Digital Art Zone

Hello! Still trying to understand Genesis and all its magnificence with DS4.

Im looking at morphing the Genesis figure so I can a variety of characters in my scene, so looking at these guys:

http://www.daz3d.com/shop/sales-promotions/daz-originals/michael-3-0-head-morph-pack/
http://www.daz3d.com/shop/men-of-the-year/

- is Michael 3 compatible with Genesis?

I see that I can purchase Victoria 5, which is a Genesis figure:

http://www.daz3d.com/shop/victoria-5/

What about a Micheal (or just a male) figure? Or can I use Victoria 5 and make her a masculine figure?

..so Im wondering if Genesis is compatible with backward models such as Micheal 3? Or do you have to purchase Victoria/Micheal models that are compatible with Genesis?

Confused

There is a Michael 5 for Genesis.


As for Michael 3 characters:

To use M3 morphs on Genesis, you would need the M3 Shape for Genesis, GenX, and the GenX Update for Gen3.

To use M3 textures on Genesis, you would need Texture Converter 2 with the V4 and M3 plugins, which would allow you to convert the M3 texture to V4.  Genesis can use Gen 4 textures (V4/M4/K4), but not Gen 3 textures.

If you want variety, you can do with just the Genesis characters, no need to get Gen 3 or 4 items. You can mix all Genesis morphs, so the posibilities are HUGE without them.

thanks fixmypcmike, I didnt know about Micheal 5 as its not listed on Daz Genesis product page for the listed popular figures so I assumed it wasnt.

Genesis can use Gen 4 textures (V4/M4/K4), but not Gen 3 textures.

im confused.. when you say ‘Gen’ do you mean Generation and not Genesis?

So can Genesis use Gen 4 models and textures such as V4/M4/K4 without needing a converter or any other plug in?

To use M3 textures on Genesis, you would need Texture Converter 2 with the V4 and M3 plugins, which would allow you to convert the M3 texture to V4.  Genesis can use Gen 4 textures (V4/M4/K4), but not Gen 3 textures.

when you say V4 and M3 plugins, what do you mean by this? as in an actual V4/M3 character model or a morph on the model?

So basically:

1. Genesis can use V4 models and textures.

2. If I want to use V3 models and textures I need the ‘Texture Converter 2’ and the ‘M3 Shape for Genesis, GenX, and the GenX Update for Gen3’.

Thanks!

JC Soto - 22 June 2012 10:55 PM

If you want variety, you can do with just the Genesis characters, no need to get Gen 3 or 4 items. You can mix all Genesis morphs, so the posibilities are HUGE without them.

Hiya.. so if I wanted a Genesis with facial hair, another with dark skin, another oriental looking, to spice it all up, is this possible?

I like Genesis

Very possible. Facial hair and skin color would depend more on the texture maps and for an oriental look, there are Ethnicity morphs.
Here are some images I’ve done, all of the characters in them are Genesis with Genesis morphs only.
Its always good to have more options, but for variety Gen3/4 content is not a must.

http://jcsoto.jalbum.net/Ilustraciones/SOTO_Vintage_Posing.jpg
http://jcsoto.jalbum.net/Ilustraciones/SOTO_Amphora.jpg
http://jcsoto.jalbum.net/Ilustraciones/SOTO_Bad_Ape.jpg
http://jcsoto.jalbum.net/Ilustraciones/SOTO_Valerie.jpg
http://jcsoto.jalbum.net/Ilustraciones/SOTO_Mr_Hyde.jpg
http://jcsoto.jalbum.net/Ilustraciones/SOTO_Genesis_Trolls.jpg

JC Soto - 23 June 2012 12:23 AM

Very possible. Facial hair and skin color would depend more on the texture maps and for an oriental look, there are Ethnicity morphs.
Here are some images I’ve done, all of the characters in them are Genesis with Genesis morphs only.
Its always good to have more options, but for variety Gen3/4 content is not a must.

http://jcsoto.jalbum.net/Ilustraciones/SOTO_Vintage_Posing.jpg
http://jcsoto.jalbum.net/Ilustraciones/SOTO_Amphora.jpg
http://jcsoto.jalbum.net/Ilustraciones/SOTO_Bad_Ape.jpg
http://jcsoto.jalbum.net/Ilustraciones/SOTO_Valerie.jpg
http://jcsoto.jalbum.net/Ilustraciones/SOTO_Mr_Hyde.jpg
http://jcsoto.jalbum.net/Ilustraciones/SOTO_Genesis_Trolls.jpg

WOWOWOWOW! They are amazing!!! You are so talented! The lighting must have taken some time? The first one is my favorite, so lifelike!

So did you purchase Genesis morphs?

