The Big Picture Thread for 2019 AND 2020

[Llola Lane]

If hair is dragging you down in 3Delight consider converting the Shader to Uber Hair and turning off the settings for occlusion and ray tracing.  That should help speed things along with little loss of quality.

hum... not sure what UberHair is... Please explain.. or PM me... Is it another product I have to buy?  Thanks.

[Agent0013]

Llola, what are the specs on your computer? Mine has a single core processor, 4 GB RAM, and a hardwired graphics card. Not a powerful machine at all. Still, I can render two figures with hair, a composed scene, lights and camera (edited for shadows and depth of field), with default settings on the hair and materials in less than 2 hours. Of course, I don't use any figures beyond Genesis 2, as Genesis 3 and 8 always crash DAZ Studio on my machine. If you are using the latest figures, that could be a big part of your problem, and I would suggest using an earlier figure to reduce render times. Also if you are using hair products produced in the last couple of years, that could also be part of the problem.


The figures I use most are Millennium 3 and 4, Genesis 1 and 2, with hair made for those figures. I am also able to fit almost any hair to any human figure; so like I can have Victoria 3 hair fitted to Genesis 2 Females. Helps to keep render times down, and still looks good. Mitsu Hair, originally for Aiko 3, I can fit to other Mil 3 figures, Mil 4 figures, and Genesis 1 and 2 figures. I now have a later version of Mitsu hair made for Genesis 1, and while it is marginally better, the old one is still relevant for fitting all the human figures I use.


One thing I try to do is assess what I will have in my scene, and I look at earlier render times with those products. That helps me to decide which figures and hair to use. Scenes that have a lot of leafy vegetation will also increase render times, because each leaf is usually a square polygon with a transparency texture that makes the part of the square you do not want showing invisible. The more leaves you have in the scene, the longer the render time will be.


Just a few things to consider, which may or may not help you.

[Llola Lane]

Llola, what are the specs on your computer? Mine has a single core processor, 4 GB RAM, and a hardwired graphics card. Not a powerful machine at all. Still, I can render two figures with hair, a composed scene, lights and camera (edited for shadows and depth of field), with default settings on the hair and materials in less than 2 hours. Of course, I don't use any figures beyond Genesis 2, as Genesis 3 and 8 always crash DAZ Studio on my machine. If you are using the latest figures, that could be a big part of your problem, and I would suggest using an earlier figure to reduce render times. Also if you are using hair products produced in the last couple of years, that could also be part of the problem.


The figures I use most are Millennium 3 and 4, Genesis 1 and 2, with hair made for those figures. I am also able to fit almost any hair to any human figure; so like I can have Victoria 3 hair fitted to Genesis 2 Females. Helps to keep render times down, and still looks good. Mitsu Hair, originally for Aiko 3, I can fit to other Mil 3 figures, Mil 4 figures, and Genesis 1 and 2 figures. I now have a later version of Mitsu hair made for Genesis 1, and while it is marginally better, the old one is still relevant for fitting all the human figures I use.


One thing I try to do is assess what I will have in my scene, and I look at earlier render times with those products. That helps me to decide which figures and hair to use. Scenes that have a lot of leafy vegetation will also increase render times, because each leaf is usually a square polygon with a transparency texture that makes the part of the square you do not want showing invisible. The more leaves you have in the scene, the longer the render time will be.


Just a few things to consider, which may or may not help you.

Don't wanna bog the thread down with what all I 'got' (AMD Phenom II X6 1045T Processor 2.70Ghz... 16gb upgraded memory... 64bit)... lol.  It's fairly updated... The graphics card can't be updated any more... I was told I need a new computer to get any faster results... which... hubby says I can get as soon as this stupid virus stuff calms down... I'm working on my list of programs I use regularly.  Gonna get a 'geek' at Best Buy to make it for me. 

