The DazToBlender Bridge 2022 September Update is now available on Daz Central and Daz Install manager!  It has some changes to the UI which may take users familiar with the old version time to get used to.  Here's what's new:

1. Subdivision crashfix for Blender's FBX Importer, allowing to re-enable Subdivision Baking Features
2. Improved Geograft Material
3. Preliminary Geograft Morph support (Genesis 8 Male and Female, Centaur 8)
4. Updated to latest Daz Bridge Library v2.2
5. Updated Help and Welcome text

You will need to install the Blender Plugin using the new integrated Blender Plugin Installer.  Access this from the Advanced Settings box of the new DazToBlender Bridge UI.

How to Install the Blender Plugin

1. The Daz Studio Plugin now comes embedded with an installer for Blender. From the Daz To Blender Bridge Dialog, there is now section in the Advanced Settings section for Installing the Blender Plugin.
2. Select your Blender Version from the drop down menu. If your Blender version is not directly supported by this drop-down or you have a custom plugins folder, then select "Custom Addon Path".
3. Then click the "Install Plugin" button. If you selected a supported version of Blender, you should see a popup dialog box confirming if the Blender plugin was successfully installed for your version of Blender. Be sure to restart Blender after installing the Blender Plugin.

   

4. From Blender, open the Blender Preferences window by selecting Edit -> Preferences from the Blender main menu.

   

5. In the Blender Preferences window, click on the Addons button found along the left side of the window.
6. Scroll down the list of add-ons, and look for "Import-Export: DazToBlender". Check the box next to "Import-Export: DazToBlender" to enable the plugin.

   

7. A DazToBlender tab should now appear on the Blender "Tool-shelf" which are a set of vertical tabs along the right edge of the Blender viewport window.

   

The following steps are for people who wish to use the "Custom Addon Path" installation option.

1. If you chose "Custom Addon Path", you will see a window popup to choose a custom Scripts or Addons folder. The starting folder path will be the location where Blender stores preferences and files for each version of Blender.
2. If you are using an unsupported version of Blender, you should see a subfolder corresponding to your version from the starting folder path. Open that folder and select the scripts folder. Then click "Select Folder".
3. If you have configured a custom Scripts path from the Blender Preferences window, then you may navigate to that folder and click "Select Folder". You will then see a confirmation dialog stating if the plugin installation was successful.

For more information on the updates to the DazToBlender Bridge, please see these resources:

• Download latest updates and bugfixes (Github Releases Page)
• DazToBlender Bridge FAQ (daz3d.com)
• DazToBlender Github Page
• How to Install DazToBlender Bridge (Github Readme)
• How to Use DazToBlender Bridge (Github Readme)

Install and Configure OFFICIAL DazToBlender 2022

OneDrive Backup Compatibility and How to Set Custom Import Path

And here are several tutorials on how to use the new interface:

1. Transfer Figure with Clothing and Hair

2. Transfer Figure with Morphs, use Blender Native Subdivision Surfaces

3. Transfer Animation

4. Transfer and use Auto-JCMs:

How to Transfer Figures with Animation using Daz To Blender 2022:

1. Open Daz Studio
2. Add Figure, Clothing, Hair
3. Add Animation
4. If it is an aniMate or aniBlock based animation, you will need to bake to Daz Studio Timeline
5. Right-Click in any empty-space on the aniMate pane, and select "Bake to Studio Keyframes"
6. Click Yes to confirm, then wait for baking to finish.
7. Select File \ Send To \ Daz To Blender
8. Click the Asset Type drop-down and select "Animation"
9. Click Accept to transfer animation to Blender.
10. Open Blender
11. Click the DazToBlender Tab in the Blender Toolshelf
12. Click "Import New Genesis Figure"

How to Transfer a Daz Figure with Morphs and Use Native Blender Subdivision Surface Support with the Daz To Blender Bridge 2022:

