Novica & Forum Members Tips & Product Reviews Pt 13

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  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited April 2020

    Oooh, stay safe! Here's some suggestions- (and I'm doing these, so personal experience)
    1. If you have dogs or cats, think about ordering from Chewy.com NOW. They are already backlogged, now it's a 7-10 days for delivery (which means plan ahead and that's reasonable.) But things are already going out of stock and "temporarily out of stock" -BUT similar items are in stock. I couldn't get any of the wet, canned Friskies Shreds for Shadow (the black stray) but they did have the dry Purina Cat Chow. I got the no-rawhide DreamBone and SmartBones (note one is plural, one isn't, and both are one word)  Those are easy to digest and all my dogs love them. Now the DreamBone is out of stock- but grab the SmartBones before they go! (Both are about the same, didn't see a difference actually)

    And ProBios is the good for the gut and the Samoyed breeder has all his dogs on it (the international champions.)  All the dogs like that too. The dog food the breeder uses (and Ci Pwff is on) is Diamond Naturals brand, and I just spotted that Chewy has treats from that company so doing a second order. (Diamond Naturals Adult Bisquits with Peanut Butter, and other flavors like Beef, Chicken, Lamb..) 

    2. I haven't tried Target.com delivery, but Walmart does quite well in getting things to you within a week. Our local newspaper put out a list of the restaurants who are now delivering- and it's a ton of them!  Applebees, Chilis, Outback, etc. Hard to find paper towels? I got these and love them. And yeah, they aren't ultra soft but you COULD use them as toilet paper if it meant avoiding going to the store. Georgia Pacific is a wonderful brand, you'd recognize them from printer paper (Inkjet, etc)  If you look at the category path, you'll see these are janitorial supplies and you can look at the other brands, including Kleenex. Elaine (barn owner) is also using these for the barn bathroom and that's how I got the idea. 

     

    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895

    Here's the Denver Howl. 

  • memcneil70memcneil70 Posts: 4,195

    Last night, as it faded away, a new tenant yelled, "God, I love this city! No where else could you do this."

    The pink moon is setting now over the Rockies and as I walked Bugsy, the birds were leading their own version of a howl, in chirps to the new day and hope for the world.

    Everyone, find peace today, stay safe, and render your hearts out.

    Mary

  • cismiccismic Posts: 629

    Just a new image for one of the new contests. Mainly to list another image I have of Eryn https://www.daz3d.com/eryn-for-genesis-8-female

    Description

    The Merge Of Faith

    The merge of faith and science was always an historical inevitability. What's happening now across the globe is part of that evidence.

    Stopped render at 15 hours. Should have gone more. But, I think image still looks good.

    Made with...

    Eryn H.jpg
    2400 x 3120 - 1M
  • chris-2599934chris-2599934 Posts: 1,824
    Novica said:

    Hard to find paper towels? I got these and love them. And yeah, they aren't ultra soft but you COULD use them as toilet paper if it meant avoiding going to the store.

    You could, in an emergency, but be prepared for plumbing problems if you do it for any lenght of time. Toilet paper is specially designed to break down when soaked in water compared to other tissues, so you could end up with a blockage if you use other things for any prolonged period.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    Novica said:

    Hard to find paper towels? I got these and love them. And yeah, they aren't ultra soft but you COULD use them as toilet paper if it meant avoiding going to the store.

    You could, in an emergency, but be prepared for plumbing problems if you do it for any lenght of time. Toilet paper is specially designed to break down when soaked in water compared to other tissues, so you could end up with a blockage if you use other things for any prolonged period.

    Yep!  Good point. We don't use anything but the Scotts which are designed for faster break down. 

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    cismic said:


    Stopped render at 15 hours. Should have gone more. But, I think image still looks good.

    Made with...

    I like the color of the background and her outfit, also the lightrays (or whatever they are LOL) splaying out in the background. The hanging hair looks really good with the pull of gravity.

  • nonesuch00nonesuch00 Posts: 18,163

    Here they finally got that stuff in stock while I was actually in the store for a change. And the governor (Kentucky) declared that essential stores that were open were only permitted to allow one adult per household into the store. Places around here have been swamped by parents essentially turning the supposed quarantine into extended shopping vacations for families. 

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited April 2020

    Please spread the word to all your FLorida friends. Thousands of vegetables are simply rotting because the farmers normally sell to restaurants and those are closed. You can get FANTASTIC prices and fresh fruit, directly from the Florida growers!  When you click the link on that page, you'll see a list of produce. Use your -----> to scroll to the right in that text box, to see the contact information. There's also a bar at the bottom to slide.

    https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/04/09/updated-list-how-to-buy-straight-from-floridas-farmers-hurt-by-coronavirus-pandemic/

    Post edited by Novica on
  • cismiccismic Posts: 629
    Novica said:
    cismic said:


    Stopped render at 15 hours. Should have gone more. But, I think image still looks good.

