It's 5:20AM Central, and the Featured Artist discounts are still not working.  I was going to pick up Easy Environments Hell.  But, it only shows a 30 percent discount total....(my Holiday Loyalty)

Yes, I am having the same problem. No 40% discount only 30% Loyalty discount. 

Hope a Mod sees this thread and can report the issue for us before the offers run out.

It's 5:20AM Central, and the Featured Artist discounts are still not working.  I was going to pick up Easy Environments Hell.  But, it only shows a 30 percent discount total....(my Holiday Loyalty)

20%?  I think I've only been offered 5%!

mine was also at 5% till today... it jumped to 20%

go figure 

Me too - must be an early Chrsitmas present!

20%?  I think I've only been offered 5%!

mine was also at 5% till today... it jumped to 20%

go figure 

The one thing we lack in the world of Daz are clear-cut Latino characters. If we get those, then we might have a well rounded cast of characters. Of course, then we could fight over whether the Latino characters should be of the Carribean type (like Puerto Rico) or the Central and South American type I guess. LOL Then I suppose you can research population ethnicities and percentages of you really want to get technical and base your characters on that ;). Me? I wouldn't worry about it and just use what you want ;).

Laurie

Check out Javeria (Sabby) at Renderosity, new yesterday!

The one thing we lack in the world of Daz are clear-cut Latino characters. If we get those, then we might have a well rounded cast of characters. Of course, then we could fight over whether the Latino characters should be of the Carribean type (like Puerto Rico) or the Central and South American type I guess. LOL Then I suppose you can research population ethnicities and percentages of you really want to get technical and base your characters on that ;). Me? I wouldn't worry about it and just use what you want ;).

Laurie

Most definetely!

The one thing we lack in the world of Daz are clear-cut Latino characters. If we get those, then we might have a well rounded cast of characters. Of course, then we could fight over whether the Latino characters should be of the Carribean type (like Puerto Rico) or the Central and South American type I guess. LOL Then I suppose you can research population ethnicities and percentages of you really want to get technical and base your characters on that ;). Me? I wouldn't worry about it and just use what you want ;).

Laurie

Yeah, that's a great house.  What state is it in?

 

Also, I'm getting lots of great data here from the poll.  Thanks to everyone who's cast a vote!

The great state of Illinois- Land of Lincoln, baby! I'm south west of Chicago, in central Illinois. Close enough to drive up there occasionally, far enough away to enjoy really being out in the country. I live close to Starved Rock State Park. Not your typical cornfields. It's a gorgeous area with hills, rivers, sandstone canyons and fantastic views. Lots of tourists come out to the park to hike, and you can hear just about every language there. It's pretty neat. Unfortunately, this area is a bit economically depressed as well. I guess every area has its challenges.

I believe this Sears and Roebucks kit is the one used for my house, modified with a fifth bedroom. They made the other rooms smaller to fit it in. The closets are small too. The attic is huge and unfinished. Some day I'd love to have an art studio up there overlooking the fields. In my first Midwest book, Crazy in the Heart, I put the heroine in a dilapidated version of this house and then ran it over with a tornado. The hero is an itinerant carpenter who ends up rebuilding it better than before, adding a wrap around porch, which comes in very handy in the finale of the book. The house has character and is definitely a character in the series. I love me some good architecture!

Monique 7 came a year and a half after Victoria 7, as Monique 6 did after Victoria 6. I would like for Genesis 4 to begin with Victoria, then an Asian, then an African, then a Polynesian. At that point, we would have the diversity of morphs and skins established so we could then have the usual slew of Caucasian types to continue. As an alternative to that suggestion: Perhaps the Asian, African, and Polynesian females could be released in successive months after Michael 8, as the second, third, and fourth mates of their corresponding Genesis 4 males. Either option would be far better than having to wait so long for a Daz Core representative for the different skintones and ethnic morphs.

