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Novica & Invited Guest Contributors Tips & Product Reviews Pt 4

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  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited December 1969

    So what are you folks getting during this big sale? I am getting some older products that don't go on sale very often, and some that look pretty basic but good for filling scenes that again, don't go on sale often. Aka, the Antelope Expansion Pack which uses the DAZ Buck (For $1.00) will be great for African scenes. Tons of antelope materials. That sucker hasn't been on sale ever since I marked it. (Vendor is bloodsong. You never hear of this vendor in sales events.)

    You need the Buck. (Which is pretty basic, I know. That's why I said it's great for fillers in scenes.) If you're doing African renders, the antelope expansion pack is something to consider. (And may take another 8 months to go on sale. I don't THINK I've ever missed it on sale, but I could be wrong. I check my wishlist daily though.)

    http://www.daz3d.com/antelope-expansion-pack
    http://www.daz3d.com/sales-promotions/buck
    http://www.daz3d.com/sales-promotions/buck-poses

    And although a few legs look a bit squared (can use smoothing) this doesn't go on sale very often either. Again, you never see this vendor on sale: Nikkelah Ghaz
    http://www.daz3d.com/the-creeper-collection-bundle

    And the site descriptions are not matching the discounts. (Aka, what is required to get the discounts.) Now is a good time to go shopping.

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 24,370
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    So what are you folks getting during this big sale?
    And the site descriptions are not matching the discounts. (Aka, what is required to get the discounts.) Now is a good time to go shopping.

    What does this mean, Novica? Hint?
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited April 2014

    I was just getting ready to post again, never mind, some of the items are in two different category sales. So no purchases required.

    Rendered the antelopes so folks can see why they have to be distant shots. Very basic. What I do really like is the poses that already come with it, just a click and done.

    EDIT: They also render EXTREMELY FAST. On .30 shading rate, they zipped right through.

    antelope.jpg
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    Post edited by Novica on
  • starionwolfstarionwolf Posts: 3,670
    edited April 2014

    Try rendering the antelopes in uber area light and a shading rate of 0.20 on a seven year old computer running Windows XP... see how fast the scene renders. lol. Just kidding. Thanks for sharing the render.

    edit: are the antelopes new? I haven't seen them before.

    Post edited by starionwolf on
  • barbultbarbult Posts: 24,370
    edited December 1969

    Lovely background on the antelopes, too. They look nice, but I don't think I have a use for them. I think I'll get the buck poses, though. Thanks for pointing them out.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited December 1969

    Antelopes are very, very old I think. I know I've had that expansion pack marked for a very long time in wishlist because I have the tribal huts and other African sets/props, but very few animals that will go in the scenes other than predator cats.

    Doing a few from the creepy crawler collection so folks can see those. Extreme closeups.

    Below is the wasp.

    creepy1.jpg
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  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited December 1969

    barbult said:
    Lovely background on the antelopes, too. They look nice, but I don't think I have a use for them. I think I'll get the buck poses, though. Thanks for pointing them out.

    Backdrops are the Rocks N Drops. :) Going into the diffuse gives so many color options!

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited April 2014

    This is the jumper spider, and I created a smoothing modifier and set it to 13. It is really sharp-edged on the corners.
    This would be a cartoon spider for closeups. Or sci-fi?

    creepy2.jpg
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    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited April 2014

    And the ladybug.
    Edit: And the moth.

    creepy4.jpg
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    creepy3.jpg
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    Post edited by Novica on
  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,654
    edited December 1969

    Wow, you've been busy Novica. Like seeing all these critters, and your Maxim is hunkalicious. =-)

    I haven't bought anything since yesterday. I've been messing around with the Antfarm Squid Mech. It looks really zingy re-colored wtih metallic shaders.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited April 2014

    I'm just trying to get some of the sale items featured :) Not spending a lot of time on lighting due to time constraints.
    Here's Reptillian.

    Reptillian For Genesis (Valandar)
    http://www.daz3d.com/reptillian-for-genesis

    He comes with a lot of head options, can even make an alligator-type reptillian. Be sure and check out the thumbnails for those options.

    reptilian3.jpg
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    reptilian2.jpg
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    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited December 1969

    Monster Classics- The BeastMan
    http://www.daz3d.com/monster-classics-the-beastman

    Continuing with the sale- The BeastMan is for Genesis and The Freak 5. Below are the original settings, used on Genesis, and with the changed bump/displacement. This is shown without the Look At My Hair. It's really a nice setup- the LAMH are included presets, you click, it loads. If anyone has rendered with the LAMH and good lighting so details can be seen, feel free to share.

