[MachineGunBallet]

To clear the air.... I ain't that good, and I know it.

A degree of talent, possibly.  What I find makes a good image is the material rather than the rendering.  And you'll note, I copied(ish) a well known Shadowrun image.

For instance I'm talented enough to know that the brake pad should be in fact be shiny, and frankly there isn't enough shine on the body of the bike.  I'm not sure if I've done enough to make the characters compelling.  However... 8 hours of my time, and 4 days of work with another 2 days of rendering... feh... close enough.

What makes this render interesting is my choice of characters;  (I absolutely want to make a bunch of characters based on this.)
http://fluffybush.deviantart.com/art/At-The-Malt-Shop-354983423

(follow on:)
http://fluffybush.deviantart.com/art/Jinkies-The-Voice-Print-Matches-355188174

Nice render Machinegun. I'm a Daz users my self ,what lighting did you use?

Its all done in Reality 2.5.  I converted anything that looked like it should glow into a light source.  Even though its a dark render,  there is a huge amount of light in it.

To all:
One of the things I like about Reality is that it simulates film and cameras.  A picture of that you typically see that has been professionally produced has huge huge amounts of light in it.  The reason is that cameras can't see a very wide dynamic range.  In reality, you get fire flies
http://preta3d.com/Kill%20the%20render%20noise%20form%20your%20Lux%20scenes/

Now I understand more about what they are doing when I see videos about making movies.  Gandalf striding down a path, but there's a gaffer holding a reflector out of sight and low... to reflect light up his face a bit, and reduce the dynamic range required for the camera.

If you don't master the lighting, your renders will look like low grade pornos!  :-)

Lots of good examples here;
http://www.luxrender.net/forum/gallery2.php

[Fabe]

So how easy is the reality plug in for newbies to use? I 'm still learning and haven't really done too many renders yet and even the ones I have done aren't very good.

[MachineGunBallet]

So how easy is the reality plug in for newbies to use? I 'm still learning and haven't really done too many renders yet and even the ones I have done aren't very good.

I was getting pretty good before I switched...   This is one of my last renders with Daz.  That's an IBL lit scene, but since that tends to wash out colors, I added a specular spotlight. (Something I learned in the Daz Forums.)
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=2303853&user_id=707942

Really its a question of personal taste.  If you're interested, buy it, then post on the Renderosity Forums and ask for advice.  I learned a huge amount from the Reality 'how to' videos.  Paolo discusses professional lighting a lot.   I'd buy those.

[Reiper]

So how easy is the reality plug in for newbies to use? I 'm still learning and haven't really done too many renders yet and even the ones I have done aren't very good.

I'd suggest to keep working with the built in Daz one until you are more comfortable with it, then move to the higher end one.

[Fabe]

So how easy is the reality plug in for newbies to use? I 'm still learning and haven't really done too many renders yet and even the ones I have done aren't very good.

I'd suggest to keep working with the built in Daz one until you are more comfortable with it, then move to the higher end one.

 I think that might be for the best since I'm still struggling with things like lighting.

[Reiper]

So how easy is the reality plug in for newbies to use? I 'm still learning and haven't really done too many renders yet and even the ones I have done aren't very good.

I'd suggest to keep working with the built in Daz one until you are more comfortable with it, then move to the higher end one.

 I think that might be for the best since I'm still struggling with things like lighting.

At least with Poser, it takes a bit to get the hang of, I'm assuming its similar in DAZ (only done a few character renders, haven't done any scenes in DAZ). Just take it in baby steps, improve one area at a time and you'll eventually get a lot better.

Last night I spent 7 hours rendering and when I woke up I found that I didn't notice the character's left breast was poking through part of her shirt, and her food was clipping through something. Really annoyed me =) But at least the lighting looked fine.

[MachineGunBallet]

At least with Poser, it takes a bit to get the hang of, I'm assuming its similar in DAZ (only done a few character renders, haven't done any scenes in DAZ). Just take it in baby steps, improve one area at a time and you'll eventually get a lot better.

Last night I spent 7 hours rendering and when I woke up I found that I didn't notice the character's left breast was poking through part of her shirt, and her food was clipping through something. Really annoyed me =) But at least the lighting looked fine.

That depends on whether it poked through somewhere interesting...  :-)

Anyways... take your time.  I think that as soon as I realized I was struggling with lighting, I did the Poser Portrait 'how to'.  That sorted a lot of my thinking out.  One light on Camera, one behind and below to fill out the dark areas, and one high and to the side to add some contrast.  (Most of the time I just run that formula as a start point.) 

