volumetric effects to bring your artwork to the next level whether it is adding magic to your favourite witchy scene or turning your favourite beloved characters into a ghost set to haunt people’s dreams

Jepe's Effects - various products

Special FX for Daz Studio, 2 and 3

Soldiers of Magic: Serpio

FPE Magic Powers Props

FPE Magic Effects for Genesis 9

Ultraviolet Shaders, Lights, and Props

Iray Ghost Shaders

Vengeful Spirit for Genesis and Genesis 2 Female(s)

dForce Sheet Ghost for Genesis 8 Female and for Genesis 9

Iray Spectre for Genesis 8 Female and Male

SY Real Fog Iray VDB and SY Real Fog VDB 2

Oso VDB Magus Effects Volume 1 and Oso VDB Magus Effects Volume 2

Arcane VFX

PTF More Magic!

Ethereal VDB FX

Superhero Body FX and Eyes and Face FX for Genesis 8 Females

pwGhost (3DL only)

Special thanks to L'Adair for creating an example image containing ghosts.

Brian&Alicia · October 3

Guess i'll open with a non-entry Halloween theme. also working on designing a new signiture, over my scibble sig. i think i like this one. simple, yet a little edgy

lina.catfish · October 6

Hej, what a beautiful Halloween ghost bride!

Although I’ve already started: where does this challenge actually end? Is it about **all** scenic elements/ manipulations this time, regardless of the method used? The link to the Canvas-GIMP tutorial looked like this...

Ok, my first step in the October beginner challenge 'Atmophere' with RawArts fog cube:

Cymru

Title: Cymru/ Wales

(If time allows, I’d like to try this again using Depth Canvas and more objects. But before that, I'll try a different light.)

Brian&Alicia · October 13

Intermediate entry. Grin (NO AI) Used tempest clouds, and lighting to create a dramatic scene. Post work done in krita.

Brian&Alicia · October 13

Just posting this one for critiquing. Something feels off about it, and im not use what exactly. So maybe some fresh eyes can see it? Also I wish daz would hurry up with getting the gallery up and running again.

Alias52 · October 13

Amen to the Gallery... It was always good to be able to have a forum to view art. With the picture, I know what you mean about it. It looks really good. However, one thing I notice is how the ferns kinda pop for me. The complementary green does it. Maybe something like green eyes or face paint? Something fairly subtle that keeps the colour palette but has something small that adds to it?

Alias52 · October 13

And I love the Grin picture. Wow!

Brian&Alicia · October 14

Alias52 said:

And I love the Grin picture. Wow!

Ty And I think your right about the ferns. And I'll just darken them up with post work. Just so theyre not drawing attention.

Leana · October 14

lina.catfish said:

Hej, what a beautiful Halloween ghost bride!

Although I’ve already started: where does this challenge actually end? Is it about **all** scenic elements/ manipulations this time, regardless of the method used? The link to the Canvas-GIMP tutorial looked like this...

Yes, this challenge does not realy focus on specific tools this time but on the goal of creating an image with a "mood".

Ok, my first step in the October beginner challenge 'Atmophere' with RawArts fog cube:

Title: Cymru/ Wales

(If time allows, I’d like to try this again using Depth Canvas and more objects. But before that, I'll try a different light.)

Nice start! Personally I would try to adjust the light on the figure to get the colors to match the background a bit more Right now the figure is greyish while the background is more beige, changing the light might make her more integrated in the scenery.

Leana · October 14

Brian&Alicia said:

Guess i'll open with a non-entry Halloween theme. also working on designing a new signiture, over my scibble sig. i think i like this one. simple, yet a little edgy

Lovely bride, and quite fitting for the season.

Brian&Alicia said:

Intermediate entry. Grin (NO AI) Used tempest clouds, and lighting to create a dramatic scene. Post work done in krita.

I really like that one, great work!

