Blender For Daz Tips and Art
Liana
Posts: 1,035
I decided to start a thread that shares using Blender as a tool for creating art in Daz Studio. How we as either newbie or seasoned artists can utilize it in our art pipeline along with other programs to accomplish our desired end results.
I hope it will help others to try Blender, share what they have created, learned, discuss it's strengths and weaknesses, and what can we use for other programs to over come weaknesses in Blender or even in other programs.
As we progress as a thread or group we can even expand on using Blender alone if so desired and want that option. Compare it to other easily acessible programs that create scenes and render art like Daz or Cararra. I do not have any experience with Cararra, but I do own it. There are pluses and minuses I feel in all programs we have at our disposal. :)
In the spirit of keeping things organized and simple any helpful tips or videos will be linked here for ease of finding. No sifting through eventually several pages of discussion to find things of use or interest.
Please share videos, tips, wip projects, finished projects, etc. Most importantly have fun! :)
Note: Please be patient it might take a bit to get some stuff listed real life has a tendancy to sidetrack people and this will be a work in progress which will grow as more people join in the conversation, learn, and share.
There is another thread in the commons that talks about Blender also and has some good stuff to gleen from it. Sometimes it gets a bit more technical for us beginners/newbies to Blender. It is called, "Who said Blender was hard?" Here is the link for those who are interested in reading more detailed and technical stuff. http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/8736/who-said-blender-was-hard/p1
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Helpful Links and Tips from the thread and other sites.
Notes: I have found very little differences in the 2.70 versions so following videos is not difficult. However, following videos using older versions are unless a person has become quit comfortable with the UI and then it is still work and quit a bit more experimenting to get desired result. I know my barb wire fence was one of those for me. :)
The most important part of any tips or videos in my opinion is to look for what you have in mind to create and watch them for the basic stuff, because a lot of times they do a complete scene, lights, materials ,etc and render it in Blender. One can still learn a lot and get some better understanding from just watching too.
Blender use in Daz basic tips:
Learn good modeling techniques. Mark seams and uvmap as one is modeling parts or sections of a model or before duplicating and/or adding an array modifier to an object like a board on fence it saves in time and headache later on.
Learn good uvmapping techniques- creating/marking seams, unwrapping, arranging the parts of the uvmap for better fit and texturing, and saving uvmaps as jpg/png files for use (2048 pixels seems the best at this point and can be enlarged as needed else where) in 2D painter/editing software.
Learn assigning material/slots to an object helps with creating surfaces of differing lighting, texturing, etc for the surfaces tab in Daz.
Saving as a Blender file often, and in steps like for example .blend01, .blend02, etc. so if a person opps one can just go back to the last save prior to the disaster. :)
Exporting/importing obj with correct sizing in Daz and Blender and is actually quit easy once a person realizes what to watch for. Daz also does it by default if it is used quit a bit. Going back and forth between other programs besides Daz and Blender is where things get a bit hairy imho, but can be done. :)
Blender sites:
https://www.blender.org/
https://www.blender.org/download/ ; Latest stable version as of Feb 28, 2017 is 2.78c will keep this updated with versions and dates. ATM I have 2.78a.
https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/dev/ Blender's most updated manual for Blender 2.78
https://www.blendernation.com/
Utube Videos:
The first three playlists contain beginner info on learning the Blender user interface (UI) and the most basic tools used, etc when modeling.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrgQj91MOVfjTShOMRY8TLmkJ7OFr7bj6 Jacob Lewis utube channel is a beginner series using Blender 2.73
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLda3VoSoc_TR7X7wfblBGiRz-bvhKpGkS Born CG is also a beginners series of tutorials learning UI and tools.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjEaoINr3zgHs8uzT3yqe4iHGfkCmMJ0P Blender Guru Blender beginner tutorial series.
https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewPPrice/playlists Blender Guru has all kinds of good utube videos explaining different things.
https://www.youtube.com/user/Blenderfan93/playlists CG Geek also has some good videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/DarrinLile/playlists Darrin Lile utube channel has several good videos and he is very good at explaining (an exprofessor at a university in wisconsin).
