Douglas Shuler "Does" Ms. Frost! <gasp>
By
Dark Ether,
Posted on: 2007-07-26 15:47 in Multi-Media Fan Creations
What is there to say other than friggin' awesome! I love how he has Ghost Widow encased in ice. Her face is just gorgeous.
Whoa! Doug's work is always awesome! That is incredible.
d=^_^=b
Marvelous, simply Maaaarvelous
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What always amazes me is not the actual Poser work DJ does . It is his retouches . The faces become so natural once he fixes them sometimes. Look at any picture straight out of poser and compare to what he does you will know what I mean.
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Ooooooo... very nice!
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What always amazes me is not the actual Poser work DJ does . It is his retouches . The faces become so natural once he fixes them sometimes. Look at any picture straight out of poser and compare to what he does you will know what I mean.
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Thanks Grey.
IMO, Poser faces are incredibly dead. Sometimes even frightening. I spend a LOT of time retouching the image to give it more life and have found myself re-painting major sections to get the image I want.
In fact, I think anyone that shows a raw poser render is selling themselves short. Poser isn't an artist and it can only put out what it's told... it's the person BEHIND the program that makes the image worthy. Why so many stop at the render phase is beyond me.
HERE is the piece on my little corner of Deviant Art.
Man you suck... and I mean that as the highest compliment! 
*must control jealous fit* j/k... Great job DJ, would love to see a before and after, that is what the poser face was compared to yours... amazing piece!
Stunning work as always, Doug!
You already know the high esteem in which I hold your work (and your opinions). But I do have to rebut one thing...
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In fact, I think anyone that shows a raw poser render is selling themselves short. Poser isn't an artist and it can only put out what it's told... it's the person BEHIND the program that makes the image worthy. Why so many stop at the render phase is beyond me.
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Speaking only for myself, I have to say that a big part of the reason I pursue 3D is that I'm simply unable to draw or paint anything that even comes close to the image I have in my mind.
It may come easy to you, and it may be a result of years of practice -- most likely, both -- but not everyone can do it. The times I've tried to draw or paint, whether using computer software or traditional media, have produced pretty dismal results. If I were to attempt the degree of postwork that you are able to achieve (and I have tried), the results consistently look nowhere near as good as the original render did to begin with.
I definitely salute and admire your ability to not only produce excellent renders, but to take them so much further. It's what makes your work so outstanding. But for some of us, our best bet is to get the software to do as much of the work as possible.
That is so "cool"
Apologies if I came across wrong, Sartori. Let me see if I can clarify;
My comments weren't intended to be a reflection of specific ability between one artist and another, but more a desire that more artists would use a self-critical eye. That is to say, I don't believe enough Poser artists are critical of themselves and therefore don't push for a higher level of achievement. All an artist needs to do is notice ONE flaw in each piece they create and they learn something - but that requires the artist look at their work from an outsider's point of view and critique it honestly. Regrettibly, too few Poser users accept the raw render and don't look again at what they've created with the necessary critical eye to ensure their next piece is better.
You are an exception; from our previous conversations, I know for a fact you push for more, and your pieces are stronger because of it.
I'm with Sartori, I can't draw or paint to save my life (well OK, i do OK with perspective studies using acrylics, or did at one time).
So having 3D rendering tools available makes it possible for me to actually create something worth checking out.
But, a lot of the things you can do isn't just the program. Things like composition, lighting, cameras... you get all those elements together, and you can create really nice scenes with little to no postwork. Yes, they're 'raw'... just like a kid with a Polaroid camera does 'raw' photography... but it still can be art.
THAT's where the skill is.. to make the elements fit the imagination. By whatever means necessary.
that said, you're an master, Doug, and we salute you.
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As usual, top quality stuff with DJ
Thanks, Doug, and I didn't mean to sound argumentative. Of course, you're certainly right. I have a book I got for Christmas called "Secrets of Poser Experts" that features the work and insights of some incredible artists, and the one thing they all have in common is that they use their Poser renders as a starting point -- and do most of the "real" work in Photoshop. That's something you taught me a long time ago.
But anyway, enough hijacking of the thread. I think we can all agree with Soul Train's " master" assessment, and this piece is definitely a prime example of master-ness. Or something like that. 
With Poser work, everyone is different just as their personalities are different. Each person must find themselves in their own way. For some, being overly critical would mean frustration and that would lead them to quit producing all together. Personal limitations can also affect the finished work.
People like myself try our hardest and sometimes we get modest responses. Eh, that's life. Some don't have Photoshop or have limited knowledge to add more to their work. Some even get so bogged down in the technical aspect they forget to look at the over all idea. I have seen some plain renders that were awesome only because the elements were posed in such a manner that the they conveyed the feeling more than the technique or shading. If the character is flat or shows no emotion, no amount of post work will help the piece.
Doug is great.
I really don't have the words to express how amazing this came out, and how much I appreciate the work that he did on this one.
I have to apologize to him for jumping the gun and posting it here - I know he usually posts a bit describing how it was done and so forth, but I got so psyched that I couldn't help myself, I guess. 
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With Poser work, everyone is different just as their personalities are different. Each person must find themselves in their own way. For some, being overly critical would mean frustration and that would lead them to quit producing all together. Personal limitations can also affect the finished work.
People like myself try our hardest and sometimes we get modest responses. Eh, that's life. Some don't have Photoshop or have limited knowledge to add more to their work. Some even get so bogged down in the technical aspect they forget to look at the over all idea. I have seen some plain renders that were awesome only because the elements were posed in such a manner that the they conveyed the feeling more than the technique or shading. If the character is flat or shows no emotion, no amount of post work will help the piece.
Doug is great.
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First off, I always look forward to Doug's work because it's always an inspiration to me. I think maybe in a way Ferrari is an inspiration to Huyndai.... It gives me ideas, artistically and technically of what's available.
Second, to your point,
"For some, being overly critical would mean frustration and that would lead them to quit producing all together."
I walk away from 3D several times a month in frustration because, I feel I'm not developing fast enough and I'm just not happy with where I am and where I want to be. I always seem to come back because I do love it as an artform. I don't know that I would continue to do anything If I thought, well here I am, I don't need to push at this thing anymore, I'm just going to go through the exercise. (let me say that I don't think any of the poser artist who have posted in this thread do and that's part of my point) Having said all that, I don't think being over critical is the point.
I would never presume to speak for anyone but it seems to me it was more about not alowing yourself to stagnate with poser or accepting it as is(could be with any medium for art actually). Not whether you do it this way or that way. I've seen and talked with some people who have manged pretty realistic expressions within poser but got there differently.
I look at where I started (I posted something similar in my journal), I was just so happy to render a picture. Let's say I stayed there. Never developing beyond throwing clothes on a figure and rendering vs trying to understand lighting, textures, surfaces, posing, postwork etc, etc. I would have probably given up a long time ago because there would have been no way I could have continued to express myself with that limited skill set. It's seems to me everyone of the 3D artist who have posted in this thread talke about their journy so to speak when they post and image. They're all just different.
If I've misinterpreted anyone here, my apologies.
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Btw, I posted on DA but again, awesome piece.
I wonder if I'll ever be able to get away from being slapped down for what I say.
People, I get it. I'm not the most popular person. I really don't need a slap to remind me.
Very well done!
I got my next AWESOME commission for final review today - my Ms. Frost, as portrayed by Doug, aka Dark Jedi. I'm all a-tingle!
Ms. Frost poster
Detailed Closeup
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