@ps2000

If you want to import poses and animations from daz studio then go for the simple ik rig because it's the only one with jcms working fine. This will work 100% fine.

If you want to export poses and animation to daz studio there's no rig working fine atm. The best is the simple ik rig but it has jittering on the feet.

If you want to animate in blender then go for the simple ik rig because it's the only one with jcms working fine. This will also work 100% fine.

Then what mhx/rigify are for ? They're good to animate in blender but the jcms will not work fine. That means you will have to fix some deformations using the tweak bones. You may also not import jcms at all and use only the tweak bones to fix the deformations.

acatmaster said:

benniewoodell said:

Pickle Renderer said:

We solved the issue.  Firstly, I used Simple Rig because it keeps the bone names the same.  Save the animation after baking the keys.  Next, before import of the animation, select the figure and unlock all the properties on the figure.  This is needed if there are bone translations in the anim.  After doing that the animation looks almost the same in Blender and Daz (actually the same).

Nice! Did you just unlock the rotation, location, and scale in the object properties of the character as a whole, or did you go to every bone and have to unlock each individual bone property individually? 

https://bitbucket.org/Diffeomorphic/import_daz/issues/1138/problems-with-save-pose-preset

So there is still a problem with the feet not zeroed to the floor in DAZ?

It's hard to extract a proper workflow from the thread because the informations are all over the place.

Could somebody please detail their working workflow to get the animation back properly into DAZ?

Some samples touchin on this area http://docs.daz3d.com/doku.php/public/software/dazstudio/4/referenceguide/scripting/api_reference/samples/metadata/asset_categories/start

hansolocambo said:

Richard Haseltine said:

Morphs can do only so much [...]

You're right. This makes me think that I actually forgot to mention : when using Zbrush rather than Blender, morph loader pro ain't needed as there's no more export/import of obj, all goes through GoZ. Which is really cool as it speeds up a lot the workflow. When you import back to Daz the modified geometry, you can create a morph sure, but you can also : update the existing geometry. And that's great.

If a bracelet for example is on the left, too small and too low on the arm. One can edit that in ZBrush, move it to the right, scale it up or move it up the arm, then GoZ it back to Daz ticking the "update existing geometry" option. And now you have a new bracelet with a base default geometry updated.

Still don't know how to do that with Blender that fast (morph loader pro does not give that great option to update geometry as far as I know). It's feasible but necessitates a lot of extra 

I find I can do most of what I want with morphs. I convert a lot of items from one figure to another which is similar to this issue as they basically want to reposition it. I'd use a morph. If they have zbrush it would be very easy to do as it would be a few tweaks with the scale to and the move brush. 

My Multires modifier is on 2 and I am unable to increase it to 3.  

In the past when i imported via diffeo, this setting was at 3.  (Its level 3 SubD in the Duf file used to import via Diffeomorphic).

Edit: Nevermind, i have revisited the multires modifier a few minutes later and now it says 3 instead of 2.  So maybe just really delayed response or something.

Richard Haseltine said:

Morphs can do only so much, the big limitation here, I would suspect, is that they cannot edit the weight maps and I suspect that would be needed.

hansolocambo said:

Assets that come with sliders to change position, shape, scale, etc. are assets with extra custom morphs made by the content creator. Sure is a shame not spending a few extra hours creating some of those before selling a product.

What you can do, for any asset that you want to modify is :

- Load a G8, Base resolution, default position. Load the asset you want to modify.

- Export the Genesis as obj.

- Export the asset, base resolution, as obj.

- Import all that in Blender. And now you can freely move, rotate, resize, reshape, etc. do anything to the asset as long as you DON'T of course modify its geometry (vertices order) in any way.

- When your modifications are done, export the asset as obj.

- Import it back in Daz with Morph Loader Pro. And create your own custom morph for that asset. That you can save to re-use on any scene, or that you can use for the current scene only.

Using Shape Keys in Blender (or layers in Zbrush, similar workflow) you can even create multiple morphs for a single asset (moving a bracelet from left to right, changing the default position of hairs for better dForce simulation, shortening clothes, etc. etc.). And with morph loader pro create your own sliders.

 

It takes a while to get used to that workflow. But it's ultra necessary to take some time to master it as it widdens considerable the range of things one can do with Daz. And this way at least, you're not limited by what the content creator had the courage to implement in his bundle ;)

the asset does come with morphs (im guessing that's what the shaping parameters are?) to change hair density, direction, length, etc, but just none to change the actual base positioning.

so what is it that actually determines an asset's base position on fit-to? is it "weight maps"? if i understood this, i think i would be better able to potentially modify the positioning itself. right now what hansolocambo is proposing looks a little daunting, i'm still pretty new to 3D. very appreciative of the write-up and the help so far though, i would definitely like to try and learn.

i'm honestly a little surprised one has to go way off-grid and under the hood to be able to just change something as simple as an asset's position. seems like something that should be either built-in or available as a third party tool or addon for Daz.

thanks a lot so far! if anyone else has a solution or idea, i'm learning as i go. some of the language might need to be broken down to newbie level though, most of these terms i've never even heard of haha.

