Beyond the first plan...

n.drju_6d88cb4c15

 

Hello everyone,

 

Long time user, first time commenter. :) I've started playing with DAZ some years ago, because I needed human models in my other software. :) However, I'd like to get a litle bit more deeper into DAZ now.

I find it quite troubling that DAZ Studio id devoid of any terrain-forming capabilities or vegetation / weather systems. While we're at it, I'd like to ask you - how are you creating:

- Backdrops

- Skydomes

- Area / terrain surrounding your characters (some renders feature quite complex environments including terrain and grass around the main scene)

So, do you use external programs to create backgrounds (like I do), some store items, stock images? Any help will be much appreciated. :)

 

Thank you!

Andrzej

IceDragonArt

Well, take this with a grain of salt because I am still very new, but I believe all of the backgrounds etc are created outside of Daz studio and importen as a prop, background or whatever.  There are certain simple things that can be made in Daz but I believe the more complicated stuff has to be made in a program like blender, vue or zbrush, things of that nature.

Richard Haseltine

There is this http://www.daz3d.com/infinito-1-0 , as well as various pre-made sets

sriesch

I also wish DS had this built in, but it does not.  I'd like to see more of people's results with Infinito, which I don't have yet.

I've used skydomes that are commercial products.  You can also use the Bryce 7 Pro Spherical Mapper to render a Bryce scene as an image that you can directly apply to a sphere/skydome in DAZ Studio. 

For terrains you can export a Bryce terrain and import it into DAZ Studio (don't use default settings), although the material doesn't translate the same you could perhaps create your own or decide if the changes are still good enough for what you need.

For plants I just use existing plant products, of which there are many.

Cris Palomino

I don't quite understand why you find it troubling since DS has always been a way to use and render content, not a means for creating it.  I'd say more than the lion's share of content is created outside of DS and, personally, I think that's the way it should be.  I'd rather not clutter DS with modeling or other tools.  Just my opinion, of course.

TangoAlpha

Have a look at Carrara or Bryce for terrain, plant etc creation, modelling and so on. DS itself is really just a posing/rendering/animating system for pre-made content (which it does very well, but it isn't designed for modelling).

n.drju_6d88cb4c15

Hi,

     Thanks for all the responses. :) I like the solution with Infinito, but I agree with Sonja and others that most of the background is always done in external programs. In fact, I've been doing that already! I just wanted to know if you have any other interesting methods when it comes to background work. Anyway, thank you for your help!

     In my case I use Terragen software. I find it very versatile when it comes to creating landscapes and outdoor scenes. DS renders blend well with those from TG.

Cheers!

A.

Novica

When you say backgrounds, you do know about using backdrops? (images can be put on a "plane" in the background.) It's at the top, Windows>Pane (Tab)>Environment

n.drju_6d88cb4c15

Yes, I know. However, backdrops offer little or no oportunities (at least for me) in terms of the second plan and/or background. I think it is a good idea to stick to external programs, though I might try that "Infinito" product.

JimmyC_2009

n.drju_6d88cb4c15 said:

Yes, I know. However, backdrops offer little or no oportunities (at least for me) in terms of the second plan and/or background. I think it is a good idea to stick to external programs, though I might try that "Infinito" product.

There are also free HDRI images that can be downloaded on the web, and these are excellent for use in Iray particularly.

There are some here for example : http://noemotionhdrs.net/

n.drju_6d88cb4c15

These are some great images. I agree. 

I read somewhere that with the use of these you can perform automatic image-based lighting in Iray.

In general, my aim was to discuss normal background and nearest surrounding terrain solutions that do not have any "magical" capabilities.  Still, it's a valuable source that you've shared with us!

Novica

n.drju_6d88cb4c15 said:

Yes, I know. However, backdrops offer little or no oportunities (at least for me) in terms of the second plan and/or background. I think it is a good idea to stick to external programs, though I might try that "Infinito" product.

Agree. We are discussing Infinito and showing our experiments with it over in the Art Studio forum. Take a peek as Fishtales and RGcincy are sharing what they know and are very helpful.