3D sets ... fantasy sets this time. Wow!

Nope, the images have gone. I can't even remember what they were to be candid. You can always chase DM's Fantasy Visions to Rendo and have a look at it there, but I can't help here! So I'm filling in with some other images that showcase sets and their use. These images date from 2019; they're all raytraces, no Iray (though one or two of them straddle the line where the results are soooo close to Iray, you're wondering...! Six versions of Michael 4 on this page: no Genesis.

Returning to the original post, I'll preserve the text:

Yes, I know I said I'd "be back tomorrow" and put Michael 4 and maybe Victoria into the starship command center set ... and that was two days ago, and this doesn't look anything like Michael and Victoria in the Ops room of a super-carrier. But things came up, I got tied up with work -- so at risk of repeating myself, I'll be back tomorrow and put Michael 4 and pals into the starship set.

For today, though ... check this out! Even Renderosity is having one heck of a rolling sale, where you can get very nice savings off 3D goodies that are already quite a bit cheaper than you'd expect the same item to be in the DAZ store. So --

I got this one, which is DM's Fantastic Visions set (and you're looking at a tiny corner of it here!), plus I also got the Port of Tortuga set ... which is actually something like a nice, battered, ramshackle village of about 1720. In other words, you can plunk it down in the middle of a Vue landscape and call it a village on the sailor's trod, or the highwayman's moor ... which is what I'll be doing with it!

The Tortuga set hasn't even been unpacked yet, and there's still a stack of props and goodies to play with from the splurge I indulged in over at DAZ a week ago. But I was so impressed with this set -- again, from one of my favorite designers -- I couldn't resist doing a bunch of renders right there, as soon as the download was done. This is actually a Poser set, but if you know what you're doing with the file hierarchy, it works to utter perfection in DAZ.

Verdict: 5 out of 5 stars and -- wow!

So, uh, come back tomorrow and see M4 and pals in the starship set.

Jade, 21 July

3D Science Fiction sets: taking COMMANDER for a test drive

(Cinemascope renders ... click on them to view them full size: so you can see the details, I uploaded them at 1000+ pixels wide)

This is a set which astonishes me as much as the interior for the Vanguard spacecraft, which you saw a few weeks ago. It was one of the props I bought when DAZ were having a fantastic sale -- 50% off incredible things. In the same splurge I got the Starcarrier hangar interior and other goodies. This one is the Commander set, and it's been waiting for a test drive all this time!

These dozen renders feature the set just as she comes, right out of the box. I didn't change a single texture of nuth'in. I set a half dozen lights and flew the camera into every nook and cranny. That's a Hubble Space Telescope picture outside the windows ... looking a lot like Hellgate, I thought!

To me, this set would have to be the Ops Room aboard the Wastrel or even the NARC-Athena. This is where you'll be seeing these fantastic backgrounds -- in the multimedia versions of the Hellgate series first and then -- who knows? We might even be able to get into the NARC universe too.

(If you're wondering what in the universe I'm dribbling on about now, I'll give you a couple of links. This one here will plug you right into the Hellgate series; and this one here will connect you with NARC. A caveat, first: these are adult books, with glbt content, realistic violence, political intrigue ... drugs and sex and rock'n'roll ... the works. If you know your Mel Keegan, you know what to expect. If you don't know MK, and/but you enjoy a fantastic gay sci-fi romp, you need to find out what you've been missing -- in which case, start right here!)

Jade's verdict: six stars out of five for this fantastic set! It's designed by a 3D designer who goes by the handle of kibaretto. You can see his/her (??) whole range at DAZ (see the banner in the left-side column), and you can also see some of his/her other work test-driven and reviewed on this blog:

The Starcarrier starship hangar:
http://3d-adventures.blogspot.com/2010/07/3d-figure-in-virtual-landscape-and-sci.html

and,

The Vanguard spacecraft:
http://3d-adventures.blogspot.com/2010/07/3d-science-fiction-right-here-on.html

Join me tomorrow, and I'll stage some models in the Ops room!

