XARA or 3D Rendering Software

Was this done in XARA or a 3-D rendering program? That was the question given to Gary B. earlier today. I was looking for some 3-D rendering software that I could use with Xara. I see Gary using 3D software all the time, so I asked his recommendation. To say the least, his answer was rather discouraging. He did however give me a lot of encouragement about my own skills in Xara. So last night I decided to push the envelope and do something a little bit out of my comfort zone. I posted this morning that I had in deed found a 3-D rendering software that was compatible with XARA and it was completely free. Also, it had an easy learning curve. I would not tell him that name of the software. He had to guess. He took a couple of guesses at what it could be. He was wrong on all counts. The name of the software of coarse was XARA!

This was accomplished 100% in Xara without any filters or bitmap tracing or photo tool any kind. Just the basic tools. It's pure vector. I added named colors to give me more often when I was done. When I had finished this project, I surprised myself. It looked so good, it looked like somebody els had done it. I'm so thankful that Gary pushed me. I did not realize the potential that was already with me. Sometimes we are our own worst critics. I remember when I first started using Xara. I was in aw of all the work that the other artist were posting in the art gallery. I never thought that one day my work would be like there's. I hope you all like it.

I believe another artist here on TG did one like this but with a colored ball. I was so amazed when I had first seen that, I could not understand how he could get that kind detail with Xara. Now I know.

Paul

Wonderful! Tell us how you did it.

Rendering is an art too. I've seen a lot of bad renderings. Your work is great, but it's also an illustration.
Besides rendering it allows you to create countless of variants from a single model. How many hours do you have drawn your model?

That is just amazing!

Reflections look very believable.

It takes a lot of skill to even get such a result in Cinema 4D.

Lighting is Beautiful Paul!

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Originally Posted by Psaumure

This was accomplished 100% in Xara without any filters or bitmap tracing or photo tool any kind. Just the basic tools. It's pure vector.

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Before of anything that is so good to hear.. Because showing that the potential is huge of the software in good hands :D

These are magical looking ones, congratulations

Thank you everyone for your coments. I enjoyed putting this one together. It was a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to doing more.

digitalphaser. I'm not putting down rendering as an art form by any means. I have great respect for the Artist who take the time to learn the software and express themselves through it. I am just pointing out that XARA can also produce some phenomenal pieces of 3D rendering. To answer your question; Since this was my first time drawing this, this one took about five hours. It took a little longer because I was using named colors. To redraw, it would probably take me three hours and would come out better then the first. I learn from my mistakes. I think this was considerably last time then it would've taken me to figure out how to use a piece of 3D rendering software. That was a big part of the conversation that I was having with Gary. This all started because of my curiosity of 3-D rendering software. How long would this take you to do in a 3D rendering environment? I don't know anyone that are using rendering software aside from Gary. He tells me that there is quit a learning curve and expense for most rendering software that will produce this kind of quality. For me, this was a free and easy upgrade.

Thank you again everyone for your interest in my work and your kind comments. They are greatly appreciated.

Paul

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Originally Posted by Boy

Wonderful! Tell us how you did it.

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Boy, I had to sit back and think about this, "How You Do That?". (If I were a magician, I will tell you, "Very well thank you".) That is quit a question. Before I answer it, I want you to know that I don't have a traditional art background. I started here on TG. an average guy asking questions. Just like most of you. I spent a lot of time doing tutorials. not just once, but over and over. You still have the Masters here on TG that I learned from. Some people think I'm special. I'm not. I think any of you can do the same as me. I'm not here to boast what I can do, but rather what you can do with XARA and a few discipline.

So, here is my answer. Draw icons, logos, tutorials that are shiny. DRAW, Draw, draw... I have not been on TG for the last few years. Nor have I been drawing. My family got me a new 27" iMac with retina display for my birthday. I loaded up my Xara and got back on TG. The first thing I did was start drawing icons, logos, wallpapers, anything I could find. I started flooding TG with my work. I kept drawing until the little thing I did shined. it also helped me to figure out what tools work best to make things shine. My philosophy is, "if you can do the small things well, that will give you the tools to do the BIG things". I look at a lot work that everyone has posted here on TG and you guys have the goods to do what I do. Just start with the basic and don't complicate it. That's my answer in a nut shell.

I posted some of the sample icons I did as an example of shiny. I have also posted a gun that I did, along with some sample files how that I put them together. I think when you go through the files, you will see just how simple i keep my work. No fancy tools, just the basics. Note, I gave you an actual piece out of my original drawing with named colors. See if you can redraw it for yourself. Play with it and have fun.