Furthermore, this would better integrate with and facilitate the Morph3D line, since games typically are far more diverse than 3D hobbyist pin-up art.

I'm not sure I'd accept that as a definitive list of types - or indeed, as clear types in themselves. Obvious lacks are Nativer American (north and south), near-eastern/middle-eastern/north-African, Central Asian, and the Indian sub-continent. All groups with little if any coverage, no doubt others could be added.

Not definitive, Richard, but Daz-defined, as you noted. One omission from the group I listed is honey-coloured skin, useful for many of the groups you named.

 

 Either option would be far better than having to wait so long for a Daz Core representative for the different skintones and ethnic morphs.

They wouldn't be better options if they led to Genesis 4 being a commercial failure (then there might be no further releases at all). If what brings in the revenue is whitey pin-up and fantasy, that's likely what will be released first. Stuff needs to sell to make payroll and meet server bills.

If DAZ is missing a big market in diverse ethnicity, the gap will be filled by others.

I expect a similar pattern.

Consider, if you will, that the second option I suggested would leave room for six months' worth (June through November) of Caucasian core females (plus 6 x 2 of accompanying PA Pro Bundle figures) before introducing a change. Daz Core characters are the elite textures of the Genesis lines, and this is why I am lobbying for a policy shift. The gap for ethnically diverse photorealistic skins was not really filled by others during Genesis 3 (with the notable exceptions of the illustrious Raiya and Saiyaness). We know from experience that Daz does listen to its customers. If Monique 7 and Darius 7 do not sell well, then I, too, would expect the usual pattern. Monique 7 certainly has less associated characters than her Genesis 2 namesake.

Actually it says a lot, without saying a lot that we can so casually consider that the inclusion of a  few  ethnic characters could be so  unmarketable that it can cause a company to lose money and then roll with it as "well that just the way it is; gotta' do what you gotta' do".
It's really nice to know what kind of society we really live in, and the attitude one needs to take to be profitable in it.  And you wonder why so many people balk when some group uses a hypen before "American" when they designate themselves.

Monique 7 came a year and a half after Victoria 7, as Monique 6 did after Victoria 6. I would like for Genesis 4 to begin with Victoria, then an Asian, then an African, then a Polynesian. At that point, we would have the diversity of morphs and skins established so we could then have the usual slew of Caucasian types to continue. As an alternative to that suggestion: Perhaps the Asian, African, and Polynesian females could be released in successive months after Michael 8, as the second, third, and fourth mates of their corresponding Genesis 4 males. Either option would be far better than having to wait so long for a Daz Core representative for the different skintones and ethnic morphs.

Furthermore, this would better integrate with and facilitate the Morph3D line, since games typically are far more diverse than 3D hobbyist pin-up art.

I'm not sure I'd accept that as a definitive list of types - or indeed, as clear types in themselves. Obvious lacks are Nativer American (north and south), near-eastern/middle-eastern/north-African, Central Asian, and the Indian sub-continent. All groups with little if any coverage, no doubt others could be added.

Not definitive, Richard, but Daz-defined, as you noted. One omission from the group I listed is honey-coloured skin, useful for many of the groups you named.

 Either option would be far better than having to wait so long for a Daz Core representative for the different skintones and ethnic morphs.

They wouldn't be better options if they led to Genesis 4 being a commercial failure (then there might be no further releases at all). If what brings in the revenue is whitey pin-up and fantasy, that's likely what will be released first. Stuff needs to sell to make payroll and meet server bills.

If DAZ is missing a big market in diverse ethnicity, the gap will be filled by others.

I expect a similar pattern.

Consider, if you will, that the second option I suggested would leave room for six months' worth (June through November) of Caucasian core females (plus 6 x 2 of accompanying PA Pro Bundle figures) before introducing a change. Daz Core characters are the elite textures of the Genesis lines, and this is why I am lobbying for a policy shift. The gap for ethnically diverse photorealistic skins was not really filled by others during Genesis 3 (with the notable exceptions of the illustrious Raiya and Saiyaness). We know from experience that Daz does listen to its customers. If Monique 7 and Darius 7 do not sell well, then I, too, would expect the usual pattern. Monique 7 certainly has less associated characters than her Genesis 2 namesake.