Jade, 29 July

***Posted by MK: my connection is intermittent, too slow for this. Seriously, guys, I've got dialup speeds. How are you expected to do anything these days, at 1990 dialup speeds?!!!

Then, add new textures, and...

Just a set of images today, folks -- seriously out of time! I'd wanted to put a beeeeeautiful model or two into this scene, but it'll have to be tomorrow. This is the same 3D set you saw yesterday in autumnal tones ... the cenotaph. But this time around I've added the Requiescat texture set, which turns the whole construction from marble to brick, and turns the ivy from dead to alive. The live ivy looks much more like summer -- the color of the brickwork is also warmer. So the backgrounds here are high summer.

Join me tomorrow, and we'll put a model or two into this scene for a glam shoot!

Jade, 27 July

***Posted by MK: my connection is intermittent, too slow for this. Seriously, guys, I've got dialup speeds. How are you expected to do anything these days, at 1990 dialup speeds?!!!

Playing with opacity at the old cenotaph

These are the shots you actually wanted to see, right? Before Jade starts dribbling on about the glorious 3D set which is the backdrop for all this! So ... I persuaded Michael 4 to come to the party and get into costume, grab the old crystal ball and look like he's stepped right out of a fantasy story, because the set actually begs for this.

The cloak is a great prop. About the only thing it doesn't do (rats! I hoped it would) is put the hood right now. Maybe in a future update? But even so, it's a beautiful prop. Here, it's still showing its default texture, and the next time you see it, it'll be wearing one of mine. I some of the shots I turned down the opacity ... made it a diaphanous silk ... just cuz. If that were Michelle 4 in the shots, you wouldn't question that a lovely young female was next to naked, wearing a silk cloak you can see right through. So just take out the FE, and the rest of the statement holds together juuuuuust fine.

And now I can dribble on about the set, right? So here it is -- raytraces, of course. Iray didn't come along till much later -- but at least, with architectural objects, the polys are low enough for me to get a raytrace at this point in time! (Scuse me for butting in, from the vantage point of 2024!)

It's the cenotaph set, called Reparation ... and although I did get the Requiescat textures for it, I didn't get a chance to muck about with them today. Save those for another time. I added a few of the Deluxe Trees (from Renderosity) and a Vue sky, and then flew the camera around. Incidentally, I dropped the focal length on the camera from the 80mm I usually use, down to around 35mm, which is in the wide angle range. This means I could get more of the set into the shot. Looks better that way, esp. when you add a model into the frame.

So there you are -- another of the toys I splurged on in the DAZ super sale t'other day! There's more, still! Come back tomorrow, and see...

Jade, 26 July

3D sets ... yet more new toys from my splurge at DAZ!

More of my new toys from the DAZ sale the other day. You're actually looking at two new 3D sets here, but I'm featuring one in the foreground today, and will come back and take a closeup look at the other one tomorrow...

A Curious Passage is the wall and columns and gate, with the cool dead ivy. The walls are all broken, the gates are all bent and warped and rusted. It's very evocative ... begging for autumnal colors, fall trees, stormy skies...

So I put a Vue sky behind it, and added in a couple of the Deluxe Trees, and five lights to cast shadows. This is a great set. You could continue with the walls in the background and make a completely closed set, and then put trees, shrubs, whatever you want or need, inside.

But I decided I'd load up something called Reparation in the background ... it's a mausoleum, which suits the mood of this perfectly. Tomorrow, I'll focus on the monument ... and also, I got the Requiescat set of textures for it, so we can also dress is up as a different set entirely.

Also, I'll see if we can get Michael and/or Victoria to pose for a glamour shoot in the set. Depends on time, y'understand...

See you tomorrow, with all that!

Jade, 25 July

***Posted by MK: my connection is intermittent, too slow for this. Seriously, guys, I've got dialup speeds. How are you expected to do anything these days, at 1990 dialup speeds?!!!

