Hi Neil : Man , that is some huge post of good info . I really have to ask , however , with a little imagination could you not have used some of this info in a very small tutorial ?
You say no need for a tute , then you write this big long email (that will disappear forever into the void in a matter of days) . Except for the few people who actually took the time to read the whole thing , it's very close to being a wasted efort , compared to a tiny HTML tute that is sitting comfortably on a few servers around the world . Thanks very much for your time , but I don't really have any- plans to print anything right now (I'll hang onto your mail) . HTML tute's ... they're free , they have a long shelf life , they're entertaining to read (even if you just look at the pict- ures ...) , they are always there for newcomers to learn from , or help longtime community members upgrade their skills . Let me put it this way ... what if I had just wrote about my cool experience with RS displacement mapping in an email ? How much would that have helped anyone compared to the experience of doing a step-by-step learning experience ? http://www.studiodynamics.net/tutes/planet1.html Then again , I'm amazed at how much I actually learned simply because I wanted to try and make the tute interesting to others . It's a win-win-win situation when someone actually makes the commitment to teach others effectively . (rant-mode / off) studio www.niagara.com/~studio www.studiodynamics.net > Hi Garry, > > No tutorial needed since the way to render as "bmp" is all that is needed > and is in "render options" as well as the manual. Get your models done, line > up the lights, set your "camera" and render to file as bmp. Tutorial > finished. > > Print requirements depend entirely on printing device/machine. The people > who know exactly the optimum file parameters are the people (the Printers) > who own and run each device. Go to those people for file parameters. This > answer could profitably stop right there but here's some more anyway. > > So, render to bmp in RealSoft. Convert to whatever the Printers want or let > them do so if needed. Render large file sizes since these can be reduced if > necessary at little or no loss in sharpness (resolution) but small files can > not be so easily enlarged without image distortions like pixellation, etc., > showing. > > However don't be scared, if all you have is a small image lifted from a > website then that's all you have. Massage it as much as you can in Photoshop > or whatever (I use PhotoPaint) and get on with it. The rule is simple what > you are looking at will be what is printed unless someone messes up and they > usually dont. > > For USA Letter size paper and A4 the usual for Offset is about 300dpi so > files over 25 megs have more than enough information for top results. > > DPI means Dots per Inch, it more or less means pixels per inch, therefore > with a calculator in hand you can sort out the dpi for anything you need. > > A small confusion might occur if you dig deeper and come across LPI which is > an old screen ruling term that Platemakers used when converting photographs > to printed dots. These days just let the Printer worry about this side of > things since there are optimum rulings for each of the machines on his > factory floor plus, if the file is clean enough he might run stochastic > ruling which is fun. A good machine will easily handle 175 lpi but unless > it's newsprint, flexographics (on cartons usually) or silk screen dont > accept anything less than 133 lpi. > > A small trick here is a frequency clash that can happen between a printed > image that has been printed using dots (LPI) and the reprinting of a scan of > that again using dots ... the effect is called moire and can be a horror. > Best to press the "remove moire" button in PhotoShop after scanning before > handing it over to the Printer ... except they will usually see what's going > on and fix it or hand it back to you for fixing. > > The file size is the total dot/pixel count multiplied by the number of > channels multiplied by the information type in the channels used ... CMYK > used Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black which is four channels and if it is in > 32 bit format then .. etc. RGB used three channels and is generally 24 bit. > Straight "Line Art", or Black and White is One Bit ... so yes, these can be > very very high resolution with relatively small file sizes ... I usually run > Line Art files at no less than 600 dpi. Greyscale is generally 8 bit ... an > 8 bit pixel object can carry 256 values of grey from white through to black. > > So, you might want the render to fill an A4, you will render to bmp as > mentioned. Your camera aspect ratio will be 1.41 (if the A4 is portrait > format and 0.71 if it's landscape) ... I use 1.5 and 0.75 so that I can crop > the image if I want to ... anyway, rough enough. A long edge pixel count of > 8000 is heaps ... which more or less gives 8000 x 5600 total of 44 megs, > almost double the necessary and unless I've been really extravagant with > materials and lights etc the render times are easily sorted over night. > > Don't worry about CMYK or RGB since most conversion systems these days are > good enough and again either shift the file or have the printer do so if > need be. The RealSoft bmp's are RGB and I have only one service house that > asks me to shift it into CMYK TIFs. > > I use High Quality and Press Quality default specifications in Acrobat to > make pdf's a lot. The magazines that my clients advertise in and the offset > Printers I use all ask for pdf's. These folk will be able to tell you where > to download their favouirite pdf specs which you run in Acrobat from the > "job option" menu. > > Sign writers are all over the place with what they need in file formats > however this is settling down a bit more now except