    Made with...

    I like the color of the background and her outfit, also the lightrays (or whatever they are LOL) splaying out in the background. The hanging hair looks really good with the pull of gravity.

    Eryn, has very realistic skin and works well for a lot of renders.. I was going for a star burst effect. :-)

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895

    Hey folks, big heads up. If you're in the United States, and are frustrated with trying to use Walmart's pickup service, just keep checking by refreshing the page that shows what slots are available- you know, the one that usually says the two days are not available. If you check right about now (3:45am Central time) you might see a couple slots open up or at least one. I just did it again and sure enough, two slots (9-10am and 10-11am) were available for Monday (three days from now, not bad at all!!!!)  Walmart is limited it to only two days at a time, so they can offer you more things. The more people they let shop and schedule, the fewer items are available.

    So don't get discouraged, just try 3:45am and slots do seem to open up. It worked for my sister over in Jacksonville too. (Was slightly after 4am for her.)  DON'T wait until they open (7am) Logically, it would see slots wouldn't open up until folks picked up their groceries at 8:30am, but apparently Walmart's scheduling program is set for waaaaaay earlier. Hope this helps! 

  • nonesuch00nonesuch00 Posts: 18,163
    Novica said:

    Please spread the word to all your FLorida friends. Thousands of vegetables are simply rotting because the farmers normally sell to restaurants and those are closed. You can get FANTASTIC prices and fresh fruit, directly from the Florida growers!  When you click the link on that page, you'll see a list of produce. Use your -----> to scroll to the right in that text box, to see the contact information. There's also a bar at the bottom to slide.

    https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/04/09/updated-list-how-to-buy-straight-from-floridas-farmers-hurt-by-coronavirus-pandemic/

    Last year I had about 50 lbs of nectarines and 75 lbs of peaches just rot because I didn't spray against Chinese stick bugs (or anything else): this year I'm prepared though, I will be using neem oil and maybe kaolin clay.

  • memcneil70memcneil70 Posts: 4,195

    I put everything on today's offerings on my wishlist, then made my selections. My two choices were the arcade and the Klareyn Bundle but even before I had a chance to do a render, I wanted to highlight the clothing in the bundle. The promo shots were amazing, but what grabbed my attention was the running one and it wasn't until now, I saw that there were running poses included. I don't think I have seen an outfit more suited for children, and adults, that has so many options to change its looks and create so many variations. Amazing. The bundle when I think of it now, gives you a teen girl, a hair, poses, and a very versatile outfit. What an incredible bargin for $24.47 from 3djoji!!

     

  • Robert FreiseRobert Freise Posts: 4,462

    Face masks will be mandatory in my county starting Monday

  • memcneil70memcneil70 Posts: 4,195
    edited April 2020

    So I took the time to render Klareyn, the hair, outfit and the new set that I mentioned above. I am not sure if the set caused her to look so tanned. I tried a variety of HDRIs to shine through the skylights and used Painter's Lights too.I honestly forget the outfit was dForceable and other than pulling the Tee Shirt out a bit from the waistband of the shorts, I just didn't see the need to tear the scene apart to do it.

    And keeping with social distancing, she is jogging before the stores are open for the morning, separated from others. 

    My state allows for exercise and to leave off face masks when jogging, so hers is with her gym bag out of camera range. :-)

    Mary

    Klareyn for Gen 8 F.png
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    Post edited by memcneil70 on
  • I took Paisley for Teen Josie 8 and tried aging her a bit using the Face Young morph set to around -30% and applying a number of other morphs to various parts of the face/head. I also used her base skin, which is probably one of the best, imo. For the lips, I removed the makeup and just decided to use the Diffuse Overlay layer to add the color.

    Paisley skin, Translucency @ 25%
    Paisley morph 100%
     https://www.daz3d.com/paisley-for-teen-josie-8
    Teen Josie 8 morph 50%
     https://www.daz3d.com/teen-josie-8
    Eye color G8Eyes08 from Reese HD for G8F
     https://www.daz3d.com/reese-hd-for-genesis-8-female
    Various other morphs used for the face & body:
     https://www.daz3d.com/genesis-8-female-head-morphs
     https://www.daz3d.com/genesis-8-female-body-morphs
     https://www.daz3d.com/ej-face-morphs-and-details-for-genesis-8-females
     https://www.daz3d.com/ej-body-shape-and-detail-morphs-for-genesis-8-female-s
     https://www.daz3d.com/rarestone-s-face-morphs-collection-for-genesis-8-female
     https://www.daz3d.com/musculature-hd-morphs-for-genesis-8-female
     https://www.daz3d.com/ultimate-natural-bend-morphs-for-genesis-8-female
    Low Pigtail Hair
     https://www.daz3d.com/low-pigtail-hair-for-genesis-3-and-8-females
    Cherry Blossom Top
     https://www.daz3d.com/dforce-cherry-blossom-outfit-for-genesis-8-females
    School Girl Skirt & Stockings
     https://www.daz3d.com/school-girl-costume-set-for-genesis-8-females
    Burlesque Shoes
     https://www.daz3d.com/burlesque-outfit-for-genesis-8-female-s

