Where do I see that I have a gold star? Or how could I tell that I have a gold star?

I'm glad it came a little early.  The gold star thing is a bit annoying because unlike other promotions like the Christmas punch card sale, I'd like an indication that I have the discount being applied so I can confirm in my cart.  But hey, at least we have over 8,000 items to choose from!  Back to scrolling...

Elor said:

Tomhip said:

I presume If I buy something today I will only get a Gold Star tomorrow? Anyone actually got one?

I bought something yesterday and the gold star discount is active in my cart.

But I don't know if there is another place to see if it's active and I don't have an answer to your question.

Yeah I was wondering the same thing.  I don't see anywhere that I have the gold star, even though I also spent yesterday.  It'd be nice if Daz made that clear somewhere.  But it at least looks like the discount is applying.

Seems minimum prices are back.

Mad Artist Stores Legacy Items should get 85% off, but don't go lower than $ 2.-, making it less than 80% in some cases
Classic Items are supposed to be 80% but don't go below $ 3.-, making it less than 65% in some cases

The cheapest recent and current Mad Artists items can reach is $ 2.66, which seems okay by the offered % off

EDIT: Seems the Gold Star Discount (5%/10%/20% off depending on membership) seems to reduce that prices below the margin mentioned above in the cart

Tomhip said:

I presume If I buy something today I will only get a Gold Star tomorrow? Anyone actually got one?

I bought something yesterday and the gold star discount is active in my cart.

But I don't know if there is another place to see if it's active and I don't have an answer to your question.

I presume If I buy something today I will only get a Gold Star tomorrow? Anyone actually got one?

Lana Beniko from Star Wars the Old Republic.

As Wendy says, to subscribe you click the star to the top right of the page, under the thread title. But you can only do this if you are logged in.
I do not think there are options to upgrade to Carrara 8.5  from older versions, now. But maybe you may get the complete package during a sale. Daz originals are on sale quite often.

MimicMolly said:

If anything killed the 3D star for me, it's not AI, it's the hardware requirements and my own DAZ library.

Man, I can so relate to that. I have always strived to make the most realistic images I could with 3D, especially creating images with more than one character and vast environments and so hated having to purchase new PC equipment, jumping thru hoops like using scene optimizer, dealing with PAs that create amazing looking environments that don't take into account adding figures, clothing, hair, etc into the a scene which then makes them almost impossible to render at that point, or having to go without HD and high subD. With AI, I don't have to worry as much about that any more and can focus on creating and not troubleshooting and cutting corners to make the scene render. Sad thing is, ithe hardwre requirements go up and up with each new DS release.

If anything killed the 3D star for me, it's not AI, it's the hardware requirements and my own DAZ library.

To put it bluntly, I get 99% close to the image I want if I drew it myself. My imagination has it all, but the pre-established databases AI or what's available for DS, never have what I want. Because of hardware requirements, I cannot build my own assests either. It's less work and less time to sketch stuff on paper and clean it up with GIMP.

But AI has gotten me back into DAZ since I like mixing my renders with it. Not the same as making art from scratch, but I enjoy it nonetheless. I like being involved in my creations. Another thing that's gotten me back into DAZ is Filatoon, but that's another topic.

3Diva said:

MJ007 said:

I am having some difficulty tracking down a few Gumdrops resources t have become aware of:
- Brainz (looks like a Zombie texture)
- Jaki (looks like a animated character I think is from Nightmare Before Christmas)
- Spookshow (Im guessing some spooky kinda characters)
Anyone familiar with these with knowledge on where i can find them???
-MJ

I found some information about it here: https://api.renderosity.com/forums/threads/2768398/treki-freebie-festival

It looks like site "SawVision" was used to host it but now is no longer a thing, so you might need to use the Way Back Machine to see if it's possible to get them still.

He offered the Star Trek stuff, but not the base stuff they were made for unfortunately.
-MJ 

WendyLuvsCatz said:

click the star top right

Custom Nadia Grell from Star Wars the Old Republic game.

mmitchell_houston said:

tkdrobert said:

This is very cool stuff. I really like the composition of the first image: Nice group composition.

Thanks.  I'm thinking of printing that one out for my daughters.  The Clone Wars cartoon made them Star Wars fans.

Star Wars the Old Republic: Custom Nadia Grell.

AI was progressing, not me.  AI was learning, not me.  So much more.  

I remember seeing this reaction a lot when AI first started reaching the point of creating "better" images than many traditional artists.

It felt... almost like a competition...and while a group was continually saying AI was souless and every other bad adjective, AI generated stuffs was winning art contests and fooling everyone. lol

-----

I've always had two concerns with AI use that 

1) Someone doesn't become the thing that AI fools us into believing they are. Someone can make a hundred incredible AI-generated oil paintings. No matter how awesome they look, that person is NOT a painter. THEY are not a Digital Painter.

The word painter will never be applied. Even if the picture looks realistic and picture perfect, THEY are not a photographer. etc

2) Someone does not get the transformative benefit of the journey. The experience of creating something changes a person. A person thinks differently. Their perspective changes. The analogy is - imagine being from a country and having travelled across your own country- and you're arguing about your country with someone- who only visited on vacation and stayed at a resort and someone else who's never been there. But they are damn sure they know all about your country- even better than you - who lives there. And they say things like "I googled... so I know...someone told me....so I know.....".

For people that were advanced before AI (use) arrived, they'll be fine. They already had their journey. For most, AI is that helper- extra boost/sauce/time saver/productivity enhancer/inspiration/blueprint/upscaler/filter/add on.

----

Making scenes in Daz is about as close to living it as someone can get. THEY are physically (virtually, some might know what I mean) moving objects around. Spinning the camera around, looking for the best angle...changing subtle things.

Leaning back, rubbing their chin thinking - hmmm, what would make this better? That's actually the moment THEY are tapping in to their inner artist. That's the moment they are suppoosed to live for. The challenge- how far can they go before that dForce dress explodes? How do they capture this moment that is beyond any product in any store? The pride they feel when they use a new tool and now they have unlocked a new skill and ability.

Once the render is complete that immersive 3D world is gone. They are now a person who made a picture. They can use a lot of tools to make pictures. I thought we picked 3D because of HOW you make pictures.

It's the old respect from the tools and method thing. I spent years hearing people tell me how Daz (and Poser) worked who never used either. I have seen people write/say "He must have..." and guess wrong about what I do...

You know who knows? We know. They know. And sometimes what They know is more important than what they think.

If someone's goal was to have pictures, I can see how AI killed the 3D Star because it does make pictures pretty well and very fast.

If the goal was to be an artist who makes pictures (using Daz Studio and who knows what else) -that's an endless journey with no real destination- except to make the next render better than the last. 

Steve K said:

magaremoto said:

Pretty stunning for a "fan film".  It does remind me of this hilarious short on "Star Wars" - "George Lucas In Love":

"I set out to do this project entirely in Veo 2.." the author said 

magaremoto said:

Pretty stunning for a "fan film".  It does remind me of this hilarious short on "Star Wars" - "George Lucas In Love":

click the star top right

i have move over from 3Delight to Iray, and i can not figure out the specular maps and how to make them show up in a render, i render Star Trek ship models that have emmisive surfaces and i have had a problem with light bleed through, need help and to DAZ developers please simplify the specular maps like in 3Delight