I've been working on a visual novel/fangame since 2015-ish, and I was having trouble nailing down a solution for the art that I was happy with. In fact, I was having trouble with art in general--I knew I liked making pictures, but the closest I got to really having fun with it anymore was taking screenshots of MMO characters. I started messing around with Sketchup and a few mobile apps that let you pose 3D models for reference, and I think I stumbled across DAZ from there.

I was sold on it when I saw Emma and Jordi's Daisy and Malmorda; I just thought they were so cool and I remember gushing about them on my old Twitter account, talking about how I wanted a video game with those characters as the protagonists. I didn't end up getting them until later, though! My first purchases were toward building the main characters for my VN, and while a few of them have been redone Joker was the first one I finished and has been pretty much unchanged. 

I've always loved ball-jointed dolls and art dolls, and when I was younger I'd browse options for hours while daydreaming. They were way out of my price range, though, and I don't think I'd personally feel comfortable owning something that expensive and delicate. DAZ hooked me by being closer to art doll collecting and customization than to any of the other 3D applications I'd seen--all of which I just kind of assumed I wouldn't be able to use (I'm slowly working up to it now). I love that people get really attached to their characters and buy them things in the same way a lot of MMO players "spoil" their in-game avatars. It's really fun. 

I basically never shut up about DAZ because so few people I've met in fandom-centric spaces even know it's an option even though some folks are really skilled at creating wild stuff in programs like Miku Miku Dance and Source Filmmaker. 

I am very frustrated with My DAZ products at the moment. I have been Using Hexagon and DAZ Studio since their introduction along with using Poser too. I have been using an eMachine with Win 7 as my operating system for all my work since 2011 - till of late. I have never had any problems with your software till I installed Win 10 on my old machine. It worked quite well till a windows 7 update that included win app Paint 3D. The interfaces would appear, but all the veiw-ports in all 3D application would not come up at all – White & blank. I proceeded to uninstall Win 10 and reversed back to Win 7 – thing went back to normal. But, I felt my computer (although working well) it was time to buy a newer, faster, and better product.

My Old Machine :

eMachines

Device Name: Desktop - EL1352

Processor: AMD Athlon (tm) II x 2 250 Processor 3.00 GHz

Installed Ram: 3.00 GB (2.75 GB Usable)

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nfForce 430

Sytem Type: ACPI 64-Bit based Operating System

Pen & Touch: No Pen and Touch Support

WINDOWS SPECIFICATIONS

Edtion: Windows 7 Ppreium Home

Version: Unknown

OS Build: Unknown

Upgrade to My New Machine:

ACER - ASPIRE TC-330

Device Name: Desktop - 1PCBK2H

Processor: AMD A9-9420 Radeon R5 (Software Update 19.3.1) , 5 Compute Cores 2C + 3G 3.00 GHz

Installed Ram: 12.0GB (11.5 GB Usable)

Sytem Type: 64-Bit Operating System, X64- Based Processor

Pen & Touch: Pen Support

WINDOWS SPECIFICATIONS

Edtion: Windows 10 Home

Version: 1803

Installed On: 2019-02-27

OS Build 17134.648

I purchased an AMD product with Radeon R5 Graphics package. The problem I am constantly having is with Hexagon 2.5 and Daz Studio 4.10. I can barley work on any 3D project any longer than 2 min (or less) The programs are constantly not responding and ceasing up my machine then crashing. In some cases the screen goes absolutely crazy and abstract,  I am forced to a hard shut-down of the computer and re-boot. Moreover, when I do have a chance to work on a project, the  transforms (Up / Down / Rotate / Zoom etc) are very slow. Applying any tools it takes forever for them to work, or they do not work at all.

I have found that what makes the programs seem to fail most is the mouse in the view-port windows and using the transforms. I use a wireless mouse, but I have used cored ones as well, testing with the same results. All my other 3D and graphic programs are working perfectly. Poser, SketchUp, Meshlab, UV Mapper, CovertterX, Vue and all my Adobe products. With all due respect, I do not think am the only person here in the forums having these problems. I do love your products I would hate not to have them.

My Questions are for the Daz software Engineers / Designers mostly.

1.Is their going to be an up date which will correct these problems. If yes when can we expect this update?

2. I have to ask is will DAZ be creating software just for NVIDIA products only, and forgetting other manufactures?

3. If Yes, if I change out my graphics card, what Nvida product would be compatible with my ASPIRE TC-330 and Daz Studio and Hexagon?

How useful is SketchUp Pro for creating 3D models, if you inted to sell the 3D models?

Thanks!

In my screenshot you can see that my object/node called "Headlight_Bezels" has multiple material zones. I want it to have only one. So. can all but one be deleted?

