Wb Products  Wb Models  Wb Wallpaper  Wb Tutorials  Wb Software  
Pics, You're Perfect!
for DAZ Studio 4

Just $20.00

Scroll down to preview and/or download our complimentary 6-page excerpt from this tutorial.

Step-by-Step Guide to Converting 2D Images to 3D Resources. The purpose of this tutorial is to demonstrate how to use digital images that you feel are picture perfect as your own resources within DAZ Studio for your projects. We know the title is “Pics, You’re Perfect!”, but we like to pronounce it as “picture perfect”. Most, but not all, of the digital images you will deal with are from the new age of high resolution digital photos that can be taken with a camera or smart phone. We will demonstrate how to use these images to create new textures with transparency and use these directly within DAZ Studio. We will also demonstrate the benefits of using scanned images of items that are the right shape and size to be scanned with digital flatbed scanners. This tutorial includes 5 free reduced resolution versions of images from the MR-Pix RF Resource Image Packs that have been used for each demonstration. You will not need any digital images to get started.
Promo1		Tutorial Overview, 58 Pages Fully Illustrated, Popular PDF Format, Step-by-Step Instructions, Prepared with DAZ Studio 4.6. DAZ Studio Setup, Window Layout & Style, Viewport Settings. Image Formats, JPG vs. PNG, Resolutions. Graphics Apps. Digital Photos, Load Images, Adjusting Canvas, Cropping Image, Prepping Image, Saving Layer Image Files, Trimming Methods. Skills Exercise, Test and Hone Your Skills. Digital Scans, Common Problems. More Selection Techniques, Rectangle Select, Ellipse Select. Using Your Creations, Tiling Textures onto 3D Objects.
Promo2
Promo3
 {Click Any Image Above for Full-size Version }

The purpose of this tutorial is to demonstrate how to use digital images that you feel are picture perfect as your own resources within Daz Studio for your projects. We know the title is “Pics, You’re Perfect!”, but we like to pronounce it as “picture perfect”.  Most, but not all, of the digital images you will deal with are from the new age of high resolution digital photos that can be taken with a camera or smart phone. We will demonstrate how to use these images to create new textures with transparency and use these directly within DAZ Studio. We will also demonstrate the benefits of using scanned images of items that are the right shape and size to be scanned with digital flatbed scanners.  This tutorial includes 5 free reduced resolution versions of images from the MR-Pix RF Resource Image Packs that have been used for each demonstration. You will not need any digital images to get started.  To download the free support files, click here.


{Click Image Above for Full-size Version }

* Tutorial Overview:
  - 58 Pages Fully Illustrated
  - Popular PDF Format
  - Step-by-Step Instructions
  - Prepared with DAZ Studio 4.6
* DAZ Studio Setup
  - Window Layout & Style
  - Viewport Settings
* Image Formats
  - JPG vs. PNG
  - Resolutions
* More Selection Techniques
  - Rectangle Select
  - Ellipse Select
* Digital Photos
  - Load Images
  - Adjusting Canvas
  - Cropping Image
  - Prepping Image
  - Saving Layer Image Files
  - Trimming Methods
* Skills Exercise
  _ Test and Hone Your Skills
* Digital Scans
  - Common Problems
* Using Your Creations
  - Tiling Textures onto 3D Objects

Please enjoy this 6-page excerpt preview of what you can expect.

Erase Surroundings, For this step of the process, you will be using the Eraser tool in the Toolbox. This method is easier to implement but requires much more control of the mouse with a steady hand and the proper zoom level. We recommend that you test this method to see if it will work for you. If not, you can close the layered image file without saving, then reload and skip to the next section. In the Toolbox, click the Eraser tool to activate it. Depending on the color blending in the original image between your desired main image and its surroundings, you may or may not want to use the edge option. If you are unsure, then just click the checkbox to turn on the Hard edge feature (recommended). Eraser Tool, Size, Edge

GIMP uses the term Scale for the sizing of the region affected by the Eraser. The default scale is 1.00 and you may need to adjust this either smaller or larger depending on the Zoom level and complexity of your image. To use the Eraser, move the cursor over the region you want to eliminate and then left-click and hold moving the Eraser over all areas you want cleared. Once you are done, you can release the left mouse button. Repeat this process over and over by scrolling around your image and clearing the surroundings. Be sure to unhide and hide the Black and White backgrounds as needed to help see what you are doing. As you can see here, with the White background we see some areas needing touch-up along the edge. Erase tool default size, needs some minor cleanup

Path and Clear Surroundings, In this section we will demonstrate the recommended method of how to clear (remove) smaller portions of the border using the Path tool combined with Selection Clearing. Click the Path tool in the Toolbox. Please note that the option Selection from Path will not be available if a path has not been established. This will happen each time you reset the path in order to start a new one. GIMP Selection from Path option, Path Tool

Be sure that you have zoomed in/out as required and scrolled your image into the viewport to be worked on. When establishing your path in GIMP, find a good starting point outside of the image area (this will also be the finishing point to create our loop selection). Make your path using a wide berth to get to the area where you will be going over the image. We have marked the path direction we used for our first clearing so that you can see how we proceeded in a clockwise direction. You can use any direction you wish, but your path must be consistent and never cross itself. To establish your path, click your Starting point and then continue clicking at each spot where you want the path to go. Obviously you will want to follow the contour of the image you desire. Our path appeared as a light green line with light green bubbles at each point in the path where we clicked. When you have completed your path encapsulating the surroundings you wish to clear be sure to make the last click on the same spot as the Starting point to complete the looped area. Starting point, Path Direction

WARNING, A path should NEVER cross itself. Once you have completed your path, click on the Selection from Path button to change the area within the path you created to an actual selected area. This is the technique used to select odd shaped areas for cut, paste or clear in GIMP. You can see how our path is now the odd-shaped border for a selection as indicated by the marching ants selection lines.

Now clear the selection using the Del key or Edit / Clear on the main menu. We will need to turn off the selection so we can view our work for needed adjustments. On the main menu choose Select / None to turn off selection.

Notice that the path you have selected in GIMP is still there. Choosing any other tool in the toolbox will turn off your path. We recommend the Move tool as it is less destructive if you accidentally click on something. Move Tool

If you have areas that need redone in GIMP, simply zoom and scroll as required to get the best view of the area and use the Path / Clear Selection method to clear that region. Even though you can do larger or even the complete trimming of the surrounding imagery at one time, we highly recommend that you do it in manageable pieces. SUCCESSFUL TRIMMING! MR-Pix_Florals-027rr.png NOTE: More complicated original images will require much more patience and time to complete.

Download PDF excerpt from Pics, You're Perfect! for Daz Studio 4
Download Preview/Excerpt

Best viewed at
1024 x 768
or higher.		 copyright Thanks for Visiting
WINTERBROSE
Arts & Graphics