Questions about the newest Daz Studio
TheCastellan
Posts: 711
'Ello. 
I been using the old Daz3.1 since 2011 (well, if it's not broke, why fix it, yes? 
), and getting a new compy set up, and wondering what differences will there be with the newest, compared to the old one? And any turotorals out there I can look at to get the general jist of it? Also, will I still be able to use my favorite figurs, Aiko3 and Hiro3, as well as the Goblin, with the newest version?
Thanks. 
Post edited by Chohole on
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Comments
Big difference between the programs, many improvements :-)
Yes you could still use the old legacy figures such as Aiko3 and Hiro3 but please, be nice to yourself. Consider using Genesis for which there are the legacy morph shapes available. It is a LOT easier to make clothing for Genesis figures than the .cr2 models. By now these are older items and so do become available now and then at very good prices.
https://www.daz3d.com/v4-and-m4-shapes-for-genesis
https://www.daz3d.com/gen-3-iconic-shapes-for-genesis
https://www.daz3d.com/gen-4-iconic-shapes-for-genesis
With Genesis {any of them} one can mix the morphs so for example one can dial in a little of V3, a little of V4, etc. to make new characters.
The legacy clothing at least from V4/M4 can be auto-fitted to Genesis. If I recall correctly the other figure's clothing will autofit as well after purchasing/installing the shape morphs listed above.
There are tutorials mentioned from various product pages and of course via Youtube.com. Also in the New Users Forum Parmy puts out a weekly 'how to' video.
Daz is the company name. So that people know which of Daz's programs you're using from the title, could you change it to Daz Studio?
And check out this week's freebies!
How easy/different is installing and so on various stuff? That download & install button, how's that work, and will everything, once Daz is opened, will it all be neat and tidy, or a jumble mess?
Installing works basically in the same way as for DS3, except now you have 3 options you can use to install content fron Daz: either manually downloading and installing the zip, or using Daz Install Manager (DIM) program, or use Connect to install it directly from inside DS (that one won't work for plugins, just content). The "download and install" link opens DIM rather than just downloading the zip.
I install 'manually' and install manually to the folders suggested.
I use the Content Panel to find stuff. Gave up on 'smart content' a long time ago. For my sight, it jumps around too much.
If your new computer is running a 64-bit system, you'll want to be sure to download and install the 64-bit version of Studio. I'm not sure you had that option in DS3. (I certainly didn't.)
Unfortunately, you will be limited to just the current version of the program (4.12), and the public release of the (slightly newer beta.
DAZ doesn't give you any option for dwnloading any earlier versions -- although there may be an earlier version of DS4 out there on a CD somewhere. But I'd tend to advise against deliberately trying to find older versions, since eventually your OS won't support them.
The program itself is still installed through an installer, but you can also install through DIM or Connect (I think. I don't use either of those so cannot say for sure).
The program still includes a selection of free content, including *all* the different Genesis base characters. You may need to download and install them separately, but they should be in the purchase history of your account. The morph and expression packs are separate purchases, however. Kind of like the old Morphs++ packs.
In the past, I had issues installing some items...some of them either will load, give error and go all textureless or won't load textures. Also, some morph packs won't work, like M4, S4 and F4.
o.o
If you re-name the old DS3.* program directory (say as 'DAZ Studio Old') and install the new DS4.12 program as a clean install, they should be able to be 'go back-able' simply by re-naming directories if things don't work out. I did that when going from DS4.10 to DS4.11, but had no need to go back, even though I did test it out.
Regards,
Richard
Even if you were to stick to 3Delight, a newer CPU will perform much better than an older one. I tested my new computer when i got it in 2016 and it rendered a very large scene in 48min instead of 3h10m.
However, if you plan on using Iray, you will want an NVidia GPU. Poser content like Aiko 3 can be rendered in Iray and look good but only to a degree. The lower res maps and lack of other proper mats that are used in characters for Iray will limit how good Aiko 3 can look.
As a former A3 user of 9 years, I recommend looking to G3 or G8 as a replacement. I settled on G3F myself.
I'm not exactly sure what ya mean by that, could you go over that in steps?
Also, my current computer is from 2014, I hope I'll get my new one releltively shortly.
Also, is there a way, with this older compy still usable, to install the newest daz, YET still use what's in my old version of Daz? Some what to move em over to the new version?