Stage One Complete:

Well I am finally on my way, in the last two months I managed to get Vue 8 Frontier in a copy of 3D World, love it so much I upgraded to version 9 with a special offer over at DAZ3D. Plus I had some Gift Certs and vouchers so I picked it up for a song.

Last Sunday I upgraded to Vue 9 Espirt which was on special from eon-software. Got to work straight away on finishing off an image I started in version 8 (look up). Espirt gives more control over the final render plus I can import more formats. Also for a while I have been collecting cheap or free Vue formatted content. Now I can use them all.

So since starting this 3D rendering lark I have used Bryce, Carrara, Daz Studio, Poser and Vue.

Bryce 7 Pro: I love the latest additions to the lighting and rendering quality. True Ambience is sweet. In my opinion Bryce can make some great terrains better than Vue, for detail that is. Good Material Lab and Deep Texture Editor. The possibilities are endless but this is true of Vue in that regard. If I want distant terrains then I may stick with Bryce. If I want close vegetation I will use Vue. But I can make the terrains in Bryce and save the height map and use it in Vue and vice versa.

Carrara 7 Pro: I never really got on with Carrara but never say never as with each piece of software I learn the easier it is to learn other programs. So you never know with me. But I won’t be upgrading beyond 7 Pro for now. There is version 8 out now which I believe is more stable and has more functions for animators.

Daz Studio 3 Advanced: This is where all this kicked off big time. I love the program, with what it can do and I love the company. Again in my opinion it is the easiest program to learn and use. I could rant all day about how good it is but I won’t bore you.

Poser: Well I won Poser 8 in an image contest and I have opened it a few times, hummm not very intuitive. But if I get the bit between my teeth I dare say I will get to grips with it. To be honest I am having too much fun in Vue at the moment.

Vue: What can I say about Vue? I had an inclining that I would like this program even with a low powered computer. I was wrong I don’t like it I absolutely LOVE it. :D I will spend the next year or so buying the modules I want and saving up for a new computer. Until then I will keep learning about the technical and artist aspects of 3D art.

What is good about all this is that the content I purchase from Daz Studio can be used in Bryce, Carrara, Poser, Vue and of course Daz Studio. Plus with my Photoshop skills growing I can use multiple programs compositing the renders in Photoshop

Yeap art is good for the soul just like gardening. I am doubly blessed, three if you count my wife. Duck - ouch!

A Helping Hand

Ever heard of Redhouse Studios? I hadn’t until I went to Daz3D. They were a group of people that made some extremely well made and textured 3D props for rendering in Daz Studio and Poser. Well one of the members of RHS, Jack Tomalin now works directly for Daz3D and still makes some stunning stuff.

Recently Jack has updated his website with a few freebies. Plus he intends to make some props to sell direct, away from Daz3D. If you are interest pop over to his website http://www.jacktomalin.com/ and sign up for his advertising free newsletter. This will enable you to download the freebies. Plus it will help keep you informed of what and when his first prop is ready to purchase.

Took me all of 5 seconds to sign up when I heard. And no I don’t get anything from this apart from helping out a true artist in his field.

To see some of his work pop over to Daz3D and take a look http://www.daz3d.com/i/shop/artistlist?artist=65987&_m=d

So little time to post

I must keep up with this blog, for at least myself. To see the changes I have gone through since getting into this 3D art rendering stuff. Changes in myself and my art.

If my non-inspiring art teacher could see me now....I would poke him in the eye for saying I had no talent for art. I suppose he was correct in the sense I cannot draw, paint or sculpt. But I know now I have a good eye.

So 7 months later I am still learning with DreamLight, signed up for another 18 months and 10 months of live training.

Still using Daz Studio mainly. Bryce 7 Pro occasionally and Carrara never. I did manage to get Vue 8 Frontier free with issue 139 of 3D World magazine two weeks ago. Since then I have been playing with it nonstop. This has spurred me on the get a new computer and Vue Complete. It is such an amazing program.

I have had some good fortune recently. I entered a contest over at http://www.yurdigital.com/ and won 2nd Prize, the prize being Poser 8.

Won it with this image:

Now I will have to learn how to use Poser. That should be fun.

Plus I have won a few firsts and seconds with DreamLight’s in house monthly contest. So yeah I am happy with my progress. I even managed to get a third on Daz3D’s Platinum Club Gallery last year. That pleased me no end as it marked a turning point with my art. The competition is fierce I can tell you.

I use the contests as a motivational tool, it pushes me to better what I produce. I don’t do it for the prizes, though it helps with getting more content or plug-ins.

It is a lot of hard work and a flattened bum but for me it is worth it. I feel so much better in myself. Home life has calmed since I am mellower. Not so pent up and depressed about being a crip disabled. Through art I have gained some self esteem back and it is growing each day.