Novica & Invited Guest Contributors Tips & Product Reviews Pt 4
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Invited Guest Contributor
I've been testing out some recent content, and although I don't normally buy a lot of gen 4 content, I though you might enjoy seeing it in case anything tickles your fancy while the prices are very low.
Hair: NoX hair: (On Sale)
DAZ 3D Bice, outoftouch
http://www.daz3d.com/nox-hair
Character:
Zyanya V4 (DAZ 3d) (On Sale
http://www.daz3d.com/zyanya-v4
Clothing
Modern Muse-Modern Muses for Victoria 4.2 Elite / Aiko 4 4Blueyes (On Sale)
http://www.daz3d.com/modern-muses-for-victoria-4-2-elite-aiko-4
Lights used here came with the Medieval Morphing Dress By SHIFTING IMAGES http://www.daz3d.com/medieval-morphing-dress
Very useful, thanks SereneNight. I need to get a move on and buy that V4/M4 stuff that I have shortlisted. I too don't normally bother with generation 4, I came to this when everything was about Genesis so that's where I kept my focus. But some of the things convert over well and I'm sure one of these days I'll get the M4 and V4 clones too. (Also, some things have Genesis fits when you start digging around in the additional info.)
I had my eye on that dress you've featured. The tie front looks nicely detailed and I like the pretty effect on the skirt too. The hair is one I've missed so will definitely go and take a look. Zyanya has a nice warm skin tone and looks like she lights well.
@Novica, Nishta looks ready for action --- I wouldn't have thought of kit-bashing those outfits but you always come up with something ingenious. I find the Pirate outfit very versatile. Hair looks nice and soft so it sounds like smoothing is a must.
@Jindi: Yes. I did too. Genesis was where I started, and in general, gen4 characters aren't my preference but that doesn't in general prevent me from converting their heads and skins to gen2 using genx. =-)
The only thing I'm not keen on is the fit of the skirt's waist but that may be my choice of model I'm curious how it will handle a curvier figure like- Olympia for example.
The dress looks very nice! I bought it too (as part of the Modern Muses Bastienne bundle) but haven't tried it yet. I've had my eye on the Romantica texture set for the dress, and it just got added to the 80% sale! :-)
SereneNight- I actually like the waist because those bands kinda tuck up and over into the inside of it. Really adds to the three dimensional look. Scott-L- I have that texture set but haven't used it yet. It is a pretty color combination.
Does anyone have Urban Gear? I am doing a render (a scene, took me quite awhile to set up) and I just do not like those pants when the legs are spread apart. It seems really stretched and not realistic at all. I changed my character's pose because of it. That scene will be coming up shortly with Jaime, and I'll give you a tip on what rocks from one vendor can be added to the scene of another vendor- and be a great match!
No I didn't like the look of Urban gear so I never picked it up. Do they have any morphs? Can you change the style of the pants to normal, or is just the baggy style?
Invited Guest Contributor
I see I wan't the only one interested in the Modern Muses outfit. I've been wanting it some time but didn't want to buy it because I don't use V4 any more. I bought Romantica a long time ago because I love the textures. Well, for $3+ I couldn't resist. The skirt is just parented to G2F and I used handlesfor adjusting skirt to pose. The Romantica textures are great and lots of them. I love the jewelry too. It's a steal!
Romantica http://www.daz3d.com/romantica
Modern Muses for Victoria 4.2 Elite / Aiko 4 http://www.daz3d.com/modern-muses-for-victoria-4-2-elite-aiko-4
HDR ProSets - Urban Storm http://www.daz3d.com/hdr-prosets-urban-storm
Creature Creator for Genesis 2 Female(s) http://www.daz3d.com/creature-creator-for-genesis-2-female-s
The morphs are just FOUR- left forward, left side, and the right counterparts. (At least that's what shows when Actor>Morphs is selected.
When I broke it down (left thigh) the only option was Twist and Scale. When you go to shin, it's the typical bend, twist, side/side.
So very limited. And none of it changes the crotch. I'm going to post the render without any touchups. It'll be a minute.
