Using Spheres with JPG files for Back Drop, old settings just don't work.

Michael Callahan

I hope everyone is having a Great Thanksgiving weekend.

I notice this with 4.6, I like to use sphere with graphic file to use as backdrop. that you can not see them.
The old setting where Defuse = 0 Specularity = 0 and Ambient = 100 dose not work any more.

Is there another way to set this up?

Is there a post on this?

I like the improves on 4.7, the environment pain is a good solution to Edit > Backdrop.

Thanks

MRC 1

WendyLuvsCatz

it works in render but no cannot see in preview which is frustrating
seems some far distance clipping function has been added to the opengl preview I have yet to find settings for
possibly to enable the realtime preview thumb and other new features in the UI

Michael Callahan

I have been looking at the problem so far what I came up with give me a black and white negative image, but better than nothing. Maybe someone can develop this further.

I went to the environment tab and place the image there. Then went to the sphere and loaded the jpeg file to the diffuse, specular, ambient, and opacity. Then enter the following values Diffuse = 0, Specular = 0, Ambient = 100, Opacity = 100. Color codes for Diffuse = 255, 255, 255, Specular = 153, 153, 153, Ambient = 255, 255, 255. I got an image on the sphere and on the background, a double image came through, the sphere. So I created a plane and added a white jpeg through the environment, to solve this and place behind the sphere. I can now see the sphere jpeg, but it is a negative of the image.

Hope this helps.

WendyLuvsCatz

you mean the uberenvironment sphere?
I get it with just a primitive no shadows in display too
the latter will render if you allow visible in render under display

Michael Callahan

The Sphere is standard and jpeg is attached to sphere through surfaces. The picture is a 360 degree panoramic and can be made in Bryce or Vue.

Thanks for the information.

Need to rethink what I did and see if I can come up with more.

I think some of the vendor need this information too.

WendyLuvsCatz

fixed it
a friend on Skype suggested these changes and it worked

Michael Callahan

Check my preferences and the setting are as shown.

Thank You

Michael Callahan

The sphere itself does not render out. The only way I see to solve it is to create a program option in the environment section of the program to attach the jpegs to sphere. I am sure glad to have kept older versions of DAZ studio on my computer ( version 2 to 4.7), until this problem is solved.

Hopefully it won't be that hard for the people at DAZ, I remember when I programmed computer, that was when ASSEMBLY, COBOL, RPG and FORTRAN where main languages for computer. Sometimes it was easy, and sometimes it was not a all nighter, but a whole month.

Hoping the best for the DAZ crew.

Michael Callahan

It is now rendering, removed plane from behind sphere, removed jpeg from environment, and place a white jpeg in environment and set color to 72 65 65. Render is weak, but readable. Still the sphere in a negative, but readable. If you understand photography prior to digital you shouldn't have any problems in understanding where the light source is coming from. Next I will be exploring how to improve render.

Hopefully for now I gave someone enough ammunition to develop further. If you get there before me please post here. I feel there are allot more people who want to know how to correct this problem. Mainly it is in the shader colors and I don't understand this render engine yet need to find time to read up on it and see how it handles colors.

Michael Callahan

If you invert the jpg image you get a solid black and white image that is positive, to see where the light and shadows fall for the scene and can now line up the light as you rotate the sphere. Next take out the the inverted jpeg. Then by switch the shader images back to the original and set surface to original setting for the sphere. Don't move the camera and set focus or it will move as I have found out. So lock the camera. (You will see the in the screen captures there is a difference the camera out of focus and had to reset to default so there is two different views.)

If you know how to code for this. The logic pattern should be as follows:

Sphere Set Up:

If sphere then load white jpg to environment, next set surface color for environment to 72 65 65. Next load inverted jpg to surface tabs to diffuse, specular, ambient, ambient strength, opacity and set surfaces to defuse = 0, 0, 0 Specular = 0, 0, 0 Ambient = 255, 255, 255. Next load the surface strengths to defuse = 0, specular = 0, ambient = 100, opacity = 100. (Then you will have a black and white positive to set up scene.)

