JoeDios.com Forums - To all you dio-makers out there

To all you dio-makers out there

08-17-2008, 06:08 PM	#1
DaveCW2 Happy Camera Fun Time! Offline --> Posts: 1,155 --> Join Date: Nov 2007	To all you dio-makers out there What prompted you to get started creating them? And, as a follow-up, how time-consuming is it: How long to write, photograph, set build, photoshop, etc.? I'm thinking about trying it out, but I'm not sure if I have the time to do it. Also, I have a pretty short attention span for this kind of thing; I may get bored half-way through Thanks again, everybody! __________________ On a quest to collect and customize the 1985 Joes in Modern Era form. Aaand maybe the Cobras, too. Holy crap! There were five troop builders in 1985 - what am I getting myself into!?!

08-17-2008, 06:27 PM	#2
lehsreh G.I. Smurf Offline --> Posts: 3,446 --> Join Date: Jan 2006	i got into dios after reading general hawks' dios. i came in after they had been going for over a year, so between him and other dio authors i had about a month of reading. i saw it as a way to still play with my joes and a reason to relive my childhood. as for time consuming, it may just be me, but it can be very time consuming. the scripting is the easiest for me, taking anywhere between 30 to 1:30 mins. actually taking the pictures can take me anywhere from 2 hours inside to around 6 outside. thew winter dio i did was longer then six because i had to keep coming inside. set building isnt my strong point as im mainly an outside person. the few i have built are easy and fast to build. i use stuff like computer sides as walls and whatever. as for photoshop, you cant really put a time on it as the more you do it, you get faster and faster. i probably do this in a 4th of what is use to take me. i really wish more and more people would get into doing dios. at least try it once with a one shot, which is what you should try first if your worrying about your attention span. my first try was a one shot so i would not have to worry about a follow up if i did not want to. you, and a guy who use to be here(blowtorch) are two i would like to see do dios as i love both of your photo colors. by this i mean how you get such rich color into them. i dont know how you both do it, but i have yet to see yours and his equaled. as a side note about time consuming and your attention span. look at violentfix, he took almost a whole year off from doing his dio once and came back to it.

08-17-2008, 06:40 PM	#3
Sonneilon aka 'Paul WS Anderson' ;) Offline --> Posts: 7,751 --> Join Date: Jul 2005	I think I got into dios from viewing Luke Ellison's work. I know that I got into pictures from him. I thought it was total fun and I could do stories that I knew I'd ever see from anyone else. That's a lot of the fun, to do stuff that isn't of the norm. I started as normal military stuff but I've found that doing more sci-fi/horror is more fun. I've always like the movies where a normal crew goes in and has to fight weird funky stuff that's outside the box. The key is to create a situation where it looks remotely plausible. It also helps the viewer understand stuff IF they have a broad knowledge of movies and books. I totally used a lil concept by Stephen King and back when I did the Transformations dio, THE MIST hadn't come out yet and MOST people didn't know about it. But anyway... how long does it take? It depends on every factor out there! Money, resources, building sets, whether the figures are available or coming out soon, etc. I don't actually WRITE it all out. I have a ton of ideas and usually bounce them off a few people here to see if it'll float.

08-17-2008, 06:41 PM	#4
Sonneilon aka 'Paul WS Anderson' ;) Offline --> Posts: 7,751 --> Join Date: Jul 2005	I don't actually know how to do a SHORT dio. Short for me still ends up being 20-30 frames! Which means, I took 60-90 shots for it! I just shot Part2 and Part3 of HUNT FOR SONNEILON. Both parts average out to 90s shots each. But just how many will I actually use? It's NOT like all the shots are perfect. Change in shutter speed and frame rate; same shot, many takes. You know how it is! I plan on working on that tonite, if I can get my butt in gear...