Richard Haseltine said:

Morphs can do only so much [...]

You're right. This makes me think that I actually forgot to mention : when using Zbrush rather than Blender, morph loader pro ain't needed as there's no more export/import of obj, all goes through GoZ. Which is really cool as it speeds up a lot the workflow. When you import back to Daz the modified geometry, you can create a morph sure, but you can also : update the existing geometry. And that's great.

If a bracelet for example is on the left, too small and too low on the arm. One can edit that in ZBrush, move it to the right, scale it up or move it up the arm, then GoZ it back to Daz ticking the "update existing geometry" option. And now you have a new bracelet with a base default geometry updated.

Still don't know how to do that with Blender that fast (morph loader pro does not give that great option to update geometry as far as I know). It's feasible but necessitates a lot of extra steps.

GoZ for ZBrush <-> Daz is damn useful.

But sure, all that needs a bit of research into the "behind the scenes" of Daz. Without a third party app it's a bit hard to fix items in Daz. Mesh Grabber indeed with a big ass brush would help.

bevdog896_d08d9c913a said:

Richard Haseltine said:

You will lose any metadata until you reimport, and any custom metadata unless you open Content DB Maintenenance on the old machine (the Content Library option menu) and select Export user data before copying the folders from the old machine. Groups, such as the New flag, will be lost unless you copy the whole database across.

Dime stoes the list of installed files in - by default - the manifests folder in its Public Documents folder. Those do record the exact location of the files, so unless you are using exactly the same location on both machines it will not be able to uninstall the old files if you need to (unless you use a text editor to edit them)

Hey thanks for the info. 

Out of interest, what would be the downside of losing metadata? 

You'd lose files showing in Smart Content, Presets tabs of property panes, Categories and Products in the content Library pane, at least some functionaility in AutoFit, and probably other things that I am not recalling right now.

Also I do plan on copying over the manifest folder from my old machine to the new one (to the same location etc). Will things work as intended if I do that properly? 

The question is whether the content iss till in the same place on the old machine as it was on the old. It would be if you used the default location in the public Documents folder, but might not be for a custom location.

Cheers :) 

Should work. Except as I mentioned, unless you have a special link to put 2 computers together, you will need a storage device for the go between.

I don't use the metadata, don't use Smart Content. So for those you may need to ask the new D/S to reimport the metadata [and go enjoy a cup of coffee or something while it does that].

merging an file into a scene .. about 5 seconds to error and then: Check the error log for details.*
------
2022-09-04 11:40:42.376 [INFO] :: Prepare asset load (merge): /00 bldgs 2022/02 2021 rwHouse2020.duf

2022-09-04 11:40:42.396 [INFO] :: Locking viewport redraw...

2022-09-04 11:40:42.396 [INFO] :: Viewport redraw locked.

2022-09-04 11:40:43.444 [INFO] :: Native format content directories: 121

2022-09-04 11:40:43.445 [INFO] :: Poser format content directories: 96

2022-09-04 11:40:43.445 [INFO] :: Other import format content directories: 0

2022-09-04 11:40:43.445 [INFO] :: Begin asset load (merge): /00 bldgs 2022/02 2021 rwHouse2020.duf

2022-09-04 11:40:45.016 [INFO] :: JSON interpreter warning: Unexpected number in array: 83

2022-09-04 11:40:45.034 [INFO] :: E:/00 buildings/00 bldgs 2022/02 2021 rwHouse2020.duf (554536,6): Syntax Error - expected '}' or '"'

2022-09-04 11:40:45.124 [INFO] :: Error loading asset: E:/00 buildings/00 bldgs 2022/02 2021 rwHouse2020.duf

2022-09-04 11:40:45.124 [INFO] :: Operation failed

2022-09-04 11:40:46.712 [INFO] :: Unlocking viewport redraw...

2022-09-04 11:40:46.712 [INFO] :: Viewport redraw unlocked.
-----
022/02 2021 rwHouse2020.duf (554536,6): Syntax Error - expected '}' or '"' IS the (554536,6) an idication of where the error is?
---
I can edit the duf file in NotePad ++  and if I knew where to look I might beable to find the missing bracket?
---
* I successfully loaded an earlier version of the file from the same folder ... so I'm pretty sure it's an internal error in the duf  rather than a file path error etc. 

Assets that come with sliders to change position, shape, scale, etc. are assets with extra custom morphs made by the content creator. Sure is a shame not spending a few extra hours creating some of those before selling a product.

What you can do, for any asset that you want to modify is :

- Load a G8, Base resolution, default position. Load the asset you want to modify.

- Export the Genesis as obj.

- Export the asset, base resolution, as obj.

- Import all that in Blender. And now you can freely move, rotate, resize, reshape, etc. do anything to the asset as long as you DON'T of course modify its geometry (vertices order) in any way.

- When your modifications are done, export the asset as obj.

- Import it back in Daz with Morph Loader Pro. And create your own custom morph for that asset. That you can save to re-use on any scene, or that you can use for the current scene only.

Using Shape Keys in Blender (or layers in Zbrush, similar workflow) you can even create multiple morphs for a single asset (moving a bracelet from left to right, changing the default position of hairs for better dForce simulation, shortening clothes, etc. etc.). And with morph loader pro create your own sliders.