The multiple material zones come from errors in the file conversion process I use to convert Sketchup .kmz format models to .obj models. The materials often come out all scrambled. And after I try to delete all the extra material zones in Blender, such zones still show up when I load the model into Daz Studio. (Yes, Blender, that "gold standard" of "do anything", will fool you into thinking you are delting material zones, but it actually just hides them from your interface and keeps them. And "really" deleting them is a complex process that Blender gurus can't even agree on.)

 

You should have multiple material zones, any reason you wouldn't want them, especiall on a vehicle where you have different materials?

In my screenshot you can see that my object/node called "Headlight_Bezels" has multiple material zones. I want it to have only one. So. can all but one be deleted?

The multiple material zones come from errors in the file conversion process I use to convert Sketchup .kmz format models to .obj models. The materials often come out all scrambled. And after I try to delete all the extra material zones in Blender, such zones still show up when I load the model into Daz Studio. (Yes, Blender, that "gold standard" of "do anything", will fool you into thinking you are delting material zones, but it actually just hides them from your interface and keeps them. And "really" deleting them is a complex process that Blender gurus can't even agree on.)

The big question is if you're really going to use Solidworks intensively or not and what will be the weight of the assembly you'll be displaying/modeling

Gaming card are weak for that. Even the lowest Quadro beats the crap out of a GTX 1080 Ti see https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/SOLIDWORKS-2018-GPU-Comparison-What-Is-the-Meaning-of-This-1112/

If you are planning to often use Solidwork with big models, Quadro is the right choice. Any gaming card will have bad performance

Personnaly, I'd go for at least a Mobile Quadro P3200 or P4000

For rendering, Gaming card usually have more cuda cores and thus render faster, and cost less than a Quadro, so there is a priority you must decide here. It should be noted that it should be possible now to find notebooks with mobile RTX cards, which could be good long term investment

 

For sketchup, and 2D apps, get the processor with highest base clock frequency. These applications are more sensible to single core performance

For Premiere/Blackmagic, you should get as much CPU power as you can which means as many core as possible. Depending on what effect you use, some will be optimized for GPU rendering but in most case, it's CPU bound (however you are the one who knows what you use). Processor with 6 cores or more are better for these

Here too you need to give a priority between 2D apps + sketchup vs video editing. More cores usually means lower frequency, so you have to choose wisely to get the right balance.

I don't know the length of your videos in Blackmagic but that easily eats 1 TB for serious work. So I think 512 GB SSD for the OS and 2 TB additionnal Sata Disk should be the minimal.

16 GB Ram is the minimum, but if you use Blackmagic or any video compositing software intensively, the more RAM, the better, as it is used to cache prerendered  movie sequence

 

If you're serious about Solidworks, you should go for a mobile workstation with a Quadro. Otherwise, a good gaming laptop should do

Really helpful, thank you. Solidworks is likely to be a rare stretch, mostly everything else. So 6 core CPU seems to be the way with a Gamer GPU. Appreciate you taking the time.

The big question is if you're really going to use Solidworks intensively or not and what will be the weight of the assembly you'll be displaying/modeling

Gaming card are weak for that. Even the lowest Quadro beats the crap out of a GTX 1080 Ti see https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/SOLIDWORKS-2018-GPU-Comparison-What-Is-the-Meaning-of-This-1112/

If you are planning to often use Solidwork with big models, Quadro is the right choice. Any gaming card will have bad performance

Personnaly, I'd go for at least a Mobile Quadro P3200 or P4000

For rendering, Gaming card usually have more cuda cores and thus render faster, and cost less than a Quadro, so there is a priority you must decide here. It should be noted that it should be possible now to find notebooks with mobile RTX cards, which could be good long term investment

For sketchup, and 2D apps, get the processor with highest base clock frequency. These applications are more sensible to single core performance

For Premiere/Blackmagic, you should get as much CPU power as you can which means as many core as possible. Depending on what effect you use, some will be optimized for GPU rendering but in most case, it's CPU bound (however you are the one who knows what you use). Processor with 6 cores or more are better for these

Here too you need to give a priority between 2D apps + sketchup vs video editing. More cores usually means lower frequency, so you have to choose wisely to get the right balance.

I don't know the length of your videos in Blackmagic but that easily eats 1 TB for serious work. So I think 512 GB SSD for the OS and 2 TB additionnal Sata Disk should be the minimal.

16 GB Ram is the minimum, but if you use Blackmagic or any video compositing software intensively, the more RAM, the better, as it is used to cache prerendered  movie sequence

If you're serious about Solidworks, you should go for a mobile workstation with a Quadro. Otherwise, a good gaming laptop should do

Hi folks, I'm looking for a new Windows machine. As it's been so long since I bought one I'm asking you geniuses to give me your recommendations, particularly if you have bought one in the last 3-6 months.

It's time I replaced my tired Medion Akoya I've loved and worked hard for about 7 years. Current spec is Win7 64, Intel Core i5-3210M 2.5Ghz, 8 Gb RAM, GEFORCE GT 640M 2Gb, 1 Tb HDD.