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJB5iVJzTSqSYOTvsLNTvBjUD0u--jmjc Sickleyield has a few Blender tutorials directed toward Daz usage.
https://www.youtube.com/user/vscorpianc/playlists Vscorpian has several utube videos using Blender.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJspWFXSL1guQPdFqh4lFjQ Tutor4U utube beginer videos link in thread where KM shows her latest blender art/models http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/2211371/#Comment_2211371
http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/2216706#Comment_2216706 Female head modeling by Vyusuer
Miscellaneous tutorials:
https://www.blendernation.com/2006/04/24/tutorial-joan-of-arc/ Written in 3DSMax so some familiarity with Blender UI would be helpful. :)
Helpful Tips:
TobascoJack's useful tips:
# 1 http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/2210816#Comment_2210816
#2 http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/2210866/#Comment_2210866
#3 http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/2211331/#Comment_2211331
Lx's useful tips:
http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/2213851/#Comment_2213851
Camera Positioning Tips: http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/2257771/#Comment_2257771
Keyboard Shortcuts for Blender: A word document is attached to this post below for those interested. Let me know if anyone has issues opening it.
Art/Models created in Blender:
http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/2211151/#Comment_2211151 TobascoJack
Contributors: Lianam, IceDragonArt aka Sonja, Diomede, TobascoJack, Knittingmommy, Lx, Vyusur
Just to start things off here are a few things I made in Blender lately. The texturing done in Gimp and rendering done in Daz. :)
The water trough and a barb wire fence 7 pieces in total for ease of connecting.
I have a few other items not quit done yet will post them when they are. Will dig around for videos and such after chores.
Thanks for starting this thread. I have been meaning to give Blender another go. My previous attempts to learn it were not fruitful. Hopefully, this format will work better. Will be lurking.
Here is a tutorial, not Blender specific, but from Blendernation, on modeling figures and characters.
https://www.blendernation.com/2006/04/24/tutorial-joan-of-arc/
Thanks Diomede! I can relate. It's only been of late the Blender fog that has occupied my mind has finally lifted. LOL
I hope it is helpful for others and myself. I just shifted through some of my subscribed utube channels, bookmarks, etc and posted them to get us started.
I don't want things to get complicated with techno jargon without at least definitions to help in the understanding. Eyes glazing over and people running away and screaming is not good. I feel there are people with innate skills and loads of vision out there that just need a little help or boost to get started.
If people get stuck maybe others can help them out so they can proceed forward without going grey or losing hair in the process. We can talk about hexagon, cararra, daz, gimp, photoshop, etc as long as most of it is accessible to us here if it helps accomplish end goals and results. Each program has its strengths and weaknesses and maybe we can figure out how to utilize them all in combination or so that is my thoughts anyways.
Did some editing on the post. :)
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Thanks for starting this, Liana!
Here are some additional tips that I find useful:
You're welcome TobascoJack! :)
I have set the units before and found using metric was a bit nicer to look at, but too much for my brain to convert. I did not realize that Blender would do the conversion for a person that is way cool. Thanks! :D
I will have to look and see how mine is set-up for export I think the sizing is slightly different. Hmmmm... I am using daz 4.9 latest update too.
Some other random thoughts - don't flip out over all of the features / functionality. Regardless if it's blender, carrara, hexagon, or Maya, focus on a few key concepts that you will use 70% of the time. For me, that includes
As you become more comfortable with the tool, you'll start bringing in other featues.