Step by step Instructions

1. Open Daz Studio
2. Add Figure
3. Add Clothing
4. Add Hair
5. Select File \ Send To \ Daz To Blender to open DazToBlender Bridge window
6. Check Export Morphs and click "Choose Morphs"
7. Select the scene object from the left pane, then select morphs from the middle pain and click "Add Morphs" to add them to the Morphs to Export in the right pane.
8. Click Accept to finish Morph Selections.
9. Click Accept to transfer to Blender
10. Open Blender
11. Click the DazToBlender tab in the Blender Toolshelf on the right-edge of the Blender Viewport
12. Click "Import New Genesis Figure"
13. In the Toolshelf, look for the "Morphs List" section.
14. Adjust the ShapeKeys Sliders to increase or decrease morph strength.  This will apply the morph to the figure and all parented clothing and hair.
15. Select the base Daz Figure.
16. Open the Blender Modifiers (Wrench Icon) Tab on the right-panel.
17. Select the Subdivision Modifier.
18. Increase the viewport or render subdivision level to the desired amount.

Thank you all for the tips but I am using the model in Unity and I use an Outfit-System there. If I change the outfit in Unity to something like casual wear then unfortunately the 3d model will have again no feet or hands. I thought that there is maybe an import script or a setting in DAZ3D or something else that I could edit to prevent this... I guess my workaround, for now, is either to use 2 3D models (one with casual wear and one with the armor) or replace gloves and shoes.

How to Transfer a Daz Figure to Blender using the updated DazToBlender Bridge 2022:

Step by Step Instructions:

1. Open Daz Studio
2. Add Figure
3. Add Clothing
4. Add Hair
5. Select File -> Send To -> Daz To Blender
6. Make sure Asset Type is "Skeletal Mesh"
7. Click Accept and wait for export to finish
8. Start Blender 3.2
9. Open the Blender Toolshelf by clicking the small arrow along the right-edge
10. Click the DazToBlender Tab
11. Click "Import New Genesis Figure"

The Daz To Blender Bridge has been updated to version 2022.1.  Here is a video to show you how to install it with the newly released Blender 3.2:

Step-by-step Instructions:

1. Install Daz To Blender Bridge from DazCentral or Daz Install Manager
2. Start Daz Studio
3. Add a character or prop to the scene
4. Select File -> Send To -> Daz To Blender from the main menu
5. Put a check in Advanced Settings in the "Daz To Blender Bridge 2022.1" window
6. Click the "Select Blender Version" dropdown and select "Custom Addon Path"
7. Click "Install Plugin" and the "Select a Blender Scripts folder" window pops up
8. Click "New Folder", name it "3.2" and double-click the "3.2" folder.
9. Click "New Folder", name it "Scripts" and double-click the "scripts" folder.
10. Click "New Folder", name it "Addons" and double-click the "addons" folder.
11. Click "Select Folder"
12. Open Blender 3.2
13. Select Edit -> Preferences... from the main menu
14. Select "Addons" on the left.
15. Type "daz" into the search box
16. Put a check on "Import-Export: DazToBlender" to enable the DazToBlender Bridge.
17. A DazToBlender tab should now appear on the Blender Toolshelf located on the right-edge of the Blender Viewport.

Updated Tutorial videos coming soon...

I have installed the new DAZ to Blender Bridge. I have exported a Genesis 8F figure. All goes well on the DAZ end. It exports ok but there are not any import options in Blender. Any suggestions. I have Blender 3.2. I have also tried on Blender 3.1 and 2.93. It has wiped out all my previous DAZ to Blender import options in the Blender tool. Cheers

This has been driving me insane all day. I'm trying to get characters from Daz3D to Clip Studio modeler by following some tutorials and so far everything has been going ok.
UNTIL, this hair. It's the "Wildmane hair" (I think it came with Daz, not sure).
First image: The hair in Daz3D (Texture shaded to left and NVIDIA Iray to the right), everything looks fine.
Middle image: I import a .obj from daz3D into Blender. The hair now looks kind of smoother but is still OK enough.

Last image: I export as .fbx from blender and upload to mixamo. Then it looks like this and all is clearly messed up.
I have had small issues with loss of quality etc between Daz3d -> Blender -> Mixamo but far from as bad as with this hair.. Anyone got a clue what this might be about?

