Firestorm PBR update and taking pictures - HELP!

[Jude Tatham]

So I am not particularly techy and have never really mastered the lighting controls fully in SL (using Firestorm), however I had got it down to a point where I was generally content with the images I produce. Since the Firestorm PBR update, however, that has all changed. I know this isn't a new topic and I am sure it has been discussed before, but does anyone know of a link or anywhere I can get some help sorting out my lighting to get a decent photograph in-world. I have searched and searched, but am obviously not searching for the right thing! YES I am a CalWL girl, but I did use to like the shadow options you get with other Windlights which gave the image depth - but now....eek, what do I do?! HELP!

[Scylla Rhiadra]

2 minutes ago, Jude Tatham said:

So I am not particularly techy and have never really mastered the lighting controls fully in SL (using Firestorm), however I had got it down to a point where I was generally content with the images I produce. Since the Firestorm PBR update, however, that has all changed. I know this isn't a new topic and I am sure it has been discussed before, but does anyone know of a link or anywhere I can get some help sorting out my lighting to get a decent photograph in-world. I have searched and searched, but am obviously not searching for the right thing! YES I am a CalWL girl, but I did use to like the shadow options you get with other Windlights which gave the image depth - but now....eek, what do I do?! HELP!

Hey Jude, SL photographer here!

What is the particular problem that you're having for photos with the FS PBR update? The lighting? Colours and saturation?

The PBR viewers all render light rather differently than the older viewers did, and the result is that some old EEPs (such as CalWL) look washed out, and others too dark. It's a more dynamic range of light, which is actually a good thing, but requires some adjustment.

One thing you can definitely do is get some new EEPs that are specifically designed for PBR. Onsu's in-world store has a largish set for L$1, that includes a wide range for different times of day. They look pretty good.  Juicybomb has a set for sale on the MP for L$10; it's more varied, but there are some nice ones, including (I think) one that's not a bad approximation of CalWL.

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/JuicyBomb-Eternal-Skies-EEP-Settings-PBR-Ready-Second-Life-Mirrors/26117454

And a search on the MP for PBR and EEP will find quite a good selection of others. Pick some of these up, and experiment a bit: you can probably find some you like.

A quick, cheap, and dirty trick that some people use (but that I personally don't like or recommend) is to reduce the "exposure" settings in the graphics tab of Preferences.

The other option is to make your own reflection probe to enclose the scene, if it's a place you can build and rez. A reflection probe modifies (and generally reduces) the amount of ambient light hitting the things it encloses. That's probably more than you want to undertake, but in case you're interested, here's a how-to video.

If there's another problem that I haven't addressed here, let me know.

 

[Jude Tatham]

Thank you so much Scylla! This is exactly what I need - guidance and pre-sets! I know Onsu and JuicyBomb well, so will go and see what they have. 

I am not a skilled photographer, so I need all the help I can get.

Thank you for responding so quickly!!!

[Scylla Rhiadra]

6 minutes ago, Jude Tatham said:

Thank you so much Scylla! This is exactly what I need - guidance and pre-sets! I know Onsu and JuicyBomb well, so will go and see what they have. 

I am not a skilled photographer, so I need all the help I can get.

Thank you for responding so quickly!!!

You're more than welcome! And have fun with it (photography, I mean -- PBR is a pain)!

[Rowan Amore]

This is also helpful...

https://wiki.firestormviewer.org/pbr_updating_skies

[Jaylinbridges]

It's all a matter of getting the perfect PBR sky.  This assumes you don't have any Linden water nearby - that's another bucket of worms.   

PBR sky is a little different, but you WILL ADAPT!

[Ceka Cianci]

Onsu has a nice PBR skies pack at their store That @Cristiano Midnight linked in another thread.

This is one of the night time ones from the Scarlet creative pack that i believe I got on the MP.. I love using it down on the ground with my beach because it's so calming. I love the water under PBR skies as well.

 

 

Edited July 26 by Ceka Cianci

[Ceka Cianci]

I found this on the MP also, which is free from Indra Herouin

I believe they do all the way up to Z, but this is the first sets that are updated.

Firestorm Windlights changed to PBR- Misc A-D

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Firestorm-Windlights-changed-to-PBR-Misc-A-D/26210979

[Scylla Rhiadra]

35 minutes ago, Ceka Cianci said:

I found this on the MP also, which is free from Indra Herouin

I believe they do all the way up to Z, but this is the first sets that are updated.

Firestorm Windlights changed to PBR- Misc A-D

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Firestorm-Windlights-changed-to-PBR-Misc-A-D/26210979

Well, there you are. A private resident is doing what LL itself should have done in the first place.

I guess they were right all along: eventually we WILL fix their screw-ups for them.

[Ceka Cianci]

3 minutes ago, Scylla Rhiadra said:

Well, there you are. A private resident is doing what LL itself should have done in the first place.

I guess they were right all along: eventually we WILL fix their screw-ups for them.

I think i got them from there when EEP came out as well.

[Bree Giffen]

There's more to lighting than adjusting skies and EEP for outdoor photos.

