Description
Hey guys,
So in the last week a bunch of folks have asked me for my FireFly settings. Thus I present them :)
Basic Setting
This is my basic setting but depending on the render I do adjust the IDL quality, and IR caching. This setting was used with the Rolls Royce Render, for example. The DOF is something I only started using recently because Smith Micro improved the performance dramatically. Before that it was pretty horrible. Oh and for a good DOF result, jack the pixel samples up to 12-13 (learnt that from EhJay some time back).
BUT I doubt this is what you're looking for. I think Firefly's worth becomes apparent with lighting and material use, in particular materials. I'll have to set up a tutorial for that, its a long story.
Lighting
Regarding lighting, I try to stick to real life situations. You'll see a lot of my 'outdoor' pictures are actually just one infinite light, just like in real life the sun is just one infinite light at 400%, I give it a very slim shadow blur, Firefly does a good job at sorting out the rest, like the reflecting light of light surfaces. My light settings I set up back with weaponshandling and took me weeks to get right.
And for the love of christ please use shadows!!!!! Shadowless renders are really out of date!!
I've been using the 'exposure' setting at 1.6 since my comic 'The Route' and it seems to enhance the contrast of the renders a bit better. Gamma Correction value was recommended through some forum I read back in 2012.
Materials
What I can say about materials is that most out-of-the-box materials supplied with items from DAZ and Rosity and elsewhere are still configured for P6 renderers. 80% of the time I'm adjusting the materials for these items. The rolls-royce in the picture I recently posted is a good example of that. I replaced all the materials for it.
What's wrong with the materials? I think they are still trying to compensate for old incompetent render machines, while that is not necessary any more. Like for example some materials try to do this silly edge blend thing on skins, to simulate SSS, or ambient values as well. A lot of reflection nodes are not defined properly with a black background, the list goes on. Generally, try to build up your materials yourself. Poser has very good SSS nodes and don't overdo them. Goofing around and experimenting is the best thing I can recommend. I think that's what makes external renderers so popular since they force you to redo the materials. But you can also just do the same in FireFly, just don't use the out-of-the-box ones.
Does it really matter what renderer you use?
Edit: If you want my honest opinion? At the end of the day, in my humble two years as a poser artist, what I've learned is that there are a whole bunch of artists out there using either Firefly, Octane, Lux, Vue, VRay... they are all good if you want them to be, but that all doesn't matter because what makes your art is YOU! And I mean that in a very practical sense!!!
You have to be your own worst critic, all the time! My renders are far from perfect, I learn every week, I re-render and re-render the whole time until I'm happy. Compare my Lali Lite #1 to my previous, and compare those with what I do now. The learning never ends. Don't get hung up on technical things, sometimes just one light and a smile can do the trick. Software will not make your art better any more than oil paints made Rembrandt's work better. But that doesn't mean you can get away with technical no-nos! Because you mastered shadows or textures doesn't mean you just made the Mona Lisa!
But whether it is FireFly, Octane, or even oil paints, make it your bitch, and in such a way that you can get the point across. And it doesn't even have to be that complicated.
I sometimes have a feeling that we're still in the 'OMG 3D is awesome' phase. I think we can leave that behind now and start concentrating on the actual art. Don't let the software command you. Visualise what you want, and squeeze every last drop out of any tool you have available to achieve that, even if its just a pencil!
Bla bla bla
Anyway, I hope this helps guys!
cheers!
erooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
PS: don't be scared of postworking. Although I hardly do any postwork besides slight color balancing, if the render demands it, do it!!!!!! It's a shame to waste a good image over some ideal.
PSS: I've seen a lot of folks putting lights in every corner of a room. Good lighting doesn't mean studio lighting! Often, just one light is more than fine. A shitload of lights (especially without shadows) will entirely kill the scene and remove the realism. Light is not God! Shadows are!
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