Jaime Character and Hair (Valea)
Merlin's Oak, Plants and Props Set (Merlin Studios)
Urban Gear (Les Pardew)
http://www.daz3d.com/jaime-character-and-hair
http://www.daz3d.com/merlin-s-oak-plants-and-props-set
http://www.daz3d.com/urban-gear
Here's Jaime with Urban Gear and Merlin's Oak. LOVE the grass and look how real the dandelion looks. The tree leaves, not so much. They do not have transparency maps so they render faster, but seem a bit crinkly to me. However, this has nice sections of grass and you can choose which flowers to put in there. LOVE the dandelion leaves- so realistic, even up close. This is my new go-to product for sections of grass, you get about three or four choices of what to put with it- different flowers and weeds.
The firepit comes with it, as does the stone wall. The fire is different- has logs stacked vertically to make an inverted V- so keep it in mind if you need some nice height for a fire, like a bon-bon fire. (Is that the right word? Oh well, you get the idea.)
So which rock doesn't come with the set? The one he is sitting on! It matches quite nicely, so take note that you can combine High Cliff Crossing rocks with those in this set. And it's a low polygon count rock, but I think it looks really good! Jaime is also wearing Jaime Hair. (Again, I'll edit and come put the links when I get back.)
What I want you to zoom in and see- look at the band of the pants- weird. And the crotch. This is Urban Gear.
Product Description (Partial) from Merlin:
Merlin's Oak is a 180 degree environment for Poser and DAZ Studio. It comes with panoramic views and three skydomes and lights: Day, night and Sunset.
I like the light sets provided by Merlin. :)
I see Great minds think alike. =-) Thanks for the tips about Romantica. I've wanted the outfit for a while but the price point was too high.
It autofits well with some krinkle in the skirt. but it is nothing I can't live with.
Here is Olympia 6 wearing it. I thought it looked a bit flat in the skirt/hip region on V4.
I'll try these pants out and see if they do that for me. I like the render though except for the distorted crotch texture. Strange.
EDIT: Okay, here is my render. It renders well or at least acceptably in scenes where the character is not sitting or crouching with a wider leg posture. But when you render it with a posture where the legs are apart (like this one) seems like distortion happens. This is rather a problem since the low hanging crotch is sort of the main feature of these pants.
Thanks for doing that SereneNight. It's nice to know it wasn't something I was doing. Guess my characters will be doing a lot of standing or I'll be doing the camera angle from the side, lol!
I really like the grass options in the Merlin's Oak product. The dandelion leaves look absolutely great- even closeup. So if anyone needs quickie grass, keep that product in mind. The large campfire is good too, and the rock wall renders well. I'm going back now and posting the products and links to the title.
Luci- your creature looks very elegant- but I can imagine the looks she'd get going down the street! I got tickled with the sandals, your attention to detail made me chuckle. What self-respecting whatever-she-is would be seen without classy footwear?
You got just the right amount of shadows, looks very real.
Taric (DAZ3D / Silver / Countess
Dark Apocalypse: Shrieker (IgnisSerpentus)
http://www.daz3d.com/taric
http://www.daz3d.com/dark-apocalypse-shrieker
Coming in an hour or two as it is currently rendering- Taric gets surprised by Shrieker. If you have either of these two rendered, now is your chance to strut your stuff. This particular invitation is NOT limited to just the Invited Guest Contributors. If you remember which hair you used, and/or the outfit, also provide that information please.
Invited Guest Contributor
Today I've been raiding Luthbel and Arien's stores in the 80% Sale. I've not downloaded everything yet (not enough broadband allowance left this week) but one thing I've been trying out is Rogue Brotherhood for Jack of Hearts by Arien. I don't have the M4 Jack of Hearts but I do have the Genesis version by Luthbel and had heard that the textures worked for that too - indeed they do. I've shown three of the five texture sets in full and a close-up of part of another.
The character is Ibrahim by Phoenix1966 with hair from Jaime Character and Hair by Valea.
The background is Invetero by Jack Tomalin, lights are an Advanced Ambient and an Advanced Spotlight.
Invited Guest Contributor
Also picked up this week a pair of PC items - Viking for G2M by DAZ3D/Ravenhair and Northmen textures by DAZ3D/Moyra. I really like the textures for this one, they are pretty detailed and great value if you are a PC member.
The character is Taric by DAZ3D/Silver/Countess (I use him a lot these days) with Milen Hair by AprilYSH and the beard from The Spartan for G2M by Mec4D.
