Angels Dance, George Drakakis (3D)

[Dtox]

Do you mean "Angles" or "Angels" as in the biblical term?
I don't see anything that suggests "Angels", but "Angles" I can see.

What are the rules of this contest?
Because if people are gonna be submitting images rendered with the likes of Vray and Maxwell, cinemas AR will really come up short.
If the rules permit you to use post processing you might want to reconsider the decision to use them or not.
It could be one of the only ways to level the playing feild when trying to compete with other render engines.

It's good to see great images come straight out of the render engine, and you've done a good job with it.
But if the only thing you get out of NOT using post techniques is the ability to say it's a straight render, it's just not worth it especially when competing with much better render engines.

If you're not allowed to use post, then carry on you've done a good job.

I see alot of people though take great pride in not using post processing.
It's a big deal with digital photographers wanting to only use Photoshop to do things that would traditionally be done in the darkroom.
And when they can get a great image totally "in-camera" with NO postpro at all, they take immense pride in that.
However, if someone can get a much better image with post-pro techniques, then it's still a better image.
Especially if it's gonna be judged by people who don't know the difference or don't care.

[georgedrakakis]

hi Dtox,
yes the title is "angels dance".
i've used a couple of (shopping!) figures from the architectural demo library and dropped a fresnel shader.
the contest rules (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.c4dzone.com%2Fforum%2Fviewtopic.php%3Ft%3D9469) allow the use of Advanced Render only.
i took part for the shader fun.
the angels theme was just the start to explore shader stuff.
i am not against post-pro, since most of the time it can save you from hours of modelling/rendering/texturing.
i am an architect and i like to keep my 3d artwork simple, with a minimal pipeline.
cheers,
george

[Dtox]

I've done a little archviz work in the past using Max.
And Photoshop came in very valuable.

When some things can be done in less time using photoshop than in a renderer, that's what the situation calls for.
I hear ya on the minimal pipeline, but you should re-evaluate your reasoning regarding that.

Minimal pipeline doesn't mean unfinished work.
Your image is OK, but it could be alot better by just using photoshop and some adjustment layers after rendering.
A multi-pass render once you've actually got the texturing and surfacing aspect under more control will make you a better artist/technician if you learn it well.

The image above, IMO, still needs alot of work.
Especially if it's a contest submission.

I think your minimal pipeline philosophy is in need of serious revision.
PS for post-pro is still within 'minimal pipeline' idealism.

Not to be rude or anything, but I hope you're not just being stubborn.

Because your image has a serious lack of detail in every aspect, to be perfectly honest.

[Dtox]

Just read the rules, the translation was a little off so some things don't make sense to me.

I wouldn't have guessed your image used GI.
Looks like a very abstract lighting setup.

Are the star patterns on the walls done with caustics? Using GI only? No other lights?
Because those are the rules, no other lights, right?

Wish I had known about this sooner.
I could really use a full license of Vray.

[georgedrakakis]

hi Dtox,
you are totally right in everything you pointed out.
i know that i could impoved the image, and i know that i could have done better. i'm not pleased with the image myself also.
i don't under-estimating the power of post-pro, especially color mapping or tweaking curves in PS, not to mention what you can do with object buffers, etc.
i just didn't go for it this time.
the pre-modeled scene had nulls for placing lights.
additional lighting was an option too.
the star patterns are lights with light gels.
if you have time, follow this link: angels_dance (http://www.frenchcinema4d.fr/hub.php?doc=matiere&matiere=1313)

cheers,
george

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