Good advice :) I am learning a lot just starting this thread about threads and what not besides Blender. I might have to put this info in pdf form while I have the pro tool for editing :)
I have some half-finished projects in Blender that I've been working on. Came to a standstill on some anime style hair trying to figure something out and haven't gotten back to it. I have some donuts all done, just working on the materials for those. I have finished my bread loaf, just cleaning up the materials for that one and still have to do the single slices yet. I do have some finished projects that I posted on my thread. I followed tutorials on YouTube for them that were actually fairly easy. Easier than I thought.
Here are some of the tutorials I followed and my results:
Blender render:
DS render:
Blender render:
DS render:
Blender render:
DS render (one is the .obj and one is loaded from the .duf I created once I got it into DS):
I'm still very much a newbie when it comes to Blender. :)
I think those are the only ones I've posted to my thread so far. I'll be posting more to my Lab thread as I finish them completely. I know @TabascoJack has done some excellent modeling in Blender, too. Maybe he'll post what he's done as well. I think he's been working in Carrara recently so I don't know if he's still doing anything in Blender right now.
You did great KM! Thanks for the utube links. I just put the person's channel link above since there are several looks like good videos and your comment link in the links post above. :)
Yea, share Jack! :P
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Actually, I only model in blender. I've just been posting in the Carrara thread as it's open to users of all modeling programs.
I started out doing some jewelry, which allowed me to experiment with blender's physics engine.
Here's a step by step tutorial on how to create a chain necklace and use blender's physics to have it drape correctly
In terms of current projects, I've been working on shipping containers, then a train car. Currently working on track and other props.
I'm still trying to figure out my optimal workflow but right now it looks like modeling and UV mapping in blender, texturing in Substance Painter, and rigging / setting up presets in Daz Studio.
@TabascoJack Ah, that explains it. I see the popup every now and again where you are posting to that because I'm subscribed to the thread, but I haven't been over there in awhile to actually read the thread. Sounds like I should get caught up over there. :)
One more tip.
I'm currently experiencing this now, so please, please learn from my pain. If your model has lots of duplicated meshes (like nuts and bolts, etc.) or it's built using an array modifier, UV map the original before duplicating it. You don't want to go through the pain of unmapping 100 duplicate items when you could have unmapped it once and then duplicated it. The alternative is to delete all the copies and make new ones, but you still have to then reposition all of them.
Of course, thinking about it made me wonder.....Is there a way to copy the UV map from one mesh to a bunch of duplicates? Google is your friend.
Q: "I've got two objects that are exactly the same, but with different UVs, is there any way to transfer the UV from one to another?"
A: "Yes.
Sigh. Wish I'd thought to look it up sooner.
Gee, I haven't even gotten that far, but it looks like useful advice! I'll keep that in mind. :)
Liana, Kewl! I'll have to add a link to your thread in mine. Perhaps I'll find time to mess... errrr Model... around in Blender... been too busy lately learning modeling in Carrara to even learn Silo yet.
IMO... Modeling is Modeling... basically only the interface changes... "Names have been changed to protect the innocent". :)
I have my Blender metric set at 0.01 and then export from Daz at 100%, but I imagine you get the same result in the end. I don't know if there are any benefits to doing it one way over the other. I imagine you can do it in imperial units too for those that like Old English ;)
Thanks for posting your creations TobascoJack they are really great. :)
Yes, good advice I learned that one also. I will amend my earlier tip on modeling and uvmapping. I learned that bit of pain while modeling in sketch-up. I found uvmapping as I went was way easier in the end. My barbwire I just built in Blender I did the same. I uvmapped the main wire barb, shrunk it to size, and then when I appled the array modifier to duplicate it for making it longer just made uvmapping way easier. I just the did smart uvmap to unwrap the length of the barbwire. Did any of that make sense? lol
The tip about transferring a uvmap from one object to another I did not know. Thanks for that! :)
I added your new tip to the second post. I am learning how to link posted comments too doing this. haha
I knew I would learn something if I just went ahead and created a thread. :D
Great wgdjohn glad you are here. I am going to have to learn cararra modeling from you. :)
People have been a bit busy here since I ran off to get groceries and a few farm supplies that were on sale. I think I have things updated on the second post now.
