If you guys really know me, you know I stress and struggle BIGTIME over lighting, regardless which program I use... In Carrara, even though my major scenes are made starting w/ scene presets made SPECIFICALLY for lighting, I still tweak and edit my lighting. In Bryce, I learned to fake lighting, but at best, my attempts were only half descent, and ultimately that pushed me from Bryce. I could never get around the unconventional lighting, and sadly, at the time my system was not capable of handling the GI set ups used to create awesome renders. Thomas Weiss, aka "Beton" from Renderosity, would disagree, LOL =) I tried and tried and tried with Poser for years, but as I never really used it for renders, I was ok to not grasp lighting... That dissapointment carried over to Daz Studio, at which even from its first release, I never even bothered, I use presets... Between Dimension Theory and Lantios, you're all set =/
However, I started doing some tests, and am glad to say I have had some awesome results...
A while ago I started a >>thread<< in the Poser forum and was privileged to get the advice of some outstanding members of the Poser community... I learned about how to set up and manage a scene for IDL, Gamma Correction, to make use of a sky dome and to utilize this awesome utility called the "VSS" created by Bagginsbill...
While I am in no shape form or fashion able to explain the details of the VSS, I can say it is priceless (actually, it's free, lol)...
So what I'll do here is post screencaps of my render settings and other things as best I can....
If you know how to set up the VSS, it's a simple process, and more than likely you prolly already know what I'm posting here =P But for those who do not know what the VSS is, this will be a great start to making awesome renders w/ great lighting...
>>> info on the VSS system <<<
Just to say, this may seem rather advanced, but if you paid for Poser Pro 2010, it will surely help you make good on your investment... Scripts, installing them, an using them is for the most part WAY over my head, but if I can do it, anyone can, LOL!!!
Start w/ a blank and empty scene... Set your render settings like so:
You'll want to add some type of background/backdrop prop. I'm not posting this to push my products, but I do have some of the very type of items available =P
The "point" of these items is that they provide an enclosed terrain, something like an "environmental room". They help focus the attention to the character, concentrate the light to a single point, and hide that troublesome horizon line, so you need not fear rendering your characters feet, lol... As far as cheesey marketing, my products are extremely versatile, simple to use, and will aid in countless renders through the years =)
You will also need an atmosphere dome, it just so happens I have one of these awesome items for free. You can grab it >>here<< in my Renderosity freestuff...
Lastly, you will need some .HDR files... There are TONS free on the net, but most likely you already have some... Any will do, and of course, experiemnt and test them all to your hearts content. Do NOT use probes, youy know, those .hdr's that have a sphere in the middle of a square w/ the black edge... Use the FULL image kind that looks like a warped and pinched landscape/panoramic shot squeezed into a square.......
If you have these items, it's ready to roll... Again, the blank scene... Load the backdrop prop, the VSS prop, the atmosphere dome and your figure into the scene... I wont get into posing and all that, you get the picture (npi =P). Set your render setting as shown from the 1st screencap, and then give the dome these properties in the materials room... I'm pretty sure this is some derivative of BB's dome set up, if not his very own?!?!? He also has one for free, along w/ light sets to compliment his practices...
Use these properties:
Don't get me wrong, I got the name "Mat"Creator from my mastery of the DTE in Bryce EONS ago, it has nothing at all to do w/ Poser Mats, so please understand while I can manage in the material editor, Poser nodes drive me bonkers... I blurred the .hdr to protect the creator, but any descent .hdr will do just fine =)
Between the Sky Dome, the VSS and the render settings, that's pretty much it, easy right?!? I have been rendering all different types of lights and find that once the set up is "done", pretty much ANY light preset will do. I've gone through dozens and all yield great results..... Not off the hook, but damn good enough for me that I can feel "comfortable" posting and further exploring using Poser as a rendering tool as opposed to just grabbing figures from it =P
I suppose you want to see these results eh?!?
You can experiment with different light preset and different .hdr files, but it's a great staring point in my opinion. Hope this helps some of you guys, please don't hesitate to contact me w/ questions, comments, or snide remarks =P
Almost forgot... Make sure you use the Gamma Correction Script (changeGamma in the materials room/wacros panel). Set to 1, then all props and figures, then all of the the above. This is also a critical step, don't forget!!!
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