December 2015 New User Contest - Free Render Month (WIP Thread)

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Comments

  • LinwellyLinwelly Posts: 5,944
    isidorn said:

    I like the changes to the sitting guy's clothes, even though they maybe became a bit too dark? And in contrast, the knee pads became very shiny and I think that became rather distracting.

    But on the whole, I think you got an interesting, atmospheric image going here and it makes me wonder what kind of mission they are on and what the story behind it could be. Images that sets the viewer's mind in motion is always a good image. Though I still do prefer the lone guy version. wink

     

    Looks like I'm going to be iraying some more tonight.

    Here's my new version, with more work done on the sitter.

    hi Shinji, this looks really good, I prefer him without the shiny kneepads, I'm still not sure whiat you want to tell with the guy in the back, right now he looks a little liek he's about to stap sitting man in the back but for that his concentration is going the other direction.  What I keep stumpling about is the shiny new wooden floor. That looks to perfect for an abandoned place with broken in wall, can you add some grunge to that?

  • LinwellyLinwelly Posts: 5,944

    So, I rendered out my scene without the snow.  I didn't render it fully but I did give it a couple of hours so it is a pretty decent render.  Then I took it into Gimp and played with Ron's snow and frost brushes from his Winter bundle.  I may have gone a tad overboard on the snow, but at least now I know I like the postwork version of the snow better and I think I can do okay with it.  I added some icicles and frost on the window and support posts for the cabin porch.  Now I just have to make some minor adjustments and get a view that I like and render it out fully.  Then I will take that back into Gimp and add some snow, not quite as much this time, and see how it looks.  I'm still struggling with the spots of the fog that don't quite look like snow.  I'll see if I can figure out how to fix those areas.  But it is looking fairly good.

    Ati - The trees are from Winterland by Alessandro_AM.  They are straight out of the box.  The only thing I did was hit is with the Iray Uber Shader so that it would render in Iray and I didn't have to play with any of the textures in the trees at all.

    Edit: forgot to add that I'm still planning on adding an animal or two now that I have most of the logistics of the main components worked out.

    This has become a wonderul render, I really like the window and the icicles hanging and the snow works much better like this. Some nitpicking: I probably would turn back tha house jut a bit so we can see soemthing of the entrance and even though I have seen a sky like that and snow coming I would problably make it a tad more gray or the snow a bit less.

  • ebonartgalleryebonartgallery Posts: 252
    edited December 2015

    "The Lure"

    After all, all elves are friendly, right? Right?

     

    I actually tried to do this one with trees and such, the girl being led into a dark snowy forest, where wolves waited. However, the trees from Winter Wonder defeated my poor PC; whenever they were added, things slowed to such a crawl that I could do nothing. At least it saved me buying Wolf 2, for now. Also, I had no idea how to depict footprints left in snow.

    The summer dress she has on is suppossed to be there, but I wish it was a hospital gown, or some other set of normally thin clothing you'd never normally leave the house with. There is, I think, one set of kids pajamas. Or maybe I could simply re-MAT the dress to look more... pajama-like?

     

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  • ebonartgalleryebonartgallery Posts: 252
    edited December 2015

    I shifted and re-lit the elf figure, here, to try and convey some 'luminous' quality about her. Also changed the girl's dress materials.

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  • AtiAti Posts: 9,130

    Nice one!

    I liked the position of the moon, and the lighting of the elf in the first image. Dress looks better in the second. (Actually, I like the dress in the first image, too, it's just been too much associated with the original promo image for the girl. :) )

  • LinwellyLinwelly Posts: 5,944

    I shifted and re-lit the elf figure, here, to try and convey some 'luminous' quality about her. Also changed the girl's dress materials.

    This is a great idea and I like what you have done with it so far, but there is one thing that's majorly bothering me, but that might be just my overprotective motherly beeing: Why does the elf need to be so sexy? Sure she is about to look beautiful but to a girl that age an elf in a wonderful dress would be far more appealing than the sexy one, just my thoughts ;)

  • Linwelly said:
     

    This is a great idea and I like what you have done with it so far, but there is one thing that's majorly bothering me, but that might be just my overprotective motherly beeing: Why does the elf need to be so sexy? Sure she is about to look beautiful but to a girl that age an elf in a wonderful dress would be far more appealing than the sexy one, just my thoughts ;)

    Not a bad idea at all. I don't think I have anything looking 'royal' or 'enchanting' but I'll see, or try to kitbash something together.

    I mainly went with this to try and convey an otherworldly feeling about her, with the drifting ribbons and such and the idea that she's not concerned about the cold of the mortal world.

  • isidornisidorn Posts: 1,601
    Linwelly said:
     

    This is a great idea and I like what you have done with it so far, but there is one thing that's majorly bothering me, but that might be just my overprotective motherly beeing: Why does the elf need to be so sexy? Sure she is about to look beautiful but to a girl that age an elf in a wonderful dress would be far more appealing than the sexy one, just my thoughts ;)

    Not a bad idea at all. I don't think I have anything looking 'royal' or 'enchanting' but I'll see, or try to kitbash something together.

