[yves]

hi there
until now I have always used 2d planes to bring in some life into my
visualisations. This doesn't look so bad, though I have realized that
this always takes quite some time because I always used my own
photos. I am now planning to buy a set of people. Question is what is
better. Either I buy a set of 2d photos like the dosch urban people set or
I'm going for the dosch low poly people.

I'm just not so sure about the quality of these low poly modells.
From far away they look quite nice, but what about a closer perspective?

so I anyone has used these modells, could anyone post some reference
renderings?

I'm also glad for any other opinion about this topic.

kind regards
yves

[deadalvs]

yo Yves...

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don't go for the low poly models... they really look horrible. i never found any usable ones.

me personally, i always add people in post... so You can desaturate the colors and match the overall color scheme. this takes some time, also to add some shadow, but this is still ways better than to render highres models.
i use some people of the dosch series that are already prepared with an alpha. this is quite cool.

maybe try a standalone version of RPC:
http://www.archvision.com/
quite handy because You can set the sundirection by mouseclick for the shadows.

cool stuff round here too:
http://www.marlinstudios.com/

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deadalvs

[yves]

hey deadalvs!
thanks for the links, they look promising!

greets
yves

[deadalvs]

yer welcome !

tell me if You need some dosch «samples» ... k?

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deadalvs

[x_site]

i think as long as you don't have close-ups they look fine... maybe Lowpolygon 3d or AXYZ look a bit better.

If you need accurate shadows and reflections with little post work they are fine....

[deadalvs]

hmm... these AXYZ models look all a little stiff and puffy...

but kinda ok...

* * *

deadalvs

[michaelplogue]

From my own perspective, I much prefer looking at renders that use poly people as opposed to billboarded photographed people. The lighting/shadowing never looks right. And even though the billboard people are more 'realistically accurate,' that realism almost always detracts from the illusion that the rest of the render is real.

For example: Show me a really good archvis rendering done in Maxwell, and I may say "great photograph." However, toss some billboard folks into the picture, and I'd say, "nice rendering." I would be able to tell immediately that it was computer generated because the people really stand out and don't match the "mood" of the image.

However with 3d People - with special care taken with the texturing - and they don't stand out as much - they blend in better. It's like they are part of the environment. As x_site says, they are not made for close-ups. But for distance shots I feel they look so 'much more better' than billboards.

[deadalvs]

which shader type looks best on these models? i've seen they ship with specmap...

lambert ? blinn ? [in maya]

i know, this is a strange question, but anyway, i think it's ok to ask...

* * *

does the overall quality increase with an added level of subdivision (of course not linearly subdivided) ?


* * *

deadalvs

[deadalvs]

From my own perspective, I much prefer looking at renders that use poly people as opposed to billboarded photographed people. The lighting/shadowing never looks right. And even though the billboard people are more 'realistically accurate,' that realism almost always detracts from the illusion that the rest of the render is real.

For example: Show me a really good archvis rendering done in Maxwell, and I may say "great photograph." However, toss some billboard folks into the picture, and I'd say, "nice rendering." I would be able to tell immediately that it was computer generated because the people really stand out and don't match the "mood" of the image.

However with 3d People - with special care taken with the texturing - and they don't stand out as much - they blend in better. It's like they are part of the environment. As x_site says, they are not made for close-ups. But for distance shots I feel they look so 'much more better' than billboards.

You're right about simply photographed cards... normally in (architectural) renderings we need this calm silence that is disturbed by very detailed fancy pictures... the level of abstraction just needs to be right.

sometimes no person is better than one that pays attention. the only reason we have to put in people in renderings, where i am at the studio now, is to have a figure of reference (size). mostly this is the worst part of the overall image.

* * *

deadalvs

[michaelplogue]

A technique I've always liked which I've seen in some interior design magazines is to include people in the photos, but with a strong motion blur. Such as stepping down stairs, or turning a page of a book, or simply walking. As long as it's subtly done, and not the focal point of the rendering, I think this technique could kill two birds with one stone.

You could have your figures in the rendering to provide scale, and the motion blurring would obscure any poor quality of the figures/texturing. I think it would also add a bit more realism - not just a bunch of department store mannequins standing around in poses.

If you got some low-poly figures that could be, or are already rigged for animation, you could simply add some bvh (or is it bhv?) animation files to them, and you're ready to roll. A while back I did some searching for free motion capture files, and found quite a few.

[jeffg]

I've got the Dosch people and they work great - IF you keep them small.

[Micha]

I own a set of axyz people and I'm happy. Good for far and low distance. My hint: lower the saturation of the textures. And if you don't like to get to much distration from the arch scene, than use the people without texture.
Most you can downloaf free samples. The AXYz sample is not so nice (the man with the bag). But general the lowpolygon 3d people seems to be in lower quality. Got3d sell 3D people too.

[deadalvs]

could someone post a «good sample» here ?

i'd like to try...

* * *

deadalvs

[jc4d]

I have both 3d peps dosch and axyz, I found two problems with dosch peps the poly count is around 6000 per pep I think its so much polys for far distance peps, and the other problem is the mapping is a real chaos, for example if you want to change the color for the clothes you can´t but the advantage is the price 130 peps for $99 (I think), and they came with many arrange for groups so you can save time making groups.
For the other side the only problem with axyz is the price, I get my bundle with the holiday season sale and I´m very happy with it, you can change the texture color because their mapping is clear and their poly count is around 3000 and they work nice in almost close distance.

Cheers
JC

PS. Sorry for my english.

[yves]

hey, alot has been going on here:)
I think putting in people into renderings can be good or bad
depending on how you do it. I can imagine that putting in a 3d
guy without texture could look *very* nice!

Can anyone render a sample?

greets
yves