PlasmaStream in 3D

Here is my rendition of PlasmaStream.

I wasn't quite sure how to do the eyes; I don't know how to do "glowy" effects in PSP, and most of the things I tried didn't look at all like what I wanted. This simplified version is the one I liked the best from the various things I attempted.

Hope you like it, Plas!

Wow! Big visual impact! I can see how Plasmastream's eyes could be troubling. The 3D programs might not be the best to bring those out. I bet you could do a better job with them with the medium you normally use. However, the whole 3-D cityscape combined with the figure really is impressive. I like it.

Okay, first off, I have to totally second Kat on that cityscape... damn! Nice work there. The texturing you did on Plas' outfit isn't half bad either. However, for latter reference, you could have done a bit more with the pose. That's a very classic flight pose, but you didn't wring it for all it's worth. In such a pose, it's almost like the hero is flying due to their shear desire to reach the sky, like they are grabbing a hold of it and pulling themselves up into the heavens. Plas seems... very bored with the whole matter and is using that pose to fly because, well, she had to do something with her arms, and, hey, why not... eh. For a more dramatic flight shot, her shoulders (and as a result, her ribs) should be angled to the side, like she's really REACHING for that height. The shoulder of the arm that is outstretched should be pulled forward while the other shoulder is pushed back. The hips should be opposite the shoulders (remember contraposta?) which would give the spine an excellent curvy bend. The more bent the spine, the more dramatic the pose, the more strait the spine the more uptight and boring the pose

As for the eye glow, a very simple on could be achieved in PSP by creating a new layer and coloring in the glow in the darkest purple that the glow is to be over the eyes. I did this in about 1.5 minutes. Once I put the color down, I used the smudge brush to pull the color out to each side and then I just set the layers blend mode to dodge. It's not all thgat good, but it's a starting point and can be worked off of. Seriously, take some time to just fiddle with the layers in PSP, what all the blend modes do, and fiddle with the tools... best way to learn it.

Good work so far, but you really need to push your post production skills.

Wow Very Cool loved that the city was also there.

very cool!

I love seeing people using 3D well. I'm just now getting back into using 3d studio again, after years of being away from it.

maybe, to create a more real look to it, make the city-scape out of focus. That way it'll resemble real life more.

Oooh very awesome Sartoriness!!!

Meesa like very much Sartori....and to echo that background is bloody awesome in combination! =)


-Artist mode-
Also, as an art thing/tip whatever to anyone, since you said you were using PSP, which is the primary program I do anything in....

Try using Sunburst, I find it works very well for eye glows but you can't use layers (in my experience) to add them so just be careful on the placement

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Okay, first off, I have to totally second Kat on that cityscape... damn! Nice work there. The texturing you did on Plas' outfit isn't half bad either. However, for latter reference, you could have done a bit more with the pose. That's a very classic flight pose, but you didn't wring it for all it's worth. In such a pose, it's almost like the hero is flying due to their shear desire to reach the sky, like they are grabbing a hold of it and pulling themselves up into the heavens. Plas seems... very bored with the whole matter and is using that pose to fly because, well, she had to do something with her arms, and, hey, why not... eh. For a more dramatic flight shot, her shoulders (and as a result, her ribs) should be angled to the side, like she's really REACHING for that height. The shoulder of the arm that is outstretched should be pulled forward while the other shoulder is pushed back. The hips should be opposite the shoulders (remember contraposta?) which would give the spine an excellent curvy bend. The more bent the spine, the more dramatic the pose, the more strait the spine the more uptight and boring the pose

As for the eye glow, a very simple on could be achieved in PSP by creating a new layer and coloring in the glow in the darkest purple that the glow is to be over the eyes. I did this in about 1.5 minutes. Once I put the color down, I used the smudge brush to pull the color out to each side and then I just set the layers blend mode to dodge. It's not all thgat good, but it's a starting point and can be worked off of. Seriously, take some time to just fiddle with the layers in PSP, what all the blend modes do, and fiddle with the tools... best way to learn it.

Good work so far, but you really need to push your post production skills.

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Gonna agree with Graver completely ^^

Your background is *wonderful* ^^ the character could use work in a couple areas though; but Graver pretty much said what I'd say.

Still; its a nice piece of work >.<b its one of those "You did good - but we know you can do even better!" types of things <,< Looking forward to more <^_^>

Not a bad start at all. Having rendered PlasmaStream myself, I'm familiar with how difficult parts of her can be. I have a couple of suggestions that might strengthen the peice.

Costume Texture - The texture on the costume looks too low rez for the rest of the piece. When textures in a 3D piece have different resolutions, they don't 'play nice' together and it's a little distracting. I'd recommend increasing yor texture to 3000 x 3000 at a minimum since the character is so central and the piece is being rendered fairly large.