3D sets, 3D props ... more new toys!

Another of the toys I splurged on the other day at DAZ ... they're having a monster sale and I just couldn't resist this! The set is the House of Mog Ruith, which is wearing the Celtic Great Hall set of textures. Standing in it are pieces of furniture from DM's Anardhouse, and other props from DM's Lair ... plus Michael 4 wearing the Lockwood costume ... and on the table is the decanter, glasses and tray server set from Baroque Grandeur. I'm pretty sure you can't really see the decanter set properly in the render above, so here's the detail from it:

And here's a few renders of the set itself, without Michael 4 ... it's really beautiful. Full marks on this one -- highly recommended, with one comment ...it needs the texture set to look really good, and the texture set is a bear to load. You can load it okay, but it won't render properly till you figure out what's going on, or going wrong. There's a knack to it that the newbie probably won't be able to fathom. However, there's a fix, and once you've got it, the result is marvellous!

And I'm nowhere near through the box of toys I scooped up while they were on sale, so join me tomorrow to see some more!

Jade, 24 July

***Posted by MK: my connection is intermittent, too slow for this. Seriously, guys, I've got dialup speeds. How are you expected to do anything these days, at 1990 dialup speeds?!!!

Big sale on at DAZ 3D ... we splurged.

Big, big sale on over at DAZ right now ... virtually my entire wishlist just went on sale at the same time! So okay, okay, I splurged. I saved about $75 at the same time as spending a wee bit more than that. But the stuff I got ... Very Big Grin!

Sets, props, costumes, the works. Right here, you're looking at the new character I created just yesterday, wearing the Journeyer Scout costume and sitting on the balcony of the Gadomar set. These are just two items from a long, long list of items, and I'll be playing with them all over the next couple of weeks.

The Gadomar set is by DM (dannie and Maforno), one (or is it two?) of my favorite designer. From DM comes the Lair, the Shrine, the Gate, (you usually see it as a whole courtyard on the blog here), the old Spanish mission ruins. Fantastic. And no, I don't know the designer(s) personally, this is just a real, genuine recommendation.

See the detail on the Gadomar set:

Just beautiful. That's one of my Vue skies in the background, and the Zelkova tree by Merlin. Boooooy, does this give you ideas for stories. And very soon, I'm going to start telling them. The graphic novel concept excites me. A lot.

Join me tomorrow, see some more of the new toys!

Jade, 23 July

***Posted by MK: my connection is intermittent, too slow for this. Seriously, guys, I've got dialup speeds. How are you expected to do anything these days, at 1990 dialup speeds?!!!

New 3D character ... new book cover!

Been busy today -- finishing the cover design for a new book, which also let me design a whole new character from the feet up, according to someone else's specs. 3D character design is fun and so gratifying. You get it just right, a new person is born on the PC screen ... I love this one.

It's a big departure from the guys I usually create. He's midnight-pale and thin and very blond. You just have to read the book -- he really will haunt you! (Be aware that the book is a supernatural romance ... having said that, be aware that it's lgbt. Having said that, half of you will switch off and the other half will salivate! The half of you who're salivating -- come back soon, because I'll be giving you the links to buy the ebook.

2024 Edit: the book was rejacketed again much later. It's worth a quick peek at the new cover!

...and the good news is that the book is still avalable. It's a beaut, if you want to check it out.

Cyborg -- playing in GIMP

Just images today, folks ... no time to write much. Michael 4 as a cyborg. No reason ... just a whim that occurred to me, and a reason to play with lights and brishes. In fact the cyborg doesn't have a set, just a floor and a backdrop painted with Gimp brushes. Nice blue lights on that one. The Spartacos hair is a godsend. Got to run now ... no time!

