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Said pretty much the same and did pretty much the same lol. I feel like my head is going to explode lol. And I am going to have to read that brick textureing explanation more than once or twice. Hoping to have time to actually follow it step by step this weekend.
@DestinysGarden said:
It is either under Shaders, or Shader Presets. Make sure you have the Daz Studio default lights and shaders installed too. It is a seprate download from the Daz Studio download.
Ok. I found it...(in smart content by the way)...when I just clicked on the iray parent folder, (which I guess shows everything), it was the first one listed. I don't have those folders that you show Destiny, unless they are in the content library.
I swear I used to have folder under iray called other and it was in there. (I saw that in a SickleYield lighting video.) I wonder if it got removed when Tech Support had me uninstall and then reinstall Daz Studio. (I was getting a crash when I deleted a null. Turns out it was a conflict between a product I was using and Reality.) Tech Support never said I needed to reinstall anything but Daz Studio. I looked in the DIM, but I didn't find the Daz Studio Lights and Shaders. Maybe I have them installed. I do have those car paint, etc.
Anyway, thanks.
You can save it as a script to the top bar and have easy access. Right click on the picture Icon and you should see an option that will save it to the script bar at the top. Then you don't have to hunt it down. I would screen shot but I'm on my laptop and its in the middle of a render. the laptop takes a lot longer than the pc to render lol.
I'm with Sonja, I may have to reread all of DG's posts with the bricks more than once. You packed a lot of information in a short amount of space!
One note, for those who find a texture in FF with the grayed out maps, I know Gimp has a plugin that makes all of the maps, normal, bump, diffuse, etc. I've rendered out a the texture in FF then taken it into Gimp and done all of the other maps and it does it pretty well. I'm sure there must be something similar that allow other 2D programs to do that as well. I don't know if there is a way to actually modify a filter to add lighting which is what is missing from the textures that are grayed out. I'm still trying to figure out how to actually make a filter with FF and I haven't gotten there yet. At this point, I don't know why one filter has lighting and another might not. I just know I read somewhere that it was the missing lighting that caused the map options to be grayed out.
Looking forward to texturing the fantasy castle!
Wauw that's a lot of info. I'm with the rest that needs to read it more than once. Don't have filterforge , but might get it at some point.
I do have a question though. When taking photos are you taking them as jpg's or as Raw's ? Just wondering if it would be easier to make adjustments if they are in Raw.
Totaly unrelated to the Thread: If your camera is able to take RAWs allways take RAWs!
This time,, I can not re-produce same step wtih same tool (whiich teachers and clasmate using
), but I can learn many principal,, now understand,, just make one back drop texture is not easy work ,which I suppose to be.
(I have already gotten many full light set IG and DG,, then you offer new back drop or ground textures, for each set, But before I did not care much,,how you made them ^^;,, very tough work I feel,,, woo I do not have confidence to go thorugh all step when I try original back drop texture ,,)
at current,, I may not get FIlter Forge ( though I throw it cart, untilll find it is plug in for photo shop ^^; ), but try to learn with GImp or other tools to follow teacher step,, then,, I could find some good tools for GIMP user ^^; and stand alone plug in,, to follow steps,,
1. is insane bump ,, (it is plug in for Gimp, I had used it,, but,, without clear knowledge, then generate strange normal map,, ^^;)http://registry.gimp.org/node/28117
2 is Awesome bump ,, (stand alone,, it is improved and now it can generate PBR map too,, I am now playing iwth ths tutoriall,, )http://awesomebump.besaba.com/about/ (may need to play with you tube tutorialls,, to know how it work,,)
But,, I understand ,, to make good texture,, there is not simple one click and generate.way,,^^;
==========
one silly quesiton,, if Filter Forge work without photo shop@@;?
Filter Forge works as a standalone without Photoshop. I almost always use it that way.
Thanks,, I now seriously consider to get FF ^^;
I use Filter Forge as a stand alone product, too. I don't have Photoshop. I use Gimp. There is a plugin for Gimp that allows Gimp to use Photoshop plugins, but I have been unable to get Filter Forge to work in Gimp as a plugin yet.
Insane Bump is the filter I use with Gimp for making maps. It makes more maps than you need, though. For Iray, you only need the bump map, normal map, diffuse map and possibly a black and white version for the cutout opacity if you are doing something where you need part of it to be transparent. For 3Delight, you might also need the one of the specular maps and the ambient map as well. I don't use 3Delight as much as Iray and there is still a lot I don't know about either engine. If you have any Gimp questions, ask as there are several of us around who use it exclusively. I can answer simple beginner questions, but may need to point you in the right direction for complicated stuff. I'm still learning the program, too.
