Second Life Forums Archive - Stuck with tight satin dress

Slartibartfast Hammerer

Registered User

Join date: 23 Mar 2007

Posts: 11

03-02-2009 12:53

I’m trying to make a satin dress and I am pretty happy creating creases and shadows and highlights in photoshop. However the dress is just missing something, it just looks too flat for satin. Does anyone have any tips on how to give the dress that extra sheen, do you start with a photo of a real life dress or is it a case of getting the right base texture. I don’t want to use one of those folded satin textures that is on so many tutorials as I don’t think they really work on a tight dress. It’s just some way of giving the material that satin shine.

Any help appreciated.

_____________________

Skuz Ragu

Runs with scissors

Join date: 6 Aug 2008

Posts: 54

03-02-2009 13:04

Satin is pretty hard to get right and I haven't been able to do it yet either, so I feel your pain. =(

Rolig Loon

Not as dumb as I look

Join date: 22 Mar 2007

Posts: 2,482

03-02-2009 13:19

Take a look at a piece of satin fabric in RL. It only has a sheen if viewed from exactly the right angle.... and even then it's not very pronounced unless here's at least a bit of folding or waviness to the fabric. A perfectly flat piece of satin isn't all that interesting, so you will have to do SOME of the sheen effect with shading.

A while back, when this question came up, I posted the following idea for getting the sheen that you associate with a metallic or satiny fabric ...

From: http://forums.secondlife.com/showthread.php?t=242344

Your instincts are good, as far as highlights. A metallic sheen needs fairly well-defined highlights, so try being more aggressive with them than you would for a soft fabric and don't over-blur or smudge the edges. I haven't found that dodging and burning helps much, but then I don't use either one very frequently anyway. I find it's too easy to go overboard before I know what happened.

Here's what works for me:

I have found that it helps to start with a background texture that has a lightly brushed look, so I add a little noise (about 10%) to my base fabric layer and then apply enough motion blur to give it a bit of sheen. I apply highlights on a new layer that has been filled with 50% Gray and set in Overlay mode. I paint the highlights with white, using a higher flow rate and a harder brush than I would for highlights on a gentler fabric like cotton. It's hard to quantify the settings here; I just have to mess with hardness and flow rate until it feels right. (Something like 40% hardness and 15% flow rate is a good place to start, for some reason.) Then I apply enough Gaussian blur to soften the edges of the highlights a bit when I have finished painting. Finally, I adjust the Levels on that layer to further accentuate the highlights until I get a pleasing effect.

I'd suggest using a very wide brush to paint those highlights, so that your fabric still seems to be rather tightly stretched instead of being loosely folded.

Give it a try. Also, do a search of this forum's archives, using the keyword "satin" or "silk." Your question has come up many times, so there are some other good ideas out there.

EDIT: Take a look at

too. It has some good ideas.

Tarina Sewell

Just Browsing Thank you

Join date: 20 Jul 2007

Posts: 2,180

03-02-2009 20:12

From: Slartibartfast Hammerer

I’m trying to make a satin dress and I am pretty happy creating creases and shadows and highlights in photoshop. However the dress is just missing something, it just looks too flat for satin. Does anyone have any tips on how to give the dress that extra sheen, do you start with a photo of a real life dress or is it a case of getting the right base texture. I don’t want to use one of those folded satin textures that is on so many tutorials as I don’t think they really work on a tight dress. It’s just some way of giving the material that satin shine.

Any help appreciated.

Check this out

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/457085/satin_silk_with_adobe_photoshop/

http://www.dezinerfolio.com/2008/05/13/photoshop-satin-cloth-tutorial

I think the key to this is using your levels....

Create a texture using above method, place over your dress and cut away at out line... Like you would place a pattern piece over the fabric..

Just somethign to try Im not saying its the correct way everyone must do it.. Also, to make less creases and folds is up to you.. Just keep playing with it, you'll get it and have an aha moment

Slartibartfast Hammerer

Registered User

Join date: 23 Mar 2007

Posts: 11

03-03-2009 05:44

Thanks Rolig I'll try some of these and see how I get on.

