nice PO
i am not insisting using that BG
may be use another similar mood
about the stripes , this part i can’t sure, may be the quality of FG (mental ray )
shadow quality i am not using high quality
may be the AA setting too
the render time is 1 hour now so i don’t use high setting, but i will try to figure it out
use it until the final render
Ok, but you should give it a try with high quality rendering once at least to see details on the skin. Maybe when all lights are supposed to be ok…
Concerning the BG: It isnt that important what photo you take, because it will have to get somewhat blurred anyway, and all you need is a bit greenary plus the correct position of the sun. So perhaps even the current one can get blown up…
edit: btw, the arrangement of the BG (as shown) is quite ideal IMO, especially to have some stuff behind her head and less stuff at left… the only minor problem is the distortion on the top of the trees, but it’s quickly corrected.
i fix the stripes and the shadow problem on the face
actually it is not relate to the render, it is the shader problem
spend me 2 days to fix find it out
after this, i think about the lighting color, i think i don’t want the orange tilt color
it is romantic , but it is sunset feeling more than morning, moreover i think i want to show the skin color (texture)naturally . i also can’t change the sun light kelvin or color
so i try to make another better sunlight, only tweak the sunlight, find a better position without making too many shadow of the window frame block on her face
the fill light is similar to the setup previously
thank again for the PO
Nice result! I like it very much. A cool detail also the shadows thrown by the lashes, something people hesitate to do in 3d, but such imperfections add a lot to realism. Also the mouth is nicely modeled by the light now. Oh, and that very strange highlight on the backside of her thigh is gone. Well done! (but be prepared to need some little adjustments when having the BG…) The only minor issue i can see right now is that dirty shadow stripe on her shin and the forearm (it wouldnt bother at all when having a warmer colour - but you could fix that also when doing the final retouching).
As the very next step id suggest to take a close look at your window frame (even before adding the BG or before taking a look at some of your material settings - like those harsh silk reflections for example). All parts of the frame look much too thin, needing good refs. plus also some details then, but important is to have the final thickness now to see the exact shadows on the girl. Search for old French or English windows for example.
Superb work! 
i am glad u like the update
however i think the shadow of the lash is too long and sharp, make the face hard to recognize. there is no solution to remove it as i research because it is not a simply object or atmosphere effect. i will find a way to remove it
the dirt shadow, i may entirely remove the window frame which is not visible on the camera.
the window frame is nothing surprise, just come fromthe same old pose reference
just want to as lazy as possible .how about another one like this
Hi ianlai,
it’s great to see how this one evolves and improves! And the different steps you take to get to the final result - will looking forward to it! You went a long way and kept at it. It’s good to see and I can learn really much from this thread, so thanks for sharing and also thanks to zokana and PKD to share there knowledge and helping with good suggestions and even reference search!
I will follow this thread, I don’t wanna miss the final result!
How do you test lighting, when your render time is already over 1 hour? I fear that my system might not even be capable of such a scene.
I would appreciate it if you and also zokana and PKD could drop by in my WIP thread (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=43&t=1070272) to give some advice and make suggestions.
Credit have to go to Zokana. I did not do a faction as much. Also credit to iailai determination.
Anyway, I wanted to reply yesterday, but my PC acted up. I think the last lightning test is nice. I think its almost there.
Cheers.
light pose
background (HDRI resize jpg)
i do a animation to check the position of the better position of the sun
remove the window pointing at the foot sole, the shadow of the frame block the face and quite dirty. this lighting is more favourite to the leg. no unnecessary shadow block the face.
the BG i change again, because when make the exposure of the BG brighter
the orange can’t be removed. actually i think that is street lamp. when start sunset, it turn on. if i move to other view it only get some tree.
i tried many BGs , some with a afternoon exposure, the hard shadow on the BG not match my lighting.
Personally id prefer the previous BG with having something behind her head. The current picture looks a bit like being on a house boat in Alaska or Finland, the Japanese girl hanging around while being on holiday. A problem is also that the sun is shining from the right on the new photo (also the sky is brighter at right).
