Can DAZ 3D Export to C4D

msolomon

Hello Every. I am a long time Professional Carrara user since DAZ is not actively developing Carrara and it does not work on Mac Catalina, I have to find other ways. I am exploring C4D as my primary and DAZ as a character creation solution. Can DAZ 3D export to C4D fully rigged, functional models?

 

Singular3D

Welcome to my world.

I analyzed that for 2 years now and the answer is yes and no.

You can transfer a rigged character via FBX. Since G3 the characters use quaternion weighting, which is the same as the spherical weighting in Cinema 4D.

The issues are:
- Cinema 4D cannot process the default orientation of the joints. It will simply be set parallel to the Y or Z-axis. E.g. this is not correct for the knee joint.
- It is possible to export the JCMs, but the ERC links that control the joints based on the joint rotation are missing, You can manually add them in Xpresso, but as the default orientation of the joint is wrong, you have to correct the joint orientation first.
- Unfortunately Daz decided to connect joint rotations. So the rotation of one joint controls another joint via ERC link. This can be added in Xpresso.
- The weight map fits only for the base resolution. to export a hires FBX is possible, but you have to adjust the weighting.

Many things can be automated by Daz and C4D scripts. So in general a lot is possible, but a huge amount of work as well. I've written a huge PDF to document a possible workflow, but RL takes too much time.

I also think about switching from C4D (since R11.5 up to R21) and Vray to Blender 2.8x, as there is a Daz plugin available and Cycles is a nice render engine as well.

If you are interested in this PDF, let me know. Unfortunately I may not be able to share it with you before next week.

msolomon

Thanks for the detailed response. It was very helpfull. I would definantly like that PDF. Have you heard anything about Character Creator and C4D?

wolf359

I am replacing C4D with Blender 2.8x for Daz Content creation as well as rendering via straight FBX export from DS 4.12 .... .The animation render times with EEVEE are astounding after enduring the abysmal times with my decade old C4D R11.5

Gordig

I'd like that PDF as well, please.

msolomon

Wolf, that render gives me hope. How is the export work flow? Is it a clean FBX transfer or do you have any repair work? 

wolf359

It is a straight FBX export with animation... All of the materials will have to be adjusted( metalacity,specular etc)...and I added my own Scatter mask node to Distribute the SSS to avoid "waxing out" details like eye brows etc........ IMHO Any magical, third party, SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE plugin, promising to insulate us from even opening the Blender Shader node system or even set up a camera, is a FOOLS gambit......I have been "deep diving "Blender since the release of 2.8x.....I suggest anyone ,seeking to render Daz content there, Do the same .

msolomon

Wolf: Nice! To be clear, you can pose the model once exported?

Singular3D

msolomon said:

Thanks for the detailed response. It was very helpfull. I would definantly like that PDF. Have you heard anything about Character Creator and C4D?

Sent a link per pm to you and @Gordig

Gordig

Singular3D said:

msolomon said:

Thanks for the detailed response. It was very helpfull. I would definantly like that PDF. Have you heard anything about Character Creator and C4D?

Sent a link per pm to you and @Gordig

Thank you. By the time I received it, I'd forgotten what it was for, but I'll try to dig into this weekend.

TheMysteryIsThePoint

@Singular3D Is "Genesis 3 in Daz Studio and the transfer to Cinema 4D" your document?

Singular3D

TheMysteryIsThePoint said:

@Singular3D Is "Genesis 3 in Daz Studio and the transfer to Cinema 4D" your document?

I can't tell you based on the title, but it is possible. I wrote a lot of documents about 2 years ago and I shared them in various fora. When you show me the first page (e.g. screenshot), I can tell that to you.