Hi thank Knitting mommy, Yes,, I might ask ,in anoher topic,,when I need more deep question about GImp, hope you help me, when I asik it,,^^
(then Awesome bump is more improved one from insane bump,, hope you check it too ,if you like. though the UI is somehow Unique ,,)
about FF standalone,, I do not care, if it can generate or edit each texture, as same as plug in,, (I manually import genearated texture,, then add layer or mask in Gimp or other paint tools , if I need, then it work well?
but some user In FF forurum said, there seems some limitation,,FF stand alone version,,when generate texture,, then I am afraid. ( but I can not clear,, what is actuall limitation, anyway,,I may first try free download version.. then concentrate,, this lesson , (though I hope they keep sale price^^; )
Yes, you can generate the texture in FF and make any changes you want in Gimp. I've done this a lot in recent months. Just load the texture you want while in FF, Save image as (you have a list of file types) then take into Gimp and do whatever you want to it.
So far, I haven't found any limited features by using it as a standalone program. It is possible that there might be something you can do with it in Photoshop that you can't do while it is a standalone, but I think that might be because it may access some Photoshop feature that isn't present in other programs. I have been able to do everything I expected to be able to do using it as a standalone product. I think you would be safe to get it and not worry about any Photoshop features that may or may not be missing.
Little frustrated with ff right now. Every single thing i try to load into it, does not load it just says that the item has no properties. Literally, every single thing that isn't already in the filter forge library. What am I doing wrong?
Popping in from one of the other classrooms... I'm sure I was supposed to be in basic rendering this period! I hope there's still some desks at the back.
(Also, thank you for putting together this tutorial!)
Thanks for you suggestion earlier, Sonja. I didn't notice it till today,
How are you trying to load filters into filter forge? The way I always do it is this:
1. Open Filter Forge
2. Near the top there is some blue writing that says something like "Get new filters from website". Click on that.
3. It will take you to the Filter Forge website. Browse through the filters until you find one you want. Then click to download into filter forge. You should see it working and then the new filter will appear in Filter Forge.
You may need to have the latest version of Filter Forge to download new filters. I had version 5 and it kept telling me I needed a newer version. I finally clicked on update and then the process above worked.
Sorry I can't provide screen shots right now. All my stuff is on another computer.
Thanks Kevin! I can get the filters that are already on the site with no problem. But I can't find a way to make a new filter of my own with my own photos or other textures that I have.
Sonja, you can find video tutorials for FF here. So far, I've only worked through the two Cartoon tutorials, but the info is great for getting started on making your first filter and it explains what a lot of the different types of components and what they do.
You really need to stop reading my mind lol. I just finished the first one not 2 minutes ago lolol! Edited to add, the tutorial on the cloud and stars is awesome. Starting to make a bit more sense now. Although no one has yet to show how they added their original photo lol. The cloud and stars filter is made from scratch which is really interesting. And apparently, they have a brick wall, stone wall maker..... This is going to be so much fun lol.
That's a seriously complex subject of it's own, but to get you started:
Ta da!
There's obviously a lot more to many filters but this should give you the basic process as a starting point at least. Try picking a couple of your favorite filters and opening them in the filter editor to see how they are built. They can be pretty intimidating at first glance but after a while you start to get a feel for how they connect and modify one another.
Whoops! Those posts were not showing up when I started making screenshots or I wouldn't have bothered! Much easier to just follow the videos on FilterForge's website instead of my lazy intro.
Oh no i appreciate the help. They have yet to show how to do that particular part and I haven't found a video that shows that just yet so it is most helpful. I will be giving that a try after I reread it three or four times lol. Thank you!
So is the picture you are using from filter forge or one of your own? My issue is that I can't seem to load an original picture into filter forge. It keep telling me that the image has no properties. Doesn't seem to matter which image I try to load. I did purchase the pro... Edited to say duh, I need to click on show original. You did say that didn't you lol. Don't judge me I promise I am not stupid. I have the flu so I am laying in bed trying to spend my downtime wisely, learning to use this program. The meds are clearly wearing off lol.
Hello all,
I've a few more things to share with you before I go away for 4 days. Most of my family lives in north western Illinois, and I live in very northern Minnesota. We are going to see my 90 year old grandmother for Easter. We are looking at about 10 hours in the car each way. If all goes well we should be able to sneak in a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago who has a special exhibit of Van Gogh's bedrooms running. More triivia for you, I am insane for Van Gogh and have seen his paintings in 5 states, and 2 countries.
Sonja, so sorry you have the flu.
I have to admit my knowledge of building filters in Filter Forge is very limited. I've only modified existing filters to add or remove options. You may want to join their forum as I know they have quite a few people who are more than eager to help out new users.
Mark, Kevin, Astracadia and Knittingmommy, thanks for stepping in.
For the record everyone, I have no issue with people wanting to discuss various software options. And please, if I demonstrate something that looks like it could be done in an easier way, bring it up. In some cases there may be a reson for the longer process, but in other cases the reason for me not using the easier method might be because I just didn't think of it. In all cases, others may benefit from alternate viewpoints.
