Pre-submission crit

Photon

« on: July 26, 2011, 10:24 »

#link

Hi all, I have not had a studio opportunity to shoot yet so I have been doing some 3d renders.

I am planning to submit my photos (when I have them) before I submit my renders. I just wanted to get the ball rolling and get any kind of feedback in regards to my renders.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sjPWgR71s8oumCCLCP9tbw?feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SFhEjHcnl8GiCzIknc6fWw?feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yu-w9tWNakWPxjoF-7tVAg?feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6Gj2I7EZlBS-KPjZOyhQMA?feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nY0jGmsgwHm6ap2nWz-Jng?feat=directlink

The frame below the image is the actual pixel size to show you some of the noise going on and some of the imperfections that come along with 3d.

Sebastian


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Microbius

Premium Member

« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2011, 10:57 »

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I think these are quite good. Hopefully some of the 3D experts will come in here but in my limited experience these are better than a lot of the 3D stuff we get shown here.
I am sure some of the micros would be happy to take these and they should sell (except maybe the camper van which if it gets through copyright check will probably have quite a limited market).

Hopefully Sean will make a comment, he was a 3D expert in a previous life, and is now one of the best selling photographers, so is probably the best person to give a judgement on quality and sale-ability.


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kingjon

« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2011, 11:03 »

#link

Wow! nice work - I expect you'll do well. Looks like alot of work went into those renders (lots of detail).


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Photon

« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2011, 11:46 »

#link

Quote from: Microbius on July 26, 2011, 10:57

(except maybe the camper van which if it gets through copyright check will probably have quite a limited market).

Thanks for the kind words Microbius. The only reason I did the van is because of this baby from picNiche.

Phrase L T Count Views Sales V/F D/F Rating
hippy van surfboard US 1.00 3 3373 751 1,124.33 250.33 281,458.11
FTSSISBSDT- GI


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Microbius

Premium Member

« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2011, 12:09 »

#link

Interesting! I've never used pic niche, Ill have to do a forum search to see if there have been any comments about how well it predicts sales.

Still, be a bit careful, if it looks too much like a VW van you may well get a rejection for copyright reasons.


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click_click

« Reply #5 on: July 26, 2011, 12:35 »

#link

Overall you have a good eye for stock.

The drum set is too low-poly. The cymbal shows not enough detail - you can tell by the straight edges. Will get you accepted everywhere except iStock.

First plane shot looks nice. Cool lighting.

Second plane shot in the detail frame on the left there is a shift of the reflection on the left that looks funny. It may be correct but I can't tell since the crop is so tight.

The tablet shot is not my cup of tea. Looks a bit flat. It's tricky to get proper dimension into product shot of a flat reflective object.
I'd play more with the light setup and maybe not have it lay flat and rather set it upright or something.

Bully shot: The shallow depth of field gives it the tilt-shift look. Somewhat cool depending on what you wanted to achieve.

If you want to make it look like a model it's fine. But to create a real life effect I'd increase the DOF to a more realistic level.
If rejected I think you can easily modify the front to make it less obvious that it's a VW.
The detail in the frame at the lower half of the front door puts me a bit off. The door doesn't seem to fit properly into the frame.
The head lights look a bit simple as well. I wouldn't bother with any details in the lamp, just use a more realistic semi-transparent texture to the headlight glass then you don't have to worry what's underneath.
Lighting is pretty harsh (very sharp shadows). I'd soften it a bit.

Overall pretty decent work. Keep going.


« Last Edit: July 26, 2011, 12:41 by click_click »	Ignore \| Logged

corareed

« Reply #6 on: July 26, 2011, 16:09 »

#link

I like all of them.

Grin


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Photon

« Reply #7 on: July 28, 2011, 04:53 »

#link

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I have updated the drums because I realized that I rendered the chrome with a slight transparency giving it a hollow look.

Corrected:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/L4XkS62xaLd7FBvks9sI9w?feat=directlink

I also have a render which I am hesitant to submit:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_OSBfUYHjVZljp6vbHtuqQ?feat=directlink

click_click: Thanks for the advice and kind words. I forgot to subdivide the cymbals before I rerendered so the edges are still there but nothing a bit of post production can't fix later.

I agree with the comments on the van. I will leave it until a later date if I feel the need to rework it.


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click_click

« Reply #8 on: July 28, 2011, 06:49 »

#link

The new link of the drum set still shots the same issue.

In the magnified view it's the drum on the left now that shows the subdivision problem. I'm very picky about that in my images. It could be no problem at most agencies but usually iStock will complain about it.

Another thing I just noticed now. The base drum to the right appears to be floating in mid-air. Something is off with the shadows/reflection.
Even in the original image where you used a different floor material.

I like the lighting in the second render better.

I would try to let the floor transition seamlessly into the background behind the set. The hard line that divides the floor from the wall distracts me.