Monique 7 came a year and a half after Victoria 7, as Monique 6 did after Victoria 6. I would like for Genesis 4 to begin with Victoria, then an Asian, then an African, then a Polynesian. At that point, we would have the diversity of morphs and skins established so we could then have the usual slew of Caucasian types to continue. As an alternative to that suggestion: Perhaps the Asian, African, and Polynesian females could be released in successive months after Michael 8, as the second, third, and fourth mates of their corresponding Genesis 4 males. Either option would be far better than having to wait so long for a Daz Core representative for the different skintones and ethnic morphs.

Furthermore, this would better integrate with and facilitate the Morph3D line, since games typically are far more diverse than 3D hobbyist pin-up art.

I'm not sure I'd accept that as a definitive list of types - or indeed, as clear types in themselves. Obvious lacks are Nativer American (north and south), near-eastern/middle-eastern/north-African, Central Asian, and the Indian sub-continent. All groups with little if any coverage, no doubt others could be added.

Thank you for the updates! I was able to get Ultra Genesis Studio Vol 1 - Iray Box Lights with the HOLLIDAZ coupon. I wasn't going to use the coupon since I wasn't really interested in anything else, so yay!!!  Plus I got http://www.daz3d.com/after-the-war , still free here at 9:25 pm Central.

 

I used it for that light set too. I wasn't really interested in anything else - except maybe the Teradome2, but since it is Poser only and I don't have Poser I had to pass. I'm hoping the light set is nice and something I will want to use. :)

Thank you for the updates! I was able to get Ultra Genesis Studio Vol 1 - Iray Box Lights with the HOLLIDAZ coupon. I wasn't going to use the coupon since I wasn't really interested in anything else, so yay!!!  Plus I got http://www.daz3d.com/after-the-war , still free here at 9:25 pm Central.

 

its not showing as free  here at 10:53 est  which is about a hour ahead of you... I think daz must be trageting me or blocking the sales for me or something..lol

Thank you for the updates! I was able to get Ultra Genesis Studio Vol 1 - Iray Box Lights with the HOLLIDAZ coupon. I wasn't going to use the coupon since I wasn't really interested in anything else, so yay!!!  Plus I got http://www.daz3d.com/after-the-war , still free here at 9:25 pm Central.

Also, it was really late in the evening when these prices were in play, and eight of them had been that way since about 1am (Central time) in the morning. So seventeen hours or more, approximately.

awesome.... I love it ... 

great work everyone 

I am not entirely sure what you are asking. I assume that you know how to save a scene in DAZ Studio? That will contain all the references to all the content used in the scene regardless of where you have stored those individual assets. If, on the other hand, you are asking whether you can collect all those assets and move or copy them all to a central location for use in that particular scene, then the answer is yes, but you are going to need to recreate your scene. Once you move the files and attempt to open your original scene file, DAZ Studio will no longer be able to find those files, and throw error messages. You could hypothetically open and edit the scene file (yourscene.duf), by changing all the paths to the content to reflect the new locations, but this could be a big job and prone to error. Most people probably would prefer not to go there, as .duf files can be huge for a complex scene.

Long story short, what you are wanting (collecting all the necessary content and placing it in a single location) is really something that is best done before you create your scene. Also, it is always better to place the content that you are using in your content library so DAZ Studio knows where to find it when and if it needs to. I have done the same thing that you have myself, but only when I believe that I am never likely to be needing to re-open or re-render that scene (and occasionally I regret it).

 

 What are you looking for? Daz hasn't, as I recall, written any 3Delight hadrs since the Default Daz Shader - the application does support most of the newer features, we  lack shaders that use them

 

 

And yeah, Daz really ought to make or commission a better core shader to make use of newer features in some central way. Again, that's part of making a render option viable.

