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NEW! Novica & Invited Guest Contributors Tips & Product Reviews Pt 6

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  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,647
    edited December 1969

    I think 3d delight normal lights don't work so you have to use the ones for Iray. But in my ignorance I booted a regular file loaded and selected iray and hit render. It was something that would render in 5 minutes in the older render engine, but it was about 40 minutes when I went to bed.

    The results were meh.

    It had some problem rendering the rivets on the space suit and left them white and the tummy panel was white.

    I certainly will mess with it again, but these days I only have a few hours in the evening to render, so I'm not going to spend it learning something new... At least until I have more time. =-)

  • KeryaKerya Posts: 10,943
    edited December 1969

    Yes, as far as I read the 3Delight lights are going to be of no use in Iray - like in Luxus or other unbiased renderers.
    As far as I understand Physical Based Renders (PBR) or Unbiased Renderers - image a light source like in our reality (not Reality for LuxRender) the sun - and then a ray of light is coming down, being reflected and refracted from a surface, wandering to the next surface, being reflected and refracted ... and so on.
    This takes time.
    Now image your having more than one/two lights in your scene and the poor render machine trying to do the maths for all those rays - and pity it.
    ;)
    Just joking - but it may explain your render time.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited March 2015

    Well, I'm seeing a trend. Twice they've offered a product for sale, and then made it a freebie the next day if you buy two new releases. So shoppers will possibly procrastinate on buying anything the first day of release to see if it's a freebie the next day. Which may not be a big deal, as if you don't have two new releases you'll probably wait to the second day to see if you want to add anything and up your discount. So what exactly is the marketing team thinking by annoying people?

    Of course, I've learned not to buy anything early in the day as later things pop up in the banners like buy $50 get $10 off, or gift card discounts, etc. So...when do you shop? What advice do you have for the marketing team for DAILY operations?

    Marketing Team- What I'd Like You To Do Differently...
    1. Don't offer a product for sale then make it a freebie with qualifying conditions the next day

    2. Get the rotating banner promotions synced with the New Releases- if you are going to offer a promo, do it when the site changes over. THIS IS MY MAIN "TICKS ME OFF." This also creates more work for the "handle the returns/issuing credit" folks. Everyone who bought something earlier that day should file a support ticket to get the difference from what they overspent that morning because a better deal was offered in the afternoon. (We should caption the tickets- "You Can Thank The Marketing Team...")

    3. Don't post "4 hour Flash Sale" if it's an all-dayer. Put the start and end times.
    (What they HAVE done better: Put cut-off times on sales. It's happened on a few things, I've noticed in the promo rotating banner that I'm seeing more and more of the "Sale ends....blah blah blah" than there used to be. )

    4. Be more specific about rewards. Avoid "buy a new release from these dates and get a discount" type statement was very vague. It ended up being 30% off the first MM order- but if that had been mentioned, there would have been more participants. We are not here to gamble- we're here to give you our money.

    5. Stop doing rewards after the fact, making people VERY aware that they missed out by not shopping- but not having any sense of a timeframe that they NEEDED to shop. This "get an extra 50% off DO's, one day only" for being an early buyer of both bundles- THAT didn't go over well, in case marketing didn't notice. To this day, no one knows what "early buyer" was. Why on earth didn't marketing state "There will be an Early Buyer Reward if both bundles are purchased by X date. Coming soon!"

    6. Treat everyone fairly. Case in point- if you didn't receive the animation questionnaire a few days ago, you didn't get $5 off DO's. (Nope, I didn't get it.) To be fair, ask for volunteers to take the questionnaire, then reward those who respond. That way, people at least have a chance to participate. Or state the first 25 people who volunteer will get blah blah blah. (And if it were me, I'd have two groups, two time periods. One for middle of the night USA/North America time and the other Across The Pond time. That is fair. Which leads me to...)

    7. Make all sales opportunities fair to people in different time zones.

    Did I miss anything for the day to day operations? (Let's not get in to a "like this type of sale vs..." as that's been discussed to death. This is more along the lines of antics they pull DURING or BEFORE a sale or on a DAILY basis.)

    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    An observation- there is an outfit and a texture set for it that are both in the featured stores (50% if buying 2 new releases plus 10% if you own the bundes)

    http://www.daz3d.com/autumn-chill-for-genesis-2-female-s goes to $8.08
    http://www.daz3d.com/coldsnap-for-autumn-chill goes to $4.93

    so both for $13.01. Look at those textures for Coldsnap- how adorable! Owl fans, take note :) I haven't noticed any other material sets that feature owls, penguins, bunnies (although with bones.)

