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Amanda - HQ Test Render — Description
NOTE: EITHER 'DOWNLOAD' OR CLICK ON THIS TWICE TO SEE IT IN FULL RESOLUTION

I did get one comment that Amanda looked kind of 'different' in her portrait shot with Ciara. Actually I agree. The lighting techniques I use these days are quite different to those very early days of Amanda's promo shoots. Normally in the comic stories I am using multiple light sources and 20%-30% Shadow Softness. But in yesterday's picture, I can see that this is not so appropropriate for studio renders. So in this one I have used Deep Shadow Map with just 1% Shadow Softness and it gives the crisper render that we are used to. Note that it's still not quite the same as those early renders as I was using Raytrace with 0% Softness, which I find unnaturally sharp. And I have used a low 'filler spot' to lighten the shadows from being completely black.

Anyway, in preparation for future adventures, I have gone back and updated a few things about Amanda; mainly on the shaders (particularly her shirt and shorts).

What I have learned only very recently is that most 3D items are designed for use in Poser. And very often they include Bump Maps, or Displacement Maps or just settings that are not - or are incorrectly - loaded into DAZ Studio. It then requires you to really know what you are doing, go searching for these maps, and apply them correctly and with the right strength to the right surfaces.

So after some time spent doing this, I thought it was worth an HQ test render to see Amanda's subtly upgraded look.

I am sure no-one will notice any difference but, if we zoomed in closely on any part of Amanda and compared it side-by-side with the previous version, you'd see it.