Jade, 21 July

***Posted by MK because the internet is AWOL. Intermittent crap. Be warned, guys: our connection is going to be in and out for a week or two, as of this point: Telstra (or whatever) is doing a lot of work on the landlines in this area. And as you know, if you've been looking at the "poster notes" on these journal entries in my looooong adventure through the world of CG, 3D and digital, even at the best of times we can find ourselves with dialup speeds in this area. This is why MK has been making many posts for me, since Day One -- Keegan has the fast connection, not me! (This should change in the near future, when the cables or whatever are updated, and they stop working on them. At least, s'wot Telstra promises.) Credit where it's due: this blog would not have been possible without the support of a pal with decent internet. Because ours sucks. We moved into this area about six months before I got into Studio and blogging about it, and I almost quit right there: DAYS to download something from the DAZ store, at one point. Argh. Thank gods for friends when you need 'em! 

Cyberpunk ... 3D super commando

Still on the theme of 3D Science Fiction ... this is a new model from DAZ, just appearing this week, and I'm impressed. Take Michael 4 and add the full costume, guns and all ... drop him into the Station 3000 set (which is immense), adopt some stock poses, tweak everything ... set three lights and have a fiddle with the camera. Too easy!

Also, this is a set of bits and pieces that will mix and match nicely with loads of other bits. These days, I rarely use anything just as it arrived "off the peg" or "out of the box." Just about the only time you'll see the model itself is when I'm test-driving it. This one is terrific. It'll also take textures very nicely too. Jade's verdict: 5 out of 5 stars.

No time to write any more, guys. Too busy today ... am packaging a book, and have been looking at various computer screens till my eyes are not working the way they ought to. So -- enjoy the artwork for today. Next post will be a hunk out of uniform!

Jade, 20 July

***Posted by MK because the internet is AWOL. Intermittent crap. Be warned, guys: our connection is going to be in and out for a week or two, as of this point: Telstra (or whatever) is doing a lot of work on the landlines in this area. And as you know, if you've been looking at the "poster notes" on these journal entries in my looooong adventure through the world of CG, 3D and digital, even at the best of times we can find ourselves with dialup speeds in this area. This is why MK has been making many posts for me, since Day One -- Keegan has the fast connection, not me! (This should change in the near future, when the cables or whatever are updated, and they stop working on them. At least, s'wot Telstra promises.) Credit where it's due: this blog would not have been possible without the support of a pal with decent internet. Because ours sucks. We moved into this area about six months before I got into Studio and blogging about it, and I almost quit right there: DAYS to download something from the DAZ store, at one point. Argh. Thank gods for friends when you need 'em! 

Web comic art experiments, Phase 2

click on each page to see it full size ... and read the prolog

Further experiments in web comics. This time around the narrative captions are matted, and I'm playing with fonts and so on. It's, um, really exciting.

The art begins as individual panels, of course, and actually spruces up like this, if you don't mind having a fiddle about in Photoshop...

...and they're rendered out of DAZ, imported into Serif and combined there. The final export is done out of Serif, at 200dpi, and then I use Irfanview to crop and convert each page to 100dpi so the pages are not prohibitively big. And as far as I know, these pages are a perfect fit for the iPad. Cool, huh?!

Is there anybody out there with an iPad who could test these pages for fit, and send some feedback? Thanks in advance!

Jade, 19 July

***Posted by MK because the internet is AWOL. Intermittent crap. Be warned, guys: our connection is going to be in and out for a week or two, as of this point: Telstra (or whatever) is doing a lot of work on the landlines in this area. And as you know, if you've been looking at the "poster notes" on these journal entries in my looooong adventure through the world of CG, 3D and digital, even at the best of times we can find ourselves with dialup speeds in this area. This is why MK has been making many posts for me, since Day One -- Keegan has the fast connection, not me! (This should change in the near future, when the cables or whatever are updated, and they stop working on them. At least, s'wot Telstra promises.) Credit where it's due: this blog would not have been possible without the support of a pal with decent internet. Because ours sucks. We moved into this area about six months before I got into Studio and blogging about it, and I almost quit right there: DAYS to download something from the DAZ store, at one point. Argh. Thank gods for friends when you need 'em!