Carrara Cubes

the Letter 'B'

is this what the object accuracy basically does in Carrara?

or reading the online help PDF, is it more filter sharpness

in any case, it seems an interesting technique 

New User's Challenge - March 2026

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!

Back by popular demand (or well because we think it went well LOL), 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 Previous Month's Composition 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 all ready been spotlighted in the Previous Month's Composition Challenge

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

Check out Daz3D's Free Masterclasses on Daz Studio from Jay Versluis! It's a great series for everyone from the Newest User to the OG's of Studio!!

Closing date for Posing and Puppeteer/PowerPose challenges are both Midnight Daz Time on March 31st 2025!

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

They apply for both versions of the challenge!

============================================================================

Beginner Challenge - March 2026 Posing Basics
 

Posing Basics:
This challenge is a general render challenge with the focus being on how you pose the characters in your image. We're providing you with lots of great links on Posing from a variety of sources. To get started, find a photograph or drawing using this link or for dance poses this link to use as a reference. (Be sure the image you use is labeled for commercial reuse - though we will only be using it as reference, alternatively use your own personal photographs for reference.) Additional searches approved for use include Running and Fighting. (These links go to DuckDuckGo, which may give different results for different searchers, and should give everyone plenty to choose from.)

Then try to pose your character as closely as possible to match the reference image. For this challenge, please post your reference image or a link to it, and your render. This will give forum viewers an idea of the pose you are trying to achieve and will lead to more helpful suggestions. Have fun!

How to Use Your Software:

Software is often updated, and online tutorials and information often demonstrate older versions of the software. The software version you are using may differ in User Interface and tools available. Please share links to reference material that you have found helpful in the Challenge thread.

in Daz Studio:
Introduction to Posing Tools in Daz Studio with Jay Versluis
Daz Documentation Center [Wiki]
Daz 101: Posing
Pinning, Posing and the Active Pose Tool
Applying Partial Poses
Daz 3D Posing, Pinning Poses, & Morphs

in Carrara:
Huge list of helpful forum links (scroll to Animation and Posing section) If you have a problem, your answer might be here!
Carrara 3D Tutorial - Posing a Figure
Posing in Carrara

in Bryce:
While it is not possible to pose things in Bryce, you are welcome to do your posing in another program such as Daz Studio or Poser, then export and render in Bryce.
For information on how to use the Bryce bridge to import a DS scene into Bryce

Always worth a look: Previous Posing challenges:

Posing 2024
Posing 2023
Posing 2022
Posing 2021
Posing 2020
Posing 2019
Posing 2018
Posing 2017

I will be checking in, as will the rest of the Community Volunteers, to try and help with anything you all may need.

======================================================

Intermediate Challenge - March 2026 using Advanced Posing Tools:

This includes PowerPose, Active Pose and Puppeteer, you can choose one or try yourself in all three. These tools give you a greater range to create your own new poses either from existing ones or from scratch. For example using Puppeteer you can create new poses from existing ones on a fluent scale. It can be applied for animation as well, but for this challenge we will keep the focus on the still image.

You are welcome to use one of the references for a pose from the links in the beginner challenge, but it's not a requirement.

Information, Explanations and Tutorials:

PowerPose
Introduction to Posing Tools in Daz Studio with Jay Versluis
Daz Animarion Power Pose
Making Expressions with PowerPose
Daz 3D Posing, Pinning Poses, & Morphs

Active Pose Tool
Pinning, Posing and the Active Pose Tool

Puppeteer:
Puppeteer Tutorials Forum Thread
Daz 1.6: Animation Puppeteer Tool

• for Daz Studio:
  • Puppeteer
  • Puppeteering in Daz Studio 4
  • Building a Coffee Shop scene in Daz Studio using Puppeteer - 3D Shenanigans #1.10.
  • Lighting, Camera Angles & Puppeteer - In the Studio with Daz 3D
  • Daz 3D 4.8 - Puppetee
     
• For Carrara:
  • Puppeteer Carrara (Older video, but still relevant. French language)

What is "the Big Blue"? Is it the ocean, vast and deep and full of secrets? Is it the sky, and the endless freedom it represents? Is it the precious blue planet we call home, so majestic and yet so fragile? Is it that one blue note that the Jazz trumpeter plays, the one in which he pours all his heartbreak? Did you know that in the German language "being blue" means being drunk, but "making blue" means skipping school? Tell us what "the Big Blue" is to you!