You can also use spotlights to fully control all light sources for an indoor scene. First make sure your graphics are set to high or ultra with shadows set to sun/moon + projectors. To create a spotlight you create a prim and edit it. Go to the features tab and turn on 'light' which creates a point light. There is a texture option nearby and if you set the texture to blank it creates a spotlight that shines out of one face of the prim. This spotlight creates shadows and this light is also reflected by pbr materials. By stretching out your prim you can change the shape and size of your light and you can change other light options in the object edit window. By using multiple spotlight prims and turning them invisible you can create complex lighting and shadows for your photos. 

You should set your sunlight and ambient light to dark colors or black if you want to light your scene completely using spotlights. 

[Prokofy Neva]

I actually don't need to adapt. And when forced, I will go. And a bunch of us will, and then the Lindens and their Firestorm troopers will have to adapt themselves and make it better.

 

[Scylla Rhiadra]

26 minutes ago, Prokofy Neva said:

I actually don't need to adapt. And when forced, I will go. And a bunch of us will, and then the Lindens and their Firestorm troopers will have to adapt themselves and make it better.

 

I don't think LL believes you. And they are counting on many of those pronouncing Jeremiads now to be bluffing. And, yes, perhaps also on being able to improve viewer performance somewhat.

I am certain we will lose, or have already lost, some people.

I think Firestorm will HAVE to improve: it's by far the slowest viewer now. But I think you're being unfair to them: the FS viewer is a fully-loaded and, I'm sure, very complicated beast.

[Luna Bliss]

8 minutes ago, Scylla Rhiadra said:

am certain we will lose, or have already lost, some people.

byeeeeeee   LOL

[Fluffy Sharkfin]

13 hours ago, Scylla Rhiadra said:

I guess they were right all along: eventually we WILL fix their screw-ups for them.

Of course!  After two decades of relying on creators and residents to pick up the slack and fill in all the blanks themselves they probably just consider it as a normal part of the development process.

The irony is that they're doing it while introducing all these new features in order to try attract more creators to the platform without any apparent thought to how many existing creators have stopped creating or simply left SL over the years because they were tired of "picking up the slack".

[Theresa Tennyson]

14 hours ago, Scylla Rhiadra said:

Well, there you are. A private resident is doing what LL itself should have done in the first place.

Why?

[Luna Bliss]

1 hour ago, Fluffy Sharkfin said:

15 hours ago, Scylla Rhiadra said:

I guess they were right all along: eventually we WILL fix their screw-ups for them.

Of course!  After two decades of relying on creators and residents to pick up the slack and fill in all the blanks themselves they probably just consider it as a normal part of the development process.

The irony is that they're doing it while introducing all these new features in order to try attract more creators to the platform without any apparent thought to how many existing creators have stopped creating or simply left SL over the years because they were tired of "picking up the slack".

When you "pick up the slack" in SL you also 'pick up the money'.  Good trade-off I'd say. And you pave the way for those who like to create but don't really want to do much work and earn money.  Win-win.

[Ceka Cianci]

What does all this other stuff have to do with, PBR and help taking pictures?

Instead of people getting help threads locked, maybe make a thread that you can get locked on your own?

Why have the same conversations in every thread?

[Janet Voxel]

[Quartz Mole]

I've just had to remove a few off-topic posts.

Before you hit "Submit Reply," please ask yourself "Does my post actually offer any useful advice to SL photographers about how to work with PBR?"

If it doesn't, that's a good sign it probably belongs in another thread, and heaven knows there's more than enough threads already devoted to general discussions about PBR, Firestorm, the future of LL, and whatever.   

You'll almost certainly find a good home for your views on PBR and LL  in one of those threads if you give the matter a little thought.   Please reserve this one for photography and PBR.

Edited July 27 by Quartz Mole

[Love Zhaoying]

On 7/25/2024 at 3:43 PM, Rowan Amore said:

This is also helpful...

https://wiki.firestormviewer.org/pbr_updating_skies

Thanks for this! I figured out that it's readable on mobile (phone) in landscape mode, too bad the pictures don't show up. Great guide!

 

[Luna Bliss]

I'm loving this 00-Nofu Cape Cod Midday PBR by Nofu Nagy.

Colors are deep and vibrant in the environment, not washed out at all, yet plenty of light.  A bit on the darker side so not sunshine blasty but I like this.

[Kylie Jaxxon]

36 minutes ago, Luna Bliss said:

I'm loving this 00-Nofu Cape Cod Midday PBR by Nofu Nagy.

Colors are deep and vibrant in the environment, not washed out at all, yet plenty of light.  A bit on the darker side so not sunshine blasty but I like this.

Thanks for the tip

[Ceka Cianci]

I remember how I got my Scarlet creative PBR EEPs now..

I had just bought one of their PBR houses a week or so back and the EEPs came with it..

I just went and got this one today and thinking it would be about 900$L and it was only 75$L. But only at the in world store..

on the MP it's still like 900 or so.

It's set up for PBR and comes with the PBR EEPs as well.

[Chic Aeon]

1 hour ago, Ceka Cianci said:

I remember how I got my Scarlet creative PBR EEPs now..

I had just bought one of their PBR houses a week or so back and the EEPs came with it..

I just went and got this one today and thinking it would be about 900$L and it was only 75$L. But only at the in world store..

on the MP it's still like 900 or so.

It's set up for PBR and comes with the PBR EEPs as well.

Sadly that is no longer on sale (or actually available to buy at the moment. It has been replaced. Guess that was LAST weeks special