If you changed the directory structure or name at all you have to reinitialize.

In the Libraries !DAZ Michael 4 folder there should be a file called DzCreateExPFiles-M4. Run that to reinitialize and see if that helps.

Eustace Scrubb said:

vivayo said:

I've taken both meanings of game for my render as what gentleman's game could be more dangerous that going out there hunting monsters. I've tried to have freebies from as much different sources as I could.

Title: The hunt

Freebies:
1. Shelby for M4* (hunter's morph): http://www.sharecg.com/v/32121/View/11/Poser/Shelby-for-Michael-4
....

Your first freebie is MIA, sir, but you've deployed enough to make it work. Nice render. ENTRY ACCEPTED!

Arrgh... Right, I have copied from a previous challenge and I haven't checked after... Sorry about that.

Yes it was the free version of Daz 3.0 at the time so that's a bit of bad luck.
I'd really rather use Daz 4.6 to manipulate M4's facial features though.

Okay so there is Michael 4.cr2 in Runtime - Libraries - Character - Daz People
And there's also a Runtime - Libraries - !DAZ - Michael 4

There are a ton of folders indicating numerous body parts in the latter folder.
And also many pz2 files. It appears that there are face/head folders and files.
So I don't get why shaping is only giving me the option for "head hair short".

If it was the free version I'm afraid you can't - if you had the paid for version it would still be in your Product Library.

It does sound as if you don't have the full install of M4 and morphs, at least not in the directory you are loading him from - does the folder that holds the \Runtime\Libraries\Character\DAZ People\Michael 4.cr2 file also have a \Runtime\Libraries\!DAZ\Michael 4 folder?

Thanks for the explanation. I have Michael 4, 5 and 6. I also have the skin converter. I'm going to save your response as a reference.

As far as the icon question, it wasn't in reference to this product. Sorry for the confusion. I tried to find an example of what I was talking about but I wasn't able to this morning. If you can't read all the words on the icon, is there a way to looks at the properties or something so that you can see all the text?

Thanks again.

mark128, I didn't use the quote button because your post is so long and right above my response. You have explained the product beautifully. I almost wish I had you write the Readme for me ;) Thank you for explaining it so well.

Kevinh... there is only one icon that comes with my product, the "Set Michael 4 UV" located in the place mark128 described above. Any other icons you see are not directly part of this package, so I have no control over the size of the icons. You also mentioned that the icons sometimes get larger when you hover over them. I personally have never seen this in DAZ Studio, but that might just be me. Maybe in Poser, is that the program you are using?

M4 for Genesis 2 Males gives you 3 independent features.

1) It gives you the M4 body shape for genesis 2 male. If you load and select G2M on the Shaping Tab under Actor -> People you should find the Michael 4 body shape. You can fully apply it or mix it with other body shapes. This can be used completely independently of what skin or clothes you use. You could use the M4 body shape with M6 skin and clothes, for example.

2) It gives you Auto Fit capability for Michael 4 clothing and Hair. You do not have to use the Michael 4 body shape to use this auto fit. You should be able to auto fit Michael 4 clothing on to any shape of G2M. Clothing and Hair do not need to be in DUF format. You can just select a G2M based character and load a M4 clothing or hair item. You should get the auto fit dialog.

3) It gives you the Michael 4 UVs for G2M. This allows you use M4 skins on any G2M based character. The UVs control how a 2 dimensional skin textures is mapped onto the 3 dimensional figure. G2M base package supports the G2M base male UVs and the Michael 5 UVs. If you have purchased Michael 6, you also have support for Michael 6 UVs. M4 for Genesis 2 Male adds support for Michael 4 UVs with G2M.

All skins used with G2M need to be in DUF format. Essentially all M4 skins are in some older format. If you have the Michael 4 character, you apply the skin to M4, then with M4 selected do Save as -> Material Preset. This creates a DUF format skin preset. If you don't have Michael 4, you can do the same thing with Genesis 1. I am given to understand it is better to do this with M4, if you have him, but you can do it with Genesis 1, if you don't.

When you load the DUF format material preset, you may not get the UVs set to M4. If this happens you will see gaps on the skin. In the content library panel, go to Daz Studio Formats -> My DAZ 3D Library (or whatever library the product is installed in) -> People -> Genesis 2 Male -> Materials -> Michael 4 for Genesis 2 Male. There should be one item there called "Set Michael 4 UV". Apply this with the character selected and it should fix the UVs.

You can also buy the Michael 4 Skins Auto Converter For Genesis 2 Male(s). I don't own this, but my understanding is it is a script that makes it easier to convert M4 skins for use on G2M.

