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Technique question - need some suggestions

Lyn BuchananLyn Buchanan Posts: 33
edited December 1969 in Art Studio

I've been trying to find a way to make the light on the subject look like it came through ripples of water. I don't want it to be overly noticeable or even to look like an underwater scene - just a slight hint of light that has filtered from the surface through waves. Everything I've been able to do was way too much, but I think that the straight, un"rippled" light is way too little. Anyone got any suggestions?

(I don't know if the picture is coming through or not - doesn't show up in the preview. - I hope so.)

DragonRider.jpg
1280 x 1024 - 1M

Comments

  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,654
    edited December 1969

    First, love your image. =-)

    You could try lights from a set like:

    Under the Sea: http://www.daz3d.com/under-the-sea

    I use these a lot, but not sure if they are too much.

    You might try post working some ripples in using a texture and making it very light in photoshop. A godray might also look good.

  • TjebTjeb Posts: 507
    edited December 1969

    Or do it in postwork in your favourite paint program.

    UnderwtrPostWork.jpg
    900 x 675 - 94K
  • Lyn BuchananLyn Buchanan Posts: 33
    edited December 1969

    Good suggestions. thanks to both of you. The problem has been giving me fits for a long time. It's one of those things that won't make or break a picture, and probably won't even by noticed by anyone who looks at the finished product, but it is something that has stumped me, and is like the pebble in the shoe - a little thing that just gets to you after a while. Thanks again.

  • Lyn BuchananLyn Buchanan Posts: 33
    edited December 1969

    This is going to be an illustration for a book, btw. Anyway,,,, thanks again.

  • DestinysGardenDestinysGarden Posts: 2,550
    edited December 1969

    Do you have any light sets that include a gel light? If you do, which one? I can give a longer more detailed answer when I know what we are working with.
    The short answer I have for you is to take any gel light you have, plug in a water caustic texture in the image slot, and then change the tiling on the image to get the ripples to the scale you want. Then play around with the light's intensity to get the effect more or less noticeable.
    Hope that helps at least a little.

  • SickleYieldSickleYield Posts: 7,640
    edited December 1969

    Yo u have many options. You can go for one of the sets with caustic lights and cameras, like the ones Destiny did, which I've used a great deal for this: http://www.daz3d.com/underwater-ambiance-for-daz-studio

    I sell a couple of products that could be used for this also.

    Godrays, if you want the rayed look: http://www.daz3d.com/simple-godrays


    Simple caustics from this pack, if you want a gel look: http://www.daz3d.com/easy-shadows

  • Lyn BuchananLyn Buchanan Posts: 33
    edited December 1969

    Many thanks. I hadn't known about gels. I had wondered whether or not I could put a simple plane in front of a spotlight or above the figures and then give it a pattern with transparency. Seems that's what a gel is, but rather than making my own, I'm going to try the ones you recommended. Thanks very much. I'm learning some good stuff from all of you. I'm really glad you're here. It's opening new possibilities.

  • DestinysGardenDestinysGarden Posts: 2,550
    edited December 1969

    Yeah, a plane stuck in front of a spotlight might work, but not with any degree of consistency, and probably not in the most pleasing manner. What you really need is a light that is already set up to project image maps, and those are usually built with shader mixer. There are quite a few inexpensive sets, mine, Sickle's, the Under the Sea set mentioned, and quite a few others. You can put any image map you want into the light after it is set up take the image maps. Then you can play around and tweak the settings. Let us know if you need more help, and please do post the render once you get it how you want it.
    Cheers!

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