HeadWax, DesertDude, Diomede, thanks for the comments.
Diomede I will see how I am going for time before I decide to rebuild the scene, have a few more ideas that I want to get out first. Definately like your render of the girl with the threat and his gun in shadow !!!!! How's Santa going ?
DesertDude - looking forward to your Lego Noir, looks like a fun scene !!!!
Ooseven - hope you make a nice render to enter.
Vyusur - great renders - the first is my favourite !!!!
@Bunyip02 - You've got too many more ideas to revisit machine gun dude? Excellent. I can't wait to see them. Santa is coming along, thanks for asking I've added the most basic morphs, such as blinking eyes and widening eyes in surprise. I also added a couple blank morph placeholders to use as joint correction morphs.
@UnifiedBrain - Great classic noir comic, but I am going in a different direction.
@shlomi laszlo - fascinating scenes, and always interested to see how people incorporate Howler or other postwork. I've been playing with Howler a little but I'm not comfortable with it yet. Would you mind sharing one of the raw renders so I can see the evolution? Don't worry about it if it would be a hassle.
To spoil my story a little, Santa is not the heavy in, wait for it,...
Noir Pole: Mining the Naughty List
I'm sure that I will adjust the title and composition, but the attached is the concept I have in mind currently. Think of it as a darker Rankin and Bass. I will also have north pole greebles to make it look like Santa's workshop. Including elves may be a bit too ambitious. Happy to receive suggestions, as always.
@shlomi laszlo - very cool renders! Everyone is nailing it with the mysterious mood of the theme.
I broke my model apart last night into parts so I could articulate it and ran into a couple of 'gotchas', so it had to go back into the shop.
The main problem was rotating the arms. I guess because they are at an angle when rotated they went all wonky no matter where I positioned the pivot point. So I had to create some objects which I could rotate to match the angle of the arms, then parent the arms to those objects. I guess I could have used target helpers, but used discs instead (...because it makes me feel better). Now they swing around 360 degrees no problem.
Which leads to a question, but I think already know the answer: Can you rotate a pivot point? I can move it, but I don't see any way to rotate it.
The hands had similar issues, but it was compounded by the wrist not mtaching the shape of the socket at the end of the arm. For some reason last night I was stumped on how to fix it. Bridge tool kept giving bad results, but that's because the number of points didn't match, something I didn't realize until this morning, so I fixed that. It's still not absolutely perfect when rotating 360 degrees, but it doesn't bother me and isn't really noticeable. I'd rather move on than fuss over a millimeter or two (...ah, but it does bother me, sigh).
As an aside regarding the Bridge tool - I discovered last night you can add segments under the Options, along with twisting. Staring me in the face and never noticed it before, lol. Also, bridging between edges works for creating a polygon between edges. I know that seems super obvious but a lightbulb went on in my head when I discovered that. Doh!
Thanks for posting about the bridge tool. I had gotten so used to using the + and - keys that I never paid attention to the properties tray, and so never noticed the options to twist and invert. Having a hard time wrapping my head around using invert, but the twist option could be very useful.
So I dug out one of my books by Christopher Hart. It is focused on Noir comics, and its title is Drawing Crime Noir. Here is an excerpt on shadows.
wow... I go away for a few days and there appears 21/2 pages of awesomeness!
everything from comments on my images which I appreciate very much to awesome workflows and descriptions to end of file errors ( bummer ) and awesome lego noir ( why didn't I think of that!) I love it... to a rogue Santa!
but I do love the workflows of how you all get to that final image... so good..
and I love this one in particular... so raw and descriptive... I just love it to bits I want to print it out and frame it...
you all are doing great work... now for another coffee...
@Selina - great hat. The noir hat world has produced a variety of fedora styles and your hat is a perfect example. I think your style choices are excellent. Amazing as it is.
If you want some options, there are some fedoras that slope back from the front. Bogart generally wears one that way. But a "Truman" fedora has a front that goes almost straight up. Another feature that varies is the degree to which the sides of the top/front of the fedora are pinched in. You mentioned the height of the crown, which also varies, as does whether the top of the crown is sloped. The back edge of the rim is sometimes curled upward. The bow is sometimes tied more narrowly than the band. Sometimes, there is even a feather or other flare tucked in the bow. The color can vary.
Purely in the spirit of offering options, you could lower the height of the crown a little, with a slight slope toward the back of the crown. You could curl the back edge of the rim a little. You could pinch the front a little more. You could narrow the tie of the bow a little relative to the band.
Just to reinforce that there is not just one fedora style, and that my list of options is just that (options), here are some examples.
@Diomede - thanks for the reference on graphic shadows - cool!
@Selina - fantastic hat model and fantastic compostion - I love the camera angle. As a viewer, pondering, is the subject defying gravity strolling across the wall, or is it the floor? Great!