It takes a while to get used to that workflow. But it's ultra necessary to take some time to master it as it widdens considerable the range of things one can do with Daz. And this way at least, you're not limited by what the content creator had the courage to implement in his bundle ;)

Iray decals are cool, although very limited. I prefer to generate a geoshell (of default G8 basemesh), export it as obj. Then delete all the unnecessary geometry (keeping only the forehead if I want a bruise there for example). Then I import back that and autofit it like you'd do with a cloth.

Now you have a geometry that follows the G8 morphs and movements. But you can apply any shader on it. Iray decals are limited (no Normal Map, no emissive, no displacement map, etc). With this method you have less geometry to manage (a geoshell fully copies G8 even for a tiny gruise on the head) and way more control over the shader's effects.

I don't know Iray wound by KindredArts (might be excellent too), but Wound Makeup Artist for Genesis 8 by SimonWM is definitely super well made. I learned a lot using it ahile back. 3D Universe did some Iray decals in a toon bundle if I remember well. With a script to move the Iray up/down/left/right. That's really cool too, but definitely out of my (understanding) league :/

Richard Haseltine said:

You will lose any metadata until you reimport, and any custom metadata unless you open Content DB Maintenenance on the old machine (the Content Library option menu) and select Export user data before copying the folders from the old machine. Groups, such as the New flag, will be lost unless you copy the whole database across.

Dime stoes the list of installed files in - by default - the manifests folder in its Public Documents folder. Those do record the exact location of the files, so unless you are using exactly the same location on both machines it will not be able to uninstall the old files if you need to (unless you use a text editor to edit them)

Hey thanks for the info. 

Out of interest, what would be the downside of losing metadata? 

Also I do plan on copying over the manifest folder from my old machine to the new one (to the same location etc). Will things work as intended if I do that properly? 

Cheers :) 

I don't understand what's going on.

I tried the solution from this thread. Not working. Well it worked before, but now, it's not.

https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/322096/clothes-disappear-in-dforce-simulation

Select the object with dforce applied

Go to Edit-Object-geometry-select dforce starting collision verticies

Select your geometry editor tool and right click the select selection type and vertex

this will then display the collided verticies.

Go back to your 3D editor and find thoes verticies

pull them around and you will find hidden faces or edges

delete the extra geometry or work it in just not collided and re save or export your item

import the new item into DAZ and it should work.

This is the dress which I have retopologized manually.

https://prnt.sc/FhFH_SNK0lCn

@SofaCitizen, When I visited Polyhaven, I tried to download some of the content there without success.

Then, I had to whitelist the page in the adblocker extension in chrome, (the same can be done with Microsoft Edge)

I use a download manager, I had to deactivate and reactivate again.

now for the HDRI files is working and I had deactivated before the download manager in order to download the zip files.

The free props, depending on what you need, must be extracted from the Zip file to a new folder.

Then, if you have Blender installed open the blender file, from there export the file as obj extension (not the experimental chose the other) to any desired folder.

When you open Daz Studio import the obj file you have exported from Blender.

I am awaiting response about the HDRI files how to use it in another thread.

Hello, regarding to the HDRI files that end with an exr Extension from Polyhaven, how do I apply to the Daz renders to be made?

I have tried to import to Daz Studio but I can't find a way to do that.

or do have to process it after the render is done in another program like GIMP?

Your invaluable advice is needed, thanks in advance for your help.

There is another possible reason related to UE5 automatically generating lightmap UVs during FBX importing process.

"The generated lightmap UV repacks the islands so that they meet the requirements of a good lightmap with no errors: no overlapping or wrapping islands, and enough padding between islands to limit artifacts based on the targeted lightmap resolution", and "The algorithm repacks the UV charts from the specified source lightmap index but does not cut or split them in the process". Thus it needs to "get a good result by splitting the UV charts before import into UE4".
https://docs.unrealengine.com/5.0/en-US/understanding-lightmapping-in-unreal-engine/

If the static mesh has ovelapped UV islands / UV charts such as multiple material slots that have their UVs ovelapped, it can freeze the engine during importing FBX or opening the UAssets. I had this issue when loading the Open World Demo from Unreal, the engine freezed when generating lightmap UVs of the trees.

There's an option to uncheck Generate Lightmap UVs in the FBX Import Options.

Yes unfortunately, it does look like the models are all Blender format, but the textures and HDRi are not. Also Blender is free, and it is possible to open the file in Blender and then export it as an obj to import into Daz. And that 4k just means the image size for the textures or HDRi, which go up to 24k.

I think they want to be able to save and they're using export and import to do so. 

You will lose any metadata until you reimport, and any custom metadata unless you open Content DB Maintenenance on the old machine (the Content Library option menu) and select Export user data before copying the folders from the old machine. Groups, such as the New flag, will be lost unless you copy the whole database across.

Dime stoes the list of installed files in - by default - the manifests folder in its Public Documents folder. Those do record the exact location of the files, so unless you are using exactly the same location on both machines it will not be able to uninstall the old files if you need to (unless you use a text editor to edit them)