Thursday, May 13, 2004
New Fear Mongers episode on view!
Monday, May 10, 2004
Fun discussion about comics theory
Check out this thread at Talkaboutcomics.com, for a fascinating discussion comparing prose novels with graphic novels.
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Sunday, May 09, 2004
Easy way to create complex lighting effects
Poser has spotlights and other techniques for creating complex lighting effects. It's also possible to import a Poser figure into another 3D application like Bryce for additional lighting options and refined results.
But there's an easier and faster way of creating complex lighting effects, and it's a technique that also gives the artist a more refined control over the outcome. That is to composite two or more renders with different lighting into the same picture.
This is done by importing the renders into Photoshop on different layers. Put the dominant lighting on the top layer, and the secondary lighting on the lower layer. Then on the top layer, erase away the parts of the picture that are to be lighted with secondary lighting. This causes the lower layer to show through. Depending on which eraser tool you use, the division between the two layers can be sharp or blurred.
In the illustration below, I wanted to show Wanda hiding in the shadows, while reaching her hand out into the light. I put the dark render as the top layer, and erased away the places where her left hand was illuminated by the overhead light. Note that part of her right hand also has some of the dark layer erased, suggesting that she's right at the edge of the shadows.
But there's an easier and faster way of creating complex lighting effects, and it's a technique that also gives the artist a more refined control over the outcome. That is to composite two or more renders with different lighting into the same picture.
This is done by importing the renders into Photoshop on different layers. Put the dominant lighting on the top layer, and the secondary lighting on the lower layer. Then on the top layer, erase away the parts of the picture that are to be lighted with secondary lighting. This causes the lower layer to show through. Depending on which eraser tool you use, the division between the two layers can be sharp or blurred.
In the illustration below, I wanted to show Wanda hiding in the shadows, while reaching her hand out into the light. I put the dark render as the top layer, and erased away the places where her left hand was illuminated by the overhead light. Note that part of her right hand also has some of the dark layer erased, suggesting that she's right at the edge of the shadows.