I've placed him in one of the scenes from HDR ProSets Yosemite Pack One by DAZ3D/DimensionTheory, which looks suitably Nordic (despite it's US origin). To the included lights I've added an Advanced Spotlight, because it's a bit dark under all those trees.
ETA: I did another with different textures from Northmen - this time I sent him out to sea in the ship from Viking Village Props by Faveral. Advanced Ambient plus Advanced Spotlight this time.
LOL- you "sent him out to sea" eh? You're a very powerful wench! Particularly if that is an ax at his side- don't tick him off!
One question- do you find the hair in the beard a bit thick? Not meaning the beard density, but the individual hairs? The hairs leading up to /including the sideburn areajust seem really large and stiff. Your lighting is really good. Although your characters are relaxed, you just know not to mess with them.
I haven't done any of the Brotherhood series- looks like fun stuff. Ibrahim is a very versatile character- good guy, bad guy.
It's good to see the Jaime hair on these other characters, I really like it. The render coming up is the first one I've used Taric, and he's awesome.
Taric (DAZ3D / Silver / Countess
Dark Apocalypse: Shrieker (IgnisSerpentus)
Night Guard For Genesis 2 Male(s) (DAZ 3D / Ravenhair)
The Old Waterhole (First Bastion)
Center of Gravity Pose Set (DAZ3D / Design Anvil)
Ancient Combat Hair For Genesis 2 Male(s) (DAZ 3D / Neftis3D)
http://www.daz3d.com/taric
http://www.daz3d.com/dark-apocalypse-shrieker
http://www.daz3d.com/night-guard-for-genesis-2-males
http://www.daz3d.com/center-of-gravity-pose-set
http://www.daz3d.com/the-old-waterhole
http://www.daz3d.com/ancient-combat-hair-for-genesis-2-male-s
I tested Taric on the regular Genesis 2 Male, not Gianni, and he looks good. The Night Guard outfit is wonderful, the tunic goes front and back, tweaks the sides, has a sitting morph- really flexible when applying poses. One thing I do not like about it is the fur trim, it didn't look good to me. (Not shown.)
I have rendered the Old Waterhole previously, but this is a larger version and it goes really well with The Shrieker. Nasty looking thing, isn't it?! I did increase the bump on the groundplane/default set as it needed it. The background orange sky is not included. (From the bedouir props and lights product.) IMO this set is not realistic at all, there's too much stretching in the grassy areas and parts of the boulders. I think more of it should be props and not built into the groundplane, then it could be crisper/not stretched.
This is the default lighting with Waterhole, with 18% UE2 lighting included. I did it blue, because the Waterhole lighting is a lot of orange.
This took three hours to render. So much for "an hour or two!" Click to enlarge/click again. Big render.
Closeup of Taric.
My Taric and Melanie's Viking could take that Shrieker, no problem. :)
Wow, I'm away at work, and a doctor's appointment and I come back to see all these nice masculine renders!
@Novica: Like your Taric. He's quite handsome! =-)
@MElanie L. Nice job on your intrepid viking! =-) He's a handsome fella as well, and nice job recoloring your beard! Did you find that tough to do?
SereneNight- thanks! He's "out of the box." I think people could have a lot of fun with Taric. He' "hot" :)
Invited Guest Contributor
Okay, in case you want to see them, here are four test renders from hair I bought in the V4/M4 sale that I’m keeping. My criteria for keeping hair, is whether it renders believably and whether it will fit gen 2.
I thought it might be useful for people to see what items look nice on gen2 from the older content on sale.
The character is Olympia, wearing Domina’s Skin. Outfit is Modern Muse with Romantica (Textures Show above)
Domina Character SHIFTING IMAGE http://www.daz3d.com/domina-character
HAIRS (Top to bottom)
Kleo’s Dreadfalls DAZ 3D/AprilYSH http://www.daz3d.com/kleo-dread-falls
So Trendy Hairstyle DAZ 3D/AprilYSH http://www.daz3d.com/so-trendy-hairstyle
Juni Hair DAZ 3D/Bice/outoftouch http://www.daz3d.com/juni-hair
Niamh Hair DAZ 3D/SWAM http://www.daz3d.com/niamh-hair
Those did really well on the later generation- look like they were made just for Generation 6! Thanks for showing us.
