T & T - Universal Tattoos and Tans

whispers65

I know enough to be dangerous in this category. The basic question is it even possible to have a universal tattoo or tan set for studio?

I have a number of characters with tattoos but they are limited to that particular skin set as far as I know. But what about putting a tattoo on a skin set that doesn't have a tattoo? I've looked at some tutorials for both tattoos and tans in post work but for me trying to do anything "artistic" is just laughable still.

Tan lines - I saw an example of how to use the LIE editor (I think that is the name). And I did try it but lining up stuff didn't happen skin wise so out of all the characters I have no one has a tan. I did see some tan line stuff for V4 but I mainly use Genesis stuff these days and they were a bit over the top for me. Just plain, realistic tan lines would be fine for me for both guys and gals.

Tattoos - I don't have a tattoo in RL and never thought of having one but all of a sudden I have a keen interest for 3d characters to the point I notice tattoos in RL now and even talked to strangers about them lol. Go figure. If tattoos are basically skin set specific as far as using the LIE editor then is it possible to create transparent invisible skin? Tattoos would be present were they need to be and the other skin would show through? Or that just the most stupid idea you ever heard of?

Anyway, you don't know until you ask right? lol.

SimonJM

I think there will not be a truly universal mechanism down to different UV maps and beyond that, how the UV maps are arranged (with the various seams). Within DS you have the LIE which is close to universal as it will allow application of an image 'overlay' on any image. But it does not deal with seams. Outside DS you have DecalMaster which handles seams but only deals with cr2=based figures (you load the figure, then load the base MAT, then load up your tattoos, etc., and end up saving a new MAT).

nemesis10

The important concept is to understand png (portable network graphics format) which is like a jpeg with a transparent background. Most image programs can make them. A typical workflow would be to create the tattoo on a separate layer with either a UV map below (paging SnowSultan) or a copy of the character texture below. I chose the blending mode and opacity at this point, delete the uv map or character texture at this point, and save as png. Then in Daz Studio, I open the character, open Surfaces and L.I.E. and place the created png on a layer above the texture. Position the tattoo and, bang, you are done.

SimonJM

nemesis10 said:

The important concept is to understand png (portable network graphics format) which is like a jpeg with a transparent background. Most image programs can make them. A typical workflow would be to create the tattoo on a separate layer with either a UV map below (paging SnowSultan) or a copy of the character texture below. I chose the blending mode and opacity at this point, delete the uv map or character texture at this point, and save as png. Then in Daz Studio, I open the character, open Surfaces and L.I.E. and place the created png on a layer above the texture. Position the tattoo and, bang, you are done.

What about wrapround? How do you deal with, say a tattoo that wraps across the seam split down the back (or wherever it is on the torso UV)?

whispers65

I'm going to try some things again this weekend. I have off for a change so maybe I can work on some tutorial stuff and get closer. Now that the sale is mostly over I'll hopefully be able to concentrate on some renders and stuff.

This is just one area I'd like to get something going on if nothing just to be able to do it.

Slosh

It may work if you apply the tattoos to a geoshell, which is just an exact duplicate of your character with morphs applied and can be textured using uv's that are not the same as the main figure. In other words, if you have a tattoo set that is uv mapped for base genesis, it can be applied to the geoshell and will overlay any texture set you have on genesis. Genesis could have a V5 texture, while the geoshell has a base figure tattoo texture. I hope I am making sense.

Eustace Scrubb

For earlier versions of D|S, or folks who cannot or dislike to use LIE, insert the tattoo (UV specific) into the Diffuse Strength channel: a white image with a black tattoo works great for this, but only shows up when you render.

For DS4 and above: If you want to use a tattoo mapped for V4, say, and a skin for G5, put the tattoo on a geoshell over Genesis (wearing the G5 skin), as geoshells are not required to use the same UV mapping as their source meshes (so long as an alternate UV is available for the mesh, as with Genesis). Just mask the rest of the geoshell from the renderer and reduce its standoff to skin level.

whispers65

Interesting. I've never heard of the term geoshell but will research it out. I always try and research stuff as much as possible before I ask questions. Most of the time it just a matter of finding someone doing what I would like.

As always thanks for everyone's time and consideration.