Rendering A Character

Rendering characters can be intense, but it is also a lot of fun. This little section will highlight bits of my process.

	Step One: The Idea Obviously, you need an idea to start with. After discussing with the client what they’re looking for, I might sketch out an idea on paper, or it might just start forming as I begin the rendering process.
Step Two: Building the Character Once the idea is firmly in my head, I open Daz and begin playing. I start with the figure, since they are the main focus of the image. ;) Step two is often filled with switching between Daz and Photoshop. If needed, I open the image file in Photoshop and paint pieces of the costume or face paint, tattoos masks, etc. Then the image is applied to the figure or object in Daz and I decide if it’s good or needs tweaking. After I’ve finished the character set up and am happy with it, I move to step three.
	Step Three: Building the Scene While the scene isn’t the main focus, it definitely gives an ambiance to the image and I want to make sure that it gives the feeling the client is looking for with their piece. So, with that importance in mind, I begin placing scenery, using Photoshop in the same manner as step two if necessary.
Step Four: Posing and More Posing With the scenery in place, it’s time to pose the figure. This part’s fun. Should the character be actually posing for the camera, or are they thinking deep thoughts? This is where the inner feelings and emotions of the character have a chance to show.
	Step Five: Lights, Camera, Render! This is usually the final step, though occasionally there might be minor tweaks and adjustments that are needed once the scene’s in place. Here’s where I set the final mood of the piece. Is it dark and dreary or a sunny afternoon? The lighting and camera angle can make or break the piece, so I pay a lot of detail here as well. Slapping in a light and calling it good is a good way to ruin the image’s feel.

And, now you’ve seen a bit of my work in process. If you think this sounds fun or have any questions, send me a message using the Contact Information tab at the top of the page. Enjoy browsing the rest of my site!