Learning Dark Arts

Come learn the art of 3D computer generated art and animation. This blog deals with the lessons learned and the art created by Robert G. Male using DazStudio from Daz3D. Also covered are the ancillary software, tools, techniques, and processes needed both before and after rending in the 3D software.

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Spell casting woman.


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September 27, 2010

Struggling Corpse-shader

A.K.A. Attack of the Monochrome Vampires

They are out there, stalking the night, hiding from the sun, and pale as death. Vampires. You can buy a character with skin maps to make them, but if you are handy with a photo or paint program you can make your own maps for only the cost of your time. The first question you have to ask yourself is what kind of vampire do you want. Some fit in perfectly with everyone else, others not so much. There is sunless pale, there is corpse-shade, there is pancake make-up Goth white--suspiciously a base for clowns too--and there is whatever else you want to make--yes even glittery. Once you have an intended look for your vampire it is time to edit an existing map. This map can be for whatever character you want and have. I went to my go-to Saylor map for Victoria. I wanted corpse-shade approaching albino for my new vampire.

To that end I took the map and turned it into a grey-scale image. Then I increased the brightness to make it brighter and paler. Just lowering the colour saturation and brightening the map leads to a more ghostly, almost glowing figure, which may have its uses for other pictures. Changing the character's map is only one part of the equation. Some maps are dependent upon the figure being a particular colour in addition to applying the map as a pose. This is important when using a colour map because the perfect skin tone in the pre-production map will end up very different because that additional colour alteration is missing. The same may be true if you apply the original maps first and then exchange them for the altered ones. Also remember there may be a body map, a limbs map, and one or more head maps, take into consideration make-up options for female characters too.

For an example of my new vampire using this map check out When I Awake (nudity) or the safe for work version.

Music: A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum.

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September 13, 2010

Dynamic Draping Dud


Correct Draping
Click to Enlarge

I have one shirt that works with the Dynamic Clothing tab in DazStudio. So far it is the only item I have sprung for that uses it. I have eyed that blanket, sheet, tablecloth or whatever it was that was offered prior to the inclusion of the tab in Daz3D. The image above details three renders I made using the draping functionality. A) shows the shirt on the posed figure with nothing done to it. B) shows the shirt once the draping has been applied. It looks great. C) shows the shirt when Michael is wearing pants. It is not such a great job, but shouldn't be hard to fix in postproduction, though it might look as if there is no interaction between shirt and pants. It does not bode well for animation that postproduction work is required despite that the tab offers the option for animation. Still, it is a nice step forward for more realistic renders. It brings hope for the future.

Sometimes though, things go wrong in weird ways for what seems to me to be no reason. Take for instance this bizarre picture to the right that resulted when I previously ran the same dynamic clothes on this same model of Michael with the same shirt and pants. In DazStudio I examined the correct example B) from behind when completed and found it to be as correct as it was viewed from the front. I have no idea what went wrong. I am unsure as to why it is limp and pulling down at the bottom but at the same time trying to climb up his head--almost as if it's a symbiote trying to form a mask to hide his secret identity. To a small degree I cannot help but wonder if the pose has some impact on the draping. The botched draping is on an entirely custom pose whereas the correct ones are on a stock pose. I doubt this is the case though.

Music: Cool The Engines by Boston.
Incorrect Draping Click to Enlarge

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September 6, 2010

Happy Labour Day 2010

Have a safe and happy holiday. Remember to enjoy the good weather while you can.

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Music: Seasons in the Sun by Terry Jacks.

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Robert G. Male

Name: Robert G. Male
Location: Ontario, Canada

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Suggested Reading:

This scary book

available at Battered Spleen Productions™.


Suggested Listening:

This free scary audio book

available at Battered Spleen Productions™.



Learning Dark Arts is a presentation of

Battered Spleen Productions™