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Microbius

Premium Member

« Reply #9 on: July 28, 2011, 06:54 »

#link

As a matter of interest, which software are you using?


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Photon

« Reply #10 on: July 28, 2011, 07:49 »

#link

Quote from: Microbius on July 28, 2011, 06:54

As a matter of interest, which software are you using?

For rendering I use Octane.


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sjlocke

« Reply #11 on: July 28, 2011, 09:30 »

#link

Quote from: Microbius on July 26, 2011, 12:09

Yep, on the VW. There's also some texture repetition on the roof of it, and I'm not sure what it is supposed to be sitting on.

From first glance at these small sizes, composition and color-wise, they all look very nice, aside from the poly issues. I'd be careful of such "obvious" setups though. They are all "here is a ____ in the middle of the screen over a ______ background". I'd take the skillz and try to stretch a bit more conceptual.


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Photon

« Reply #12 on: July 29, 2011, 03:56 »

#link

Quote from: click_click on July 28, 2011, 06:49

Thanks Click for pointing out the things I had missed. I decided to remove the seamless white background and create a floor/wall so the highlights of the chrome did not disappear into the white of the background - so now I have a tonal 'step' then a smooth gradient to contrast with.

As for the subdivision levels.. if an agency does have an issue I will go back and spend some time chamfering and sub-ding the geometry.


« Last Edit: July 29, 2011, 04:00 by Photon »	Ignore \| Logged

Photon

« Reply #13 on: July 29, 2011, 04:24 »

#link

I am going to be submitting 10 images to each agency. This is the list so far:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-J7Lc7sy49no/Ti7ZoJU2yOI/AAAAAAAAALY/0scwrIwxKGk/s800/a2crit.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ANhS4hgbd0w/Ti7ZnuIMHFI/AAAAAAAAALY/IhN7IIVfRg4/s800/a1crit.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ICT2TSqLdYY/TjEwAv4dZVI/AAAAAAAAAMg/rE8lQ6a7Plc/s800/Drums.jpg

New images (need crit):

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NmDbY67UIg0/TjJ58Ke-g0I/AAAAAAAAANo/vUTlnKJjyrk/s800/racePrev2.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-p_WPJrPefug/TjJ58SqyQNI/AAAAAAAAANs/DD_ADhZ4dms/s800/raceprev.jpg


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click_click

« Reply #14 on: July 29, 2011, 07:56 »

#link

Nothing to add. Keep going like that and you'll get plenty of downloads!

Surface material of the road looks pretty good! Nice motion blur.


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Photon

« Reply #15 on: July 29, 2011, 10:19 »

#link

Quote from: click_click on July 29, 2011, 07:56

Nothing to add. Keep going like that and you'll get plenty of downloads!

Surface material of the road looks pretty good! Nice motion blur.

Thanks for the kind and encouraging words click.

I have a few more:

This is a rework of the camera shot:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rZtvdZZxZMo/TjLOQrAJ-AI/AAAAAAAAAOA/5lr64ZgHCig/s800/CamerasPrev.jpg

This is a new one - a start to a series. Instead of all the drawn diagrams I have on the papers currently I am going to have poems and love letters instead to fit the context:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZpltBb2I-Fk/TjLOM-6zDTI/AAAAAAAAAN8/WtUs8ANb_nc/s800/PapersPrev.jpg


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click_click

« Reply #16 on: July 29, 2011, 10:36 »

#link

In the detail shot of the camera image I see some polygon problems at the very top of the magnified crop.

At the top of the side panel with the vertical holes it looks like there are polygons overlapping or missing. The surface doesn't render properly.

Also right on top of the upper "knob" (the one above the silver push button) there seems to be a polygon issue.

You could get away with it. I would try to correct it though.

I like your concepts, color work is really nice. If you can keep producing those on a regular basis you'll do well.


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Photon

« Reply #17 on: July 29, 2011, 13:07 »

#link

click, are these normal problems? I usually try to sort out the normals as much as I can but I suppose as I use an external renderer the normals might be imported incorrectly? I'll investigate.

Anyways, here is an update on the 'Love Letters' shot:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-UIB9NJJUBM8/TjL2EpDPO4I/AAAAAAAAAOY/Q465M_mI-E0/s800/LoveLettersPrev.jpg


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click_click

« Reply #18 on: July 29, 2011, 13:31 »

#link

Quote from: Photon on July 29, 2011, 13:07

I feel like if I gave you any further "critique" I'm creating my very own competition. You're doing well. I think from now on you just have to learn by experience.

Using an external render engine can cause a whole bunch of issues. I'm trying to stay away from them.

However, if you can only achieve your personal look by using this engine try to find some forum where these render engine related issues are being discussed.

Again, often you can get away with those "details". Only if I really can't figure it out I try and submit them and usually they get accepted.

iStock is just very picky on polygons and subdivision and as long as your lighting is correct you shouldn't have to fear anything.

I can't help you any further. Looking forward to seeing more of your stuff.