My first simple attempt at a 'gangster' hat - don't know what they're called officially - please critique, ie too tall, rim not bent up enough at back, rim not wide enough, ugly felt shader, whatever - sky's the limit !!!
Selina, terrific hat(s). I hope that you consider becoming a PA down the road. You got the skill.
@Selina - that is one awesome hat, with many great morphs. Could easily be the Zoot Suit hat or the Pimp'n hat. The mannequin test is great. Well done.
@UnifiedBrain - wow - that is a polished WIP. Looks ready for entry.
Here is my last WIP for a while. Just showing the transformation of Don Coyote, Man of Laredo to Don Corleone, Man of Toledo.
I had created Don for the Incompatible Time challenge before Philemo had given us that great hair-to-prop plugin. Don looked like this with his western shirt and blue jeans.
I made some morphs for Don to change his nose and chin to make them less comical (hopefully). I also cut his hair and narrowed his mustache. Finally, I helped him look more fomal with a collar, tie, and overcoat. The collar and tie are designed to be props attached to the bone skeleton, while the overcoat is designed for draping with VWD.
Comments
Bunyip, I forgot to ask. Was the machine gun smoke done in Carrara, or was it postwork? I'm still thinking about Primivol.
You are right, UB, - I am better now. Thank you for the compliment and for your care!
Thank you very much, @Diomede!
HeadWax, DesertDude, Diomede, thanks for the comments.
Diomede I will see how I am going for time before I decide to rebuild the scene, have a few more ideas that I want to get out first. Definately like your render of the girl with the threat and his gun in shadow !!!!! How's Santa going ?
DesertDude - looking forward to your Lego Noir, looks like a fun scene !!!!
Ooseven - hope you make a nice render to enter.
Vyusur - great renders - the first is my favourite !!!!
UB - machine gun smoke was done using Primivol Rising Smoke using settings similar to what Selina (many thank-yous for sharing) showed in her post https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/3624601/#Comment_3624601
i have a scene with 2 cameras
so far i got 2 renders of 1 of them, altering soft shadows ligths intendity and gamma etc.
both got alot of postwork in pd howler
@Bunyip02 - You've got too many more ideas to revisit machine gun dude? Excellent. I can't wait to see them. Santa is coming along, thanks for asking I've added the most basic morphs, such as blinking eyes and widening eyes in surprise. I also added a couple blank morph placeholders to use as joint correction morphs.
@UnifiedBrain - Great classic noir comic, but I am going in a different direction.
@shlomi laszlo - fascinating scenes, and always interested to see how people incorporate Howler or other postwork. I've been playing with Howler a little but I'm not comfortable with it yet. Would you mind sharing one of the raw renders so I can see the evolution? Don't worry about it if it would be a hassle.
To spoil my story a little, Santa is not the heavy in, wait for it,...
Noir Pole: Mining the Naughty List
I'm sure that I will adjust the title and composition, but the attached is the concept I have in mind currently. Think of it as a darker Rankin and Bass. I will also have north pole greebles to make it look like Santa's workshop. Including elves may be a bit too ambitious. Happy to receive suggestions, as always.
as for post work in pd howler:
not in this order
1. bokeh blur (with bloom) with depth pass for alpha
2. noise\jitter then fade last action
value noise then fade last action
then gaussian blur
3. a few copies of the image with diffrent threshold for each
then blend them in with darken or around grey
the original renders
Thank you. Great to see how you put things together.
Just goes to show that people should keep their tommy guns locked up.
@shlomi laszlo - very cool renders! Everyone is nailing it with the mysterious mood of the theme.
I broke my model apart last night into parts so I could articulate it and ran into a couple of 'gotchas', so it had to go back into the shop.
The main problem was rotating the arms. I guess because they are at an angle when rotated they went all wonky no matter where I positioned the pivot point. So I had to create some objects which I could rotate to match the angle of the arms, then parent the arms to those objects. I guess I could have used target helpers, but used discs instead (...because it makes me feel better). Now they swing around 360 degrees no problem.
Which leads to a question, but I think already know the answer: Can you rotate a pivot point? I can move it, but I don't see any way to rotate it.
The hands had similar issues, but it was compounded by the wrist not mtaching the shape of the socket at the end of the arm. For some reason last night I was stumped on how to fix it. Bridge tool kept giving bad results, but that's because the number of points didn't match, something I didn't realize until this morning, so I fixed that. It's still not absolutely perfect when rotating 360 degrees, but it doesn't bother me and isn't really noticeable. I'd rather move on than fuss over a millimeter or two (...ah, but it does bother me, sigh).
As an aside regarding the Bridge tool - I discovered last night you can add segments under the Options, along with twisting. Staring me in the face and never noticed it before, lol. Also, bridging between edges works for creating a polygon between edges. I know that seems super obvious but a lightbulb went on in my head when I discovered that. Doh!