Brian&Alicia said:

Just posting this one for critiquing. Something feels off about it, and im not use what exactly. So maybe some fresh eyes can see it? Also I wish daz would hurry up with getting the gallery up and running again.

What stands out for me (beside the ferns, which are indeed a bit distracting due to their color) is that the background gives the impression that the light comes for behind her, but the highlights on the figure suggest that light is coming from behind the camera.

Brian&Alicia · October 16

What stands out for me (beside the ferns, which are indeed a bit distracting due to their color) is that the background gives the impression that the light comes for behind her, but the highlights on the figure suggest that light is coming from behind the camera.

i got ya. i do struggle a bit with having back lighting, and still having enough lighting upfront, so the character doesn't look silhouetted. now i can't remember if i used camera light, or ghost lighting?

Brian&Alicia · October 19

intermediate entry "witches brew"
used wizards room, vortex cloud formation, ghost lights, jepes speacial effects, and ground fog to create this magical atmospharic scene, ready for Halloween. post work done in Krita. (((NO AI)))

lina.catfish · October 20

I'm not quite sure... Better to make one big post or three posts in a row? I know it as bad style to inflate your own posting numbers. So...

1. Cymru

Leana said:
[...] Personally I would try to adjust the light on the figure to get the colors to match the background a bit more Right now the figure is greyish while the background is more beige, changing the light might make her more integrated in the scenery.

Thank you for the tip. Unfortunately (for me :)) the skin texture is grey. So I inverted your tip (literally) and de-colored the background :)

Cymru

2. Atmosphere beginner, part II: "Jane" (water + ground fog)

Jane

Brian&Alicia · October 22

@ Lina.catfish "not quite sure... Better to make one big post or three posts in a row? I know it as bad style to inflate your own posting numbers." I apologize for posting so much. I make a lot of art quickly. And I honestly dont put much thought into posting. I just post as I make, if I made the art for this specifically. Otherwise the rest are non-entries, are just to show off my work or get feedback on it. so I can make improvements, and keep getting better. I also, dont have anyplace to post my work, where i can get actual constructive feedback. Especially right now, I need it the most. Because I am striving very much to get my daz art, comic book cover worthy quality so I can get my foot in the door. And yesterday, I got my opportunity to submit some of my art, to be used for a legit comic cover. And I need to make some art to show another publisher, next year. I've already shown them some of my work, and they told me make more and come talk to him again next year. Because, they want to see my consistency. before giving me the ok to submit my art for future covers. So please dont take my posting so much offensively. I have things going on and just looking to get my work to be the best it can be, quickly. Granted, im always learning and getting better and better. But right now its vital for me, well im trying to get my foot in the door. Also most everyone who posts multiple entries. From my experience have always made seperate posts for each entry.?. Maybe im wrong. But, thats what ive noticed over the few years ive been participating in forums challanges and/or contests. And just to note. Im pretty sure, these challanges are judged by who they feel learned the most, and NOT by who made the best image.

Brian&Alicia · October 22

I hate posting from my phone lol. This was a dup,and can be deleated.

lina.catfish · October 22

@Brian&Alicia

Holy, no! This was not meant for you. **You* have posted several things several times. That's not what I meant. But *I* had different things at the same time and the forum didn't make it easy to reply with quotes to more than one post.

That's not what I meant at all. But *I* had different things at the same time. Worse, the forum didn't make it easy to reply to more than one post with quotes. That was my unmentioned background.

But of course I see now how easy it was to understand it that way. Look I'm always soooo busy here with grammar (commas and tenses), I overlook such obvious traps for misunderstandings.

So I hope I didn't... make too much bad feelings with this.

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October, 2026 - Daz 3D New User Challenge - Atmosphere, Ghosts and Special Effects

New User's Challenge – October, 2026

Comments

Beginner challenge - "Atmosphere"

Tutorials

Intermediate Challenge - Ghosts and Special Effects

Working with Magical Elements and Forces

You Tube Tutorials

Written Tutorial

Various Products that may be of help:

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