And yes.. I work with the latest and greatest figures/clothing/hair.. etc.  Can't beat what has been coming out the last few years... I also use the best lighting with shadows turned on .. I know I sacrifice time when I turn settings up full blast ... but darn it all.. I want my art to look 'real' .. and... 'render quickly"... LOL.

I'd like to make more book covers to sell but I have been told that my art isn't 'real' enough... Daz told me my work wasn't 'real' enough... honestly.. I'm not sure why I even bother... lol.  But.. that is my goal and to get things looking 'real'.. I have to keep shadows/dof/etc.. turned up full blast.  I've been learning little secrets here and there... but... until I get the new computer.. Patience.. is my middle name.  ;)

[Agent0013]

Sounds like you are a perfectionist, which I can definitely relate to. I have had to force myself to stop striving for perfection in a lot of my work, not just my art, but also in my woodworking  profession. To be honest, I have always made sure my work in whatever I was doing was high quality. I learned early that when you turn out quality work, you get repeat customers, as well as referrals through those customers that bring me more customers. Never had a disappointed client, because I always pored my heart and soul into the work I did.


All that said, I know you want to give the best you are able. I am saying we here at PFDLives will be quite satisfied with whatever you let us see. It does not have to be perfect, though I know you want it to be. It may seem like compromising your standards, but we love whatever you share with us already.


I see that you have a much better computer than mine, and if you used earlier figures and hair, you might get quicker render times, but if you choose to stick with working with the latest, that is your prerogative. I would never make demands on you and how you work.


Don't worry about bogging down this or any thread with comments in a discussion. I mean we are all doing it, and we don't mind other doing it too. So post as many comments and/or replies as you need to bring a conversation to a good conclusion. These threads are not just for the display of our art. PFDLives is about helping each other as much as it is about the art we share. That is why I love this forum, and why I work to keep it going. What we are doing here in this discussion is exactly what we should be doing, working to help each other with problems like the ones discussed here.


I'll tell you this: I wondered why you and I are such great friends here at PFDLives, and now I know it is because we are kindred spirits, which allows us to understand each other. That makes me happy. I'd certainly love to meet you in person some day, and give you a brotherly hug.

[SimonJM]

hum... not sure what UberHair is... Please explain.. or PM me... Is it another product I have to buy?  Thanks.

A very good question - I *think it's part of the base product(s), one of omnifreaker's 'uber shader' stable - in effect a sub-part of the Uber Surface Shader.  Let me see what I can find ....


<update>
Ok, they are a separate product as an update to the in-built Uber Surface shaders.  You could pretty much do the same by converting the hair surfaces to Uber Surface.

[Llola Lane]

A very good question - I *think it's part of the base product(s), one of omnifreaker's 'uber shader' stable - in effect a sub-part of the Uber Surface Shader.  Let me see what I can find ....


<update>
Ok, they are a separate product as an update to the in-built Uber Surface shaders.  You could pretty much do the same by converting the hair surfaces to Uber Surface.

Looked last night and I must be missing something... I couldn't see how to convert hair without the product... I guess I need  step by step... LOL. 

BTW... I have the most problems with hair by goldtassel... they (and others) use omUberSurface shader... Anything I open with that shader takes foreeeeeeeeeeeever to render... Not sure what's the problem.  (sigh)

[CathyY]

Sorry to break in here.  But this is one I did for the contest over at FA.  I don't know exactly how long it took, because I left it rendering in Iray while I slept and it was done when I woke up.

[Agent0013]

A lot of really fine detail in this one, Cat. I love it!

[Llola Lane]

Sorry to break in here.  But this is one I did for the contest over at FA.  I don't know exactly how long it took, because I left it rendering in Iray while I slept and it was done when I woke up.

Haa... how fun Cat... see... women CAN catch fish!!!  ;P  lol

[Wizzard]

ANd so you're not left out Cleve, a larger version of Domino's. I think it "just" falls into the range, 8 )
Cheers