eorzeanharmony

[eorzeanharmony]

Starter GPose: Lighting 101 - GPose controls

It's hard to overstate how important lighting is for photography in general- and the same applies to gpose shots.

This is a huge topic, so let's start with the basics!

GPose Controls

There are 3 different kinds of lighting control available when in gpose: Global, Character, and Points.

Global illumination is controlled by the manual brightness adjustment slider. This is equivalent, in real-life photography, to exposure.

Character lightning has no real-life equivalent, but may be thought of as a brightness control that only influences characters and similar entities (minions, NPCs, and enemies, for example.)

GPose also gives you 3 point light sources that can be used to emulate the 3-point lighting traditional method for illuminating a subject.

Positioning a source isn't exactly intuitive: A source is placed exactly where the camera is at the moment it is toggled. So to place it you need to move the camera to the desired position, and then enable it by toggling its button.

Oddly enough, these points do NOT project shadows. (in fact, a great deal of 'glowy' elements don't, like weapons and armor.) But you can use this fact for great effects!

You can, for example, create shots with perfect dark backgrounds by strategically placing gpose light points behind objects that do not block the emitted light. You can learn more about this technique here:

Ok, so where was I? Oh, right- lighting!

Let's play around with what we just learned then. Here's a default setup for a scene: Notice that the ceiling light *do* project shadows, but it's kinda low-res. So let's set ambient light to zero and control the shades ourselves.

Some rotation and gshade filters from Neneko Colors for better luminance, color, and model shades. It's better - but still looks pretty flat.

We want to pop the character out, so let's add some highlights and rim lights. First, the hair: let's give it a lustrous shine. Camera up top and a slightly bluish point.

Now the weapon. Remember that the item itself doesn't emit light? so let's place another point with the same tone as the weapon to illuminate Louise. To her left and behind her, slightly distant so as to project on her legs as well.

And finally, a directional key light to help illuminate her face.

Her model is still too dark, so let's use the character lighting control to help with that.

Now let's make the whole scene a bit brighter. Change the brightness adjustment slider to manual mode, and bring it up as needed.

This should be a good point to compare the initial setup with our results so far, showing how much basic gpose lighting can enhance a shot.

Now that you know how it's done, it's easy to see how some of my poses were set up! Here's one with a yellow source top-right, an orange source bottom-right, and a dim white source to the left of Louise:

Or this one: A very bright white source to the left (and a bit to the front), and a dim bluish/purplish source to the bottom right. Notice how much Louise pops out of the scene.

Next, I'll talk about exterior shots, fixture light sources, and other neat things.

(This guide is part of a series that I'm migrating from Twitter since Tumblr offers much better options for formatting and editing, and taking the opportunity to also update images and references. Let me know if you have any questions!)

[eorzeanharmony]

Catching up on Jeathebelle’s MSQ playthrough and his healerjail’d self [made a joke] about how Zenos never would’ve picked a healer weapon… Les go.

#I laughed at fandanielfairy way more than I should have

[eorzeanharmony]

#i will always love these two #nero tol scaeva #cid nan garlond

[eorzeanharmony]

#this guy looks eerily like Laevinus #up to and including suspiciously pseudo-Garlean jewelry

[eorzeanharmony]

At the heart of it, FFXIV's core conflict isn't light against darkness, or even good against evil. It's hope against despair, kindness against apathy, choosing to care despite the inherent nihilism of an uncaring universe

[eorzeanharmony]

this sign is hanging in the Compass somewhere guaranteed

Fascinated by this combination.

#Wanderer's Compass #Aly put it there 200% #except Leth came in and added the 'wireless internet' part #ffxiv RP vibes

[eorzeanharmony]

···

#speaking of not knowing what Regula looks like #drinking tea with his helmet on is sending me

[eorzeanharmony]

My raffle prize by @miichiyochin on Twitter has arrived and I love it so much! Thank you, this is amazing!

(reposted with permission, original post here)

#Gaius van Baelsar #pensive dad energy #ffxiv

[eorzeanharmony]

Commission I invited Chinese artist @射射_ to complete :)

It's Gaius with the Imperial Coat of Fending. Gunbreaker-Garlean edition? Maybe. I presume he's a DPS more, cause the blade width of Heirsbane is truly thin and it can't afford heavy weapon impact for a long time.

