June 2024 - Daz 3D New User Challenge - Scenes, Landscapes, and Working Modularly

Scott Livingston · June 1

New Users Challenge - June 2024

Beginner Challenge - June 2024

"Scenes and Landscapes"

This month's focus will be scenes and landscapes. If you haven't noticed when you look at images made by the various 3D software some of the packages do a lot better then others in treating an expansive scene or a magnificent landscape. Ones that come to mind are software such as Bryce or Vue. Both have some built in features that make those wonderfully big expansive images come true. DAZ Studio on the other hand does not have some of these features built into it but if you know the tricks there is no reason why you can't get those same kinds of results. For this contest we will be exploring the principles of how such scenes and landscapes are built and how to control the environment to create the sense of expansiveness a scene or landscape creates for the viewer.

There are some key elements that should be considered when creating a landscape, they are the inspiration, lighting, perspective and depth of focus. I have gathered some links for you that talk about each of these elements.

Inspiration:

Photos and Art:

Landscape Photography

Landscape 3D Art

Landscape Paintings

Surreal Landscapes

Perspective and Depth of Focus:

What a Painter Considers

What a Photographer Considers

Things to consider when setting up your landscape:

As stated by Jon A. Bell in his book, 3ds max 6 Killer Tips, "For more realistic outdoor scenes, especially if you're seeing a distant horizon, you should always add a slight amount of atmospheric haze.... If you look at a distant mountain range (or if you don't have one right outside your window, just grab a travel magazine or pretend), you'll notice how colors become muted and washed out with distance. You can use just a slight amount of atmospheric fog (it depends on the scale of your scene), and the colors will determine the clarity or quality of your "atmosphere." For clear outdoor settings, using a slight bit of white fog is desirable; for sunset or urban settings (where the air might be more polluted), a slight yellowish or reddish cast makes your horizons look better." In DAZ Studio you have a couple of options in getting that affect. The first would be to add just a tiny bit of Depth of Field so that the objects become a bit more blurred and muted. Another way is to have a volumetric camera that will add the fog feature to the render.

Lighting:

Approaching Realism in DAZ Studio and Gamma Correction Demystified

http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/54913/

Using HDR Files In DAZ Studio 3delight renders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okaYS1jeAew

http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/37753/

and for Iray

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5FZ5gS9v50

https://thinkdrawart.com/how-i-light-my-daz-studio-iray-scenes

Handy tools for DAZ Studio ( note: these can help but are not in any way necessary):

https://www.daz3d.com/terradome-3-iray

https://www.daz3d.com/ultrascatter-advanced-instancing-for-daz-studio

https://www.daz3d.com/modular-cove-landscape-creator

https://www.daz3d.com/digital-kit-bashing--cities-landscapes-and-structures

https://www.daz3d.com/ultrascenery--realistic-landscape-system

https://www.daz3d.com/ultrasceneryxt--expansive-landscape-system

https://www.daz3d.com/ultrascenery2-realistic-landscape-system ;

Previous challenges and contests on the topic

2023: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/636071/june-2023-daz-3d-new-user-challenge-scenes-landscapes-and-working-modularly#latest ;

2022: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/571201/june-2022-daz-3d-new-user-challenge-scenes-landscapes-and-working-modularly/

2021: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/498816/june-2021-daz-3d-new-user-challenge-scenes-landscapes-and-working-modularly/

2020: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/412326/june-2020-daz-3d-new-user-challenge-scenes-landscapes-and-working-modularly

2019: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/330426/june-2019-daz-3d-new-user-challenge-scenes-and-landscapes#latest ;

2018: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/253991/june-2018-daz-3d-new-user-challenge-scenes-and-landscapes/p1

2017: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/171661/june-2017-daz-3d-new-user-challenge-scenes-and-landscapes/p1

2016: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/90721/june-2016-new-user-3d-art-contest-scenes-and-landscapes-wip-thread/p1

2015: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/832212/#Comment_832212

Bryce 7.1

Bryce Landscaping

Bryce Basics

I will be checking in as will the rest of the Community Volunteers to try and help with anything you all may need.