    BeastMan_On_Genesis3.jpg
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    BeastMan_On_Genesis1.jpg
    832 x 863 - 277K
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited December 1969

    Ever want a good description of the render settings?

    http://wiki.daz3d.com/doku.php/artzone/pub/software/dazstudio/reference/render_settings

  • MilosGulanMilosGulan Posts: 1,966
    edited December 1969

    Thank You, it will be useful.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited December 1969

    You're welcome. I was reviewing render settings and it was a nice refresher for me. :)

    Speaking of refresher, I was curious about the Helena lights as we mentioned it on a previous (buried, lol) thread. I'm going to show you a fun render with the basic Helena lights and why it's a great starting point. Rendering now.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited April 2014

    Mara For Victoria 4 And Genesis (Artemis3d)
    Midsummer Night Dream Hair For Genesis (Valea)
    Florabelle For V4 And Genesis (Mada)
    Woodland Realm Playset 1 (DAZ3D)
    Helena for V4 (DAZ3D) LIGHTS
    Grid Girls Poses (DAZ 3D / JGreenlees)

    http://www.daz3d.com/mara-for-victoria-4-and-genesis
    http://www.daz3d.com/midsummer-night-dream-hair-for-genesis
    http://www.daz3d.com/florabelle-for-v4-and-genesis
    http://www.daz3d.com/woodland-realm-playset-one
    http://www.daz3d.com/helena-for-v4
    http://www.daz3d.com/grid-girls-poses

    The Helena for V4 is a wonderful starting point for a light setup. This has been brightened a bit in postwork (corel photo paint, just using the lighten and intensify sliders) but you would like it "as is" too. Notice that the light is uneven, the lower part is not lit as much as the upper, and there is more light coming from your right.

    It is two distant lights and two spotlights, very simple.
    This is Mara out of the box, and the hair out of the box. I tried doing the Edit>Geometry> Smoothing Modifier and it said I couldn't. HMMM. There is a disturbing chunk of hair (not shown in this angle) so I don't know what's up with the inability to modify.

    Note with the hair, you can hide the horns. Note you do that with the hair, the option exists- you do NOT have to go in to the Surface settings/Opacity. It's easy!

    The headpiece is also something that you just add with a click. Go into Surfaces to change the pearl colors though, only have white and black options.

    EDIT: Added link- the pose is a Platinum Club one, only $1.99. Grab it- it's Grid Girls Poses. :) You just have to lift the hand off the arm for the pose shown, no biggie.

    maraMidSmmrHrFlorabelleHelenaLt.jpg
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    Post edited by Novica on
  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,654
    edited December 1969

    I like that Novica. Nice h air and pose and contrast!

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited December 1969

    Have you ever encountered a hair that wouldn't let you create a smoothing modifier? That was WEIRD.

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

    I actually don't smooth hair. I let it be as is. I do try to smooth clothing though sometimes. Half the time it isn't possible.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited December 1969

    The eyes on Dilanna from the promos don't look right to me. The eye on the left does not look well focused on the main promo of Dilanna, so I looked at the thumbnails and the third one shows it again. Look at her standing pose in that one.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited December 1969

    Fabia For V4 (Aako)
    Tatiana Hair (3Dream / Mairy)
    Haunted Mansion Poses (DAZ3D / Digiport)

    http://www.daz3d.com/fabia-for-v4
    http://www.daz3d.com/tatiana-hair
    http://www.daz3d.com/haunted-mansion-poses

    Testing various figures as I customize my studio, and also the lightsets so we can see what other hidden gems come with certain figures. Fabia is a nice lightset, but if you want to get a bit more dramatic lighting, lower the main light from the front, and the UE2 light. Increase the light from the side. I also changed them to bluer tones.

    If you haven't got the Haunted Mansion Poses, they come in very handy for getting a variety of poses, including hand up by mouth.
    And as you can see by this one (straight out of the box) some of the hand poses look very graceful.

    FabiaVeTatianaHair3A.jpg
    900 x 873 - 308K
  • MelanieLMelanieL Posts: 7,420
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    Monster Classics- The BeastMan
    http://www.daz3d.com/monster-classics-the-beastman

    Continuing with the sale- The BeastMan is for Genesis and The Freak 5. Below are the original settings, used on Genesis, and with the changed bump/displacement. This is shown without the Look At My Hair. It's really a nice setup- the LAMH are included presets, you click, it loads. If anyone has rendered with the LAMH and good lighting so details can be seen, feel free to share.


    Invited Guest Contributor

    As requested, here's a quick render of Monster Classics - the BeastMan which as it happens I just picked up yesterday evening in the super-stacking-sale.

    The first pair of images show (left) BeastMan with basic hair and (right) with full LAMH preset, with identical pose and lights for comparison. The third is a quick closeup. In each case the lights are one Advanced Ambient and one Advanced Spotlight aimed from above and to his right with fairly soft shadows.