In 2016 in most other software "learning a render engine" means learning to create your own materials in a node based editing environment.

For new users it is great that they can buy shader products from artists and then simply click on a preset.

But for advanced users the current system of buying shaders in order to use "features" of render engines is a dead end from a creative and financial perspective.

What finally needs to happen is an update for the "Shader Mixer"

- > In order not to go to far offtopic here I create a separate thread if anyone is interested to share some thoughts on that:

http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/130626/any-plans-to-update-the-shader-mixer

You can try to attach a jet engine to a car.

This will not mean the car can fly without also adding some kind of wings and adjusting the rest of the design.

 

 

...if the shader mixer worked more like Carrara's Shader tab, I'd use it, but to my eyes it looks like an overturned bowl of spaghetti.

 What are you looking for? Daz hasn't, as I recall, written any 3Delight hadrs since the Default Daz Shader - the application does support most of the newer features, we  lack shaders that use them

 

And yeah, Daz really ought to make or commission a better core shader to make use of newer features in some central way. Again, that's part of making a render option viable.

In 2016 in most other software "learning a render engine" means learning to create your own materials in a node based editing environment.

For new users it is great that they can buy shader products from artists and then simply click on a preset.

But for advanced users the current system of buying shaders in order to use "features" of render engines is a dead end from a creative and financial perspective.

What finally needs to happen is an update for the "Shader Mixer"

- > In order not to go to far offtopic here I create a separate thread if anyone is interested to share some thoughts on that:

http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/130626/any-plans-to-update-the-shader-mixer

You can try to attach a jet engine to a car.

This will not mean the car can fly without also adding some kind of wings and adjusting the rest of the design.

This post was inspired by remarks in another thread. I create a new thread in order not to go to far offtopic there.

update / edit: rephrase some sentences

 What are you looking for? Daz hasn't, as I recall, written any 3Delight hadrs since the Default Daz Shader - the application does support most of the newer features, we  lack shaders that use them

The underlying problem for both 3Delight and Iray in DAZ Studio is that the "Shader Mixer" is  not a user friendly node based editing system. It has not been in the past and it certainly is not anymore in 2016.

Users should be able to create their shaders easily by

- adding nodes

- connecting nodes with pins

- grouping nodes together to meta nodes or group nodes to keep the node layout manageable.

The current system is a maze of 100s of pins that can only be navigated with a lot of patience and even then it is completly unefficient and unfit to create and manage more complex shader setups.

The "lack of shaders" is a direct result of this outdated shader management system that seems to complicated for even very motivated people to keep experimenting with.

 

And yeah, Daz really ought to make or commission a better core shader to make use of newer features in some central way. Again, that's part of making a render option viable.

In 2016 in most other software "learning a render engine" means learning to create your own materials in a node based editing environment.

For new users it is great that they can buy shader products from artists and then simply click on a preset.

But for advanced users the current system of buying shaders in order to use "features" of render engines is a dead end from a creative and financial perspective.

People keep pointing out how much cheaper 3Delight and Iray are than other solutions.

Have you added together how much money you spent for shader products for both Iray and 3Delight?

Depending on how much you spent you could have purchased a full license for another 3rd party render engine that even offers a database with free material and shaders to download...

- - -

Keeping both the 3Delight and Iray node editing system  in an unuseable state and forcing people to buy shader products is from my point of view not an efficent solution.

- - -

Update /Edit:

Offtopic - Please disregard the following remarks. I do not delete them because one user allready replied.

Suggestions:

- if advanced DAZ Studio features can be provided for free then great keep it that way

if not:

- introduce again a paid DAZ Studio Pro version that offers advanced features like node based scene editing

- if necessary make an improved deal with both Nvidia and 3Delight so users can have access to advanced render engine features by paying an upgrade price

- - -