Pose - As has been recommended above, the pose is kinda stiff. This is a problem I'm VERY familiar with and I stuggle with it in Poser all the time. Small twists in the hips, shoulders, and neck all help to bring life to 3D characters.

Blur - Since Plasma is moving upwards, it wold be cool to see some blue behind her. Nothing big, mind you... you don't want to slap the viewer in the face with your leet 'speshul effekts'... just a subtle softening of the cape and feet at the very end.

City - The city is cool, but it would be COOLER if you did two things; 1 - add a street so the city blocks have some definition and not look so cramped, and 2 - lower the sun and create some interesting shadows and highlights to push the sense of scale. Cities are incredibly interesting backgrounds, and you can 'get more for less' if you add a park, or parking lot, or highway, or even just an intersection.

BTW Sartori, I hope you don't mind my suggestions. I know you've been working hard at 3D and it's obvious you're making some pretty big strides... you've got a lot of good things happening in your works. Definitely keep it up, man!

Thank you all for the comments. They are all very much appreciated. I don't mind constructive criticism at all; it is very welcome, and it is the only way I'm going to improve. DJ, you know I value your opinion highly, and I eagerly receive any advice you throw my way!

One thing I have to clarify, though, is that I can't take credit for the city scene. I didn't render it myself; I simply used an existing image as a backdrop. I tried using several "city block" props I had acquired, but they didn't look good enough. So, while I'm gratified that I apparently chose the right backdrop image, I certainly cannot take credit for having created it.

All of the critiques offered here and in private are quite valid, and as I said, appreciated. I'll be revising this one with these comments in mind, and I hope to have an updated version posted here shortly.

Again, thank you all for the feedback!

nice!
I really can't criticize anything since it's a hella lot more than I could ever do...wowzas...

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Thank you all for the comments. They are all very much appreciated. I don't mind constructive criticism at all; it is very welcome, and it is the only way I'm going to improve. DJ, you know I value your opinion highly, and I eagerly receive any advice you throw my way!

One thing I have to clarify, though, is that I can't take credit for the city scene. I didn't render it myself; I simply used an existing image as a backdrop. I tried using several "city block" props I had acquired, but they didn't look good enough. So, while I'm gratified that I apparently chose the right backdrop image, I certainly cannot take credit for having created it.

All of the critiques offered here and in private are quite valid, and as I said, appreciated. I'll be revising this one with these comments in mind, and I hope to have an updated version posted here shortly.

Again, thank you all for the feedback!

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Ya know, there's a reason people pay interior decorators to pick out wallpaper for their home <^,~>m

What I'm saying is - sometimes, its less important to be the orginator of an image (so long as you give credit where you can of course) than to cast the image in an appropriate role that makes it stand out.

You definitely picked the right cityscape >.< very very effective! <^_^>m Trying to say - don't devalue yourself in that regard; its good to say you didn't make it; but take pride in that you did choose the right part for the job.

btw these 3-d thingers...what program do you use to do such things?

Here is my revised version of this pic. I made several changes that Plas had requested, and I also tried to take the advice in this thread. I tried to make the pose more dynamic, and I think the overal result is much improved from the original.

There was some advice that I tried to take, but didn't have success with, namely trying to add a motion blur. The various things I attempted didn't come out right, so I left it off this one. I'll have to learn some better ways to do that kind of thing before attempting it on another pic.

By the way... I'm using Poser 6 to render the scene and Paint Shop Pro 9 for the textures and post work.

Anyway... pending final approval from Plas, I think this is the final version. Let me know what you think! And thanks again for the help and advice.

Whoa...

-CJ

okay I have no idea how to make 3-d animation period, that being said this is awesome......just awesome......

*thumbsup* You really took that advice to heart Sartori!!! Wow! Great work!!!

100% better satori sauce

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100% better satori sauce

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Yep! <^_^> This is a much improved version; I like it! (And I liked the original - but this is a significant boost up!) Good job!

Much much much much much much much much much much much... um... much better

Not only is the pose 1000% better (looks like she's really makein' her self zip through the skies now) and the eye glow looks quite nice... her hair even looks better. Did you do anything to that?

Either way, great job!

I think the new one is much better then the first one!

Yeah big improvement over the first try my friend!!


That came out very sweet!!


Great render there Sartori!!


Gratz Plas!

Gotta say, great inprovement over the original, not that the original didnt look great. The pose looks much better and the higher resolution clothing makes a difference.

Great work.

YES! Doesn't look like cheap latex anymore but looks like something an actual person would wear Great job!

/fell over dead from happiness when she saw the pm, will respond when I resurrect myself/