For lightening up a backlit character, you can do what actual photographers do, and put a big white square just off camera in front of the character, to add some "bounce" light back into their face.
@@mattgoodwin953 It's good, for sure, but be aware that DAZ doesn't always replicate photography settings 1 to1. ISO in DAZ, for example, can deviate from what a photographer might expect. Basically, just keep your eyes open while working, and adjust settings to compensate if DAZ doesn't quite act as you expect. Be well!
@@obviousalias9506 Sure! I would assume that it's not a direct 1:1, but it's good to get the heads-up. I'm pretty good at wriggling around in a flexible system and having a sense of what I'm looking for so just having the baseline to build from would be extremely helpful
For sure. I think I mentioned in the video that I'd have a go-to HDRI for my sunny day scenes but have started to use Sun-Sky a lot more now as I'm starting to get better results with it. It's probably much under-used!
I recognize the Willow Creek environment, since I am currently working with it too! Sun-Sky Dome is nice but also annoying at the same time. As you said, lights do not work anymore (except emissive surfaces), which is really tiresome to create catchlights. So yeah, if there is a workaround, I am willing to hear about it!
i found the control over the sun intensity independent to the general lighting better than with HDRIs especially if your lighting interior spaces. i wish the dynamic range was higher with Iray; generally render a canvas and then tone map post
Thank you for these tutorials Rauko. I've been making renders since around 2017 and honestly, everytime something has come out looking particularly good, I never know how or why. I'm glad I can look through these and get some insights on how to use different tools (because there's so many sliders I never touch.) Do you have any advice as to lighting up indoor scenes using sun sky dome or HDRIs ? Whenever I try it it's either very dark, and if I up the intensity outside becomes this white VOID. I've tried using ghost lights on the windows a bit but it just never looks right to me
Hey there - you've just described me also! Sometimes I do something as a "test" and it suddenly turns into my next best image and I never thought it would ever work! Indoor lighting .. Pretty much what I've done in this video is what I do for indoors .. set my lighting up and then I up the f/stop on the tone mapping .. To avoid the white over exposed void outside any windows - you'll have to do a little cheat. One image with the f/stop turned up high to get the indoors lit .. and then one image with a normal f/stop and a normal looking outdoors (or a spot render if it's just a single window) and then combine the two images in Photoshop or your pain package of choice.
The eye reflection is all good and well .. if it's natural. If the lighting set up shows a reflection in the eye - then by all means enhance it if needed. But if it doesn't naturally show in the eye - even a dim glint - then I tend to avoid adding it in for the sake of it as it won't be there naturally and you run the risk of impacting on your lighting by adding unnecessary lighting which won't fit with the rest of the scene lighting. As a general rule - not shining the sun directly into the face is probably a good practice. But as I say in the video - I won't say never do it - but doing so runs the risk of hard shadows and unflattering looks. Just take a selfie of yourself at night with a bright flash and see the results.
@@RaukoDaz3D Toatally agree, I find it jarring when I see lighting the has no source or reason cept to light area's and take out shadow, if you by chance have the ROG Red Crow Inn I love to see how you would use the for a couple of shots, That said I understand if you don't all my posts on Daz about the resaluion or those models where deleted as an attck on the creator, feels like they straight from zBrush just so you know. beautiful BUT heavy as
Can you make some videos about importing from Daz to Blender and getting the characters to look exactly like they do in Daz. Idk if you use Blender though, but if you do, it would be helpful for those of us who want to improve beyond Daz.
Sadly, I don't use Blender so wouldn't have a clue about doing what you're asking! I could export them out using the Daz to Blender bridge .. but I'd probably even struggle in importing them into Blender let alone tweaking things over there! Sorry!
Can you tell me how to attach a dress or a T-shirt and how to generally manipulate the clothes already on the character? and another question: how to open your mouth or close your eyes?
Hey there - for the clothing question - you'd be best starting with this video which covers it (somewhat) : ua-cam.com/video/ksPjhWKu7cc/v-deo.html As for the mouth and eyes .. Select your character in the scene tab (normally the top right window in a default set up) .. then look for the "Posing" tab (usually below the scene tab) along with Parameters, Shaping, Surfaces etc .. then expand the character within the Posing tab until you see "Pose Controls" .. Fine the body part you want to manipulate .. so .. Head > Mouth .. or Head > Eyes .. and then look for the relevant slider and just move it as desired .. I'll be doing videos on posing shortly .. both basic stuff and more advanced posing .. so keep your eyes open for them!
What is the UTC offset option for? Is there any sense in time zone here if we set exact longitude and latitude so the timezon should be known for DAZ automatically?
The UTC is for adjusting the time-zone as you guessed .. I don't think Daz is sophisticated enough to adjust for the timezone when you enter the Lon / Lat .. so if you want exact, then you'll have to set the UTC manually ..
Asset Links (see desc for details):
Model : tinyurl.com/3f4exzsn
Hair : tinyurl.com/4npydfvf
Outfit : bit.ly/4d2Sc9G
Environment : tinyurl.com/4atddhxf
can we get the links without the tracking?
Thanks, Rauko! I was just working with sun-sky this week, so your wisdom is most welcome. Be well!
And you, buddy! I've started using sun-sky a lot lately and starting to get some pretty decent results!
Another helpful video.
For lightening up a backlit character, you can do what actual photographers do, and put a big white square just off camera in front of the character, to add some "bounce" light back into their face.