Hi, lx glad you are here too. :)
My only interest in Blender if if it would help with lip-sync control. Mimic isn't cutting it and Mimic Pro isn't for a Mac. So I'm wondering if sending a daz figure to Blender in order to better control lip sync is worth the round trip.
I'm still learning... I started re-learning what I'd forgotten last year from the links on my Links Page and from the many gifted modelers who visit to answer questions by myself and others. To learn the main tools check the link to DimensionT... for cool vids on each one check out Cripeman then move on to the other few listed. I do post mini-tutorials occasionally... they are very simple... I hope. :)
What I'm looking for is a Blender tutorial that will teach the menu tools/functions what they do etc. I can learn the Hot Keys later. Hopefully I'll be half as good as TobasscoJack or Vyusur.
Jacob Lewis, Born CG, and Blender guru all have a utube video series specifically covering the user interface and how to use the most used and basic tools. I did like them and it helped me quit a bit. These are also the first three links under Utube videos in the second post on the thread. I updated that to explain them a bit better. A person will find also in those beginner series that the guys cover some of the tools, etc when accessed from the UI menus will show the hotkey/short cuts not always mind you but most of the time. I think on the Blender site there is a pdf for short cuts and an updated Blender manual too. I will add that link in the info post in the beginning of the thread. :)
I also bookmarked your thread for Cararra. :)
Hopefully someone can help here. I have not ventured into animation or lip-sync at this point. I did look on utube and there are several videos on lip-syncing in Blender, but did not see anything using Daz figures. I am guessing, but will ask for clarification you are also wanting to import them back into Daz after lip-syncing?
Thanks Liana... I'll check those out and bookmark their channels.
One option is the blender crash course from Blender Sensei. My only hesitation in recommending it is that it's based off the Sensei Format mod for blender. Don't get me wrong, I used it for a while and it's a great mod. It makes a lot of things simpler, but it does re map hotkeys and functions. I went down that path for a while before deciding that I wanted to go back to the vanilla mappings because that's what every other tutorial or video uses and it was just too much hassle trying to translate hotkeys in my head.
That said, if you don't focus on the hotkeys, the blender crash course does a pretty good job of explaining the functionality. You can find the playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS24VPXMziw2bmTkMdgd0crwU2vYH5Bzu
In my case I went through the Blender manual step by step https://docs.blender.org until I understood the basics, because I didn't even understand the UI or how to move the view. Blender seems really weird at first until it clicks (or you rearrange it to make it click) and then it suddenly makes perfect sense (and then some new part of it is weird until you get it, but that can wait.)
2 min off the top of my head tutorial from 0 to Blender:
1. Blender flips right and left click by default. I don't know why but you can change it in options and it made life a million times simpler for me. It's worth it to take some time to experiment clicking options and seeing what they do and what you personally prefer, because they make a big difference (well they did for me.)
2. Changing key commands seems weird and alien and there are a hundred billion options. It could be much friendlier but it does allow you to set up the program to your most comfortable preferences for moving the camera around etc. with some work learning it. I do think it's worth taking the time to set it up in a way that's comfortable for you. I can't even remember what the default controls are for moving around but I do remember being too lazy to use them.
3. Stick to one thing at a time (using the general program, modelling, whatever.) Blender does basically everything you could imagine and trying to learn it all together is probably going to lead to brain explode death burnout. It's much easier to learn parts you're interested in and become comfortable with them before moving on to another. You don't need to go from zero to finished piece in your first go and it's usually not so ideal to try.
4. You don't really need to know what most things do (to start.) For modelling, you start with a base object and can (g)rab (r)otate and (s)cale things either with those keys or using the widget thing on screen when you select something (you can change it via icons at the bottom and you should recognise them from DS etc. they're pretty universal.) Apart from maybe the (e)xtrude command you don't really need to memorise anything else to get started with the basics. There are of course other very commonly used commands but the point is mostly that you're better off becoming comfortable with a few commands rather than trying to memorise all of them.
