Need help figuring out the basics of Surface Settings.

Whiskeyjack

Hey everyone, I have a problem I’ve been beating my head against for a long time now, and I’m hoping somebody might be able to help me out or point in the direction of where I can learn what I need.

I've been using Daz for about 5 or 6 years now, and like all things you work with for so long, I'm steadily gaining a firmer grasp of various settings and tools. However, one area I still cannot for the life of me seem to get a handle on – even after literal years of playing around – is Daz Surface settings; how they work, how they interact with each other, and often what they even do in the first place!
I have a very vague idea of what a lot of surface settings do, gained primarily through a "press random buttons until something happens" approach over the last few years; "Dialling X up makes thing look shinier", "Turning on Y enables this effect on thing”, “Pressing Z makes thing go Brrrrrr!”, etc, etc. But I’m at the stage now where I really want to start understanding exactly how these settings work and what they do, so I can start improving and do the things I want to do in a render.

Unfortunately, Daz Documentation is… well, you know. And I’m finding it very hard to find any in-depth guides or tutorials that aren’t at least several years old or several versions ago (and I have no idea if they’d be up-to-date or even still relevant).
If anyone could give me an overview or know of any helpful guides or tutorials that would help me get started and figure out the bascis, I’d greatly appreciate it.

And when I say “the basics” I really do mean it. Imagine me as a toddler, or a golden retriever that you’re trying to explain a complex topic to! XD

Fishtales

When ever I want to refresh my memory for something I go here.

http://docs.daz3d.com/doku.php/public/software/dazstudio/4/referenceguide/interface/panes/surfaces/shaders/iray_uber_shader/shader_general_concepts/start

MelanieL

There are some (maybe) useful links from this Forum Thread - particularly the one to a SickleYield journal entry and "Iray Uber Shader One More Time" by Dordiales

Leana

Some days of the tutorials from the "materials" new user challenge might also be useful: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/8920241/#Comment_8920241

Whiskeyjack

Fishtales said:

When ever I want to refresh my memory for something I go here.

http://docs.daz3d.com/doku.php/public/software/dazstudio/4/referenceguide/interface/panes/surfaces/shaders/iray_uber_shader/shader_general_concepts/start

Man, I don't understand how such basic infromation about such an important feature of Daz ends up buried and hidden so deeply. Appreciate the link this'll should hopefully help me start getting a grip on surfaces. Thanks Fishtales!

Whiskeyjack

MelanieL said:

There are some (maybe) useful links from this Forum Thread - particularly the one to a SickleYield journal entry and "Iray Uber Shader One More Time" by Dordiales

 
Sickleyield's journal entry was actually one guide I had found myself, but I wasn't sure if it was still relevant or up-to-date. Glad to know it's still useful though! Andd the other links will be a great help too! Thanks Melanie!

Whiskeyjack

Leana said:

Some days of the tutorials from the "materials" new user challenge might also be useful: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/8920241/#Comment_8920241

 

Oh, wow! This is perfect! A guide to the basics of surfaces is helpful, but aan expanise look at how expierienced creators and artists use them will be extremely useful! Thanks very much Leana!