     

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    PAged-2at84p.png
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  • DaventakiDaventaki Posts: 1,624
    edited April 2020

    Dasan 8 Pro Bundle G8M         Q Suit G8M

    Dasan 8 Pro Bundle- Honestly I loaded the HD version but I can't verify that I rendered that!  I forgot to check it before I closed it out and didn't save it.  His look is good for an older gentleman but I will probably dial spin him most the time.  I like his skin it looks really good to me.  I have not messed with anything else in the bundle beyond the Q Suit.  Honestly if it hadn't been for deals I probably would not have gotten the bundle, there is to much in it I don't really care for. 

    Q Suit-Nice suit!  I know the color choice was probably because of the bundle but goodness!  So I modified it with some Unique Fabric shaders from ArtCollab.  Its got a few morphs to help with the fit.  It also has some on/off buttons, for like sleeves and shirt tail, in the parameters which I loved because I didn't have to go hunt down separate materials or presets in the folders. It is not dforce but it has a drape morph which I did use in this render.  It's also has an open and closed version of the jacket.  Overall I really liked the suit, much better than the bouncer suit in the Dain 8 bundle.

     

     

    Dasan2020.jpg
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    Post edited by Daventaki on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895

    So I took the time to render Klareyn, the hair, outfit and the new set that I mentioned above. I am not sure if the set caused her to look so tanned. I tried a variety of HDRIs to shine through the skylights and used Painter's Lights too.

     

    Mary, I think Painters Lights have quite a bit of "vanilla" and "tan" impact on characters' skin if I recall. I have that set but haven't used it in awhile. I think she's adorable and I like the lights and shadows. The shorts side panels look like they have a decent amount of seam detail too. (And the hem.) 

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895

    I took Paisley for Teen Josie 8 and tried aging her a bit using the Face Young morph set to around -30% and applying a number of other morphs to various parts of the face/head. I also used her base skin, which is probably one of the best, imo. For the lips, I removed the makeup and just decided to use the Diffuse Overlay layer to add the color.

    Very nice. Those lips are definitely attention-getting, particularly with that shade of lipstick. :)  

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited April 2020

    Hikaru and dForce Lingerie (G8F)           Channen Hair  (G3F / G8F)           dForce City Seduction Outfit (G8F) 

    Nan, that neckline is low and widely cut out. If I were to use this for anything, I'd put a bodysuit top under it. The pantsuit legs flow very well, I didn't dForce anything. That hair isn't out of the box, I used ColorWerx on it as there weren't any shades of reddish brown to match her eyebrows. (#84 then in Surfaces used 208 / 155 / 131 for the color.) 

    I like her blush not showing up as much as it seemed to in the promos. She looks more natural.

    Lighting: Sold elsewhere, Paper Tiger Ideal HDRI lights, number 10. Added two Ideal lights (in the set)  

     

     

    Hikaru ChannenHr City Seduction4.png
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    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    Daventaki said:

    That pose makes him look really distinguised- as do those shoes.  You make him look very introspective and totally in charge. :)

    Although I like Dasan, I've decided to stop buying characters for awhile. Even though I got the banner, I've got too much stuff from those categories anyway. So not much incentive to buy, and like you, I think the contents of the bundle were hit and miss. 

    Frankly, I'm focusing on buying some things that I have to have shipped in (Stetson's supplements for example) so am spending my money to get a couple month's worth of things in case shipping gets disrupted. Also still paying on Ci Pwff for the foreseeable future (getting that credit card paid off.)  BTW the little darling is SO happy tonight- it's 56 degrees right now at 5:30am, so he and the other dogs are out frisking around. I bet Stetson will be playful when he gets put out in his pasture too.

    Are the rest of you monitoring those tornadoes, hail, and flooding starting over in Texas then moving east this weekend? Accuweather has a really good podcast showing not to be fooled by the first line of weather firing up, a second line behind it will crop up in western Texas and that's the weather maker. Unfortunately, some folks are going to be in a nighttime event with the tornadoes. Please stay "weather aware."  Pensacola is mostly Sunday afternoon evening/Monday morning. I hope none of this hits makeshift hospitals which are outside. Mississippi is supposed to really get slammed by this weather, as is middle Alabama. I haven't seen anything on outdoor hospitals being set up there.