for folk with older > gear. > > But if you're doing the side of a truck then treat it as a very very large > file until the people you end up using to do the job tell you to reduce > (resample) it downwards. Obviously if you can do the image on the truck at > 300dpi then it will look ridiculously sharp (high resolution) but the file > would be several gigs. On the other hand if you havent rendered it large > enough then the beauty of RealSoft is that you can go back in and re-render > it at a higher pixel count, no problem ... apart from the additional days it > might add to the job). > > Anyway, as I said at the start, talk to whoever is going to be doing the > Printing, believe me they want you to ask them since they want to be sure > you have every chance to dazzle your clients with a job well done and this > starts with optimising the file to suit the machines. > > I think that's most of the nuts and bolts covered. So far as TV is concerned > refer to a post at the start of 2004 in reply to my enquiry, it had the > whole story. So far as feature films are concerned ... can anyone shed light > on that ... nope, I'll just talk to the film folk when I'm ready to get into > it. > > Hope this is in the right direction, sing out if you think I might be able > to help more. > > Neil Cooke > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "studio" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 10:47 PM > Subject: Re: Happy new year grom Germany and good luck for RS Version 6 :-)) > and more "beginner" tutorials ;-) > > > > Hi Neil : > > > > Please forgive my 'top-post' to your elaborate mail . I > > do hope that Realsoft inc takes the time to ponder your sit- > > uation , considering how positive a result you are having > > with your Renderings-To-Print success story . > > > > Myself , and my latest crusade concerning the RS community, > > I think you may have misunderstood . > > > > Let me try to make myself a bit more clear ... > > > > Ok : > > > > 1) You (for instance) do print work . > > 2) Could you not elaborate on taking RS renderings to Print ? > > > > That is to say , could you not write a short tutorial on > > what steps are required to help someone (almost everyone here) > > get their rendered works out to print ? > > > > You know what I mean ... what DPI , what rendered size cor- > > responds to which DPI for which printing process . > > > > What about RGB to CMYK ? What has been your experience ? > > > > This is the kind of stuff that is so important but is very > > simply non-non-non-existent in this community !!! > > > > That's what I'm putting to you ? Could you not enlighten > > us to what kinds of things we should look out for when finally > > deciding to take our work from bits & bytes ... to Print ?(!!) > > > > I think you have a lot to share in this area , Hmmm , unlike > > Rob I don't seem to have the skills to inspire RS users to share > > their particular , current , level of expertise . > > > > Cheers Anyway !! > > > > studio > > www.niagara.com/~studio > > www.studiodynamics.net > > > > > > > >> Hi Garry, > >> > >> What I don't see is a DVD set on getting to grips with RealSoft. I do not > >> learn well from print, from manuals, from tut's. However, if I see > >> someone > >> do the trick it usually sticks. Maybe other peoples workflows would work > >> against someone who could and maybe should head into RS with no safety > >> net I > >> don't know, but an actual voice over ... this button then I hit that > >> thing > >> from there and tweak the dooberry so that the how's your father flicks > >> into > >> focus, etc .... something like that. > >> > >> However, even here I'm doubtful. Not even sure I would have looked at > >> such a > >> thing if one had come packaged with 4.5 when it landed on my desk. > >> Definitely certain there are many who must and should re-invent wheels at > >> every turn. As the saying goes, it might not need re-inventing but the > >> dude > >> sure knows more about wheels. > >> > >> I can not submit tutorials in RS, or any other app I use because I am > >> totally self-taught. My workflows would not stand the light of day. 30 > >> seconds on the stage and they'd laugh me right back off into the wings > >> and > >> out the door ... as in ... "Look, this dude has a thirty step work around > >> for the thing that the button second from the left does in one hit? Send > >> him > >> to Jupiter next train!" ..... > >> > >> Outside of RS and the apps I use, my expertise is again nowhere near as > >> comprehensive or accurate or useful as even the most basic, but > >> structured, > >> institutional course. More or less works for me but that's as far as it > >> goes, in fact it would more likely be destructive rather than > >> instructive. > >> > >> The problem with individualist artists is that the result is the only > >> criteria. Not how it's achieved. And you can't write a tutorial that > >> smacks > >> a student around the walls a couple of times so they forget all the > >> systems > >> and make a grab for something from right out past the Oort Cloud. > >> > >> RS is freedom for me but it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. For > >> me > >> maybe the 30 years drawing and scribbling is part of the story, Maybe RS > >> might seem to lack some kind of sounding board for some younger workers. > >> > >> In thirty years I have learnt and forgotten more than a handful of > >> technologies in this trade, maybe one bit of some ridiculous > >> cut-and-paste > >> pipeline will show as useful one afternoon when I'm scratching at a data > >> set > >> but no way would I inflict anyone with the whole trip. Like what we had > >> to > >> do to get tone line with neg film, pos film, mylar sheet or two depending > >> on > >> how thick you want the line, then guess an exposure that takes into > >> account > >> all the extra film layers and