Some freebie suggestions to get you started. No obligation to use them, but perhaps you find them helpful!
https://www.renderosity.com/freestuff/items/82773/underwater-hdri
https://www.renderhub.com/shredder/ocean-3d
https://polyhaven.com/hdris/skies/pure skies
https://www.renderosity.com/freestuff/items/73937/drakelots-earth-for-poser
https://www.renderosity.com/freestuff/items/99388/kigurumi-for-g8f
https://www.renderosity.com/freestuff/items/95866/30-eyes-for-g3-and-g8-pack-1
https://www.patreon.com/posts/police-uniform-8-49242409
https://www.patreon.com/posts/korra-for-g8f-g8-120175402
https://www.patreon.com/posts/superman-131799923

The rules of the contest are:

• Your entry must be a new render, especially made for this challenge.

• Your entry must follow the DAZ TOS.

• You may enter a maximum of 4 entries.

• A minimum of five (5) Freebies must be included in your image

• All Daz Bi-Weekly Freebies are allowed throughout the entire month in which they are free, as well as the following month (for a total of 2 months).

• You may use a maximum of 5 paid items.

• Base figures (Genesis 9, Genesis 8, etc.) as well as their basic morph packs may be used as needed. They do not count as either paid items or freebies.

• DAZ Studio, Poser, Bryce, Carrara, Hexagon, and Blender are allowed.

• DAZ AI Studio is not allowed. The use of image generating AI technology (midjourney, stable diffusion, etc.) is not allowed in any form.

• Postwork is allowed. You must also include the raw render (before postwork) of your entry.

• For a more detailed version of the rules see the PDF attached to this post; or ask your question in this thread, we're always happy to clarify!

• Let's have fun and be creative with all the amazing resources that are available for free!

This contest ends on March 31st 2026.

Post your images and freebie links in this thread for link verification.
Once the links are verified, you can post your image and links in Entries Thread for judging.

First Place: $15 store credit from KindredArts
Second Place: $10 store credit from KindredArts
Third Place: $5 store credit from KindredArts

Past Freebie Contests:

January 2022 - Around and around and around...

February 2022 - Mysteries of the heart

March 2022- Luck Of The Draw

April 2022 - New Beginnings

May 2022 - Cozy Corner

June/July 2022 - The Secret Life Of...

August 2022- Sniff, sniff... what's that smell?

September 2022-Cars Cars and More Cars

October 2022 - Horror Movies

November 2022 - Thieves, Robbers, and Fraudsters all around!

December 2022 - The Night is Darkest...

January 2023 Speed Demons and Slowpokes

February 2023- I See Red

March / April 2023 Magical

May 2023 - Sweet Music

June/July 2023  Holes, Gaps, Caves, Tunnels

August 2023 Fabulous Pink

September 2023 Gardening

October 2023 Hallowed Night

November 2023 Wobble, jiggle, sway, and shake

December 2023 / January 2024 Driving Home For...

February 2024 The Glow Up

March 2024 Power Source

April/Mai 2024 Soft as Plush, Smooth as Silk

June 2024 An Octopus' Garden

July/August 2024 Take A Break

September 2024 Fake Smiles and Real Joy

October 2024 "Monster Mash '24!" 

November 2024 - Dreams

December 2024 - A Curious Christmas

January 2025 - Thank you, Saphirewild!

February 2025 - My Hallowed Valentine

March 2025 - Pride, Prejudice and other Shenanigans

April 2025 - The Little Ball of Calm

May 2025 - To Be Beautiful

June 2025 - Summer and Piracy

July 2025 - Design a Book Cover

August 2025 - Pure Cinema

September 2025 - Holiday Memories

October 2025 - Monster Mash!

November 2025 - The Winter Witch

December 2025 - Christmas!