    BeastMan-LAMH-C.jpg
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    BeastMan-LAMH.jpg
    768 x 1024 - 256K
    BeastMan-Base.jpg
    768 x 1024 - 276K
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited April 2014

    What a difference the LAMH makes- a totally different beastie! :) Thanks for showing us. And he looks like quite the happy camper too.

    Here's an overnight render, a closeup of Fabia from a slightly different angle. (LOL- We have beauty and the beast...)

    FabiaVeTatianaHair4.jpg
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    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited April 2014

    Morgan For Victoria 4.2 and Genesis
    Micah Hair ( DAZ 3D / AprilYSH)

    http://www.daz3d.com/morgan-for-victoria-42-and-genesis
    http://www.daz3d.com/micah-hair

    Testing the Fabia lights, I used Morgan from my SeaNautica series. The Micah Hair is REALLY fun for women. I would add a spotlight from the top to bring out the hair.

    MorganMicahHairFabiaLites.png
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    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited December 1969

    Jess For V4 (DAZ 3D ART / Collab)
    Aisha Moon Hair V4 (Magix 101)

    http://www.daz3d.com/jess-for-v4
    http://www.daz3d.com/aisha-moon-hair-v4

    Wanted to see how the Aisha Moon hair rendered- and the render time is actually very nice for what seems like a complicated hair. I like the sheen on the hair, but overall the long ribbon and ornamentation seem flat to me. I expect more depth, particularly when using a combination of UE2, spot, and distant lights. The black lines around the dangly part look particularly questionable to me.

    I wanted to show you Jess because I like the eyebrows. I hate thin eyebrows, perfect eyebrows, really fake looking painted-on eyebrows. Jess has very nice ones!

    Jess.png
    800 x 1247 - 1M
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited April 2014

    LY Montana (Lyoness)
    Radiant Jaguar Hair For Genesis (DAZ 3D / xenic101)

    http://www.daz3d.com/ly-montana
    http://www.daz3d.com/radiant-jaguar-hair-for-genesis

    I really wanted you to see LY Montana, because she can look SO different from the promos. She would actually make a good teen if you thin the lips just slightly. She has that fresh face, youthful appeal! So if you're looking for an older teenager, experiment and see what you think. The hair you choose will make the difference.

    The Radiant Jaguar Hair For Genesis at $2.99 is a good deal, it goes on easily and with smoothing at 18, collision 7, it took out the bends and sharp edges and made it flow nicely at the ends.

    Now here's what I was testing- the lights from Gabriella. This is the GIA lightset by ARTCollaborations, not the V5 version. I would turn the lights down a bit, but again, a great light preset.

    http://www.daz3d.com/gabriella-for-gia

    I've got to stop exploring when customizing my studio. I'm working on the V4 section and it's like Christmas :) But I'm not getting much done!

    EDIT: Also added a render using the Jason lights, with adjustments.

    LyWaverly_JasonLitesRadJaguarHr2.jpg
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    LyMontana_GabriellaLitesRadJaguarHr2.png
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    LyMontana_GabriellaLitesRadJaguarHr.png
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    Post edited by Novica on
  • MelanieLMelanieL Posts: 7,420
    edited December 1969

    I'm really enjoying reading your recent hair reviews. Apart from Micah, I don't think I have any of the ones on this page - I especially like the way your render of the Midsummer Night Dream Hair turned out - I think that's another for my wishlist (I have many of Valea's recent hairs, but hadn't really gone for that one because the horns kind of put me off).

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited December 1969

    Glad you can see them :) And these are out of the box, some of the thinner strands can be widened, particularly on the last one.

    One reject- and I would return it if I could, frankly, but it's over 30 days- the Riva Updo. At SEVEN HOURS it was only 23% done at a shading rate of .35 which is not any different than these others. So I tested with just the character, to ensure it wasn't the gal slowing it down, and she rendered in under 8 minutes. So it's the hair. Anyone else tested Riva Updo?

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited December 1969

    Coming up-
    Do you know your characters? Who has these wonderful makeup options? She's sure to be one of the heroines battling SeaNautica. Such versatility! She has makeup for...

    Tiger (two different ones)
    Snake
    Leopard

    Hint: Think Victoria 4.

  • Richard HaseltineRichard Haseltine Posts: 101,381
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    Riva Updo. At SEVEN HOURS it was only 23% done at a shading rate of .35 which is not any different than these others. So I tested with just the character, to ensure it wasn't the gal slowing it down, and she rendered in under 8 minutes. So it's the hair. Anyone else tested Riva Updo?

    Try Progressive render in Render Settings>Advanced tab. That sometimes helps with demanding mesh or lights, I don't know if it will here.

This discussion has been closed.