press the button ... maybe redo the pos > >> film > >> to slightly one way or the other ... crazy. > >> > >> Maybe my advice ... maybe as a local artist here once reckonned as the > >> way > >> to go: "keep drawing, no matter what". > >> > >> And with the time honoured words: "Dont talk Painter, paint!", I'll get > >> off > >> the pot, except to note that all the old quotes need to be upgraded to RS > >> ... "Dont talk, render dude, render!" ... > >> > >> All the very best for the New Year to you too Garry. > >> > >> Neil Cooke > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "studio" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> To: <[email protected]> > >> Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 8:40 PM > >> Subject: Re: Happy new year grom Germany and good luck for RS Version 6 > >> :-)) > >> and more "beginner" tutorials ;-) > >> > >> > >> > Hi Neil : > >> > > >> > ... and all the best in 2006 to you and yours ! > >> > > >> > OK , let me ask you this ... is there not a single thing > >> > about what you do that could go into an online tutorial ? > >> > > >> > Let's face it , not that many of us know a dime about > >> > 'rendering for print' , right ? Do you know anything on > >> > this topic (Yes is the obvious answer) ? > >> > > >> > OK , so share it !!! > >> > > >> > Give it up people !!! No mercy , no bull , just give up > >> > to the community what skills or knowledge you have worth > >> > sharing . > >> > > >> > Seriously , there may be several people out there that > >> > could very much use the knowledge to get started on their > >> > own Realsoft rendering projects . > >> > > >> > studio > >> > www.niagara.com/~studio > >> > www.studiodynamics.net > >> > > >> > > >> >> A personal view. > >> >> > >> >> My wish list for RS is that I want to know everything that Vesa knows > >> >> and > >> >> I > >> >> want to know it now. From high level programming through to each and > >> >> every > >> >> run-time object and their parameter sets. That's all. > >> >> > >> >> I believe RS can do everything and more that I would ever want but > >> >> given > >> >> my > >> >> massive lack of knowledge on the subject, I'm not really sure how I > >> >> could > >> >> know that. > >> >> > >> >> Regardless, me and my half a percent depth of understanding, have just > >> >> destroyed two weeks very happily. Render number twelve on the latest > >> >> drawing. A massive object count and I just added another light source > >> >> ... > >> >> but at least this light doesnt need to cast shadows. These are just > >> >> proofing > >> >> renders and have been discarded. They have been taking about ten hours > >> >> each > >> >> at about 100 megs or so and the end result if I ever decide I'm > >> >> satisfied > >> >> with the thing will have no commercial value. > >> >> > >> >> Do I have a life outside megabyte-land? Nope and it doesnt worry me in > >> >> the > >> >> slightest. A natural born graphics addict ... and my shed here is > >> >> showing > >> >> every sign of falling down around me ... maybe it already has. A > >> >> client > >> >> told > >> >> me I had to mow my lawns ... however the time spent sorting a > >> >> particular > >> >> bump map image I needed had greater priority :] > >> >> > >> >> Actually yes, there a couple of other interests ... food now and then > >> >> is > >> >> one > >> >> ... and sometimes I sleep. > >> >> > >> >> Whatever RS decides is useful in V6 is Ok by me, they havent made any > >> >> bad > >> >> calls as far as I am concerned. I'm even getting used to the new > >> >> icons. > >> >> > >> >> All the best to List and all for the New Year, > >> >> > >> >> Neil Cooke > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> >> From: "Mark Heuymans" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> >> To: <[email protected]> > >> >> Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 5:36 AM > >> >> Subject: Re: Happy new year grom Germany and good luck for RS Version > >> >> 6 > >> >> :-)) > >> >> and more "beginner" tutorials ;-) > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > > >> >> >> > >> >> >> For me , as far as V6 is concerned , I just wish I could begin to > >> >> >>tap the potential of V4.5 !!! We're constantly bombarded by people > >> >> >>who love to mention that latest and greatest 3D program , but most > >> >> >>do not realize that RS is capable of so much much more than we see > >> >> >>here or in forums or IRC etc etc . > >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> > Yes, you hit the nail on its head imho: if I had a choice between > >> >> > A) V6 with tons of new features but incomplete docs, or > >> >> > B) the current V5 but with more complete and better structured docs > >> >> > & > >> >> > tuts > >> >> > I'd go for B in a second! > >> >> > > >> >> > RS keep concentrating on programming and keep ignoring > >> >> > accessibility... > >> >> > but somebody has to do it! OK, I volunteer for a few tuts on > >> >> > landscapes > >> >> > and VSL. > >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> > Sorry to be inactive lately; I'm still alive but needed a few weeks > >> >> > without 3d ;) > >> >> > > >> >> > Here's to 2006, cheers to all Realers and Realsoft! > >> >> > > >> >> > -Mark Heuymans > >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> -- > >> >> No virus found in this incoming message. > >> >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > >> >> Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.9/183 - Release Date: > >> >> 12/29/2005 > >> >> > >> >> > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> No virus found in this incoming message. > >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > >> Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.9/183 - Release Date: > >> 12/29/2005 > >> > >> > > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.9/183 - Release Date: 12/29/2005 > >
