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markopolio — The Driving Lesson
Published: 2006-12-07 03:56:00 +0000 UTC; Views: 1314; Favourites: 22; Downloads: 14
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Description
Was it only yesterday, or truly forty year?His smell is still within my lungs,
Of warmth and happiness.
The feel of steering wheel in hand,
The pedals far too far to reach.
The time of men remembered.
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This is all on purpose. I've studied for nearly a year, worked on this piece for countless hours, and spent too much money to accomplish this one expression, to really care whether anyone thinks it's good or not.
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Comments: 91
I've actually been amazed by how many people seem to identify with this one. To do this piece was my entire reason for learning to do any kind of 3D. I wanted to "model" my grandfather. M3 is nice, but I still think he needs a lot of work before he can really become a great morph-er...
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I can't possibly judge how accurate your likeness is, but you've created a magnificently beautiful portrait of "a" loving grandfather in any case.
As for choosing figures, one never knows. I did my self-portrait [link] back at the beginning of my Poser career, with the now primitive Poser 4 "Dork". The only other halfway successful portrait I've ever done (despite many tries) was my Jeannine character [link] , basically copying the face of a model in a stock image. Some base figures work better for some real faces - an artist with a really good eye and lots of experience might be able to judge in advance which figure to use, but for me it's been more luck than anything else.
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It's like him enough to bring back the memories, but not quite good enough to be mistaken for even a bad photo of him.
Wow! You did a really great job of mimicking the human model with Jeannine! Changed her figure a bit since then.
I'm not sure of how to judge a model/person to tell which would be easy. I didn't have anything to start with, so I just had to work at it.
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Thank you! I haven't deliberately changed her figure. I would guess that what has happened is that the likeness to "Mlle. 205" is based on just that one picture, but we see Jeannine in lots of poses and from many angles. I doubt that she looks more than very slightly like the original model would look in those poses, in face or figure.
A further thought on base figures: I would think that with a good eye and enough practice, you could make a good enough likeness with any reasonably modern base figure, but the most advanced ones (i.e. V4 and M3) would be the easiest and give potentially the best results, regardless of your skill level. OTOH, another base figure might have just the right "something" for a certain person. I found that with Pandora and Shirley - although they aren't real people, I felt that their existing faces were a model to be duplicated, and I couldn't even get adequately close in V4 with either one. With more skill, I probably could, but...
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Interestingly enough, the more modern model morphs have SO much room to maneuver, that it's more difficult. Because you try to get an exact match. Where the older models, and their less defined controls get you close, but not exact. They're much easier. So, you can't put that small dimple in a cheek, or chin, crease in the nose-tip. You cut out dozens of parameters to have to adjust.
Let me look again, there was a character face that began to look a WHOLE lot like one of yours, as I reversed the dial, or went up over 100%... I just happened across it recently. I DO remember that it was in the built-in head morph sets that came with V4.1 complete. The full cheeks, and button nose reminded me of your works, and I wanted to remember to mention it to you. I had selected the head, which gave me the parameter sets for just that. Then I noticed the character morphs, and started checking out each one.
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Yes, the newer ones are harder, in the sense that you expect more.
One of the first "advanced" skills I developed in Poser, back in 2000, was to create my own morphs. I was interested in portraiture from the start, and couldn't even get close with the existing morphs.
I'd be fascinated to see your character that looked like one of mine, if you still have her or can get back to where you were. Things like that do happen. I've always thought Shirley had a distinct, though slight and totally accidental, resemblance to a friend of mine. I don't think she (the real person) would detect it - in this case I hope not, because it wasn't intended at all.
The newer DAZ figures have much better built-in morphs, so that with Jeannine, for instance, I didn't have to create any new ones. (I'm pretty sure - I'll check when the present render is done.) OTOH, when I tried to make V4 versions of Pandora and Shirley, I had to create some new morphs - and even then, they just didn't look quite right. Good enough for many purposes (and better for some!) but just not the same "person".
(I can show you in the case of Pandora. My last post to the Renderosity gallery, some time early this year. I suppose I could post it here - there doesn't seem to be any rule or custom against double-posting - do you know of one?)
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Let me get the settings together for you. It turned out not to be a preset. Look for a note soon.
You can post it anywhere you want, I guess as long as it's not for sale in either place. I know Renderosity has some sort of exclusivity deal with some of the vendors.
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I think I'll put it up in my gallery here then. It's certainly not for sale 
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I got one print request once! That's it, just the request...
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Well, it's something. OTOH, I've seen a few posts with like one or two favs, and a Print Available! I suppose either the artist thought very well of his or her work, or the faver was their best friend.
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Some people make prints available, for quite a while. Until, like me, they realize that nobody really wants them. Maybe some day I'll actually sell something... Instead of just buying.
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Best of luck! Your chances may be better at dA, but from what I've heard, it's not a way to make a living.
BTW, you might want to look at [link] - not one, not two, but six Pandoras!
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I glanced at the devwatch last night. I have several of your works to look at. So she started out as Businesswoman! You did wonders!
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Thanks! - also for the 
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Next project, a realistic skin, to bring her outsides to life! I think you've already given her the breath of Pinochio. Turn her into a real girl.
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Whooee! 