It's still a good machine in lots of ways but hardware is getting ropey, battery nearly dead, recently replaced HDD as it was giving failure signs.
What it needs to put up with:

• I do lots of CAD in Sketchup (looking to do SolidWorks)
• Modelling in Carrara/Hexagon
• Lots of rendering and animating
• Lots and lots of Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks
• Premiere, Sony Vegas, BlackMagic
• Some interactive stuff in CopperCube, HTML5, Unity etc.

Love to hear your experiences/suggestions. Thanks in advance!

My first attempt was with a sofa, too, but it was in SketchUp quite a few years back, long before I discovered Daz Studio. I'm not sure what the sofa appeal is to the beginner - I didn't even have anyone to sit on mine! As for putting legs on it, you're a lot braver than I was :)

I think it seems like a logical beggining. you can get the basic shape easily enough, then work on the details whilst learning.

My first attempt was with a sofa, too, but it was in SketchUp quite a few years back, long before I discovered Daz Studio. I'm not sure what the sofa appeal is to the beginner - I didn't even have anyone to sit on mine! As for putting legs on it, you're a lot braver than I was :)

I'd like to vote for Union Terminal in Cincinnati, Ohio.

If you think it looks familiar, here's why (https://www.wired.com/2014/10/super-friends-hall-of-justice/). More info here (http://myunionterminal.com/).

 

...lovely old station as well so pleased they restored it. 

The only real similarity to the JLA headquarters is the central arcade. 

Unfortunately the only model I could find is for Sketchup which would require conversion and often models have issues with the mesh like reversed normals.

yes been after a good WWI British uniform for ages (and other nationalities would be good)
There are a few tanks about. I just did an image of a WW1 British tank and a German one. quite happy with the result.
The German one was a Sketchup model I exported and added more details.

I'm working on some uniforms now, including WWI. Would you be more likely to use M4 (compatible with Poser as well as DAZ), or G8?

G8, without a doubt.

M4/V4 were great, in their day, but that day is long past, even if they still have a following.

I'd like to see historical style university/college, like Oxford or Cambridge in 3D. There's so many great looking buildings there.

Trimble 3D warehouse and Sketchup is bound to have that

This model I got from Sketchup Warehouse but want to add an image directly on it as if printed.  I have tried using the steps when importing 2D picture objects but it do not work out nicely.  The bag is not very flat and image causes a poke-through effect due to that.  I assume the 2D picture objects tool is the only way to add images.  I have not used images much in Bryce.

Sure there are lots  lots of things but a couple to start with I would Love to see:

• Easy Mask Rendering. to be able to select a part of a figure or texture and render a black on white image would be great. Also need to work with iray.
• A sketchup importer: At the momemt getting a model form sketchup to daz for rendering is a bit of an ordeal. I can do it with an obj but needs a lot of tweaking.

I keep getting calls from someone claming to be selling back braces. '

Maybe they think you've stooped to inacceptable depths.  

Sort-of-complaint: I really don't like the idea of buying backgrounds for 3d-art, that's just someone else's renders. Yeah, I get that it's cheaper than buying all the props yourself. But... if you're just going to photoshop your characters into a background, you may as well use photos.

I kind of agree.  The exception may be using an HDRI image.

Dana

...the only HDRI's I use are the IBL Skies sets as all I want is a sky with some detail (I purchased the entire bundle when it came out).  Unlike Carrara and Bryce, Iray doesn't support sky environment generation so when using the Sun/Sky render setting all you get is a cloudless, featureless clear sky. Great if all your scenes take place on Tatooine or Mars.  I do use photo backdrops from time to time (such as for girls at the bus stop scene) as I don't have Sketchup (where I can get real world buildings) or the patience to fix a lot of bad geometry, flipped normals, and poor textures etc. 

I also picked up Terragen 3 in the last sale (for .1.99$) and will be messing around with that when everything is up and working again (my little "accident" kind of put that on hold for a bit).

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/54400f89dfe0b7302ad490d4d7fae486/shot-glass

bit primitive but maybe a possibility?

yes been after a good WWI British uniform for ages (and other nationalities would be good)
There are a few tanks about. I just did an image of a WW1 British tank and a German one. quite happy with the result.
The German one was a Sketchup model I exported and added more details.

I'm working on some uniforms now, including WWI. Would you be more likely to use M4 (compatible with Poser as well as DAZ), or G8?

 

 

Personnaly I only use DAZ Studio and not poser so G8 or even  G3 as would be best. Probbaly be able to fit G3  to G8 as well.

yes been after a good WWI British uniform for ages (and other nationalities would be good)
There are a few tanks about. I just did an image of a WW1 British tank and a German one. quite happy with the result.
The German one was a Sketchup model I exported and added more details.

I'm working on some uniforms now, including WWI. Would you be more likely to use M4 (compatible with Poser as well as DAZ), or G8?