#Gaius van Baelsar #my favorite legatus #well okay he's tied with Regula but idk what he looks like

[eorzeanharmony]

[eorzeanharmony]

Motivational bab: Thank you for existing and being here with me today. Sometimes it’s tough to keep on going but keep fighting; there’ll be a rainbow after the rain.

[eorzeanharmony]

Deccan was in Ashen, it was the first FC he was in before she disbanded the first go-around and I moved to Shroudrose. I’m deeply saddened to hear this, and I hope someone lets me know if there’s some sort of vigil so I can attend. 

A sad announcement.

Dani Russo, @snarksonomy , known on FFXIV as Milloux Allard/ @aethersmoke-and-ash, Violetta Fierlane/ @violetcuriosity, T'Many Allowe/ @tams-catte, and others, has passed away. Dani was the former leader of the Ashen Enclave FC and the head and founder of the Tangled Boughs. She organized many public events over the years, founded Crystal’s first Duskcord, and was also a well-known moderator of the Balmung RP Network. She will be remembered as an amazing artist, leader, organizer, and most importantly, a wonderful friend.

I am devastated, as I’m sure many of you are. Dani has been one of my closest friends for the better part of 5 years, and nothing I can think to say feels adequate to express my grief. When I think of the hard work she has put into her FC and the FFXIV community in general, I am overwhelmed at the prospect of trying to share this news with all of the people she has touched. Her warmth, humor, and eye for beauty will continue to inspire me for the rest of my life. I can’t believe she’s gone.

I have left a private note to Dani’s family about how beloved she was by her online community and extended an offer to help memorialize her, however, I do not expect to hear back quickly, if at all. It is important to give her family space in this time of loss, as the handling of her online presence and online friends are probably the last thing on their minds right now. I will give updates if I get any news on this front. That being said, while I’ve found and confirmed her obituary, it did not contain details and I do not have further information on her passing. While those who were close to her knew that Dani struggled with her health for the last few years, this loss is still very much unexpected, and her family may choose not to disclose more. Let us focus instead on being here for one another and sharing all our good memories of Dani.

Dani has touched so many lives. She always took time to get to know people and their characters, remember their interests and jokes, and made them feel special and included. As her frequent collaborator and close friend, I know how much it meant to her to make connections and run events for this community. She worked endlessly to make sure others were having fun.

Her reach and impact on the Balmung community are farther than I realized.  I’ve been overwhelmed with all of the love and stories I’ve heard so far, and I know I’ll hear more. Because of this, I do intend to eventually put together something more public-facing in her honor so that we can share our stories and memories of her - probably during The Rising. The summer fireworks were always a time of reflection for her character Milloux, and that seems like an appropriate time. For now, though, I am heartbroken and sorry to be the one to share this news.

Look after yourselves and your health. Enjoy goofy, weird jokes and strange beauty, embrace your unique tastes and interests, and be strong and firm in your convictions. These are the things Dani always helped me to do.

Thank you.

- Etienne “Eti” Clairemont

#RIP #player death #someone I actually knew

[eorzeanharmony]

If you are active FFXIV/WoW content creator or artist of any kind, would you mind to reblog/like this post? ;u;

I really miss my tumblr feed to be active place and full of pretty things I want to scroll endlessly. The purge some years ago totally killed it, which doesn't surprise me at all and I have since tried to follow everyone on twitter where I'm more active nowadays as well. Not many on my followed list are active anymore or people have moved under another names. While my time goes mostly on making art myself nowadays and trying to maintain my activity on my main platform, I'm honestly too lazy to search new people to follow here unless they appear on my dash one way or another.

Click the like at least if you consider yourself to be good bean I'm looking for. Spread the word if you feel like it. I would really appreciate it, and maybe others too may find likeminded people through this who knows.

Thankies ♥

[eorzeanharmony]

#Reckless Whisper #FFXIV #Balmung #Balmung RP #Roegadyn #Hellsguard #Garlean

[eorzeanharmony]

Garlemald | the Tower of Babil

#the palace isn't there anymore

[eorzeanharmony]

[eorzeanharmony]

Please reblog this if it’s okay for me to just pop into your ask box to RP with you even if you haven’t reblogged a meme because I just want to RP with you