    I mainly went with this to try and convey an otherworldly feeling about her, with the drifting ribbons and such and the idea that she's not concerned about the cold of the mortal world.

    I personally don't have a problem with the sexy elf, but I do see the point Linwelly makes. Even with a dress on perhaps she can still keep the wrap/ribbons to look a bit more excotic? And with bare arms (depending on if you have a short sleeve dress of course) and bare feet it would still show she's not bothered by the cold.

    Otherwise it's only one thing bothering me, and that's that the elf doesn't look at the girl. I see you've adjusted where she's looking from the first picture but I think it needs some more adjusting.

  • Kismet2012Kismet2012 Posts: 4,252

    Sorry I have been absent lately.  Work was a bit intense the last couple of weeks.

     

    Everyone's renders are looking great.

     

    Ebonartgallery there are some really good freebie items that might work if you do not want to purchase a dress.  Wilmap has a nightgown for G2F that might work.  Or these:   Genesis Nightdress, Genesis Victorian Nightdress, Genesis Pyjamas

     

    This might work for your Elf?  G2F Folded Skirt Dress if it was retextured?

     

    You will need to register on Wilmaps site.

     

  • Sorry I have been absent lately.  Work was a bit intense the last couple of weeks.

     

    Everyone's renders are looking great.

     

    Ebonartgallery there are some really good freebie items that might work if you do not want to purchase a dress.  Wilmap has a nightgown for G2F that might work.  Or these:   Genesis Nightdress, Genesis Victorian Nightdress, Genesis Pyjamas

     

    This might work for your Elf?  G2F Folded Skirt Dress if it was retextured?

     

    You will need to register on Wilmaps site.

     

    Oh, wow, thank you!

  • LinwellyLinwelly Posts: 5,944

    Sorry I have been absent lately.  Work was a bit intense the last couple of weeks.

     

    Everyone's renders are looking great.

     

    Ebonartgallery there are some really good freebie items that might work if you do not want to purchase a dress.  Wilmap has a nightgown for G2F that might work.  Or these:   Genesis Nightdress, Genesis Victorian Nightdress, Genesis Pyjamas

     

    This might work for your Elf?  G2F Folded Skirt Dress if it was retextured?

     

    You will need to register on Wilmaps site.

     

    Oh, wow, thank you!

    there is as well a  of the very nice dress as a freeby for g2f in the first issue f the DSCreative: http://issuu.com/philatdsc/docs/ds_creative_01 and some more textures as well in a later issue

  • I've tried making the "blues", especially the sky, more subtle, and also done a version with some added falling snow. I'd appreciate any thoughts about which version is better. Thanks. 

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  • Kismet2012Kismet2012 Posts: 4,252

    The colour palette is very nice.  You achieved those soft colours.  My eyes are drawn straight to your figures on the bench. 

     

    I personally like the one with the falling snow. 

  • LinwellyLinwelly Posts: 5,944
    Stargazey said:

    I've tried making the "blues", especially the sky, more subtle, and also done a version with some added falling snow. I'd appreciate any thoughts about which version is better. Thanks. 

    I agree with Kismet, the softer colours and the falling snow is better

  • AtiAti Posts: 9,130

    Third vote for the second picture. :) The colors look better in that one, I think.

  • I vote for the one with the snow.  I like the color get muted a little.

  • Hi all... had my share of computer issues the last couple of weeks so have only just got back to this now.... there are some great renders coming along.

    Knittingmommy, that cottage scene is looking great... like something out of a storybook :)

    Stargazey, that change in colour makes quite a difference. I agree with the others that the second one is better.

    I've been doing some postwork in photoshop on my rainy street scene and have opened a whole new can of worms. I did a bit of work trying to get the rain in and was quite happy with it (the warmer looking one) then I started playing with some filters and got the bluer looking one which I really like also... so now can't decide which one to enter :|

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  • Kismet2012Kismet2012 Posts: 4,252

    Everyone should remember that as the artist the final decision is yours.

     

    My personal opinion on your imagesTreeDee is that I prefer the first image.  It has a much warmer, richer feel to it than the image that is dominated by the blues.

     

    If you want an image with a cold, rainy day feel then go for the one on the right with the dominant blue tones.

     

     

  • SaphirewildSaphirewild Posts: 6,668

    I certainly vote for the one with the snow as well and the softer colors are better

  • AtiAti Posts: 9,130

    TreeDee: the blue image reminds me of a painting.

  • isidornisidorn Posts: 1,601
    Stargazey said:

    I've tried making the "blues", especially the sky, more subtle, and also done a version with some added falling snow. I'd appreciate any thoughts about which version is better. Thanks. 

    Just as the others, I also like the one with the falling snow better. Well done!