* These are solely my opinions and if you need some Master Guru to tell you how to proceed feel free to look up something on the internet that will tell you what to do.
** This is a 2min tutorial I may have forgotten some or all of the things I meant to say.
All good things to know Lx thanks for contributing. I like those easy to remember hotkeys like you mentioned and I do use them a lot also. I have a few more things added to the second post for quick reference and your tips. :) I am trying to keep up for now, because soon it will get harder for me and I want us and other people to have a good base to get started from. :)
I might remove my third post or just add to the one I have been using for links and tips and make it one for links to specific using like some of the modifiers, etc. Like for example if people are looking for how use the smoothing modifier, or the sculpting tool, painting tool, array modifer, etc they just look at the list and go to those video(s).
Thank you for starting this thread, it looks like becoming a valuable resource already. I'm one of those who tinker with Blender without really committing the time and effort. It is always "I must get into modeling" or "I must learn more about UV mapping". So this thread is becoming a motivator to dive in and be more adventurous.
One of the things I do use quite often is the Video Sequence Editor. I found it does everything I need and there are some useful tutorials on YouTube. I do the occasional (very) short animation in DAZ Studio and render out to an image series. Blender VSE takes care of the rest.
I have this bookmarked as over the last week I have started putting some real effort into cracking the mystery of Blender to model props- I have never had problems creating character morphs with the sculpt functions just everything else.
Too many tutorials are on Video so I don't generally bother with those as I find it difficult to watch & do as I only have one monitor & no decent speakers so it takes hours to find out the smallest thing & I just don't have the time to go through that - I am more a click and see what happens person which doesn't work seem to work so well with Blender at first.
Anyway over the last week I have made about 100 simple vases & pots & a few tables & rings - I would be to embarrassed to post any of them here as I see what everyone else can do but its a good result for me & atleast I feel I have got somewhere with it this time around and hopefully people will post (or even create ) some none video tutorials here :)
Thanks TabasscoJack and Ix.
TJ, I'm with you on vanilla mappings but will check out the Blender Sensi also... don't expect I'll use it's mappings... no need to start out cornfused.
Ix, I've downloaded the manual to get me kickstarted... I'll likely read it from intro to specific functions/options. I read rather slow... I read the Carrara 4 Pro printed manual, mostly. Now I just use it's manual for reference when, not if, I'm looking for how something works etc.
Would you mean that the X, Y view changes by "flips right and left click" of mouse keys?
Your tips are spot on for learning any program whether it be 3D to Word Processing. Priority One is learning the interface... Don't be afraid to experiment.
First learn how to construct one thing from scratch... in my case repeat until learned. Then move onto other methods, tools, to make the same thing. When you think you know them all... You Are Wrong... there's always another way lurking out of sight at the moment.
Most important to me when working on anything is to Save Save Save... Often and incrementally. This is Very important when trying and/or adding new parts... perhaps a function never tried before.
I started modeling and animating in the 90's on my Amiga computer with Imagine 3D... finally got Carrara 4 Pro for Windoze... but not until last year, Carrara 8 Pro, dedicated each day, when possible, to modeling something... no matter how simple. Before that it was just part time, every once in a while, modeling. Aaak! Excuse my rambling. Last night I figured out how to model a capital A as 1 polymesh and maintain Symmetry... after a few failed attempts of course. :)
Tottallou - no need to be embarrassed! We all started at some point. If you've made vases, pots, and tables, then you've done a lot!
You are correct that blender really doesn't lend itself to a "click and see what happens" type of learning process. That said, if you have any questions or topics you'd like to see in a tutorial, go ahead and ask! I think that the combined brain power of the Daz Forums can probably find an answer.