Render Function:

If Render button is activated. Remove all jpegs inverted files and load defuse file, set all parameters to original setting for sphere. Call render engine and render.

Change Scene:

If new called or exit, then, prompt for save, if or if not saved, then clear environment surface, clear all objects , clear all surfaces, else if cancel do nothing.

Hope this helps.

First Image: Inverted jpeg made in PhotoShop.

Second Image: Black and White Image using modified surfaces and inverted jpegs (will be able to see in sphere)..

Third Image: Render

WendyLuvsCatz

I must say you have totally lost me on what you are doing

Michael Callahan

To put it a nut shell, I use mostly sphere with a panoramic jpeg attach to have a background for the scene. With the current DAZ studio you can not see it until you render it. This is a way to see into the sphere so you can line it up so you can match to shadows to the lighting before the render. Inorder cut down render times. I haven't coded a program in about twenty years for a computer. I don't know C programming language, but I know the logic behind programming a computer, I wanted to help those who can code this.

When I originally posted to this forum, I was looking for help, but there is little or nothing on this subject so I tried to figure out a way to see in to the sphere before rendering it.

If there is a way to invert a jpeg image where color would remain the same as the if not inverted the process or another file format that could work other than jpeg, this would be seamless and the user would not know that these actions are taking place.

DestinysGarden

Are you having problems with all spheres/environment domes, or just the one showing in your screen shots?
If you just put a .jpeg in the diffuse on a primitive sphere, it shows up in the preview window, and in the render just fine.
I'll check some of the other environment spheres I have, but if the only one giving you this issue is the one shown, you might want to contact the vendor directly for assistance.

Edit: I just tested IG Sphere of Light and UberEnvirnonment2 with no issues. To answer part of your other questions DAZ Studio does not have any way to make negative images or invert images. If a vendor is supplying presets that require negative images, they would have made them for you. I see you know how to invert images in PS. Looking at your very first screen shot, see if putting the negative image in the opacity color helps at all. Really though, if your item was functioning a certain way in 4.6 that it is not doing in 4.7, you really should contact the vendor so they know there is an issue.

Michael Callahan

DestinysGarden said:

Are you having problems with all spheres/environment domes, or just the one showing in your screen shots?
If you just put a .jpeg in the diffuse on a primitive sphere, it shows up in the preview window, and in the render just fine.
I'll check some of the other environment spheres I have, but if the only one giving you this issue is the one shown, you might want to contact the vendor directly for assistance.

Edit: I just tested IG Sphere of Light and UberEnvirnonment2 with no issues. To answer part of your other questions DAZ Studio does not have any way to make negative images or invert images. If a vendor is supplying presets that require negative images, they would have made them for you. I see you know how to invert images in PS. Looking at your very first screen shot, see if putting the negative image in the opacity color helps at all. Really though, if your item was functioning a certain way in 4.6 that it is not doing in 4.7, you really should contact the vendor so they know there is an issue.

I am curious are you using a Apple Computer? The reason why I ask is that IBM and Apple handles color differently and that may be where the problem lies,

The sphere I am using are not UberEnvironment2 they are just standard spheres with standard lighting.

HDR works fine in this version of DAZ studio, as seen in your screenshot, but older types of sphere and box environments don't show up.

DestinysGarden

I'm on a PC, Windows 7.
The sphere you have showing in your screen shot is Dreamlight's LDP-R, which is why I asked if you have tried any other environment sphere. The LDP-R is not standard and may have custom geometry or surface settings that are interacting with DS 4.7.

Michael Callahan

HDR seem to be the only ones working at this time.

Michael Callahan

Next I will see if there is a way to convert standard files through photoshop to HDR and pass on my findings to help others.

Michael Callahan

It possible to create HDR image of existing file of old images in PhotoShop, if it has the capability to do HDR images.

You need to use the UberEnvironment to do this, one of the lighting options and sphere on the outside of the UberEnvironment in order for this to work. The hardest part of this is to line up the two spheres and scale to get the render right. Also setting the lights can be a little difficult too.

I will post a tutorial soon how to convert your old domes to new, in a few days from now in the DAZ discussion part of the forum.

Thanks Destinys Garden for leading me in the right direction.