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Description
A behind-the-scenes look of the poster Smash Sisters. Full credits and context can be found there.

This shot gives you a view of the whole scene-build. The red-maned pony at the left is Animazam , the mascot of the SFM-Ponies group and the cameramare behind each of my posters. She needs to be used more in animations and posters.

For those of you new to Source Filmmaker or non-SFM people who are just curious, a scene-build is essentially the SFM equivalent to using a movie set instead of shooting a movie on location. In SFM, you can use any map made for the Source Engine (eg. maps from Left 4 Dead or Counter-Strike) as the backdrop to your poster. This is a quick, easy method, but it gives you less control over the lighting and the props. An alternative is to create a scene-build: start with a blank map with no lighting, then place props to simulate the feel of whatever setting you are going for.

Scene-building has several advantages over using pre-built maps.
Props and particles in your backdrop that are not in the camera can be removed, saving up RAM and processing power.
Props that block the camera can be moved or deleted.
You have more control over lighting. Some pre-built maps come with lights that may not let illuminated props and characters cast shadows.
If something looks "wrong," but is outside the camera, you are not obligated to fix it. The blue light on the floor in this picture is supposed to simulate the glow of the brazier in camera, but the light bleeds into the floor. Because the bleeding portion of the light is outside the camera, however, you don't notice it in the final picture.

Like a movie set, a scene-build also allows you to pretend that certain elements in a shot are something else. For example, the "temple" is just a bunch of stone floors and walls. The "sun" is just a bright volumetric spotlight floating just above the plants.

Disclaimer: I'm not that experienced of an SFM guy. If any of you SFM experts find anything wrong in my explanation, feel free to correct me.

Character credits:

Twilight Velvet and hoodie models by ; enhanced using Crowbar and 's enhanced ponies
Daring Do model by
Fallout Equestria raider model by
Drama Queen model by
Wasteland Warrior model by
Lemon Poneh model by
Animazam model by , , , and

Description
A behind-the-scenes look of the poster Smash Sisters. Full credits and context can be found there.

This shot gives you a view of the whole scene-build. The red-maned pony at the left is Animazam , the mascot of the SFM-Ponies group and the cameramare behind each of my posters. She needs to be used more in animations and posters.

For those of you new to Source Filmmaker or non-SFM people who are just curious, a scene-build is essentially the SFM equivalent to using a movie set instead of shooting a movie on location. In SFM, you can use any map made for the Source Engine (eg. maps from Left 4 Dead or Counter-Strike) as the backdrop to your poster. This is a quick, easy method, but it gives you less control over the lighting and the props. An alternative is to create a scene-build: start with a blank map with no lighting, then place props to simulate the feel of whatever setting you are going for.

Scene-building has several advantages over using pre-built maps.
Props and particles in your backdrop that are not in the camera can be removed, saving up RAM and processing power.
Props that block the camera can be moved or deleted.
You have more control over lighting. Some pre-built maps come with lights that may not let illuminated props and characters cast shadows.
If something looks "wrong," but is outside the camera, you are not obligated to fix it. The blue light on the floor in this picture is supposed to simulate the glow of the brazier in camera, but the light bleeds into the floor. Because the bleeding portion of the light is outside the camera, however, you don't notice it in the final picture.

Like a movie set, a scene-build also allows you to pretend that certain elements in a shot are something else. For example, the "temple" is just a bunch of stone floors and walls. The "sun" is just a bright volumetric spotlight floating just above the plants.

Disclaimer: I'm not that experienced of an SFM guy. If any of you SFM experts find anything wrong in my explanation, feel free to correct me.

Character credits:

Twilight Velvet and hoodie models by ; enhanced using Crowbar and 's enhanced ponies
Daring Do model by
Fallout Equestria raider model by
Drama Queen model by
Wasteland Warrior model by
Lemon Poneh model by
Animazam model by , , , and