    Imagine what you can do with these, with Kaleidoscope. And that price on Kaleidoscope is insane- really cheap!!!!! OMGosh, is there anyone who is NOT getting that? Look at the thumbnail promos and get it in your cart! :)

    These are both in a featured store you get the additional discounts when buying 2 new releases:
    http://www.daz3d.com/forest-elements (What a forest you could make with 130 props! AND Kaleidoscope!)
    http://www.daz3d.com/nature-broken-trees-pack-1

    http://www.daz3d.com/kaleidoscope

    So what goodies are you folks buying these past few days/week?

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited March 2015

    BE CAREFUL and check your cart before you check out if you are shopping right now- (6:26am Central Time)
    The PC items went full price for two minutes then flashed back to the right pricing. I was logged in, no changes made by me. They just went back to correct price about 45 seconds ago. But if you are in the middle of checking out, before you hit submit order, double check your total!

    Post edited by Novica on
  • TeofaTeofa Posts: 823
    edited December 1969

    Did you check the Freebies? New gowns, outfits, a neat choker. I grabbed 161 bucks worth.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    LOL- only one item showing for me in Freebies. Glad you got a nice haul! :)

  • starionwolfstarionwolf Posts: 3,670
    edited December 1969

    It looks like Daz fixed the store. Take a look at the freebie section again.

  • MelanieLMelanieL Posts: 7,384
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    ...
    Imagine what you can do with these, with Kaleidoscope. And that price on Kaleidoscope is insane- really cheap!!!!! OMGosh, is there anyone who is NOT getting that? Look at the thumbnail promos and get it in your cart! :)

    These are both in a featured store you get the additional discounts when buying 2 new releases:
    http://www.daz3d.com/forest-elements (What a forest you could make with 130 props! AND Kaleidoscope!)
    http://www.daz3d.com/nature-broken-trees-pack-1

    http://www.daz3d.com/kaleidoscope

    So what goodies are you folks buying these past few days/week?


    Thanks for that interesting idea on using Kaleidoscope with the Forest stuff - I'd not thought of that! I love Andrey Pestryakov's Forest sets (I have most of them) EXCEPT that they make my PC grind really slowly - hard to move around the scene - but it may be a nice solution to just try a few of the props and multiply them that way. I'm grabbing Kaleidoscope later today, so by the weekend I may find out :)
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    I'd love to see what people choose to expand with Kaleidoscope. The buildings in the promos are cool, but I think outdoor scenes are going to be just awesome! Hope you have lots of fun with it, would love to see it. I can just see people getting that in the RRRR draw- some funny renders to be sure!

    I finished my files that I started a couple months ago (whew) but now I have to go back and do all the ones that I got since I started, and that means all the MM ones too. Sigh. So Kaleidoscope will have to wait lol.

  • MelanieLMelanieL Posts: 7,384
    edited December 1969

    Yes, the final promo image for Kaleidoscope (the really colourful one) looks just like a Zawarkal RRRR entry to me!

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Add to the list for marketing- CONSISTENCY. Fast Grab changed in one day- but things go for days and days (and over a week at times) but heaven help if you had anything from yesterday in your cart for today.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    So how well do you know the makeups and options for your Genesis 2 gals? I'm getting some fun surprises as I go through and make my catalog. I'm not only doing the main promo image, but putting a few samples of the thumbnails if the makeup is unusual.

    Do you know which gal has an adorable elephant tatoo / unicorn tattoo / mouse tattoo?

    FW Ashley!
    http://www.daz3d.com/fw-ashley

  • Tramp GraphicsTramp Graphics Posts: 2,411
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    So how well do you know the makeups and options for your Genesis 2 gals? I'm getting some fun surprises as I go through and make my catalog. I'm not only doing the main promo image, but putting a few samples of the thumbnails if the makeup is unusual.

    Do you know which gal has an adorable elephant tatoo / unicorn tattoo / mouse tattoo?

    FW Ashley!
    http://www.daz3d.com/fw-ashley

    That Unicorn tattoo looks like one of the My Little Ponies. :lol:
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    That's exactly what I thought! The elephant and mouse are the same style, so I guess we have My Little Elephant and My Little Mouse.

  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,647
    edited December 1969

    I like that tat. Although, not sure about it on such a teen-looking character.

    Nice opportunity to pick up M6 for free. =-)

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    SereneNight said:
    I like that tat. Although, not sure about it on such a teen-looking character.
    Nice opportunity to pick up M6 for free. =-)

    Where the heck are you folks seeing that? I logged out and went to Freebies, don't see it there- is there a popup or something? I already have M6 of course, but I'm curious.

  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,647
    edited March 2015

    It was in the daily news letter, buy 2 items in March madness and mike is free. Make sure he is in the cart though.

    Wow almost didn't recognize you novica!