When it comes to action scenes... light the scene first.  Then light the character.  (Composition and action needs to draw the viewer to the center of the image.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro

Start reading about light.  It all applies.  Did you know that a room is more comfortable to be in if it has light from two different directions?
http://www.patternlanguage.com/apl/aplsample/apl159/apl159.htm


Here's another one... "Can You Feel The Love?"  Check out his eyes...  There is something Not Right about this guy.
http://fluffybush.deviantart.com/art/Can-You-Feel-The-Love-357762856

[Reiper]

Oh quick update I noticed tonight (And I hope this isn't breaking the TOS for linking this, but it is free).


DAZ is giving away how to videos for DAZ3D for free right now (they are normally $5.00 a pop)


http://www.daz3d.com/march-madness?p=2

[AJCarrington]

For those interested, Poser Pro 2012 is currently on sale (75% off) through the end of March:

http://mysmithmicro.com/marcom/eblasts/poser/20130307/index-web.html

[MachineGunBallet]

And one more render...
http://fluffybush.deviantart.com/art/U-Mad-358800050

U-Mad?

[Reiper]

Very nicely done. I recognize some of the models, is the main person (with the gun) Genesis, Vic, or Aiko? I want to say Aiko because of her face but I don't have a ton of experience with her model (I have A3, haven't bothered with A4 or A5)

[MachineGunBallet]

Very nicely done. I recognize some of the models, is the main person (with the gun) Genesis, Vic, or Aiko? I want to say Aiko because of her face but I don't have a ton of experience with her model (I have A3, haven't bothered with A4 or A5)

The Anime characters have unnaturally wide\large eyes.  However, this was Genesis - Aven;
http://www.daz3d.com/aven-for-genesis-character

I've generally found this to be one of the best skin sets, and available, clean, dirty, and slashed up.  My punker is a little dirty.
Skin is Sisterhood by Alfaseed;
http://www.runtimedna.com/SisterhoodSkin.html

She's also covered in studs;
http://www.runtimedna.com/PiercingAdore.html

and datajacks on the head;
http://www.runtimedna.com/Technophilia-Data-Implants.html

Armor;
http://www.daz3d.com/outland-marauder-for-genesis

Signature TShirt;
http://www.daz3d.com/odd-wear

Headwear;
http://www.daz3d.com/medea

Guns... stock A15 Tactical Rifle;
http://www.daz3d.com/the-firearm-pack

I put about 4 hours into that character, and getting the materials just right.

[Reiper]

Very nicely done. I recognize some of the models, is the main person (with the gun) Genesis, Vic, or Aiko? I want to say Aiko because of her face but I don't have a ton of experience with her model (I have A3, haven't bothered with A4 or A5)

The Anime characters have unnaturally wide\large eyes.  However, this was Genesis - Aven;
http://www.daz3d.com/aven-for-genesis-character

I've generally found this to be one of the best skin sets, and available, clean, dirty, and slashed up.  My punker is a little dirty.
Skin is Sisterhood by Alfaseed;
http://www.runtimedna.com/SisterhoodSkin.html

She's also covered in studs;
http://www.runtimedna.com/PiercingAdore.html

and datajacks on the head;
http://www.runtimedna.com/Technophilia-Data-Implants.html

Armor;
http://www.daz3d.com/outland-marauder-for-genesis

Signature TShirt;
http://www.daz3d.com/odd-wear

Headwear;
http://www.daz3d.com/medea

Guns... stock A15 Tactical Rifle;
http://www.daz3d.com/the-firearm-pack

I put about 4 hours into that character, and getting the materials just right.

Yeah I love the sisterhood skin. I did get a new one last night off of renderosity, I forgot the vendor buy they do a lot of packs that start off with SHOOT for their models, and they do a lot of tattoos and things that can be added to any model (although not sure it works with DAZ) and it has a ton of bruising and cuts on it that I plan on using soon for some of my SR Renders.

Is the muzzle flash and laser part of the arms pack too? I have a muzzle flash off of ShareCG but I haven't used it yet.

[MachineGunBallet]

Muzzle Flash is Jepes Flames, which have been converted to light meshes in Reality. That's why you can see a glow on the gun.  I placed one separate flame out of each of the AR-15 gas vents.  It really only works from a side angle.

The laser is a tall narrow cylinder which was also converted to a light mesh in Reality.

[Reiper]

Muzzle Flash is Jepes Flames, which have been converted to light meshes in Reality. That's why you can see a glow on the gun.  I placed one separate flame out of each of the AR-15 gas vents.  It really only works from a side angle.

The laser is a tall narrow cylinder which was also converted to a light mesh in Reality.

Oh, just a quick thing I found out yesterday, dysetopia guns 1 is free right now.

Sniper Rifle, Mini Gun, Assault Rifle.