Richard Haseltine said:

any rigged figure can act as the Source for Transfer Utility

i actually did do a new figure*** between now and the original post, in default pose her upper arms are twisted and forearms raised, which gets them out of the problem area - the first instance i saved it as a subset, which didn't work as it just seemed to decide to refer back to the basic G8F when autofitting, even with source/target set to Current and Reverse Source Shape checked

SO, i saved it as a character preset instead, which does work keeping the hands out of the way, but now none of the autofit templates are available, e.g. knee-length dress, SY's templates etc. - the drop down list just greys out.

a quick look at the scene ID shows that nothing appears to be missing when compared to a vanilla G8F, so not sure what is amiss here.

if this doesn't work i might do another morph, keeping the original bone orientation this time but with teeny little T-Rex sized arms and see if that works better. if i can't bend them out of the way, i'll shrink them out of the way.

*** (pose figure, export, import with morph loader pro, adjust rigging to shape, ERC freeze, save as morph asset, save figure)

Richard Haseltine said:

In principle yes, load it into a 3Dmodelling application with some kind of shrink-wrap or push-constraint tool/function, scale and position it to match the head of an imported Genesis whichever figure (ideally get the neck to match, and if possible the eyes as adjusting those can be fiddly), then use the tool/feature to bring the surfaces of the Genesis head into alignment with the doll head. Export the Genesis mesh and import into Daz Studio as a morph for that figure using Edit>Figure>Morph Loader

In principle yes, load it into a 3Dmodelling application with some kind of shrink-wrap or push-constraint tool/function, scale and position it to match the head of an imported Genesis whichever figure (ideally get the neck to match, and if possible the eyes as adjusting those can be fiddly), then use the tool/feature to bring the surfaces of the Genesis head into alignment with the doll head. Export the Genesis mesh and import into Daz Studio as a morph for that figure using Edit>Figure>Morph Loader

Thanks. The shader code is actually from the mdl handbook, so I assuem it is correct.

The issue is that DS throws an error and does not import the mdl file at all. I assume DS wants additional code in the mdl that is not explained in the mdl handbook. Is there any DS specific documentation available?

To turn a simulation into a morph export as OBJ, then reimport as morph - the ideal path would probably be to clear the simulation and then import with Reverse Deformations on, so that the morph was separate from the pose and could potentially be used with other, similar poses.

Hello AlienRenders,

If you export Genesis 3 Female as FBX and import it into UE5 (your DQS mod) this is how a character's head looks.

Stock UE5 does not have this problem.

I am trying to create a custom shader.

mdl search path etc. is set in DS shader mixer.

But importing the mdl file into shader mixer creates an error in the log file.

Obviously logic and / or syntax in the shader are wrong with respect to DS.

Is there a documentation about how to write custom shaders for DS?

I am trying to understand the rules by reading existing shaders but that takes way to much time by way to much trial and error runs.

My shader trial:

mdl 1.5;

import df::*;
import math::*;
import base::*;
import state::*;
import anno::*;
import daz_3d::property_annotations::*;

material anisotropic_volume(
    color absorption = color(1.0),
    color scattering = color(1.0),
    float directional_bias = 0.0,
    uniform color ior = color(1.0))
= material (
    ior: ior,
    surface: material_surface(
        scattering: df::specular_bsdf(
            tint: color(1.0),
            mode: df::scatter_transmit)),
    volume: material_volume(
        scattering: df::anisotropic_vdf(directional_bias: directional_bias),
        absorption_coefficient: absorption,
        scattering_coefficient: scattering));

Error log (edited for better readability):

[WARNING] MDLC comp warn : C:\...\volume.mdl(10,1): C244 unreferenced local material 'material anisotropic_volume' has been removed
[WARNING] MDLC comp warn : C:\...\volume.mdl(10,1): C244 unreferenced local material 'material anisotropic_volume' has been removed
[WARNING] MDLC comp warn : C:\...\volume.mdl(10,1): C244 unreferenced local material 'material anisotropic_volume' has been removed
[INFO]    MDLC comp info : Loading module "::daz_3d::volume" from "C:\...\shaders\iray\daz_3d\volume.mdl".

