David is an amateur 3D artist and fantasy fan and he also hopes to sell his art sometime. He says that the process of finding a right look in Filter Forge is very random and the results can be surprisingly pleasant. We asked him how he uses Filter Forge and what filters he likes.
David aka @tantographics
— How and when did you start your way in 3D?
I'm a fan of fantasy and sci-fi art. Through 3D programs such as Daz Studio or Poser Pro 11 I'm able to use 3d assets to create imaginative scenes which I enhance using other paint type software.
— Is it your work or your hobby?
For the most part, my artwork is a hobby but I do hope to sell my art in the future.
Lyrebird. Filter used: Postage Stamp by Kochubey
— When and how did you find Filter Forge?
I discovered Filter Forge last year through Instagram.
— How do you use Filter Forge in your workflow?
After creating the 3d work I open the image in Affinity Photo (AP). From there I open Filter Forge as a standalone and open the same image. I browse through several filters and if I see something I like, I select Preview — Actual Size and then copy the result to AP and begin blending the images. Sometimes I might have several blended together.
MelindaMay. Created with several filters
— What other programs do you use?
I use Daz Studio, Poser Pro, FlowScape, Bryce, and a few other paint programs to get desired effects along with phone apps. I've discovered the process of finding the right look is very random and I'm always pleasantly surprised with the results.
Lost. Filter used: 3 Mode Tri-Layerd Cutouts With Shadow Photo Effect by DJI
—Do you usually use texture maps generated in Filter Forge?
I’ve used a few. I tend to like fractal type textures.
— What filters do you like most? Can I have a list of your favorite filters?
Usually I use a lot of sketch/paint/draw filters. I like filters that have transparency options.
- A Watercolor Painting by Northernshadow
- 3 Mode Tri-Layerd Cutouts With Shadow Photo Effect by DJI
- Ghost by Kochubey
- Postage stamp by Kochubey
- Workable Graphic by crispalomino
- Rainbow by Skybase
- I2 Grunge FX by Carl
Dancer. Filter used: Rainbow by Skybase
— Have you ever tried to make your own filters?
Yes, but just a few, mainly to change the tint or a setting. Sometimes, I change the hues or update the image to one of my own rather than the default in this filter — Image Knit by Sharandra.
For anyone using the Filter Editor, I recommend having the Component Box open on the right side. It's also fun to play around with the various components.
— What filters and features are you missing in Filter Forge?
I know you can purchase the Filter Library but it would be nice to have a text history available of previously downloaded filters. This comes about following upgrade of my system after which I realized all the filters, including favorites and customized ones were gone.
Filter Forge team note: Actually, we have a Backup and Restore Feature since version 8.0. It is a built-in tool to back up installed filters, presets, favorites and other settings to a single file, to be restored later onto another computer or operating system, or a newer Filter Forge version.
New Thunderbirds. Created with several filters
David, thanks for your answers! Visit David's Instagram to see more of his artworks.
