Are there any CG artists in here?

I've looked for a CG Art forum here and haven't found one. Given the capabilities of the various 3D application on the market (Lightwave, XSI, 3D Studio, Maya, and Blender, to name but a few), I'm somewhat surprised I haven't noticed any CG art posts. Then again, I haven't been seriously looking... until now.

Most, if not all, of the applications I mentioned have the capability to produce photoreal images; in fact, Lightwave is used to create the visual effects for two series airing on the Sci-Fi channel: "Battlestar Galactica" and "Stargate Atlantis". Given that, it seems to me someone should try to prod some interest in this subject.

Does anyone in this forum have experience with 3D art? Does anyone have an image or two to post? I've been working some in Blender, and I'm interested in whether I'm alone in here.

By the way, here's an example image created in Blender v. 2.31 (current is 2.45), rendered with Yafray (no, I didn't make this; I'm nowhere near this level of ability):



Anyone? Bueller??

and I'm a SysAdmin for a 3D VR company, so I work directly with 3D artists when I'm not farting around on DU

Heading for photorealism. Coming close in some instances.

i should do so well with a camera and a good model!

you can pose how you will and the model will never complain.

Excellent work with the texture/material you used for the skin. The hair is nicely done too. It often seems that those two things are a problem for a lot of people, but you nailed it.

What software did you use for these?

rendered in Vue d'esprit

caustics and subsurface scattering?

The Infinite versions and the latest (6) do a fair job but these programs are memory hogs (I have 4 GB memory and still can't use many figures without running out) and have a memory leak the size of Niagra Falls. The newest version has way to recover the memory lost through the leak but it really is a pain in the butt to have 'purge memory' after every test render, after every change of position or lighting.

But...Bryce won't import Poser without going through DAZ Studio first and Poser's lighting leaves a lot to be desired. I wish I could afford something a bit more highend but, for now, I'll have to stick with what I have and use photoshop to help correct the deficiencies of the others.

My sister's dog damaged the only picture of her as a child with her father. (Our family wasn't big on pictures)




Poser helped me at least approximate a fix for her. (the dog actually swallowed the other part of the picture so it wasn't available to restore)