DigiDotz said:

Looks good. If only the import to daz worked better    I was all excited too.  I think I'll learn to animate in Cascadeur anyway though and hope things improve. I noticed and "export to daz button" in cascadeur commands menu but it doesnt seem to work either at the moment.

Like I said, the animation works just fine on a G8 in other programs, so I don't know why DS of all programs would have trouble with it. Both of the Avatar animations I've posted in this thread were built with Cascadeur and applied to G8.1s bridged into C4D.

Well, I don't think those files - which look to be parts of the base and anatomical elements - should be in a character set so it may simply be bad references. You could try uninstalling again, then find the product's entry in the Content Library in the Products list, right-click on the container (the "folder"), and delete it, then Connect.Update Metadata and try reinstalling - they may have been bad references since purged. If the issue persists please open a support ticket as I think the product data may need updating.

I have an arena map that works beautifully in Blender, and I want to do the posing features in Daz with it, but when I import it as an obj, the textures disappear and it becomes a single asset, and when I import it as an FBX, part of the map sort of implodes and all the light riggings go away, with a message about the skeleton being broken or something like that.  Is there a safe way to import Blender stuff where that won't happen, or do I have to set up my characters in Daz and export them into Blender?

NylonGirl  wrote:

I think this would be less bad if it were made more clear. DAZ and its affilliates always create an impression everything will be easy. Would it kill them to put something in their description that says, "this only works with Genesis 8 in the default shape"?

Maybe it would kill them.  But it seems to be the truth with some of these dForce outfits.

To be fair, the quality of results with dForce doesn't have that much to do with how much the user has pushed the figure beyond its default proportions--whether that is obese, slender, muscular, buxom, or what have you.  It's much more about whether there is extra/slack fabric or looseness of fit.  dForce usually gives us great results with things like a loose skirt on a seated figure or a tablecloth--Items consisting of unstructured fabric subject to gravity, air resistance, and collision with a leg or tabletop (respectively).  But dForce isn't intended to be an all-purpose fitting morph, and it won't really help with garments like sports bras or socks because the snug fit overrides anything to do with gravity or air.  

As to "this only works with Genesis 8 in the default shape", I think that's a bit harsh.  The Daz user ought to be willing to put the same amount of effort into adjusting the clothes  as they put into adjusting the underlying figure's shape or pose.  (Hence some of my issue with dForce or export/re-import as solutions to clothing fit--You don't usually need a separate simulation stage or export/re-import ordeal to make a character more muscular or pear-shaped, or to pose them.  Shouldn't alterations to clothing fit be achieved by similar methods to alterations to the underlying body?)  Hoping for perfect autofit without poke-through or other fit problems when the sliders have been pushed to extremes is not a realistic expectation.  We should expect to make some manual adjustments.

Yes, dForce has been overhyped to some degree.  It's a great solution for some clothing issues.  Daz isn't alone in emphasizing the benefits of a product while not mentioning limitations.  Some folks don't accept marketingspeak with a grain of salt, as they should.

(Incidentally, I can't be the only one who feels that the term "dForce" doesn't need to be included in product titles anymore.  It certainly doesn't need to be the the first word in the product name.  It's not an automatic attraction or deterrent to me as a buyer.  I can look for it in the product description just like any other feature.) 

mikael.kangas said:

For me if i import a charater into blender 2.97 for example i get the rigify rig and expressions and shapekeys. If i then save the file and open it in blender 3.1 the control rig and shapekeys are intact but it will no longer show the expressions pannel.

If i import a character straight into blender 3.1 i get shapekeys and expressions but not the rigify rig functions. 

if i import the character into 3.1 to get all the shapekeys and expressions  and then try to pair it with the rigify rig from 2.97 the facial expressions disappears again. 

I assume due to some update on blenders end to rigify but i cant figure out how to get around it. 

There are many differences between Blender 2.9x and 3.x. Just try not use any 2.9's project in 3.x.