Welcome Pook. Still room in the second row. You don't have to go all the way to the back.
Renomista and Ferret, I have my camera set up to shoot in the RAW format too. I don't edit the RAW files much, because most of my final images get compressed in some way to reduce product file size, but it is good to know I have access to the better quality images if needed.
Kit, thanks for the input and the links.Much appreciated.
The first screenshot where is says File>Open Image is where you open your own iimage. Here is mine:
I loaded in a picture with a couple of bear cubs and then used a snowy filter on them. I've included a screenshot of what it looks like in the editor now that my picture is in there, but MDO2010's screenshots showing the component inside the filter editor is a good one showing the Image Component that allows a filter to use an image supplied by the user.
Just a note. I didn't make this particular filter. I just took it into the editor after loading my image so you could see what happens to the filter once your image is there. I also shows the type of components this filter starts out with. Not all of it is in the screenshot.
We'll get you there. Ask if you still have problems.
OK, where were we? Ah yes, so we have covered a worst case scenario in how to get a usuable brick wall texture form a less than ideal photograph. Sorry if that whole tutorial was a bit in depth. Brick walls are among the trickiest things because if they don't line up, it is instantly noticeable. You get a lot more flexibilty with random stone and the like.
Resources Option 4 - generated textures. This is the "easy way" to get a brick wall. How do you generate a texture? With some kind of software. Filter Forge is by far the most comprehensive with the vast amount of user contribute filters, and the capability to create your own. Other software like Genetica also uses a node based filter generation system, and it has a large library of photo resources available for any purchaser. Allegorithmic's Substance Designer is one that I am dabbling in, and it looks like a power house in creating PBR materials that are good for Iray, and any other render engine that uses PBR, plus a databank of community contributed Substances. Don't forget that Photoshop, Paintshop Pro, and most other 2D image editors, come with a variety of pattern and texture files that can be freely used. *Standard disclaimer-always check the terms of use for any commercial project restrictions.*
I'm going back to my backdrop prop which has the walls at a relative size of 2400x2000 pixels, and I'm going back to Filter Forge. I'm going to use this one https://www.filterforge.com/filters/13667.html because it has a million controls, and it doesn't scream "I am a filter" at you. The colors are good, and we can generate any maps we need. The default settings typically bring you to a pixel size of whatever the smallest value of your image is, in this case it is 2000 pixels.
Now we already know this is going to be way too large of scale for the backdrop. My rule of thumb is to make maps at 2000 with a Size, pixels scale of 500. That works for most things. The good part is that with generated textures, it does not give give the obvious repeats that that our photo source had. Here is the 500 pixel size. I think it will work.
I'm going to go ahead and generate base color maps, bump and normals, and here is a cross section of how they turn out.
Hmm, I'm not really sure why the bump map has the grout lighter than the brick, because it should be darker. No worries. Invert the map. The normal map looks OK.
It is a bit dark, but Iray will be OK with it. If this was a map for 3Delight, I'd lighten it up a lot. One thing that is worrying is that the grunge that the filter generates on the texture is showing up on the bump map, and strictly speaking, it shouldn't be doing that. A dirt layer would not really impact the depth of the bricks by a noticeable degree. Well, I'm going with it anyway. Plugging these maps into my surfaces tab, here is the render.
And a close up.
Now, I'll leave it to you decide if the photo resource looks 5 hours worth of time spent better than the 20 minute filter version. I left the filter settings pretty much at default for this example, with only the default environment lighting. I would want to play around with the filter's settings a bit, and make some more adjustments to the maps. This is also when tweaking the surface settings in Daz Studio to bring out the best in your maps can make a big difference. I do like how there is grunge built into the texture, so that is another step I don't have to do. You can absolutely add more grunge, or other surface details in your image editor though. I've gotten excellent results by using a series of filter. Start with base color or overall texture, add dirt details with another filter, and then add hand painted embelishments to minimize the filter look.
All right, I'm sorry we didn't get to tackling the Fantasy Tower yet. I was unavoidably delayed by work and getting ready for my trip. As I have to be in the car in about 6 hours time, I'll leave it here. I'll check in as I can in the next few days. Have a great Easter weekend everyone.
@DestinysGarden: Don't worry you bring so much great content in su little time allready that it is allready quite a task to grasp everything, so no hurry!
Have a Happy Easter, DG! Safe travels!
Happy Easter DG, safe travels :)
Safe travels and enjoy your visit! Happy Easter to you and your family as well.
@knittingmommy everytime I try and load an original from that spot I get a message that says the image has no properties. which is ridiculous I can right click on it and a long list of properties pull up. going to try it on my pc instead of my laptop later and see if it makes a difference.
And I agree, there is plenty of info here already that will take a bit of time to fully absorb and try out.