Hopefully this answers your question. Again, my goal is not to boast about me, but what YOU can do with XARA.

I hope this was helpful? If you have any questions, please let me know.

Paul

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Originally Posted by csehz

Before of anything that is so good to hear.. Because showing that the potential is huge of the software in good hands :D

These are magical looking ones, congratulations

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Yes Csehz. I agree with you, and the potential is huge. That's why I attached some files for you to take apart and see how simple it is.

Enjoy my friend and thanks for your interest.

Sorry I did not do your design justice when recreating it in 3D.

Where yours is round and smooth... Mine is horribly wavy but I gave up. I'm only an amateur.

I screwed up the background as well.

But it is remarkable how close your reflections and lighting to a 3D render are.

Keep amazing us with your work Paul!

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Hey Dutchim, that's really coooool. Thank you for taking the time to do that and posting it. May I ask what program you did that in? How long did it take you to do that. It's interesting to see a redraw of my work. Maybe some other 3-D rendering Argus would be willing to Do a redraw also. It would be interesting to see what can be done using rendering software.

Thank you again for taking the time.

Paul

I used Maxon Cinema 4D... And it must have been a few hours. I'm sure somebody who knows what they are doing could do it in less.

Richard

I just meant that drawing and rendering are two different disciplines. Both are equally difficult and they can not be compared.

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Originally Posted by Psaumure

How long would this take you to do in a 3D rendering environment?

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Rendering time depends on the complexity of the materials. Your option is the easiest for rendering (simple reflective curved surfaces). Of course it depends on the experience. Everyone who is engaged in rendering has already ready scenes for different situations. Such work is a few minutes for an experienced 3D artist.

If we talk about photorealism, your picture is very realistic. But once it is clear that this is an"hand made" illustration. Your work is very good. Simply, I would not compare both. Beautifully painted realistic portrait is also not a photography. Sometimes a drawing can be emotionally than the photo. Sometimes vice versa.

Good luck!

Very impressive work, Paul.

Thank you Gray. Coming from you, that means a lot. I have always been impressed by your attention to detail and I enjoy your work.

One more try at creating it in 3D since I was convinced it could be done better. ... Main shape consists of only 3 splines with 7 points each covered inside a Loft object (sort of like a skin object).

Still like the flow/shape of your original vector image bettter.

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Wow! Very well done dutchim. Much better then the last one. Lots of good reflections and I love the background. Kudos to you. Thank you so much for taking the time to do that for me. That must have taken some time.

I downloaded a 3D program called Blender (mainly because it was free) and put something basic together to see what I could do. It took me over three hours to do this. I did the other one in Xara which took me about 30 minutes. Can you guess which one was done in what program?

Thank you again for doing that.

Paul

The shadows of the one on the left are a bit more realistic.

Blender on the left and Xara on the right?

You got it. See my rendering engineering needs some work.

This is a very interesting thread..

Dutchim your render from the 3D software looks great, and an amazing fact that Paul can compete with that in Xara

Thanks csehz but all the work the 3D software did. Slap a nice texture on it and some well placed lights and hit render.

Paul tell your render engineer to turn on the Ambient Occlusion. I think that's what's missing... But really a nice job!

Dutchim, You added some color, so I thought I would try that on this one. I named the colors on the ball and the glass piece to change things around.

Clearly Xara is all you need to make your ideas come to life... Beautiful!

I think 3D software in your hands could be too dangerous and powerful. You might actually change the course of history! :-O

Managed to get it down to a sphere (represented in the line drawing as a circle) and two splines twisted in 3D space (Actually the same spline flipped upside down) covered with a 'skin'.

This is not to take away from the brilliance of Paul's work but rather praise his uncanny ability to reproduce such imagery with Xara Designer!

Carry on...

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Very nice Dutchim. A 4th of July type piece. Now how long did that take you to put together? inquiring minds want to know.

So, You think if I had 3D software that I could, TAKE OVER THE WORLD. Next, I'm going to draw a LASER. LOL See, I'm developing the next version of Xara... XARA HD! Take your drawings to the next level with XARA HD...

You said that you use Maxon Cinema 4D. I looked that up and it runs somewhere around $2000. Thats quite an investment. What do you use it for?

Thanks again for your post. I enjoy seeing the things you put together.

Paul

Yeah the price is pretty steep. I was fortunate enough to end up with the Student Edition (free).

I'm using it to get familiar with the software. Have always been intrigued with anything 3D related.

Putting it together did not take too long. But then you end up rendering it, changing a setting and render it again till satisfied.

The beauty is... Especially with your car model in another post... that when done modeling and texturing you can render it from any angle you'd like.