May 2025 - Daz 3D New User Challenge - Using Props and Push Modifiers/Deformers

Leana · May 1

New User's Challenge - May 2025

Sponsored by DAZ 3D

Are you new to the 3D World? Are you at the beginning stages of learning 3D rendering? Have you been around for a little bit but feel you could benefit from some feedback or instruction? Have you been around awhile and would like to help other members start their creative journey? Well then come and join the fun as we host our newest render challenge!

As with the previous months, we are breaking down each month into 2 different challenges. A Beginner Challenge and then also an Intermediate Challenge.
So which "Challenge" should you choose?

Follow the Beginner Challenge if you are:

New to the New User Challenges
New to Daz Studio
Newer to 3D Rendering in General
Or if you have not participated in the May Action / Using Props challenge

Follow the Intermediate Challenge if you have:

Participated in the New User Challenge for awhile
Know the basics of Daz Studio and would like to learn more in depth topics
Been using 3D Rendering Applications for awhile and feel comfortable with learning Intermediate Topics
Or if you have already participated in the May Action / Using Props Challenge

*Please be sure to list in your post which Challenge you are participating in*

Closing date for both is May 31st 2025

For a list of the current challenge rules, please see this thread: Challenge Rules

They apply for both versions of the challenge

Leana · May 1

Beginner Challenge:
"Action / Using Props"

This month's focus will be action with an emphasis on interaction with props. Your characters' actions, or the props they are using or interacting with, should be a major aspect of your image. As always, posing techniques, composition, and lighting will be important considerations as well.

Some Inspiration:
Digital Art Action Scenes
Human Action Poses
Action Photography
The Fundamentals of Action Photography
The Best Sports Photos of 2016

While we encourage you to create your own poses from scratch for this contest, many of the pose sets available in the store can offer some great inspiration on how to use props in active situations!

To fit the theme of "Action & Props," your render could depict anything from a melee to a barbecue, or from a pop concert to a masquerade ball, or even a bar room brawl. The key points are that it must include some sort of dynamic movement or activity, and that it must involve interaction between figures and props (tools, weapons, or any sort of objects being manipulated).

Tutorials
How To Create A Smart Prop in Daz Studio
Posing tools overview
Dealing with accessories
Daz 101: Posing
Pinning, Posing and the Active Pose Tool
Daz Studio Animation Tutorial: Step by Step

Leana · May 1

Intermediate Challenge:
"Using Modifiers and Deformers"

This is a general render challenge with the focus on using Modifiers and/or Deformers within your action scene. We are providing you with some links on the topics from a variety of sources. Utilizinging modifiers and deformers well can add that extra touch of realism to help create a dynamic looking and fluid scene. It is a fundamental skill for those wishing to show movement, customize items to better suit the use within a scene, or to fix issues such as pokethrough.

*If participating in the Intermediate Challenge, please be sure to list what item(s) within your scene you have modified/deformed*

General Information:

Push Modifier / Push Modifier Weight Node

Smoothing Modifier (Also covers deformers)

Deformers

Generally, push modifiers, smoothing modifiers, and deformers can all be used to manipulate existing geometry to change it's shaping. You could use a Push Modifier to make Genesis 8 pregnant or to make a dent in an object. You could use the smoothing modifier to show a face smooshing up from a punch (like a freeze frame of the hit) or to show pressure on a matress or couch. You can use a deformer to change the shape of a character, to change the shape or damage a prop, or to fix pokethrough or issues between items. There is an unlimited amount of things that can be done with the 3 and a lot of advanced topics to using the 3 as well but hopefully this will give you a better basic understanding of how to add them and how they can be used.

Handy Products to Use to help with using the Modifiers or Deformers :

Mesh Grabber Bundle by ManFriday or the Geometry Sculptor Premier plugin
InstaEdit by Callidus Simia
Ghost Dynamics by KindredArts