Glad to know it's not just me Skuz

Ralektra Breda

Template Painter

Join date: 7 Apr 2008

Posts: 1,875

03-03-2009 08:33

you can also use adjustment layers to get a little shine, I sometimes add 3 layers, one to darken it a bit, one to lighten it a bit, and then to adjust the curves to get a bit of shine.

_____________________

Mainstore: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Phantasm/51/164/501
http://rbzdesign.blogspot.com/
I'm not a designer IRL, but I RP one on SL!

Kaimi Kyomoon

Kah-EE-mee

Join date: 30 Nov 2006

Posts: 5,664

03-08-2009 23:35

The trouble with making shiny fabric is that in real life the reflections move as the person wearing the shiny fabric moves. On SL clothing any reflections you paint on will stay the same as the avatar moves and that just doesn't look very convincing. Although you can get a good looking still picture of it.

_____________________

Kaimi's Normal Wear

From: 3Ring Binder

i think people are afraid of me or something.

Rolig Loon

Not as dumb as I look

Join date: 22 Mar 2007

Posts: 2,482

03-09-2009 06:44

Well, yes and no. It's true that simple movement in SL won't chage the sheen on satin, but there is quite a bit of change as the avatar body stretches. I have a tight satin dress that stretches dramatically as I walk, making the sheen change quite a bit. The sheen's not as convincing as real satin in RL, but it's not just a static effect either.

Kaimi Kyomoon

Kah-EE-mee

Join date: 30 Nov 2006

Posts: 5,664

03-09-2009 09:31

From: Rolig Loon

Well, yes and no. It's true that simple movement in SL won't chage the sheen on satin, but there is quite a bit of change as the avatar body stretches. I have a tight satin dress that stretches dramatically as I walk, making the sheen change quite a bit. The sheen's not as convincing as real satin in RL, but it's not just a static effect either.

Yes that's true, isn't it? And the lighting on the body changes as the avatar moves around in the virtual landscape. I shouldn't have made it sound so simple. But I don't think there's a way to create a perfect illusion of shininess.

_____________________

Kaimi's Normal Wear

From: 3Ring Binder

i think people are afraid of me or something.