Scott Livingston · June 1

Intermediate Challenge - June 2024

Working Modularly

This includes kitbashing: combining elements of various products in unexpected, creative ways; and picturing items in settings other than what they were designed for. We’re looking for renders that go beyond simply using elements of a modular props or environment product (although these can certainly be incorporated into your work, and may make a good starting point). Ideally, your render should take a novel, unique, or inventive approach to using props and sets.

You don’t have to have expensive modeling software to create a unique 3D environment. Why not put a new spin on a few old products and tools?

Kitbashing Tips and Tutorials

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXn2-K-1yJc&feature=youtu.be (this is a free preview of the following product for sale in the Daz3D store: https://www.daz3d.com/digital-kit-bashing--cities-landscapes-and-structures)
Using the Geometry Editor to separate parts of a set into distinct props: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/197006/need-some-kit-bash-advice
Using the Geometry Editor to create material zones: http://youtube.com/watch?v=LbFileaCUO8#t=
Some techniques you can use, such as instancing, push modifiers, and editing materials were covered in previous New User Challenges.
You can radically change the appearance of an object with some very simple methods, such as applying a shader preset and adjusting the Y-Scale slider in the Parameters tab.
When combining items from different products, especially products by different creators, you may need to check the Surfaces settings and experiment until your components have a similar appearance when rendered.

Working modularly can be very rewarding, as it can greatly expand the possibilities of what you can do with the assets in your 3D library. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Shinji Ikari 9th · June 6

Here's a rough start of an idea for this month. I've done a little kitbashing of the outfit my character is wearing, and I plan to give him some companions and kitbash the outfits for them as well.

Scott Livingston · June 8

Shinji Ikari 9th said:

Here's a rough start of an idea for this month. I've done a little kitbashing of the outfit my character is wearing, and I plan to give him some companions and kitbash the outfits for them as well.

Nice start! The lighting overall is a little dim, but the effect around the character's arms is very cool. As your scene progresses, I would like to hear some of your more interesting/unusual kitbash choices!

shack5876 · June 16

For the intermediate challenge:

The secret garden. A simple scene constructed with elements from many sets mixed together, many with modifiers, almost all with new textures. Changes in scale, bamboo constructed from simple tubes. etc

Scott Livingston · June 18

Very pretty scene! Your texture/color choices really help to tie the various elements together.

Shinji Ikari 9th · June 19

Finaly got around to working on version B.

Moved the first character down some because he turned out to be floating off the ground, and did some tweeking of his feet to try and deal with some resulting pokethrough.

He now has a pair of companions in the form of a lizard shamon/warrior doning some differant tribal peaces that I felt worked togeather from 2 or 3 (can't remember for certain.) differaint outfits and some eye protection from a compleatly differant theme of outfit, and a genesis 8 Rapter character that I gave lightsabers as a nod to a Jurassic Park fanfic that I read awhile back in witch the JP universe has joined the Infanite Loops. In one of the loops, a wandering jedi loops in and encounters some raptors that are force sinsitive and decides to try and train said raptors to use the force, only to die before the training is compleate resulting in the raptors falling to the dark side hince the red lightsabers I gave the raptor.

YT · June 27

For the intermediate challenge:

"Golden hour"

I've used Daz Studio and Photoshop for small adjustments and some tweaks to the lighting.

When I saw that bandana top in the shop I knew I had to use this for some sort of gangster character.

For the jewellery, i have changed the shader so that only the gold tone remains, without the pattern. so that everything can be limited to a few materials.
for the background, i used an HDRI of a chapel to imitate the atmosphere of a bank and added a matching table with a marble shader. the window of the counter is composed of 2 cubes, which i adjusted in terms of shape and material.

In addition to the HDRI, the scene is illuminated by 2 spotlights to better recognise the face and to make the foreground stand out more from the background.

Shinji Ikari 9th · June 28

Went in last night to add another team member to the crew. The character is G9 based with cybernetics from G3M and clothing/hair from G2M.

Sorry if that's confusing, but I've got work in less then an hour and I'm trying to get myself put togeather for that as I post this so I don't forget about the post when I get home.

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