December 2024 - Daz 3D New User Challenge - Open Render Challenge
Scott Livingston
Posts: 4,344
New User's Challenge - December 2024
Sponsored by DAZ 3D
Are you new to the 3D World? Are you at the beginning stages of learning 3D rendering? Have you been around for a little bit but feel you could benefit from some feedback or instruction? Have you been around a while and would like to help other members start their creative journey? Well then, come and join the fun as we host our newest render challenge!
This year, we are breaking down each month into 2 different challenges. A Beginner Challenge and then also an Intermediate Challenge.
So which "Challenge" should you choose?
Follow the Beginner Challenge if you are:
- New to the New User Challenges
- New to Daz Studio
- Newer to 3D Rendering in General
Follow the Intermediate Challenge if you have:
- Participated in the New User Challenge for awhile
- Know the basics of Daz Studio and would like to learn more in-depth topics
- Been using 3D Rendering Applications for a while and feel comfortable with learning Intermediate Topics
The Open Render Challenge is also referred to as a "free" month, where you can concentrate on using and combining the skills you learned in the past few challenges. Please be sure to mention in which Open Render Challenge (Beginner or Intermediate) you wish to enter into when you add your image to the thread.
Optional: in keeping with the "free" theme, you are encouraged to highlight a free product (either something you obtained for free here at Daz, or a freebie from another source) in your renders. This invitation is just for fun and intended to stimulate creativity. Use of a freebie in your renders won't have any bearing on the judging.
If you would like to review the previous topics and information you can find the topics/threads here:
Beginner/Intermediate: Composition and Instancing, & Duplication
Beginner/Intermediate: Lighting and Light Effects
Beginner/Intermediate: Posing and Puppeteer/PowerPose
Beginner/Intermediate: Using Props and Push Modifiers/Deformers
Beginner/Intermediate: Scenes, Landscapes, and Working Modularly
Beginner/Intermediate: Portrait Rendering and LIE
Beginner/Intermediate: Depth of Field and Canvases
Beginner/Intermediate: Atmosphere and Ghosts & Special Effects
Beginner/Intermediate: Materials and Next Level Kitbashing
I will be checking in as will the rest of the Community Volunteers to try and help with anything you all may need.
For a list of the current challenge rules, please see this thread: Challenge Rules
Closing Date: December 31st, 2024
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Comments
Here's my start. The set is pre-Iray so I've done some texture work to start things off.
Already have my second version here.
I missed one of the walls in my first pass of IRay conversion so I got that taken care of, and added a main character along with an enemy outside the door (I'm thinking a Supermutant like in Fallout), but can't decide if I should stick with the original view from the first version, or with the more zoomed in version. The zoomed in one lets us better see the main, but the original view gives more room for adding details to the scene and maybe another supermutant or two with the one that's there. For now I think I'll do both and see what I like better as they go.
intermediate entry (credit rewards can be passed down to the next in line if i place please. i just like the critiqueing, and recognition for my work in these. i'm more here to just try and learn to get better.)
changed some textures on some of the clothing
created my own poses for Santa and Mrs. Claus. (the reindeer poses were from pose packs.)
i didn't get the reigns and harnesses for the reindeer yet, so i felt the need to try and learn some editing with some of these brushes i have. and just try something i don't do anymore, and haven't in a long time... draw. sadly, if i could still draw. i prolly wouldn't be making art with and limited by daz. i'd also be back working in a tattoo shop doing what i truely love doing. so please forgive the lack of being good editing. also i only have a mouse to draw with. i just wanted to try and see if i can figure out how and what i can use some of the brushes i have in coral paint for, to improve my daz art. so this is kind of experimenting for me and what i am capable of doing with painter programs anymore.
Santa's Sleigh Ride (new user December challenge entry) | Daz 3D
now, i prolly won't redo this one being it took me a long time erasing to make this very amiture looking reigns, and harnesses lol. unless i end up buying the reigns and harness set that were made for the deer. which might be likely to happen. just, can't afford to purchase anything atm. my wife and i spent way more then we should have this past week. but, daz sure does know how to reel you in with some of them sales lol.
but because of that, i'll name off a few things i can see being mentioned, that i am aware of. bad lighting in the front, could be much brighter. and i would fix that by adding another ghost light prop to the far front to go with the three i have starting near and over the sleigh, and the first sets of reindeer. or slide the closest one forward more and maybe increase the lumans maybe another 300.
i'm sure i'll add more entries to this that i'll be more willing to redo or edit or something. i really try to not edit because of my shaky hands. but, this one really needed the reigns, and i never added them to the cart when i was purchasing stuff :0(. and i'm really wanting to make some christmas art now that i'm getting more holiday and christmas winter themed stuff lol.