     

    TreeDee said:

    I've been doing some postwork in photoshop on my rainy street scene and have opened a whole new can of worms. I did a bit of work trying to get the rain in and was quite happy with it (the warmer looking one) then I started playing with some filters and got the bluer looking one which I really like also... so now can't decide which one to enter :|

    Both look great. Well done! The warm one naturally looks warmer and is perhaps more pleasing to look at because of that. Who doesn't like to have it warm and cozy? But for this scene I think the colder works better. People are covering under their umbrellas and seeking protection from the rain. The cold colour set helps to sell that the rain isn't pleasant. Had it been a "singing in the rain" kind of scene, where people are enjoying themselves in the rain the warm colours had worked better.

    If you don't plan on doing any other entries this month you can always submit both to the entry thread, as we're allowed two entries.

  • ScavengerScavenger Posts: 2,664

    I've decided, rather late in the game, to try one for this month.

    I'm zeroing in on the finish line, but I figured I'd see for any comments.... My big struggle is getting the snowman to not quite go all white out..

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  • ScavengerScavenger Posts: 2,664
    TreeDee said:
    I've been doing some postwork in photoshop on my rainy street scene and have opened a whole new can of worms. I did a bit of work trying to get the rain in and was quite happy with it (the warmer looking one) then I started playing with some filters and got the bluer looking one which I really like also... so now can't decide which one to enter :|

    To me, the blue one feels more "winter rain" while the other is more "Dark and stormy night, a shot rang out."

  • SaphirewildSaphirewild Posts: 6,668
    Scavenger said:

    I've decided, rather late in the game, to try one for this month.

    I'm zeroing in on the finish line, but I figured I'd see for any comments.... My big struggle is getting the snowman to not quite go all white out..

    You could solve the white out by taking it into a paint program whatever one you use (Photoshop, PSP9 etc....) and use a paint brush to outline the snowman with a lightish dark color like maybe dark grey or even a light grey.

  • Thanks Kismet, Ati, Isidorn and Scavenger... it's amazing how a different lighting can change the atmosphere soo much.

    Ati, I agree, I think that's why I like it, it reminds me of a painting that used to hang in my grandmothers house.

    Isidorn... Brilliant idea :) I forgot about the 2 entry rule. Makes the decision easy for me then :)

  • isidornisidorn Posts: 1,601
    Scavenger said:

    I've decided, rather late in the game, to try one for this month.

    I'm zeroing in on the finish line, but I figured I'd see for any comments.... My big struggle is getting the snowman to not quite go all white out..

    You are still ahead of me. I started on my entry maybe 2 weeks ago but ran out of inspiration as I really hate winter...

    Anyway, it looks to me like you have too much light. Not only the snowman but also the snow pile up to the window is very brightly white. Try playing with the lights or why not the light sensitivity settings for your camera or in the render settings. (I'm a complete noob at that so hopefully someone else can give advice there)

    I was going to say that the falling snow looks good, and it does, but when I looked a little closer on it it becomes clear that most of it seems to be too large and almost looks like white confetti rather than snow. It's especially noticeable in front of and to the right of the snowman's hat. I don't know what you use for the snow, but perhaps it can be shrunken down in size?

  • ScavengerScavenger Posts: 2,664
    edited December 2015

    Yeah..I've been thinking the snow was too big, but I've been staring at it for a while..  It's a simple plane with a snow on it, so chaning size is easy.

    The light I have is just the straight default iRay sky...I thought it worked well for the outside scene when I got it set up...have to see what I can do with it then...

    ---------

    edit: Changing the Envriro Intensity to 1 from 2 and that seems to have made it better, and reduced the snow size.

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    Post edited by Scavenger on
  • isidornisidorn Posts: 1,601

    That made a huge difference, and for the better! Now the light looks really approriate for a snowy day.

  • Kismet2012Kismet2012 Posts: 4,252
    isidorn said:

    That made a huge difference, and for the better! Now the light looks really approriate for a snowy day.

    I agree.  That did make a big difference. 

     

    The only suggestion I have is to "dirty up" the snowman a little if you can.  Perhaps add some leaves, twigs or add a geometry shell to rough up or slightly darken the surface.  It might help bring out the details of the snowman.

     

  • LinwellyLinwelly Posts: 5,944
    Scavenger said:

    Yeah..I've been thinking the snow was too big, but I've been staring at it for a while..  It's a simple plane with a snow on it, so chaning size is easy.

    The light I have is just the straight default iRay sky...I thought it worked well for the outside scene when I got it set up...have to see what I can do with it then...

    ---------

    edit: Changing the Envriro Intensity to 1 from 2 and that seems to have made it better, and reduced the snow size.

    Much better with the lights like this. Some thoughts about the dogs position: When I see dogs jumping up to someone or something they are usually rather close so I suggest moving the dog closer to the snowman andhen shifting the camera position so that both the girl looking out of the window and the dog come back to sweet spots, probably diagonal from each other.

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