The windows look home made, very much like you didnt check any references… Havent seen any windows yet, which open to the outside. And the sides of the frames are still very filigree. Getting good windows is a question of not more than 1-2, max. 3 hours of modeling, so its difficult to undestand why you dont try to get the very same realism as done on the character. (just my honest opinion, without being disappointed or what ever)
And yes, the girl is getting brighter again without having much reason for that…
I do not what you mean, but in many parts of the world, its not uncommon to have windows that open to the outside. In Hong Kong, where land is limited, & most people living in small apartments, windows opening to the inside would have eat into the already small space. Also Hong Kong is prone to Hurricane, & a window that open out may make more sense.
what is the problem of the original window frame ?
i mean her pose reference
the frame in the middle is really thin .
i think i check some references ( i search french window)
window 1
window 2
but i think not the problem of checking reference, it is more like what i should find
the original BG, as i mentioned, i can’t remove the orange light
so when the brightness of the sky become a afternoon, there should not get such a orange light there.
the current BG u are right about the position of the brightness side of sky
how about these 2
beach
this one there is some combining track on the left side of the beach
grass
this one turn the brightness may be not bad
zokana help me alot with patience. sure credit to him
i think it is hard to tell u how to improve, this title is too abstract and wide . just like the question how can i be rich. may be u need to find a more specific example. in my case i am learn how to improve by this project
the lighting is just like pay to buy a better computer. may be i am not good at lighting so need to spend more time. though there are may parameter to reduce the time. smaller render size for a overall lighting test, lower AA , lower shadow sample etc.
Hi Ian, you have to be a little more observance. I checked the window you created vs the French Windows reference, & I can see quite a lot of differences. The window in your references may look simple, but there a quite a bit of details.
I will point out a few.
Oops, i didnt check the windows on your original reference with Erika. Youre right that the grid is quite thin there (while the frame is a lot thicker…). The problem there is that i have absolutely no idea how that window opens (its probably a sliding window, similar to the US types). But important is when building a 3d object to clearly know how it works in reality. So if you know how that window opens then fine, build it, but do it correctly.
The first French window youre showing is opening to the outside, which is very rare and explainable only with having a private little garden outside (not a public place). Windows generally open to the inside. (The reference is otherwise not bad, but you have to imagine the other side - or… ok, show a window opening to the outside, but im sure that people will notice that…)
The second ref with that overexposed French window is totally useless.*
Concerning BG: personally im not convinced that it isnt possible to remove that stupid red light, but ok… The thing is that all the other photos youre showing arent truly ideal. The sand beach you would have to try first to be able to judge, but having something behind the head of Erika wouldnt be bad. And the sun shouldnt be in the picture (regarding your lighting). The grass thing has a completely different mood and a road leading right to the window doesnt make much sense.
*: googled for fenster (window in German) and got already a possible ref on the first page:
http://www.sulser.ch/images/foto_produkte_fenster1_g.jpg
then i searched for large size only and got this right away:
http://schreinerei-leutenegger.ch/pic/fenster_gross_2.jpg
made then a quick search for fenetre to get some French results: (ok, its rather blurry, but usable and already not bad as result on the very first page…)
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_r7qPK3cuucg/TNqmjcWii1I/AAAAAAAAF14/vHxYbpQJrNQ/s1600/Vue+sur+Mer.jpg
^
I need to correct you my friend. In Singapore, where I came from, windows generally open to the outside as well. People will cry (as in angry) if their windows open to the inside. Like Hong Kong, we also have space issue, so its slighting windows, or windows open to the outside.
Yap, and windows are normally single layer also. Of course now, my windows open inside, & upwards (typical German windows) & double glazed (newer ones are triple grazed), but windows opening outside is not really the norm worldwide. Just for information only.
Yes, i’ve seen that (did some search for Japanese windows as well) and found this rather European looking Japanese window:
http://ak.buy.com/PI/0/1000/231799213.jpg
(i’m just wondering: how many accidents happen per year in Singapore with people falling out of their windows in the morning…?
I think this picture answer your question. Its a requirements in apartment to have metal frame on the windows. This frame can be open with a lock.
But yes, many people die every now & then, from falling out of windows, apparently to clean the outside of the windows, which can only be reach…from the outside.
You made a very valid point that I did not even think about.
i changed back the BG , remove the red light, but can’t touch the HDRI
the last 2 background ,apart from the problem zokana mentioned. the problem is more from the perspective, not a plain view, too converse. don’t know how to fix it .
i check the window again , i like the thinner gird for better viewing of the BG
the window frame is thicker(depth), may be need a handlebar (how to call it?) for closing the window tightly
Stunning work though the right sheen looks a bit waxy to me as does the lower part of the left upper arm.
That bg does not go very well. The perspective is off, the horizon line is too low and there is not much sunlight in it.
Maybe go with something along the lines of this at least perspective and lighting wise.
