What is the best route to do special effects?

Eric Lagel

I am trying to figure out how to best make a special effect: holding a flame like a magic effect.

If you check the image attached, I have almost everything ready, but I'd like to be able to have a realistic flame effect spawning from the hand.

Would I need to do that in DAZ or in Photoshop? To tell the truth, I am beginner in both, so if you know of any tutorial that would cover this topic, thanks in advance

tsarist

There are a few ways you can go.

If you want to do it in Photoshop, an easy way is to get one of these...
http://www.daz3d.com/magic-effects-brushes-for-photoshop
http://www.daz3d.com/rons-flames
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/spell-master-2-magical-special-effects/98790/
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/fire-flames-for-poser/17954/
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/special-effects-mega-pack/73701/

OR

You can do it in Daz, Carrara, or Poser with one of these...
http://www.daz3d.com/jepes-flamez-ii
http://www.daz3d.com/jepe-s-elementz-ii
http://www.daz3d.com/hero-fx-xtreme
http://www.daz3d.com/fantasy-and-sci-fi-effects
http://www.daz3d.com/shadowcaster-spellribbons

OR
If you want to learn other ways to do it, here is a tutorial...
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/sv-magical-effects-tutorial/91643/ (also comes with some effects)

One of these should get you up and running!

Eric Lagel

Thanks a lot, I already had Ron's brushes, and was trying out some stuff. Great to see that I am in the right direction

Jaderail

Or Smays Render in Effects from Fire and Smoke

And it is really up to you Here are three diff ones each done differently. Top is PS PostWork, Left is Fire smoke small is HeroFX set.

Eric Lagel

Thanks for the advice, I've tried something using Ron's Fire. Not really happy with it but heh, it's a first.

What I see though is that most of the effects meant to be used in DAZ are much less convincing than the brushes from Ron. Am I the only one to think so?:

Eric Lagel

And a probably better version, done AFTER having read the tutorial ;).

Jaderail

I Agree, Post work and brushes do give a better result. But some Contests do not allow post work. That is why I have render in effects in my Content. I used to enter many contests. Not so much any more.

SpottedKitty

eric.lagel said:

What I see though is that most of the effects meant to be used in DAZ are much less convincing than the brushes from Ron. Am I the only one to think so?:

It depends how long you're prepared to fiddle with settings and re-do renders. It's possible to end up with very good effects like you have here entirely in-render, with little or no postwork at all. What it isn't is easy or quick... ;-)

foleypro

I have used Rons Flames in my ParticleFX plugin for DS2/3/4+ and got great results with using Paint Shop Pro to nudge so I could animate the fire...I have it posted on youtube under Brian foley and it shows a quick fire animated...My latest test blow that vid away...In the old forums I posted a few video's that were close to realistic...Animating is the best..

http://youtu.be/M3GNtw4Oxsg