    Post edited by Serene Night on
  • KeryaKerya Posts: 10,943
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    Add to the list for marketing- CONSISTENCY. Fast Grab changed in one day- but things go for days and days (and over a week at times) but heaven help if you had anything from yesterday in your cart for today.

    LOL - Today it's
    There are no products matching the selection.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Okay, this sale is confusing. New releases are not included, the promo says all artists' stores on sale- but it's only the ones that have been in March Madness so far- or is it ALL?

  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,647
    edited December 1969

    I don't know. I put noggins chicken in my cart and got 50 percent off. Didn't try new items.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Well, the people who haven't used their Lock In 30% discount are making out like bandits. Remind me next year to resist the temptation to use it right away. I could have had more stores to shop from :)

  • FistyFisty Posts: 3,416
    edited December 1969

    Throw things in your cart to see the actual price.. the store is kinda whack right now.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    If you're looking for When Pigs Fly, A Cat, and a Ladybug tatoo, here's your gal. I strongly dislike that it is one body tattoo- I assume that means you can't use only one of them at a time.

    http://www.daz3d.com/fw-monie

  • FistyFisty Posts: 3,416
    edited December 1969

    you can apply the tattoo preset and then use the control-click trick to reset the torso or the arms back to the regular base mat. The arms are torso are the same though so you can have both the arms without the chest and back or the chest and back without the arms that way. To just get one arm or the chest or back by itself you'd need to add a material zone.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited March 2015

    Sci-Fi Circular Skywalk (First Bastion)
    Mystics for Genesis 2 Female(s) (Chevybabe25 / Gypsyangel)
    Galaxy for Genesis 2 Female(s) (Daz Originals / 4Blueyes)
    Fairy Fae Hair (Goldtassel)
    Weekend Wear (Daz Originals / Nikisatez)

    http://www.daz3d.com/sci-fi-circular-skywalk
    http://www.daz3d.com/mystics-for-genesis-2-female-s
    http://www.daz3d.com/galaxy-for-genesis-2-female-s
    http://www.daz3d.com/fairyfae-hair-for-genesis-2-female-s
    http://www.daz3d.com/weekend-wear-for-genesis-2-female-s

    If you want to turn a mini into a shirt, Galaxy is a fun choice. The neckline isn't family friendly so far as cleavage, but the lines of it are really pretty. Weekend Wear leggings do well as the "pants." The shoes are Inferno and there flames have gold tips which go nicely with the gold in Galaxy.

    Sci Fi Circular Skywalk is really fun to play with- a lot of room in the corridor to add people and props. I added a couple dim distant lights but it does well without them too.

    I can't find the links to the Fairy Fae Hair (stupid Daz search box) but it's Goldtassel. EDIT: Thanks Melanie! :)

    mysticCircularSkywalk3.jpg
    833 x 1200 - 603K
    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    And the closeup of her face. Used the Make Her Smile. There are several nice expressions in that one that are subtle.

    mysticCircularSkywalk4.jpg
    833 x 1200 - 629K
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited March 2015

    Hydrangea (-esha-)
    http://www.daz3d.com/hydrangea

    I was curious about the Hydrangea product, because to be honest, my first impression was that they look like fantasy ball plants. Hydrangeas are abundant here in the South and although some of the clusters have a rounder appearance, I was not convinced that predominantly ball shaped clusters exist. The answer is, yes, they certainly do. So I thought I would show you both types- the ruffled, irregular shaped hydrangeas and the rounder balled ones. I personally prefer ruffled hydrangeas (those are more loosely packed, the cluster has irregular edges, there's more greenery poking through) but fans of the ball type hydrangeas will love these plants and there is a lot of nice detail. Kudos!

    This particular product would also be fun for fantasy renders. One thing I noticed, and pointed out below, is the plants definitely go rounder and rounder the farther back you go in the scene. They certainly add pizazz.

    I also don't know if you can Surface >opacity>zero some of the clusters so you get more leaves, but hydrangeas do have a LOT of leaves.
    Anyone who buys this, feel free to share your render.

    CLICK TO ENLARGE. 2000 x 2000 images.

    hydrangeaSummary3.jpg
    2000 x 2000 - 2M
    hydrangeaSummary2.jpg
    2000 x 2000 - 2M
    hydrangeaSummary.jpg
    2000 x 2000 - 2M
    Post edited by Novica on
  • MelanieLMelanieL Posts: 7,384
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    ...

    I can't find the links to the Fairy Fae Hair (stupid Daz search box) but it's Goldtassel.

    Here's the link: http://www.daz3d.com/fairyfae-hair-for-genesis-2-female-s (it's all one word!)

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    :) Thanks Melanie!

This discussion has been closed.