Yeah, that works .. but I didn't want to overly complicate this video in this instance
So cool that the rendering is complex and accurate enough that you can just use photography techniques
@@mattgoodwin953 It's good, for sure, but be aware that DAZ doesn't always replicate photography settings 1 to1. ISO in DAZ, for example, can deviate from what a photographer might expect. Basically, just keep your eyes open while working, and adjust settings to compensate if DAZ doesn't quite act as you expect. Be well!
@@obviousalias9506 Sure! I would assume that it's not a direct 1:1, but it's good to get the heads-up. I'm pretty good at wriggling around in a flexible system and having a sense of what I'm looking for so just having the baseline to build from would be extremely helpful
A great video for both technical and artistic application. I'm going to have a good time with this.
Glad you enjoyed and got something out of it!
Thanks Rauko. It's surprising what good results you can achieve with sun and sky if you mess around with it a bit.
For sure. I think I mentioned in the video that I'd have a go-to HDRI for my sunny day scenes but have started to use Sun-Sky a lot more now as I'm starting to get better results with it. It's probably much under-used!
@@RaukoDaz3D I've like the Sun-Sky Environment Mode ever since it was introduced!
I recognize the Willow Creek environment, since I am currently working with it too!
Sun-Sky Dome is nice but also annoying at the same time. As you said, lights do not work anymore (except emissive surfaces), which is really tiresome to create catchlights. So yeah, if there is a workaround, I am willing to hear about it!
There will be a video coming in the next couple of days .. it's fairly easy to do but requires us to do something a little counter-intuitive ..
So that Latitude and Longitude puts you roughly a few miles northwest of Coffeyville, Kansas in an industrial park.
Hhhmmm .. I thought that's where I was .. the way the light bounced off the characters hair gave it away .. 😀
i found the control over the sun intensity independent to the general lighting better than with HDRIs especially if your lighting interior spaces. i wish the dynamic range was higher with Iray; generally render a canvas and then tone map post
Thank you for these tutorials Rauko. I've been making renders since around 2017 and honestly, everytime something has come out looking particularly good, I never know how or why. I'm glad I can look through these and get some insights on how to use different tools (because there's so many sliders I never touch.)
Do you have any advice as to lighting up indoor scenes using sun sky dome or HDRIs ? Whenever I try it it's either very dark, and if I up the intensity outside becomes this white VOID. I've tried using ghost lights on the windows a bit but it just never looks right to me
Hey there - you've just described me also! Sometimes I do something as a "test" and it suddenly turns into my next best image and I never thought it would ever work!
Indoor lighting .. Pretty much what I've done in this video is what I do for indoors .. set my lighting up and then I up the f/stop on the tone mapping .. To avoid the white over exposed void outside any windows - you'll have to do a little cheat. One image with the f/stop turned up high to get the indoors lit .. and then one image with a normal f/stop and a normal looking outdoors (or a spot render if it's just a single window) and then combine the two images in Photoshop or your pain package of choice.
Funny you talk about not front lighting, most seem to need to have the light reflection in the eyes, they even add a light to make the eyes reflect
The eye reflection is all good and well .. if it's natural. If the lighting set up shows a reflection in the eye - then by all means enhance it if needed. But if it doesn't naturally show in the eye - even a dim glint - then I tend to avoid adding it in for the sake of it as it won't be there naturally and you run the risk of impacting on your lighting by adding unnecessary lighting which won't fit with the rest of the scene lighting.
As a general rule - not shining the sun directly into the face is probably a good practice. But as I say in the video - I won't say never do it - but doing so runs the risk of hard shadows and unflattering looks. Just take a selfie of yourself at night with a bright flash and see the results.
@@RaukoDaz3D Toatally agree, I find it jarring when I see lighting the has no source or reason cept to light area's and take out shadow, if you by chance have the ROG Red Crow Inn I love to see how you would use the for a couple of shots, That said I understand if you don't all my posts on Daz about the resaluion or those models where deleted as an attck on the creator, feels like they straight from zBrush just so you know. beautiful BUT heavy as
Can you make some videos about importing from Daz to Blender and getting the characters to look exactly like they do in Daz. Idk if you use Blender though, but if you do, it would be helpful for those of us who want to improve beyond Daz.
Sadly, I don't use Blender so wouldn't have a clue about doing what you're asking! I could export them out using the Daz to Blender bridge .. but I'd probably even struggle in importing them into Blender let alone tweaking things over there! Sorry!
Can you tell me how to attach a dress or a T-shirt and how to generally manipulate the clothes already on the character? and another question: how to open your mouth or close your eyes?
Hey there - for the clothing question - you'd be best starting with this video which covers it (somewhat) : ua-cam.com/video/ksPjhWKu7cc/v-deo.html
As for the mouth and eyes .. Select your character in the scene tab (normally the top right window in a default set up) .. then look for the "Posing" tab (usually below the scene tab) along with Parameters, Shaping, Surfaces etc .. then expand the character within the Posing tab until you see "Pose Controls" .. Fine the body part you want to manipulate .. so .. Head > Mouth .. or Head > Eyes .. and then look for the relevant slider and just move it as desired ..
I'll be doing videos on posing shortly .. both basic stuff and more advanced posing .. so keep your eyes open for them!
@@RaukoDaz3D thanks
What is the UTC offset option for? Is there any sense in time zone here if we set exact longitude and latitude so the timezon should be known for DAZ automatically?
The UTC is for adjusting the time-zone as you guessed .. I don't think Daz is sophisticated enough to adjust for the timezone when you enter the Lon / Lat .. so if you want exact, then you'll have to set the UTC manually ..