Was there instructions that came with the product that tell you how to use it? I found a readme, but it didn't really tell me how to use the product. I read that things have to be saved as duf files or something like that. Do you just add the clothing and then click on the icon and it updates and saves it? If there is a help file (instructions) can you tell me where to find it? I let the DIM install everything now, but just runs everything as a batch.

Also, some icons are larger than what displays so you can read everything on the icon. I tried hovering my mouse over it, and right clicking, but I can't see all the verbiage on some icons. Is there a why to see the entire icon so you know what it does?

Thanks

Here are some reworked versions of the prior renders I posted. I lost the original Daz Studio scenes when my computer crashed so I rebuilt them with the Hexagon models I managed to back up before the crash. Models are Michael 4, clothing, props and sets created in Hexagon. Some sets and tree props came from Daz Studios Environments folder. The morphing tree was created in Hexagon and included Victoria 4 base.

The morphing tree scene is closer to what was described in the novel. And the reworked "kid" render has props I've been improving on in Hexagon since I created the first render.

vivayo said:

I've taken both meanings of game for my render as what gentleman's game could be more dangerous that going out there hunting monsters. I've tried to have freebies from as much different sources as I could.

Title: The hunt

Freebies:
1. Shelby for M4* (hunter's morph): http://www.sharecg.com/v/32121/View/11/Poser/Shelby-for-Michael-4
....

M4 for Genesis 2 Males gives you 3 independent features.

1) It gives you the M4 body shape for genesis 2 male. If you load and select G2M on the Shaping Tab under Actor -> People you should find the Michael 4 body shape. You can fully apply it or mix it with other body shapes.

2) It gives you Auto Fit capability for Michael 4 clothing and Hair. You do not have to use the Michael 4 body shape to use this auto fit. You should be able to auto fit Michael 4 clothing on to any shape of G2M.

3) It gives you the Michael 4 UVs for G2M. The UVs control how a 2 dimensional skin textures is mapped onto the 3 dimensional figure. G2M base package supports the G2M base male UVs and the Michael 5 UVs. If you have purchased Michael 6, you also have support for Michael 6 UVs. This package adds support for Michael 4 UVs. You have to have a skin created on the Michael 4 UVs to use this. There are lots of M4 skins in the store, and many of Genesis Skins used M4 UVs too. There are also free M4 skins available. I don't know of any free M5 or M6 skins.

You can use a M4 skin on G2M without using using the M4 body shape. It should look good on any normal body shape.

The M4 Skin Converter provides scripts that automate converting M4 skins for G2M. Skins for G2M must be in DUF format. Essentially all M4 skin presets are in some older format. To get them into DUF format you need to load them onto Michael 4 (if you have it) or Genesis 1 (if you don't have Michael 4), and save them out as a material preset. Then you can load that material preset onto G2M. You may have to use the M4 UV preset that comes with M4 body shape for genesis 2 male to set the skin to use M4 UVs. The M4 Skin Converter automates this process. I don't have the skin converter product, but I'm under the impression is is a one step converter. I have converted V4 skins to G2F by hand without the similar V4 skin converter package. The Skin Converter just makes it simpler.

M4 for Genesis 2 Male is setting the UV set to Michael 4, so the default textures (which use the M5 or Genesis Male UV Sets, I can't recall which) no longer function. With the script you should just need to apply a Michael 4 texture set - either a true Michael 4 set or one for Genesis 1 using the M4 UV set.

Hi:

I just recently purchased the M4 for Genesis 2 Males and the M4 Skins Converter along with the M6 Pro Bundle. How do I get the M4 for Genesis 2 Males to work? I open an empty files, load a Genesis 2 Male model - but when I load the Set Michael 4 UV, the texture pattern on the Genesis 2 get all screwed up, as if I am loading the wrong texture to the character? What am I doing wrong and how do I properly load M4 for Genesis 2? Any advice will be much appreciated. Thanks!

Herakleia said:

I remember we had to wait quite a bit for the non-caucasian ladies when V6 came out too. Patience is a virtue, it seems.
That seems strange, though -- Benjamin was included in the M5 pro bundle, and although I'll grant that the V5 pro bundle was all-white (and I can't figure out when the first darker character for her was released), the M4 pro bundle had this, and Grace was included in V4's pro bundle.
.
Personally I'd love to have some Indians as well (and then I'm talking Delhi, not Dakota ;-))

I've taken both meanings of game for my render as what gentleman's game could be more dangerous that going out there hunting monsters. I've tried to have freebies from as much different sources as I could.

