Which Renders Do You Prefer?

1 shows the model well, and looks a lot like what things will be like coming off a resin printer. 3 and 6 are well enough lit to see the details and are nicely dramatic. The other options have a lot of shadows that could detail.

M

I like the background but I would like something that doesn't blend into the base as much, I want it to be clear what is the model and what is the background

J D

I agree with this. For me 2 and 6 are good for advertising, while 1 shows the model best.

Galen Teschendorf

For the purpose of an add i would go with number 2 (eye catching but not blocking the model), for showing some one what they will get then option 1 (that said i do prefer the grey to the orange for showing details, orange always seems to mute them)

stephen sale

For me, Option 1 is the clear winner, being that I am color-blind. I also can't imagine that I am the only subscriber that is. My suggestion would be to incorporate several color-blind members onto your marketing team, to possibly help out with this, as the problem that I have with some of the other Option pictures that you listed is that when you start changing up all the colors, and adding all of the shadows and backgrounds, it sometimes becomes hard or impossible for some of us to see parts or all of the models, because they blend in to the background "noise" that we can't see. It is similar to not being able to see the numbers hidden inside the dots, in a color-blind test book.

I like option 1 and option 6. Another Patron I follow includes both with background and without background.

Option 1 is the clear winner, but don't discount fancy lighting renders for your banner ad. As long as there's Option 1 close-ups for all the individual models there's nothing wrong with a bit of razzle dazzle for the announcement. ETA: please get rid of the shadows on Option 1, though!

Pippin

On here, I like to see all the detail on the model, so I voted Option 1, but if you want fancy ad shots, maybe you could do a few Option 2 or 6 renders for other uses.

Josh Rodell

I think I agree that option 1 looks good for showing off the model details, with options 2 and 6 (second to 2) showing off scenery and contrast lighting, specifically with this model anyway

I think option 2 looks "best" but as others are saying, option 1 is the only one that really let's the viewer see the model. I think the renders with lighting effects and scenery are best reserved for one or two "headline" images per release, so you can share the mood but still show off all of the details clearly in the other images

Richard Gibson

Option 1. Everything else just obscures detail and makes it hard to tell what the model actually is.

Richard Conley

oof. lol

Alice

the lighting effects in 3, 4, and 5 are distracting, and make it harder to appreciate the piece. i like 2 and 6 for advertising, but 1 is probably the best for understanding what you will get

Alice

Option 1, if you can do it without the shadow it would probably be better.

Paul Morin

OMG Option 1. I am thinking of dropping some of my subscriptions because I have no idea what it looks like until it is in the slicer. We can color this stuff ourselves, that is why we got printers to make figs.

Joe Root

PS... If I want renders colorized against cool backgrounds with impossible to achieve effects, I'd subscribe to Heroes Infinite... Oh wait, I dropped them. NVM.

Mike Stickler

Option 6 looks real cool and you might want to do something like that for 1 model each month.... As long as you also do #1 for all of them.

Mike Stickler

Of those presented 1 shows you the model itself clear of any distracting lighting, effects and such. For me that's just what I want to see. I want to see the actual model on sale - not fantasy rendering colours or fire effects or snazzy stuff. I don't have to work out if the texture is painted on (digitally) or part of the model; I don't have to peek at dark corners where perhaps its just shadowing or perhaps you've hidden mistakes by underlighting that region; I don't have to puzzle out the model. Now sure selective colouring, effects and such CAN improve sales when done right. I would, however, say that its like doing video and renders - its not a case of "one or the other" but rather a case of complimentary elements that work best alongside each other. Just like showing renders and actual prints side by side helps a lot (actually I'd say of all the things you can show, clear clean photos of actual printed models is one of the best)

Overread

I would like another option! Grey like the others but like option 1. As a merchant this would be the best to work with 👌🏻

MinionMancer

I really like option 4, with the simple background, but the model isn't lighted well so you can't see the details at all. So I voted for 1.

ShinyMecha

The clean render really shows off the details but I like option 2 as well for mood setting.. however shadows that are to dark mask details that I would like to see as it helps me get a since of my paint plan. Since I now have a mars 2 pro that becomes that much more important to me. Also I think light colored matte matcaps work best for the details. Tho low key the chrome matcap you put on the dragons arms this time made me drool

Justin Hudechek

I'm fine with different render options so long as they show the detail of the model. Backgrounds are a no-no unless it's a real photo... And even then, I would still expect a clean render. I would say maybe redo this poll but with 0 backgrounds.

Vinnie Simonetti

Aye, Option 1 without a doubt. The backgrounds just clutter the image up and detracts from the important point (the model itself :P ), making it look cluttered and harder to read. Ideally you want it as blank as possible behind for typical render shots The odd promo shot with multiple models in, maybe with coloured in models and a background makes more sense, but overall for me, as a printer/maker, I just want to see the cool shiney model that I'm getting the file to make. Even more so for basic file storage needs... I have so many that I need to be able to see what files are where at a glance easily (so renders as basic as possible). Me personally, I don't love the beige/caramel colouring for the models, but I don't absolutely hate it either :P Grey is fairly standard aye, and easy to read and shade... the light blue that a couple creators use is quite lovely too :) Also... as someone else pointed out in a previous update... Please please please, do put file renders in with their files themselves! Not as a separate thing in a completely different folder, meaning I have to manually check which files are what folder against which render every time. (Albeit is better than not getting renders in the download at all like some creators >.< ) Otherwise, great stuff <3

Joey D

Option 1, easy to see all the details. They others are great but I want to see exactly what the model looks like, and 1 is the easiest to see the details in.

Options 2 and 6 are both nice, but it’s hard to beat the readability of 1. Shadows on 4 and 5 are too deep though, and 3 just has too much going on.

DreadPirateLynx

I would love to see a full set of number 1 for each release with a few highlighted models with the special number 2 or number 6 release. I think that would be awesome.

Joshua Harris

For the patreon messages would i prefer number one, for ads i would prefer number 6

Christian Foertsch

Agree. What you see is what you will get is best.

Unfortunately with the amount of models we're making now there just ins't enough time to finish all the art to that level but i miss it too.

The Dragon Trappers Lodge

Option 1 is great, it's super readable and I know exactly what I'm getting. For promo purposes I wouldn't mind some of the showstopper pieces each month to get the stylized treatment, but overall I think most of the renders being option 1 will really help me know exactly what I'll be making.

PNDMike

Definitely 1! For details and readability. Also the warm look of the print feels quite unique for DTL, compering with other Patreons which often use grey models. However if I may say something: I really miss the color concept arts with simple but thematic background.

I second this sentiment. Plastic-looking flat renders are important, and should be included with every release. However, for publicity, 2 and 6 work the best. 3, 4, and 5 have too much going on with their lighting that detracts from the details in the models themselves.

Yeah, I agree with Ryder. Hate to be old-fashioned, but Option 1... I can see what's going on with the mini.

Scott M.

Call me old fashioned but option 1 for life.

Ryder Frankle

I think it's important to have a raw resin looking render so we know roughly what it'll look like printed, but it's also cool to have the other more thematic renders to get a feel for the theme. 3, 4 and 5 aren't very good though, there is too much shadow obscuring the detail on the model, the front lighting in 2 and 6 are much better.

Nick Holmes

Something like 6 looks nice, but clean renders like 1 is probably part of what drew me here and what I really miss with this months release. I want to have an idea of what I get when printing.

Jeffrey Ernst

I like option 1. because they look like plastic miniatures, it's easy to make out details and know what it should look like when I pull it off the printer.