As for turning her (or any of them) into a real girl, I'll know it's happened when -
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She'll be saying it soon enough!
A friend of mine does V4.1 skins. She's offered to walk me through it sometime. It seems simple enough, mainly the blending seams is the harder part. I think she'd really knock 'em dead.
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I have featured this image in my recent journal 
[link]
I hope it earns you some new fans 
Sandi
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Easily one of the most emotive 3D renders I've seen. This entire image is a hundred different kinds of unique.
No woman with abnormally large boobs rendered with wings and a crop? No gigantic mushrooms? No castle with sparklies???
Badass. 
**this does NOT mean I no longer love sparklies or big boobs - just so we're clear 
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I think so far I've just done the one with the big boobs. Every guy should have one pin-up in his gallery.
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Just... Beautiful. There's a wonderfully peaceful Saturday-afternoon feel to it. Like there's nothing that needs to be done and you can just relax. I absolutely love this. Definite fave. (On both my accounts. I love it that much.)
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After I worked out my troubles in my art, this was the first piece showing an actual good childhood memory. This actually happened, and I remember it like it was yesterday.
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I like you even more after seeing this, I really do
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I occasionally get a full emotional content. I wanted this one to include the viewer. That's why I put the "camera" inside the car. It was just such a wonderful moment, that I wanted so badly to share it.
Did it kind of make you want to do an embarrassed giggle? Maybe bring back some memories of your own?
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No, it was just sweet. Like how lucky you were.
I haven't known any of my grand dads, since they died before I was born, and the only granma I had hated us all passionately.
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Hmm. Then perhaps this image might just be a bit more to your liking. [link] Going back to a place you've left behind.
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Aww, this is wonderful! This has to be your grandfather! What a wonderful memory! Truly an everlasting tribute! You know, my grandfather walked 12 miles to and from work, to make 5 cents an hour when he and my grandmother were young! He was born in 1898 and died in 1978. About the only happy childhood memories I have are associated with both of them. They were extraordinary people. They don't make men like that any more! You know Mark, one of the things I love about art is that it transends space, and time, can reach out and touch us, affect our feelings, moods, thoughts. It can make people think, and feel things that sometimes aren't convenient to feel. Most importantly, it awakens those sleeping memories, and can bring us joy, all over again! Thank you for that!
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Im still working on the "frame " reply ...but here ...the simple frame that lends the photo look is perfect
Ya done GOOD boy ! This has ever-so-much the look of a claymation cartoon still...And it's poignant !
-
What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” ~Pericles
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I'm still learning bunches every day about 3D. I'm about to stretch DAZ Studio to the limit as it is. I had it crash last night from so much info. Blip! Gone... Double reflections in a corner with all the associated shadows. Blip! Try again! Not so many shadows, Blip! All the shadows, not so much reflectivity. Eight hour render...
I'm getting there... I might say piss off to the frame art, as too distracting. Unless I can come up with something that, as you say lends itself.
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I have been trying to get 5mins peace for days so I could tell you how much I admire this, It is really special.
It came from deep within you......that's art at It's finest.
I'm proud of you
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You made me all wiggly, fluttery. It was to be the next piece after Pa Was Forever Unchanging. I think I'm done now, I can give up doing art.
I AM going to stick to the 3D/photomanipulation combination. It seems to work for me.
Here's a little secret trick I discovered. If you don't want too many comments, upload to scraps, then move the piece to your gallery. Only those who watch your scraps ever see it posted unless they visit your gallery. That might come in handy for you, in particular.
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Now that would be worth filming!! Mr Macaroni salad himself going all wiggly and fluttery
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Deep down, I'm still that little boy. Well, maybe not so deep. I do throw tantrums when I don't get what I want...
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~I really feeeeel the memory~
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I'm not sure whether or not I thanked you for the fave. In any case, I do appreciate it.
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You captured the feel of your memory beautifully... This is wonderful work!
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You're the only one besides Toni who really knows what went into this.
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Your struggle really paid off Mark.. It is good good stuff...
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Funny, I remember when I asked you how I could 3D model my grandfather. Can DAZ Studio do this? I even investigated VRML imaging software.
I just had to practice with the character morphs to make Pa. He wound up a bit younger, my hair a bit darker, but it worked. I'm done now. I think I'll quit art.
Yeah, riiiight!
BTW - Did ya see my response to the rude guy? I told him to piss off! 
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Yeah I remember you asking about 3d modeling your grandfather... I was stuck on the modeling aspect and didn't even think about you morphing one of the models.
Yeah I did see your response...
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I had just posted it, and was still in the attachment phase. Think I should go apologize?
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I dunno... I went to his page..and I don't think he meant anything by it really... A lot of people don't realize they're stepping on someone's emotions when they make comments without thinking.
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You're right. I think I will make amends. It probably wasn't meant to sound as rude as it seemed.
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I sent him a note of appology. I explained where this work had come from, and the failed experiments along the way. He does excellent 3D work. If I had had his help, I might have been able to come up with a more photo-realistic piece. But I think I captured the emotional content, which was actually more important to me.
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Aww..I'm glad you sent him a note.. And I completely understand about emotional content being more important. 
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He accepted my appology, and we seem to be starting a rather interesting 3D discussion.
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