January 2026 - When One Door Closes, Another Opens

February 2026 - Stronger Than You Think

Carrara Octane renders and Twinmotion render

needs lots more work 

very unhappy with terrains

video

meanwhile in Twinmotion 

it has OpenStreetMap urban mesh generation built in

so... I typed in a very bad island

and it loaded all the roads, buildings and vegetation 

not terrain but that was easy to sculpt around the structures with a Google Earth reference 

might try Datasmith to get it into Unreal Engine then into Carrara

won't be naming this island 

I probably should use Terrain Party to get an accurate terrain 

is gone  not sure how to use Ground Control 

getting outage error on https://apps.nationalmap.gov/downloader/#/?z=16&y=18.298905793037623&x=-64.82357077301239&basemap=usgs_topo&datasets=elevation-topobathy&layerIds=elevation-topobathy-dem,elevation-topobathy-dem

OpenStreetMap and OSM2World Java program gave me a similar result to Twinmotion in obj format 

not my preferred option as flat but only one that works

NASA topography also not downloadable

maybe I can use the Google Earth image to edit a rough terrain greyscale image map

was thinking of getting a month of Daz+ to see if there is anything worthwhile for Carrara but thought I'd ask here first if any Carrara users are currently in Daz+ and if they find it of any use?

therixx said:

Maybe we could ask Sparrowhawke if that's possible. As you all know, he's still developing carrara plugins
https://www.patreon.com/posts/sparrowhawke3d-93723704

only if a one off purchase 

I am not fond of the Patreon subscription model he uses

basically because I am not wealthy  

Maybe we could ask Sparrowhawke if that's possible. As you all know, he's still developing carrara plugins
https://www.patreon.com/posts/sparrowhawke3d-93723704

3DAGE Andy, please let us know if you got Octane working

I have the Beta version of Carrara installed with all my clashing extensions 

many actually clash with others and one can have multiple folders of Carrara

a barenaked version is always handy for troubleshooting 

Headwax said:

Can't export as series of obj and reimport back ?

I wamt Carrara hairs

not meshes, can do morphs with meshes anyway 

I know dynamics hair brushing cannot be keyframed

but I was wondering if it could be

even if it meant a keyboard shortcut saving a series of .car files and loading them along the timeline like the obj series importer (but less bulky)

I don't have the coding ability but I cannot help thinking a plugin/extension to do this might not be as complicated as some are

simulation is often overkill

simple stying for pose adjustments like mesh hair morphing is often all thats needed

3DAGE said:

Hi all. 

just a quick question...

I've just tried to open Carrara to use Octane, and got an "no kernal" error, Then i went to the otoy forum, and the available plugins are Enterprise and Studio or demo.

what's the difference, and which one do i install.

Love and thanks in advance.

well that's a voice from the past, hope you are well

yeah I'm not using the subscription version, (just trying to see what the latest plugin was) sticking with 4.09plugin

I'm onWin 11 and it was working , some months ago,.  thinking/guessing it could be a Nvidia driver issue, but the RTX 2070 is working ok with Daz Iray, just not Octane standalone or  in Carrara

I didn't have Mimic for Carrara installed, so that's a bust, 

I'l keep messin around.

Hugs

try removing the mimic extension 

that blocked it for me

see https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/684541/octane-plugin-for-carrara-compatibility-problem

2080Ti seems to be the last supported card for Or4

and great to hear from you again after all this time 

Hi all. 

just a quick question...

I've just tried to open Carrara to use Octane, and got an "no kernal" error, Then i went to the otoy forum, and the available plugins are Enterprise and Studio or demo.

what's the difference, and which one do i install.

Love and thanks in advance.

Good to see Carrara and 3D printing together 

mmoir said:

It has been a while since I have been here..... I stopped using Carrara and moved to blender for my  3D stuff though I miss Carrara and it is still installed on my old computer.  Just wondering what was going on here..    It doesn't look super busy but busy, too bad Daz did a number on Carrara.   I tried starting up Blender groups to create animations with not much success.  I am doing animations and have a couple of youtube channels , one for young kids and one for older kids. 

Hope this place gets super busy again.

Bunyip02 said:

Khoe said:

Hello everyone, after a long break I've started working with Carrara again. The break helped me gain new insights; I was able to improve my lighting setup quite a bit, and this is a new result.

Excellent work !!!

Thank you :)  

Khoe said:

Hello everyone, after a long break I've started working with Carrara again. The break helped me gain new insights; I was able to improve my lighting setup quite a bit, and this is a new result.

Excellent work !!!