3dsamm - 22 June 2012 11:13 PM

thanks fixmypcmike, I didnt know about Micheal 5 as its not listed on Daz Genesis product page for the listed popular figures so I assumed it wasnt.

Genesis can use Gen 4 textures (V4/M4/K4), but not Gen 3 textures.

im confused.. when you say ‘Gen’ do you mean Generation and not Genesis?

So can Genesis use Gen 4 models and textures such as V4/M4/K4 without needing a converter or any other plug in?

To use M3 textures on Genesis, you would need Texture Converter 2 with the V4 and M3 plugins, which would allow you to convert the M3 texture to V4.  Genesis can use Gen 4 textures (V4/M4/K4), but not Gen 3 textures.

when you say V4 and M3 plugins, what do you mean by this? as in an actual V4/M3 character model or a morph on the model?

So basically:

1. Genesis can use V4 models and textures.

2. If I want to use V3 models and textures I need the ‘Texture Converter 2’ and the ‘M3 Shape for Genesis, GenX, and the GenX Update for Gen3’.

Thanks!

As is, with no add ons, Genesis can use Victoria 4, Michael 4, & Kid 4 textures by switching the UV map in the surfaces tab.  Genesis is defaulted to take Victoria 4 textures.
V4/M4/K4 are also known as the Gen. (Generation) 4 figures.
To use the Gen 4 shapes, you will need V4 & M4 Shapes for Genesis & Gen 4 Iconic Shapes for Genesis; to use their morphs in Genesis, you will need Genesis Generation X as well.
With Gen 3 Iconic Shapes for Genesis & GenX AddOn Gen 3 Bundle, you can use the Gen 3 (Victoria 3, Michael 3, Aiko 3, Hiro 3, etc) shapes & morphs on Genesis.

...however if you want to use specific character morphs like Thorne’s Sylfie or Fabiana’s Druscilla Goth, you need the iconic body shapes, Gen-X plugin, and appropriate Texture Converter2 plugin.

Unfortunately, clothing fits from older generation characters are still somewhat an issue as the Autofit tool isn’t 100% perfect.  In particular, footwear from Gen 4 figures is problematic as the default foot pose (which V4/M4 load in with) is different from the one Genesis uses.  There are a couple tutorials on how to work around this.

Lets see if I can simplify this down to the basics:

It’s probably simplest if you stick with Genesis for now, but you do need to be able to recognise which is which. You can generally do that by checking the Additional Information tab of each item in the store. If a character doesn’t list Genesis, it’s not compatible.

The Generations, (usually abbreviated to Gen):

Genesis is the basic 5th Generation figure
M4, V4 and K4 are the basic 4th Generation figures, A4, SP4 and G4 are add ons for V4, F4 and H4 are add-ons for M4.
M3, V3, A3, H3, SP3, D3, Freak, the Girl, Luke and Laura, Matt and Maddie, and the Millennium Baby are the basic 3rd Generation figures

You don’t need to bother with the old 1st and 2nd Gen figures.

You also see figures referred to as: V3/4/5: Victoria, Vickie; M3/4/5: Michael, Mike; A3/4: Aiko; H3/4: Hiro; SP3/4: Stephanie, Stephanie Petite; D3: David, F4: Freak, G4: Girl

The 3rd and 4th Gen figures needed morph packs to change shape for different characters, these were sold separately.

5th Generation Characters

Genesis can do male and female shapes, and young kids, without any add-ons.

The Genesis Evolutions Head and Body add additional shape changing capability, as do the Ethnicity packs. I’d say Evolutions are essential, Ethnicity fall under nice to have.

V5 and M5 are optimized male and female shapes for Genesis. They’re essential if you want to use V5 or M5 character packs.

Some of the Genesis characters just use basic Genesis, others need you to own V5 and M5, it should tell you on the store page, generally a V5 or M5 character will explicitly state it as part of the name.

One thing that may make you look at earlier generation figures is if you are want to use pre-teen and teen figures. The default Genesis and K4 child figures are much younger. There are a handful of teen characters for V4/SP4, but otherwise you may want to look at Luke and Laura.

Genesis can also use character shapes from earlier generations via the Generation X tool (aka Gen X), Gen X needs you to own the Gen X shape pack for that earlier generation figure before it can convert it for Genesis. Gen X shape packs are available for the Gen 4 figures and the Gen 3 adult figures, but not Luke and Laura and Matt and Maddie.

Genesis can use character textures (aka MATs, Maps) from 4th Generation figures without any extra tools being required. It can only use textures from 3rd Generation if they are converted to 4th Generation, which needs the Texture Converter 2 tool and the appropriate add ons for it.