Stuck with tight satin dress
Slartibartfast Hammerer Registered User Join date: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 11	03-02-2009 12:53 I’m trying to make a satin dress and I am pretty happy creating creases and shadows and highlights in photoshop. However the dress is just missing something, it just looks too flat for satin. Does anyone have any tips on how to give the dress that extra sheen, do you start with a photo of a real life dress or is it a case of getting the right base texture. I don’t want to use one of those folded satin textures that is on so many tutorials as I don’t think they really work on a tight dress. It’s just some way of giving the material that satin shine. Any help appreciated. _____________________
Skuz Ragu Runs with scissors Join date: 6 Aug 2008 Posts: 54	03-02-2009 13:04 Satin is pretty hard to get right and I haven't been able to do it yet either, so I feel your pain. =(
Rolig Loon Not as dumb as I look Join date: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 2,482	03-02-2009 13:19 Take a look at a piece of satin fabric in RL. It only has a sheen if viewed from exactly the right angle.... and even then it's not very pronounced unless here's at least a bit of folding or waviness to the fabric. A perfectly flat piece of satin isn't all that interesting, so you will have to do SOME of the sheen effect with shading. A while back, when this question came up, I posted the following idea for getting the sheen that you associate with a metallic or satiny fabric ... From: http://forums.secondlife.com/showthread.php?t=242344 Your instincts are good, as far as highlights. A metallic sheen needs fairly well-defined highlights, so try being more aggressive with them than you would for a soft fabric and don't over-blur or smudge the edges. I haven't found that dodging and burning helps much, but then I don't use either one very frequently anyway. I find it's too easy to go overboard before I know what happened. Here's what works for me: I have found that it helps to start with a background texture that has a lightly brushed look, so I add a little noise (about 10%) to my base fabric layer and then apply enough motion blur to give it a bit of sheen. I apply highlights on a new layer that has been filled with 50% Gray and set in Overlay mode. I paint the highlights with white, using a higher flow rate and a harder brush than I would for highlights on a gentler fabric like cotton. It's hard to quantify the settings here; I just have to mess with hardness and flow rate until it feels right. (Something like 40% hardness and 15% flow rate is a good place to start, for some reason.) Then I apply enough Gaussian blur to soften the edges of the highlights a bit when I have finished painting. Finally, I adjust the Levels on that layer to further accentuate the highlights until I get a pleasing effect. I'd suggest using a very wide brush to paint those highlights, so that your fabric still seems to be rather tightly stretched instead of being loosely folded. Give it a try. Also, do a search of this forum's archives, using the keyword "satin" or "silk." Your question has come up many times, so there are some other good ideas out there. EDIT: Take a look at too. It has some good ideas.
Tarina Sewell Just Browsing Thank you Join date: 20 Jul 2007 Posts: 2,180	03-02-2009 20:12 From: Slartibartfast Hammerer I’m trying to make a satin dress and I am pretty happy creating creases and shadows and highlights in photoshop. However the dress is just missing something, it just looks too flat for satin. Does anyone have any tips on how to give the dress that extra sheen, do you start with a photo of a real life dress or is it a case of getting the right base texture. I don’t want to use one of those folded satin textures that is on so many tutorials as I don’t think they really work on a tight dress. It’s just some way of giving the material that satin shine. Any help appreciated. Check this out http://www.metacafe.com/watch/457085/satin_silk_with_adobe_photoshop/ http://www.dezinerfolio.com/2008/05/13/photoshop-satin-cloth-tutorial I think the key to this is using your levels.... Create a texture using above method, place over your dress and cut away at out line... Like you would place a pattern piece over the fabric.. Just somethign to try Im not saying its the correct way everyone must do it.. Also, to make less creases and folds is up to you.. Just keep playing with it, you'll get it and have an aha moment
Slartibartfast Hammerer Registered User Join date: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 11	03-03-2009 05:44 Thanks Rolig I'll try some of these and see how I get on. Glad to know it's not just me Skuz
Ralektra Breda Template Painter Join date: 7 Apr 2008 Posts: 1,875	03-03-2009 08:33 you can also use adjustment layers to get a little shine, I sometimes add 3 layers, one to darken it a bit, one to lighten it a bit, and then to adjust the curves to get a bit of shine. _____________________ Mainstore: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Phantasm/51/164/501 http://rbzdesign.blogspot.com/ I'm not a designer IRL, but I RP one on SL!
Kaimi Kyomoon Kah-EE-mee Join date: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 5,664	03-08-2009 23:35 The trouble with making shiny fabric is that in real life the reflections move as the person wearing the shiny fabric moves. On SL clothing any reflections you paint on will stay the same as the avatar moves and that just doesn't look very convincing. Although you can get a good looking still picture of it. _____________________ Kaimi's Normal Wear From: 3Ring Binder i think people are afraid of me or something.
Rolig Loon Not as dumb as I look Join date: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 2,482	03-09-2009 06:44 Well, yes and no. It's true that simple movement in SL won't chage the sheen on satin, but there is quite a bit of change as the avatar body stretches. I have a tight satin dress that stretches dramatically as I walk, making the sheen change quite a bit. The sheen's not as convincing as real satin in RL, but it's not just a static effect either.
Kaimi Kyomoon Kah-EE-mee Join date: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 5,664	03-09-2009 09:31 From: Rolig Loon Well, yes and no. It's true that simple movement in SL won't chage the sheen on satin, but there is quite a bit of change as the avatar body stretches. I have a tight satin dress that stretches dramatically as I walk, making the sheen change quite a bit. The sheen's not as convincing as real satin in RL, but it's not just a static effect either. Yes that's true, isn't it? And the lighting on the body changes as the avatar moves around in the virtual landscape. I shouldn't have made it sound so simple. But I don't think there's a way to create a perfect illusion of shininess. _____________________ Kaimi's Normal Wear From: 3Ring Binder i think people are afraid of me or something.

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Stuck with tight satin dress