     

  • nonesuch00nonesuch00 Posts: 18,163

    So I took the time to render Klareyn, the hair, outfit and the new set that I mentioned above. I am not sure if the set caused her to look so tanned. I tried a variety of HDRIs to shine through the skylights and used Painter's Lights too.I honestly forget the outfit was dForceable and other than pulling the Tee Shirt out a bit from the waistband of the shorts, I just didn't see the need to tear the scene apart to do it.

    And keeping with social distancing, she is jogging before the stores are open for the morning, separated from others. 

    My state allows for exercise and to leave off face masks when jogging, so hers is with her gym bag out of camera range. :-)

    Mary

     

    It's not Painter's Lights causing it but high translucency and a darker transluceny texture/color and/or transmitted color. Try lowering the translucency to 50% or lower. Painter's Lights will make characters look paler then the DAZ Studio Default HDR.

  • memcneil70memcneil70 Posts: 4,195

    @Novica and @nonesuch00 

    I worked on her again today, trying some different settings on two HDRIs. Tomorrow I will try your suggestion nonesuch00.

    I am about ready to turn off the computers. Dinner, then bed. Had 3 hours of sleep last night, thanks to neighbors. Party time. And the snow storm comes in during the night.

    Thanks

    Mary

  • nemesis10nemesis10 Posts: 3,443

    I hate the idea of undercutting Daz3d's promotion so I will just note that there is another FaceBook coupon this weekend....

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited April 2020

    Inge HD (G8F)       Candie Hair (G8F)      dForce Chief Officer Outfit (G8F) 

    The nose appears to have a bit more translucency than the rest of her face, with this lighting. 

    Candie Hair allows you to shrink, enlarge, widen, and narrow those two buns, creating whatever look you so desire. And I really like the way the Chief Officer Outfit has such detailed sections (hexagons.)  In postwork, I used dodge on the outfit to get more highlights on the figure in the background.

    TIP: If you own Bokeh Studio HDR you can create so many backgrounds by changing the Dome Orientation and Dome Rotations!   This was (XYZ) 90/60/40 and 270. 

    Inge Candie Hair 4.png
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    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited April 2020

    Hey Stay-At-Home-Folks!

    I've got another fun challenge for you that's easy to do. This is the "TMC" challenge. Two Main Characters, (that means they have numbers after their names) and render them  50/50.  Render both their default materials. The emphasis is on faces.

    I'm doing a simple closeup portrait, with hair. No clothes as it's just a shoulder and up shot.

    I'm doing 50% Eva 8 and 50% Gia 8. So my first 50/50 render will have Eva 8's default materials, and then Gia 8's default materials. Coming soon. Who do you want to do? Let folks know so there's no duplication.  

    Edit- I'm using the Pro Studio HDRI lights, number 6R, with the XYZ Dome Orientation of 70 / 124 / 220 / 270  and the Dome Rotation 270 in case anyone wants a nice portrait light setup.  Mine are 490 x 600 so I can get the face with just a little shoulders, and it renders quickly. On the forums, above 600px in the post, and you have to scroll up and down on many computers. Definitely on mobile devices.

    Post edited by Novica on
  • barbultbarbult Posts: 24,365
    edited April 2020

    I'm going to do Monique 8 and CJ 8.

    Here she is with CJ 8 materials. She is posed and has a smile expression, because I like to see a character's teeth. The hair is Pippa Hair.

    Here she is with Monique 8 materials

    Monique 8 50% CJ 50% Pippa Hair CJ Materials_Camera.jpg
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    Monique 8 50% CJ 50% Pippa Hair Monique Materials_Camera.jpg
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    Post edited by barbult on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited April 2020
    barbult said:

    I'm going to do Monique 8 and CJ 8.

    Ooooh cool combo!  Yeah, mine have smiles too, showing teeth.

    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895
    edited April 2020

    Eva 8       Gia 8      

    Both at 50%. Rendered 80% (still took 13 minutes each.)   These are only 600px so even if you click they don't enlarge. However, it makes it easy for you to click and have in a separate window, and go back and forth to see the difference in default materials. 

    Hmm, Gia's main promo shows much thicker eyebrows. I'm going to see if multiple eyebrow options are available. Otherwise, they should NOT be showing eyebrows which don't come with her.  I DO NOT SEE THOSE THICK EYEBROWS OFFERED. (Double check me.) 

    Eva 8 materials.

     

    Gia 8 materials. 

     

    Eva 8 Gia 8 Eva Mats.png
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    Eva 8 Gia 8 Gia Mats.png
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    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,895

    @barbult  Wow, what a difference those materials make!  Nicely done. 

    Okay, I'm gonna steal your Monique 8 and put her with my Eva 8. Coming up. 

This discussion has been closed.