These really are gorgeous renders. I agree, always good to see some men. Ibrahim is one of my own favourites, and Taric could well be joining him if I can get the results you both did.
I also have a thing for AprilYSH hair so these hair previews are very helpful right now! Speaking of which... I know you, SereneNight, and Novica both own the G2F version (a forum search led me to a review here) but if anyone else is interested in April's Wynter hair, take a look at this:
http://www.daz3d.com/wynter-snow-bundle
The Wynter hair alone isn't currently discounted, but buy the bundle and you not only get it half price, but also a Surreality character and an expansion pack for the hair.
Thanks - I think I have that Viking's measure :)
Regarding the beard, yes the hairs are a bit thick - I tried a real closeup and didn't like the result too much, but "distance lends enchantment" as my mother used to say (a lot). I like Taric (in your renders too) and I agree that the Jaime hair is a useful style.
(And sorry it took hours to reply: I've just got into the Forums for the first time today.)
The recolouring was really quite easy - I just set the diffuse colour to something like his hair, I think I may have adjusted the specular too - sorry I'm not on my DS PC at the moment so can't look to check exactly what I did, but I think I only did a couple of tweaks till I was happy.
ETA: And I like your recent hair renders - that's made me go take another look at some of them, which I'd passed by before.
Oooh, cool, MelanieL. Thanks for the nice Rogue Brotherhood for Jack of Hearts renders. Makes me want those now too. I love the Viking Northmen textures too. One of the best PC values ever. Taric looks good too. I haven't used him much yet.
Wow, Novica, that Shrieker is really bizarre. Looks like Taric thinks so too. Hehe. Nice renders.
Jindi, thanks for pointing out the Wynter Snow bundle. I am going to resist because I've spent to much already on the V4-M4 stuff. I love AprilYSH hair too!
Mec4D's wonderful beard for Genesis 1 has kind of thickish hairs also, but it renders fast, so it's a good tradeoff for me. It's FiberMesh and that stuff can be real slow when it's too fine, like some of Neftis' hair.
Thanks Luci :)
Currently rendering another male, wearing jeans with legs slightly apart, to compare them with the other jeans. Plopped him on a well but used Merlin's Oak behind him. Not really trying to do a scene, focusing on the jeans- but this dude is a hunk too :) Will be about half an hour I think, rendering now but slow going.
FW Jason (Fisty / FWArt)
Tristan Hair For Gianni And Genesis 2 Male(s) (DAZ3D / 3DCelebrity)
Fantasy Wishing Well (Dreamcatcher)
Day By Day For Genesis 2 Male(s)(DAZ3D / Mada / Sarsa)
http://www.daz3d.com/fw-jason
http://www.daz3d.com/tristan-hair-for-gianni-and-genesis-2-male
http://www.daz3d.com/fantasy-wishing-well
http://www.daz3d.com/day-by-day-for-genesis-2-male-s
Jason is very ruddy complexioned and needs a bit more light than some of the other characters. I did not lighten the fingernails and I think they need some tweaking- too reddish gray and dark. They could use some blue and white. Did you see that weird ring of light around the left thumb? There is NO postwork on this render- it came in that way. Very strange.
Tristan Hair is quite fun with a lot of morphs to swing the hair forward, backward, increase the length all over, etc.
The Fantasy Wishing Well's two boards make a great sitting area for your characters- not saying it's practical, but dare-devils can plop right down and get comfy. I don't know why a candle is included and I didn't include it as it seems out of place with a well. The wood seems quite nice, would add a bit of bump to the stones of the actual well though.
The jeans are just fine, no crotch "toast" added (which is needed, seems very flat, if I were doing this for a "keepable" render I'd add that) no stretching, and I like the wristwatch and shoes too. It's a really nice outfit, you get it all (shirt, pants, shoes, watch.) It's also a DAZ product so wait for it to go on sale and then use your $6 off.
Happy Father's Day to all the dads and grandpa's- thought I'd render a guy to celebrate. :) Taric now has a buddy who can help him with Shrieker.
I like him a lot Novica. And nice lighting. I think that is your best render yet.
Make sure to check out the Aiko 6 preview in the members forum. =-)