Thanks for posting about the bridge tool. I had gotten so used to using the + and - keys that I never paid attention to the properties tray, and so never noticed the options to twist and invert. Having a hard time wrapping my head around using invert, but the twist option could be very useful.
So I dug out one of my books by Christopher Hart. It is focused on Noir comics, and its title is Drawing Crime Noir. Here is an excerpt on shadows.
wow... I go away for a few days and there appears 21/2 pages of awesomeness!
everything from comments on my images which I appreciate very much to awesome workflows and descriptions to end of file errors ( bummer ) and awesome lego noir ( why didn't I think of that!) I love it... to a rogue Santa!
but I do love the workflows of how you all get to that final image... so good..
and I love this one in particular... so raw and descriptive... I just love it to bits I want to print it out and frame it...
you all are doing great work... now for another coffee...
Bunyip, thank you for your kind words!
.
a nice fedora there Selina
and it's funny before the internet I never thought of them as gangster hats, my father always wore one and women did versions too, it was just a hat.
.
@Selina - great hat. The noir hat world has produced a variety of fedora styles and your hat is a perfect example. I think your style choices are excellent. Amazing as it is.
If you want some options, there are some fedoras that slope back from the front. Bogart generally wears one that way. But a "Truman" fedora has a front that goes almost straight up. Another feature that varies is the degree to which the sides of the top/front of the fedora are pinched in. You mentioned the height of the crown, which also varies, as does whether the top of the crown is sloped. The back edge of the rim is sometimes curled upward. The bow is sometimes tied more narrowly than the band. Sometimes, there is even a feather or other flare tucked in the bow. The color can vary.
Purely in the spirit of offering options, you could lower the height of the crown a little, with a slight slope toward the back of the crown. You could curl the back edge of the rim a little. You could pinch the front a little more. You could narrow the tie of the bow a little relative to the band.
Just to reinforce that there is not just one fedora style, and that my list of options is just that (options), here are some examples.
https://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/product/belfry-bogart.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5v_6lYKU2wIVCtbACh0hQAB7EAQYAiABEgLKCfD_BwE
https://www.villagehatshop.com/hats/Humphrey-Bogart-Fedora
@Stezza - thanks, you made my day.
.
.
@Diomede - thanks for the reference on graphic shadows - cool!
@Selina - fantastic hat model and fantastic compostion - I love the camera angle. As a viewer, pondering, is the subject defying gravity strolling across the wall, or is it the floor? Great!
.
Thanks! Still considering it.
Looking good, Shlomi!
Diomede, thanks for the drawing (much clearer now) and the shadow tips.
Selina, terrific hat(s). I hope that you consider becoming a PA down the road. You got the skill.
The Lookout
Big doin's at Rick's tonight. A meeting of the bosses.
Rendered in Carrara with no postwork (except sig).
@Selina - that is one awesome hat, with many great morphs. Could easily be the Zoot Suit hat or the Pimp'n hat. The mannequin test is great. Well done.
@UnifiedBrain - wow - that is a polished WIP. Looks ready for entry.
Here is my last WIP for a while. Just showing the transformation of Don Coyote, Man of Laredo to Don Corleone, Man of Toledo.
I had created Don for the Incompatible Time challenge before Philemo had given us that great hair-to-prop plugin. Don looked like this with his western shirt and blue jeans.
I made some morphs for Don to change his nose and chin to make them less comical (hopefully). I also cut his hair and narrowed his mustache. Finally, I helped him look more fomal with a collar, tie, and overcoat. The collar and tie are designed to be props attached to the bone skeleton, while the overcoat is designed for draping with VWD.
@Selina you can never have too many hats
and yours looks great
inspired me to model one for my next image....
used G2 with dwarf morphs, modeled hat and used gel lights.. post in PSE
Nice hat(s), Selina, very well done! I like the soft shadows as well.
Today I took some photos of my own hat that I wear in summertime.
.
practicing on the radish. jellin
quickie from me, will visit tomorrow and comment
beaut to see al the modelling going on - lovely Radish Mistara :)
just a few shots of one scene - interesting when you are doing a narrative to break up angles
the big news Sand Filter won't work in my car 8.5 just 8.1
the sand in these is done in post
fill a layer with grey uses parameter overlay then add noise -
erase bits as necessary
primoval smoke, gives weird effect when hitting transmaps? ?? eg eyelashes and hair
lighting is in the main three spots all with cone effetct reversed
the cig smoke is from a plane with a smoke png textured to it
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wow from Don Coyote, Man of Laredo to Don Corleone, Man of Toledo, fedora hats and jackets with a twist of raddish!
you Carrara'ists are awesome
looking forward to seeing the end results
Headwax.... I'll try the sand filter on my 8.5 , haven't used it yet.. they are some great noirs happening... not for the guy in the chair though!
did I say I love raddish....