08-17-2008, 07:27 PM	#5
lehsreh G.I. Smurf Offline --> Posts: 3,446 --> Join Date: Jan 2006	oh, one thing everyone who writes dios should know, do not get upset, but expect that you dios will not get a lot of feedback. i post mine on 5 different sites, i may get 180 views, but lucky to get 25 or 30 replies. i dont know why people do this, maybe because someone already said what they thought, maybe they dont have a thought, or maybe they saw something they didnt like but just didnt want to let you know. i think if we read someone's dio, we should acknowledge it by replying, even if we only say nice. i know it has gotten to me after seeing so many views but only a few replies. it gets you thinking if you should keep going, but when you see your story come together, it can be a great feeling.

08-17-2008, 08:01 PM	#6
snakeeater Veteran Offline --> Posts: 362 --> Join Date: Jul 2006	I thought I had some pretty good story ideas and initially started writing it as fan fiction, but it was hard to get motivated to write. Then I read Violentfix's Operation Rapier, and saw a cool way to tell the stories I had. And it is a good feeling to see a story that's been in my head come to life on a computer screen. It's a fun way to combine 4 hobbies 1) writing, 2) toy collecting, 3) photography, and 4) web site design. I don't really pay attention to how long it takes to work on them, it's fun to do so I don't really notice. I usually work on them a little here and there as I have time, and for outdoor shots, good weather. Your single shots have been really good so far, hope to see something from you soon.

08-17-2008, 08:05 PM	#7
Sonneilon aka 'Paul WS Anderson' ;) Offline --> Posts: 7,751 --> Join Date: Jul 2005	I still haven't gotten Outrider to do a dio either! and his shots are wonderful too! Say, where's a ToneGuns dio???

How long..

08-17-2008, 08:46 PM	#8
Urban Saboteur Legendary Saboteur Offline --> Posts: 2,138 --> Join Date: Apr 2007	How long.. How long? Geeez.. how long do you have? J/k. Actually the best advice I can give is not to over commit yourself with something, otherwise when you come to do the dio.. do the work for it.. it becomes more like work and less enjoyable.. always stay in focus of the story you want to tell. It's best to start with something real simple say 5-10 shots, think of a very brief scene and explain what happened before and after.. If you enjoyed doing that short scenario, chances are you'll get a liking for telling longer stories with more intensity and focus on each character. Bottom line, make sure you enjoy doing your stories.. the comments, feedback etc are good to get, but as long as you enjoyed creating the storyline initially you'll find it very rewarding to do. The scenery thing can be a problem sometimes for me, so i tend to shoot natural photographs outdoors and use photoplus to put in the gunshots/fx later. __________________ My Sites Eternity Toys Superiorville Toy blog Urban Saboteur Stories Social Sites & Communities Facebook Flickr Tweet Me

08-17-2008, 09:05 PM

lehsreh

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Saboteur

Actually the best advice I can give is not to over commit yourself with something, otherwise when you come to do the dio.. do the work for it.. it becomes more like work and less enjoyable.

perfect point, and one that should not be forgotten. this has happened to me on many things. even some of my dios are cut short because i feel that i am once again trying to fall into the perfectionist mindset that i once had when i use to draw comics. man, i would take 8 hours on a single picture and still would be disappointed.

on a side note, although you may be tempted to do a dio that you know others will love with the characters you think they want, your first one should be with characters you love following a storyline you enjoy reading and writing.

My opinion

08-17-2008, 10:07 PM	#10
Rambo ARAH for O-ringers Offline --> Posts: 6,074 --> Join Date: Dec 2007	My opinion Well... I admire Tim's Frankovich dios. His dios were the first ones I read and I admit, I got Pathfinder because of him. I have a lazy brain that only let me do 1 shot dios. I like to make funny ones and I like to photoshoot hated figures just to spice the site. Sets are my weak side. I wish I have some playset or a garden. It is a little, just a little, embarassing to shoot outside, alone in a park... with dogs and people nearby looking at you wondering what da F'N is he doing. When an idea enters my mind, it doesn't stop bugging me until I got post it. And yes, I like to play with Photoshop filters and fonts and effects. I am still learning. That's why I ask for How-To in some pics. Time? My last two pics took 3 hours to get done. __________________ HEROES DON'T DIE, THEY JUST RELOAD