Looking for Tips on using Composite layers with DAZ Studio

kwannie

I discovered several months back that the newer versions of Blender came with an upgraded version of the Video Sequence Editor, and it makes adding Image Sequences from DAZ to differet layers a snap.

I am now curious about how some of you have acheived blending various scene components into different layers. One great advantage of rendering in layers is that you can use Iray and 3DL in the same scene. Different components can be added with an alpha channel singularly, whih is where I would really like to know how some of you acheive lighting effects that reflect onto the characters without washing out the scene. Is there a rule in compositing which layer types components go on first? Any composite tips and info is welcome, Thanks!!

juvesatriani

RIght now I`m not use Blender VSE yet but the basic multipass editing  should be the same with what you do in 2D graphic/image Editor .  

it depends what and how many multipass you have but here my multipass workflow

For most case Diffuse Color or AO layer should be in bottom one, these next passes will be stacking on top of it :

Shadow layer - Gloss or reflection - All Lights - IF you have layer for mask ( like MAT ID or Obejct ID ) it should be stack before  Emission and finaly the bloom or blur layer .

You can add color adjustments on top Diffuse color or for direct change color etc , but if you prefer to get overall color/mood adjustment , create it in very top layer

EDIT TO ADD example My simple Multipass :

Diffuse + AO ( Linear Burn  or Multiply ) + Shadow ( multiply 50% opacity) + Gloss or Reflection ( Hardlight or Linear Dodge/ADD + Set Opacity level as you want) + All Lights ( Softlight/Screen will be work with balanced opacity layer) +  Emission ( Linear Dodge /ADD) +Bloom ( Screen or ADD with adjusted layer opacity )

kwannie

juvesatriani Thanks for the feedback,and I should have clarified that I am interested in learning more about the workflow for using image sequences and then applying to layers for making animations. I have read about taking various maps using the canvas function, but I am trying to create animations using something like the Blender VSE that can do layers. I mean I realize I could shoot a a scen in DAZ with just the environment send that to one layer, then shoot just characters and send to another layer. I am interested in techniques for adding lighting, maybe create atmosphere with an alpha channel in blender and add that to yet another channel.

I like the DAZ characters rendered in Iray, but character and environment in same render....................(decades to complete).

If anybody doese animations in layers would love to hear tips...............Thanks again.

3141592654

I have not done much with Blender and I certainly have nto tried VSE yet (although your description of it makes me curious to try it out).

I have been using HitFilm Express  (express is the free version) which has a lot of options for image sequencing and layering.  I am not sure I have a 'compositing rule' ... every project I do is so unique from the others (iray, 3delight, ogl, toony, sepia toned, etc.).

My general approach is to make the entire scene (background, characters, foreground, props, atmospheric effects, lighting, cameras, etc.). Then, if necessary, I break it up into layers to be rendered out seperately. At this point, saving as a subset is your great ally. To make compositing work, you need to be consistent with your lighting (one subset) and your cameras (another subset) [well ... everything else of course also] so load these same subsets into every rendering section ... changing lighting or cameras later can get quite messy.

Oh, and you probably realize that you should arrange the scene so the layers stack nicely and will composite well. I have a classroom scene (2D image is finished, still working on animation prep) that has effectively 8 layers. (background, foreground, static props and lighting) and then 4 rows of students which will be animated (each row behind the other stacks very nicely).

I have not yet had to do strong atmospheric effects, but I have contemplated doing 3 seperate renders of fog - which would be 3 separate layers in copositing with other layers so the fog gets more dense as the scene goes backward. Similar could be done with rain, etc.

Hmm ... did this answer your question? I feel like I am missing something.

kwannie

Sorry for the delayed response, but thank you for the tips. I am primarily creating night club scenes with singers on stage with a few band members and audiences in the foreground so I'm  trying to figure out how to add some stage lights going on and off on a separate layer and illuminate the singer with a spotlight ring around (him or her) while having just enough light on the rest of the surroundings that they are dimly clear. Obviously some things lend themselves to just being placed in a stack in front of eachother, but lighting does not easily conform to that. I am wondering if I could add so animated smoke with an alpha channel and then add a conical mask to simulate light beams.