Title: The hunt

Freebies:
1. Shelby for M4* (hunter's morph): http://www.sharecg.com/v/32121/View/11/Poser/Shelby-for-Michael-4
2. Nicholas for M4* (Hunter's texture): http://www.sharecg.com/v/38154/gallery/21/DAZ-Studio/Nicholas-for-M4-Part01
3. Valens hair for V4/A4* (Hunter's hair): http://www.sharecg.com/v/36166/favorite/21/DAZ-Studio/Valens-Hair-For-V4-A4
4. Goatee for Genesis: http://shop.aprilsvanity.com/-free-items/goatee-for-genesis/prod_126.html
5. Sickleyield Trench Coat*: http://www.renderosity.com/mod/freestuff/details.php?item_id=60788
6. Tyllo's camo for Fabricator* (shader on the coat): http://www.sharecg.com/v/58195/gallery/21/DAZ-Studio/Tyllos-Camo-for-Fabricator
7. DD M4 Pants: http://poserg.sakura.ne.jp/vue/index.cgi (2nd on the left side)
8. J-Tex Tartan 2 for Fabricator* (shader on the pants): http://www.sharecg.com/v/60586/View/7/Material-and-Shader/J-Tex-Tartan-2-for-Fabricator
9. SAV Famous Hat collection for M4*: http://www.renderosity.com/mod/freestuff/details.php?item_id=66816
10. Dystopia Kruger Mk 15* (weapon of the hunter): http://www.daz3d.com/dystopia-kruger-mk-15
11. M4 Snarlz (Not sure if this is visible enough but it is the expression of the hunter): http://www.cooltuna.com/poser/poser-freebies.html (14th from bottom)
12. Panther for Genesis (Monster morph): http://www.most-digital-creations.com/free_poser_poses_textures_morphs_props_51.htm (? from top)
13. Torn shirt for V4 (monster's shirt): http://www.evilinnocence.com/torn-shirt-for-v4.html
14. Wilmap's Set of Scene Bases*: http://www.sharecg.com/v/73059/browse/21/DAZ-Studio/Wilmaps-Set-of-Scene-Bases-Part-1
15. The Hills* (background landscape): http://www.sharecg.com/v/39996/View/11/Poser/The-Hills-environment-for-DAZ-Studio-Poser
16: Witches Hill (the tree only): http://www.evilinnocence.com/witches-hill.html
17: Deadgrass*: http://forum.runtimedna.com/downloads.php?do=cat&id=7 (2nd from bottom)
18: Skydome*: http://www.sharecg.com/v/45996/browse/11/Poser/SkyDome
19: Skydome expansion 4* (texture for the skydome): http://www.sharecg.com/v/55387/gallery/11/Poser/SkyDome-expansion-4

MIA: Skipper25's Celtic Cross

Paid for: Lycan for Genesis (texture and pose for the monster), Mr Hyde for Genesis (pants of the Monster), Advanced Ambient Lights

SereneNight said:

Today’s Review

Michael 6 Attitude poses
http://www.daz3d.com/m6-attitude

By DAZ & Cake One

This is a small but fun little set of 15 great poses for Michael 6, which right now is available at a neat discount especially if you are a pc club member so if you need something to round out your cart for your 6 dollars off 30 discount, you might consider this.

There is a nice variety of sitting, reclining, standing and gesturing sets included. I like the touch of whimsy in the hand gestures, which includes “Face Palm” and “Handgun Hands” poses. There is also a good combat running pose.

This is a nice small little set, worth a gander, and I think Cake One has a talent for doing M6 poses, so they render pretty well.

I look forward to seeing more poses from this PA.

Here are 2 poses on Ruin, my custom M6 character I've been working on Porting from M5. The Glove fit for the cybernetic arm is not perfect- But, I heard somewhere a PA was making a product to address any crinkling that might occur.. =-) Until then, Ruin may get his arm replaced by a bot arm like Poor Sarge when I get a chance.

Image 1: strike a pose
Image 2: Running forward

Serene, is that glove an M4 glove? I'm the one doing a glove fix for Michael 4 for Genesis 2 Male (M4G2M). I need as many glove pics as I can get my hands on (pun intended?) so I can better understand the scope of the problem. If this is a M4 glove, could you PM me with a close-up, especially showing the worst "crinkling"? Thanks a million... Slosh

Edit: Just read more and saw the answer and picture I needed. I'm still trying! :)

Roudneff said:

Some M5 textures work on M6, some not.
Why?

Are you certain the texture you are applying is M5, not base male or D5, H5, or F5? Those other than M5 will not fit on Genesis 2, except M4 with the Michael 4 for Genesis 2 Male product.

