Want to improve your rendering? Promos? Come join in and let's help each other out

[Aylaaenas_Evenwing]

I always wondered how some artist create better promos than yourself? Or how do they achieve those beautiful portraits?

I have been wondering this for years. This thread is a place to help each other out, share how you construct your promos or renderings, tips, tricks, tutorials all is welcome.

I made a little video of how to make an easy hdri portrait map ( front light).

I've also included a map where the lights go. I have tested this in Daz Studio, this will probably work in Poser too(still have to test this)

The size of the hdri map, doesn't really matter, it is only important that is 2:1 ratio.

I have constructed this in Photo Shop, but I am sure any equivalent can do this.

 

[Aylaaenas_Evenwing]

In this render i made a pastel green round light, for the front light and added a plane behind the model to bounce the light back.

 

[Aylaaenas_Evenwing]

I made a test light, light blue, purple and dark blue, just small stripes. I really like this effect.

This is all i used, it gives it a more different feel than normal.

 

[RAMWolff]

Thank you for starting this thread!

 

[Aylaaenas_Evenwing]

I think the only way to learn, is to share and help each other. And I hope I can find simple ways for nice effects. I already made a new light set which works for me.

 

[LisaB]

Nice to see a start on this.

If this topic is something that you all really want to discuss, add your vote by participating in this thread. If there are enough ‘votes’ we will create a sub-forum here specifically for this topic.

 

[Miss B]

I made a test light, light blue, purple and dark blue, just small stripes. I really like this effect.

I like both of them, but this light blue, purple, and dark blue really produces a nice effect.

 

[Art_of_Mind]

I would really like to see some Hivewire aproved light camera sets that all merchants can use for store renders. This will speed up store renders and make the store look great.

 

[Miss B]

Not being a CA, I didn't know HW had a specific set of lights and cameras to be used with promos.

 

[Rae134]

I don't think they do Miss B but it would be a great idea.

A starter scene of lights/cameras set up for each of the render engines (3DL, Iray, FireFly and Superfly) would be handy to get consistent promos across the board.

(lighting can make or break an image and a promo if not done properly can make a great product look like crap)

 

[Miss B]

I don't think they do Miss B but it would be a great idea.

OK, I just reread AoM's comment, and realized I read it wrong. I also think it would be a great idea, especially for those who have problems with creating promos which would be approved without any issues that needed to be corrected.

 

[Aylaaenas_Evenwing]

Good point regarding the camera, been thinking about that too. I think i will release some free portrait lights if they also work good in poser.

With meshes it is best to show also an in textured render. Love to see also wireframes.

The best promo renders to me are the ones from Monique 7 and 8 and Darius 8.

And I love the promo renders of zalara.

There is probably postwork involved. However I like to render in parts, so I can manipulate every part of the render, like dof shadows and highlights. Then compose that in photoshop, it is the so called beauty render. I don't consider that or tonemapping as real postwork. But I think when people do that they have to show that on the product page.

 

[Aylaaenas_Evenwing]

I don't think everything has to be set in stone. I still like some artistic freedom. Maybe one promo render what could be done with the product?

The main promo should persuade the public into buying the product. So it has to engage people. Lot of stuff to think about still, but already good points.

If people have standard setups it will indeed improve the quality of the promos. Daz uses a system of half close ups.
Maybe we can develop something like that together. A community effort.

 

[Aylaaenas_Evenwing]

This is an extremely good render and promo for anime girls, courtesy of Ken. Simply beautiful.

 

[Rae134]

love Ken's stuff

I think the main promo image and artistic renders are different to the product promo renders.
I think the product renders would really show the products off better if they were as consistent as possible over all the render engines (for all products in store).
And the only postwork that should be done to product promo's is adding text (or combining different products into one image, say if you renders boots separate from a dress for example). To me, the main promos should have minimal postwork, as people want to be able to see what the product can do out of the box (not everyone can postwork). Artistic renders are a different ball game, they're to show what can be done with the product and should be labelled as such.

 

[Aylaaenas_Evenwing]

love Ken's stuff

I think the main promo image and artistic renders are different to the product promo renders.
I think the product renders would really show the products off better if they were as consistent as possible over all the render engines (for all products in store).
And the only postwork that should be done to product promo's is adding text (or combining different products into one image, say if you renders boots separate from a dress for example). To me, the main promos should have minimal postwork, as people want to be able to see what the product can do out of the box (not everyone can postwork). Artistic renders are a different ball game, they're to show what can be done with the product and should be labelled as such.

Yes but rendering to canvasses is not really postwork although you have now every aspect on a different layer and can manipulate the outcome better without rerendering. Also iray has some postwork filters included.

Also Daz has also no rules in what software you render your product, only one picture has to be in studio if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Miss B]

I think i will release some free portrait lights if they also work good in poser.

I often use these free Portrait Lights for Poser 11 by Ghostship (or Ghostship2 on the Renderosity forum). I've used them a lot for final SuperFly renders. They are over at ShareCG --> Studio Portrait Lights for Poser 11 - Poser 11 Pro

 

[Doug Hunter]

Nice to see a start on this.

If this topic is something that you all really want to discuss, add your vote by participating in this thread. If there are enough ‘votes’ we will create a sub-forum here specifically for this topic.

I'm in. Great idea

 

[Janet]

Nice to see a start on this.

If this topic is something that you all really want to discuss, add your vote by participating in this thread. If there are enough ‘votes’ we will create a sub-forum here specifically for this topic.

Please!

I'm so glad to see this issue brought up. When it comes to promo images I'm lost. Could it be where we could show renders we are working on and asking for critique?

 

[Aylaaenas_Evenwing]

Please!

I'm so glad to see this issue brought up. When it comes to promo images I'm lost. Could it be where we could show renders we are working on and asking for critique?

Yes, yes and share any tutorial to better your and our work. I would like a place where we can share our knowledge. And maybe we can indeed make some standard rules so it is easier to help and improve the outcome.