Good start, folks. Shinji, I personally prefer the zoomed in version. It gives more scope to add definition to the main character for me. Brian&Alicia. I really love the colour scheme of this and the slightly eerie lighting. Remarkably good job on the reins - all things considered. One question. Are the reindeer running along the glowing pathway? If so, a couple are sinking a little much into it.
Agreed about the closer view, so went with it for version c.
Added some bones to the floor, and adjusted the main character because his right heel was cliping into the wall and his soles were cliping into the floor. He also has some expresian applied to show how he feels about the situation.
Like the extra debris and expression, Shinji. I see what you mean about the clipping. What about lowering his knee slightly, so that it touches the floor? It would seem to be slightly more comfortable for him.
I have not done any renders for a long time (work, study all the good stuff) but I do follow along when I have the time. One thing I struggle with is canvas something a little more in depth mite be good.
I have titled this Yuck. Yeah she had to wait a few more years for that first kiss. LoL!
Intermediate Challenge.
Yuck
Sorry I am a bit late ..though I have not participated in a Lot of challenges I have been using Daz A bit and for over a year so I would think maybe Intermediate Challenge. This particular piece is a first render..on this project. I had other works I needed to complete for other projects so I figured perhaps see what anyone thinks and use the open render challenge so when I go back into working this out I'd have ideas whether I was on the right track or there were some flaws i should take into considerration. I know right away the volumetrics used are backlighting and I need to throw some front lighting in to lighten up the subjects a bit more which will be the next Render. I guess we shall call this Image "Battle 01"
Sinji I agree Alias52 the closer version is my favorite. Brian and Alicia Love it...the only thing I can say i'd change if it were me is the moon..i find it distracting ( as in my eye gets pulled to that versus the main subject or theme) and it seems more the color of a sun versus a moon. Bastian this is actually a neat little expessional scene it makes me stop and wonder what's going on in the subjects heads. In that moment when I stop to think you have caught my attention which is a powerful thing. If i were to do anything to this work it would simply be more colorful lighting which can probably be easier achieved by post processing. However if you wanted to do it using the scene itself perhaps increasing the enviromental intensity or using some emission lighting like a Plane or a light set up. Otherwise I love the fact you made me stop and wonder to me that's gold! Love the Submissions gang keep up the great work!
Good stuff, everyone! A couple more days to go, so get those final renders posted!
Been away over Christmas. Had a few ideas but a cancelled flight probably puts paid to it! However, some good efforts again. Hellkitty, I love the character poses and emotions in this. A great job with the whole render. One thing I would possibly look towards separating from the background is the fireball the mage is firing. It just feels too similar to the background for me and I might think about defining it slightly better. I might even have been tempted to have a hue similar to the blue on the other character. It may look terrible, but it struck me that she was the only cooler colour in your render.
Some Really Good Points Alias52 Thank You
Here is the image I have been working on, I have not been able to ask for opinions during the month, I have been working on the parts of the image, the models, difficulties with some models to smooth edges and apply subdivision, the clothes, the texture, the materials, the light that disorients me a little in some parts, the position of the camera and it is already the deadline, when I try to fine-tune everything together. After doubts on all the factors this is the result, a conglomerate of multiple lighting renderings composed of layers and depth, feel free to give some opinion if you want on any of the topics, greetings and good luck.
Intermediate Challenge
Title - Nearby places and sighted places
Software - DAZ 4.23 and Photoshop
Good work and Happy New Year, everyone!
The challenge is now closed.
Showcase for the New User Open Render Challenge - December 2024
@iaunpom - Nearby places and sighted places
@Hellkitty742 - Battle 01
@Brian&Alicia - Santa's Sleigh Ride
Congratulations to all who participated for a job well done! Looking forward to seeing more amazing renders in the new year!
Nice Work All!
Happy New Year, everyone!