I did write readme information, not sure why it is not available to anyone. So, below is the readme info I submitted with the product. I hope it helps. Also, to answer your question about converting older files to DUF... 2 ways to do that.

1. There is a M4 Skins Autoconverter that came out the same day as M4 for Genesis 2 Male. It is by DraagonStorm and you should be able to find info on that product via a forum search.
2. You can load M4 into your scene (or Genesis if converting M5 skins to duf), apply the texture you want converted, then save as a DUF file. This new preset can then be applied to Genesis 2 Male.

Here is the Readme:

The Michael 4 for Genesis 2 Male UVs and AutoFit clone is used just as any other shape for Genesis or Genesis 2.

Use the included preset (works on Genesis 2 Female as well) by applying it to your figure either before or after applying the texture presets. The preset will change all of the surfaces in your surface tab to M4 UV set. If you wish to change only certain surface instead of all at once, hold Ctrl key on your keyboard then double-click the preset. You will be asked whether you want to apply it to all surfaces or only those selected. Note that only DUF files will apply to Genesis 2, so you must convert any .cr2 or .dsa files before they will work on Genesis 2. You can do this through 3rd party utilities, or by applying the texture first to Michael 4 or Genesis, then saving as a DUF file.

The Michael 4 Shapes are usable in two ways: There is a single slider under Actor: People that will apply the entire Michael 4 shape to your figure, including scaling him to Michael 4 height. Alternately, there are separate Body and Head sliders in Actor: Full Body and Actor:Head, respectively. The Michael 4 Body slider does not change the scaling on your figure.

The M4 AutoFit clone will appear in your list of available autofit options when you try to apply a Michael 4 clothing item. Special care was taken, especially with the feet, to make this the best autofit of Michael 4 shoes to date.

Some notes on using AutoFit, which may benefit you even when using Genesis and other clones:
Don't hesitate to add a smoothing modifier to your clothes after applying them to Genesis 2 Male. That's what it is there for. Even the best AutoFit will have a few areas of poke-through because not all clothing is modeled as a perfect fit. By using a smoothing modifier, the clothing will try to avoid colliding with the figure, thereby eliminating or reducing poke-through. Another good tip, when using smoothing modifiers, is to change the smoothing type from "base shape matching" to "generic". In some cases this can reduce the amount of the underlying shape distorting your clothing. For example. sunglasses will try to take on the face shape of your character, but switching to generic will keep the glasses closer to their rigid shape.

Clothing items that have been autofit can usually still be scaled after fitting. Sometimes this can help with things such as belts or hats. Note that, although you can scale them, you cannot translate them (ie. move up and down, etc), so scaling large amounts will actually make your item fit wrong. Just subtle adjustments if the morphs are not already built into the clothing item.

I will attempt to see if I can recreate this issue with coats that I have in my runtime. In the meantime, would you answer a couple of questions for me regarding this garment? These questions might or might not be part of the problem, but I need as much info as I can get.
1. Is the coat subdivided?
2. If so, what is the SubDivision Algorithm applied? Usually Catmark by default in DS 4.5+, but try Catmull-Clark. If no subd, disregard.
3. Is smoothing type set to Base Shape Matching or Generic Matching?
4. Did you use a template when you auto-fitted the coat? This would be the 2nd dropdown box that you see when Auto-Fit pops up. There are options such as Pants, Shirt, Full Body, etc. Try Robe-Full Length

I will certainly see what I can do to make this better, but I think it is more inherently an issue with autofit and the coat model itself. Autofit in both Genesis and Genesis 2 has difficulties with long dresses, coats, etc. and seems to have issues at the collars on some things. I have attached a picture of G2M and Genesis, both with the Michael 4 shape so that the differences are minimal. They are wearing the Duster from M4 Cowboy. As you can see, the collars on both look pretty bad (red circles) and at the area where the thighs meet the hips (green lines), the G2M version actually does a better job at capturing the shape than Genesis. I see the area between the legs on your example, where G2M is worse, but on the cowboy duster, this problem is not there. What I'm getting at is the clothing model has a lot to do with how well autofit works. Right now I am experimenting with this duster to see if I can figure out what body group the collar tips and the area you have shown fall under, and how I might better be able to make those polygons follow the correct weight maps.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention, and I'm sorry you are having problems with the coat. If it weren't $30 in the store, I would consider buying it and working specifically with that coat. Has the autofit and clone been working well for you otherwise?

Hi, Just got Michael 4 for Genesis 2 Male. I expected at least a readme file with some clues but you get no help with this one...Has anyone used this yet, if so what does one do to make this work.....Also how do you convert older files to DUF.