Testing out Daz 3D for my Author Covers

Currently in the author world there are two super hot topics: Daz3D and Academy Covers. Before it was rainbow overlays and Angels. Themes like these come and go as quick as they first appear. However, Daz3D renders won't be one of those quick to die fads. Here's why...

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Stock Model Photos are lacking these days

Stock photo models are real. Adapting them to fit supernatural or science fiction genres for book covers requires elite skills in photo-compositing or digital painting. Sometimes both! A great deal of times a writer is searching for someone to remotely look like a character from their imagination but find that there are a plethora of white models but rarely any that represent other races.

Finding a Latina or people of other colors is like finding a needle in a haystack. Which is why Daz3D is great. It fills in the holes by allowing creators to make their characters whether an orc, elf, or providing skin colors from all spectrums.

Acalia is cracking her knuckles while Filtiarn is glaring.

I still use stock photo sites though. Dazstudio is great but there are still a lot of elements only a photographer can get right. I guess this is mainly about me attempting to use the program in the first place so I can make my characters come to life. I'm having a ball testing out the different aspects of it but there's no denying I'm stumbling around when it comes to perfecting my renders.

The above photo is literally Try #22 of creating Acalia and Filtiarn from my Song of the Wind novel.. Acalia is lacking her wolf's ears and she's far darker than I've imagined. While Filtiarn is reflecting his 'scrawny' days as a wolf pup.

I think there is a con with Daz3D in that it's hard to find a good werewolf (Don't tell them I called them that, they greatly hate being compared to them) figure. Most that are available to purchase look like a bunch of hairy men on a terrible bad day. Which is to say there is actually no werewolf figures that you and I know from the movies.

Look, ma! I gots me no head!

This photo is one of my very first attempts at using the Daz3D program. I was following along a tutorial on how to use it but the tutorial guide forgot to mention how to adjust the camera. That's why this poor girl has half her head chopped off. I had no idea how to get her completely into the picture! I haven't quit trying to perfect my renders. In fact, I'm already using my best renders for my new book covers. I adore how it gives a video game appearance to my books!

Fate of the Storm debuts in 2023

Fate of the Storm, the second book in the Chronicles of Zaloria series is coming out in 2023. Hopefully if all goes as planned. I'm going over the final edits while waiting on approval for the book cover. 


Happy Reading!
Wendy May