Daz3DelightExp

The very first issue of DS Creative Magazine has been released.  

A fan created magazine all about DAZ Studio.

Check it out at at: issuu.com/philatdsc/docs/ds_cr…

Everyone involved did a great job pop over and take a look.

Some of you may already be aware but if not, here's a heads up.  

Only a few days to go until the release of the first issue of DS Creative Magazine.

Created by a group of artists who are dedicated users of Daz Studio, the team have been working hard putting together all the art and article submissions that have received along with talking to vendors and content creators.

They have a fantastic first issue lined up for everyone with a great variety of content along with a couple of special surprises.

So keep your eyes peeled, or better yet, head over to the DS Creative Facebook page - www.facebook.com/groups/dazcre… to keep up with the release and what else is going on.

What do Superman Returns, The Last few Harry Potter Movies, Twilight Eclipse and District 9 all have in common?

The render engine used for all the 3D Graphics in those movies was 3Delight.

Paying attention now?  3Delight is second only to Renderman in Hollywood.  Yes, Renderman is still king.  That's great.  You can get your license for the bargain basement price of... drumroll pleeze: ONLY Nineteen Ninety Nine and Ninety Nine Cents!... (that's $2,000 for those of you in Port St. Lucie www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03… )

Whereas, you can pick up a copy of 3Delight for, beware of sticker shock: FWEEE!

Yes, folks, free, as in it costs you nada.  You can get it two ways: you can use it in DAZ Studio, which at the moment is given away by DAZ 3D.  Or you can download a copy from 3Delight.com  And you can render your D|S stuff in it very surprisingly easily!

Personally, I have both.  Every single render I have posted on my DA account was done with 3Delight.

Now, I'm not claiming I'm any kind of great artist, but my skin is getting better, and one of the things I do for fun is play with skin shaders, because I want that quality of skin that Poser users benefit from... well, it seems to me that they benefit from a lot of people doing a lot of work to get those skin shaders in the Firefly Render Engine... something those of us who use 3Delight still have to go through....

And, frankly, the challenges for 3Delight users are stiff.  WE have to deal with RSL!  The Renderman Shader Language.  Or, if we don't know that language (which I do not, but I hope to learn something of it by the end of the year), we have to rely on those that do.

But do not let anyone anywhere sit there and tell you that you have a crappy render engine if you're using 3Delight!  You do not!

Yes, DAZ Studio users, you have access to Octane and Lux Render (via Reality or Luxus), but I'm telling you, the vast majority of you will eventually come back to 3Delight.  Why?  Because, folks, we have not begun to see its true power at our finger tips... it's just a little out of reach at the moment, but there are more than a few people doing a lot of work to get at that power!

I'll keep doing my experiments.  I've done a few with Area Lights and Sub Surface Scattering, and I like to share my shaders and lights in hopes that others can pull them apart, get a better idea and make those available.  I've been playing with PW Surface 2 Lately (which I recommend, by the way)... and our good friend MattyManx has made some of his PW Shaders available to those who have PW Surface 2.

Since I originally posted this blog on my personal page, a lot has happened including a very nice thread on 3Delight Shaders and Lights on the DAZ Forums.  Anyone who believes he or she has anything to contribute to it, please do so: www.daz3d.com/forums/viewthrea…

You DAZ Studio users have a bloody good render engine.  To those of you who are dedicated to improving our ability to use it, I'd just like to say "thank you!"

Please welcome my successor and the new founder of this group, .  He has been a long faithful co-founder who's always done a great job, and I felt that he was the perfect candidate to take over.

Ok, I know most of you are wondering about me and my long absence (actually I was still voting & keeping up some), so I will say that things have been changing for me.  At this time, I've been out in real life socializing and doing things as well as joining jam sessions playing the harmonicas (my other serious hobby).  I have long since lost a lot of interest in 3D and managing groups.  There are a lot of times when I come home and don't even bother turning the computer on unless I'm tampering with music or want to watch YouTube stuff, then I start tampering around DA and do some helping out with the groups.  I try to be here often as a founder of a few groups, 'cause I know what it's like to be a co-founder of a group where the founder is absolutely no where to be found.  Yesterday I finally decided that I need to do something about this, so as for this group, I've asked NeilV to step up to the plate, which he gladly accepted and I'm very thankful.  I will still be a co-founder of this group so I can help out when I can, and the door is open for a couple more co-founder if anyone (experienced and who knows quality) is interested.

Thanks a lot, Neil!!  This will help me greatly, but I won't desert you totally lol.

Ok, so now I'll let Neil say what he wants if he wants (when he's here, he'll edit this journal), he's in charge now  Please welcome him!

...wolfie

I would like to thank Wolfie for all the hard work he has done with setting up this group  and with running it of it.  Just to let you all know that the principles on which the group was founded will still be the same.  I wish  Wolfie all the luck with what he is doing now.

NeilV

Just to let you all know that since DeviantArt successfully created a system for members to sell things for points, I added this new folder for merchants to add their images displaying their products they are selling.  The stipulation to this is that the products must be 3D with a statement saying that Daz Studio mats are included.  No 2D background or images of renders products, just 3D contents that you load in Daz Studio and/or Poser.

They must also give me, the founder a copy of the product.

Just kidding

Seriously, I really like this new system that DA has created for their members, and am thinking about putting my next character up for this (when I create her), I love the fact that they are only asking 20% of the profit.  Beats Renderosity or Daz3D where you have to split the profit equally (very unfair but what choice do we have?).  And if you're doing this with a partner, we get screwed yet more, as the two partners only get 25% and 3D stores get 50% when all they're doing is hosting the products... extra ads costs more...  Also, you have to wait ages for the paychecks, whereas at DA, you get your points immediately (I think).

Anyways, this folder is enabled for members here (all levels), I am thinking about making it available for non-members of this group to submit their products.  Got plenty of time, though, as this is pretty brand new.  I will be inviting some though, when I see them!  Spread the word, guys and gals!

...wolfie