The store search has always been lacking.  Perhaps now that we are less housebound, Daz will finally be motivated to improve the website.

I most certainly tried 'Esc'. Probably less than 1000 times, but I suspect the key is close to worn out. No noticable effect, but I will try again.

OK, I have tried again with the saved file & still no noticable effect. Works with every other software package I have.

I have tried to upload an image of the screen, Forum software playing silly beggars again. Time to go to bed for work tomorrow morning. Today has been so amazingly unproductive, have rarely managed that in the last few years, oh what a joyous way to spend the last day of leave.

Regards,

Richard.

Not really sure what is going on.

I tried a couple of dForce hair.

One autofitted fine, and it simulated, but has low settings so not really good to evaluate.

One mistfitted with the hair in front of the face, but dimulated fine.

The last autofitted fine and simulated fine too (imagine image attached, if forum worked...)

I doubt the level of specificity you want would be possible, but comments by Daz people do suggest that the search results/categorisations are being worked on.

Mule morphs please.  AND

can we get a. Variety of packages being carried.  The current Hose 2 mule and pack is a PA item and the packs are suitcases (!?).  

How about mining mule packs.  TNT boxes. Western gold mining camps and horse poses / mule trains. How about dual side baskets to put produce or whatever in.  Nothing in the store currently I can find.  Examples go to google and search "pack mule" for image references, there are a ton of variety - AND a few traditional packs like  bags, boxes, baskets.

how about horse group pose packs.  Running , grasings in fields, etc.  doing a Horse 2 group shot traditional western horse running in the desert is painfully difficult or just not available.

Please do NOT release a "Mount of the Abyss" product for Horse 3.  That thing gives me the creeps and freaks me out every time I see it in the store. LOL

horse 3 western saddle with addons like a bed roll and equipment props etc saddle bags anybody?  Horse 2 English saddle has a bed roll, but not the western. 

Potential is always there, but it's Daz and there are a limited number of PA's that work on animal/horse stuff and there is history in the store of based on the currently available "horse" products available I remain skeptical but trying to keep an open mind until there are actual store products in the store for examination.

I wonder if someone could help me with learning Blender.

I have 16 years experience with SolidWorks, and have my own old copy on an equally old machine. It means I am familiar with one way of modelling 3D items. SolidWorks is great for what it was designed for - precision engineering design of solid items. However, there are limits, and organic/imperfect models are really beyond its scope, and getting stuff into DS from SolidWorks is deeply frustrating, as there are no compatible formats between the version I have and DS, so I have to export via STL, put through a STL->Obj translator I wrote, de-triangulate and create surfaces & groups in a modeller I wrote, apply texture mapping in either my modeller or UV Mapper Classic before importing to DS and starting all the rigging stuff. Basically, I have reached the point where I'd like to try some of the things that are closer to what Blender can do, and also get the models without the additional faff of getting to a compatible format, texture mapping & the like.

So, "What's the problem?" I hear you ask.

Well, it's hard to explain. 

I have looked at a large number of Blender 'Beginner's Video Tutorials' on YouTube and have learnt close to nothing from them for a number of reasons that I will try to enumerate below:

1. I think I must be going slightly deaf, in particular I'm going high tone deaf. As a result I can't really understand what people say on videos while off camera, especially when they talk fast and with an accent with which I am unfamiliar. Increasing the volume makes the clarity of the speech worse, not better for me and succeeds effortlessly in irritating the rest of my household.
2. I have the video on a tablet and am trying to work on the 22" screen of my pc - it's not big enough to sacrifice with the video tutorial because then I wouldn't see either, as opposed to just the low res video. The resolution of YouBend videos is so flipping small that you can't read the text of the menu items they're clicking on even when full screen on the monitor (pixelation kills it), and when the narrator is pressing keyboard shortcuts, you can't even see what part of the screen something is when being pressed. And if you can't understand what they're saying, you have no chance. I spent 5 minutes trying to figure out what the narrator meant when they'd said 'Preh specks', untill eventually I realised it was 'Press X'. Clarity of speech helps, so does clarity of hearing - but I don't have that.
3. There was one series of tutorials on making a doughnut (yes, that is the correct way to spell it in this part of the world), where the narrator spent one 20 minute tutorial explaining how to click with a mouse, exhorting you to get a mouse, reminding you that you needed a mouse and mentioned in passing one or to ways to navigate in 3d in Blender, oh, and by the way, you need to get a mouse instead of a trackpad. Then in tutorial 2 (21 minutes about how to make said doughnut look less like a torus), took over a minute to complain why the doughnut shape primitive in Blender was called a 'torus' and 8 seconds to wizz so fast through the actions to make the torus bumpy that the video pixelated and you couldn't see what the heck he was doing. Even on the twentieth run through. It was a recording data rate issue, not a fully buffered playback issue.
4. When needing to go over something time & time again, scrolling back through an index free video to find those vital 8 seconds in a 21 minute video is a perfect shortcut to hating life & everyone currently suffering with the affliction.
5. The narrator often waffles about nothing much in particular wasting time that could be usefully filled. You'd almost believe they get paid for the amount of time the video is playing for.
6. The layout of Blender seems to be thought out by.. someone unfamiliar with any other professional computer program ever created. There are conventions used in other programs designed to reduce learning time & make things rather more intuitive to pick up. Things like 'have a menu command for every action', 'have a single menu command for every action', 'start at the left of the menus, work down each menu as you go and progress to the right as you get closer to task completion'. There are obviously variations in this to suit the needs of the program, but it's not hard to do, really only takes a few moments of thought (been there, done that). When I programmed my own modeller, I wrote it so you'd start with points to create lines, which made patches. The patches were then meshed, and materials applied to the facets. Grouping was the next stage and finally tex mapping. Simple, logical flow through the program, left to right on the menus and top to bottom within each menu. This is largely the case with SolidWorks and 3D AutoCAD. And then, in contrast, we have Blender. Hmm.  Hmmmmm. HMMMM.  Intuition and basics from other programs can't really cope with an interface like that.

 So, here is the nub of my plea for help:

Does anyone know of some PDF tutorials that hold the hand of a total Blender beginner get to the point where they can model something useful (even if very basic)? 

PDF tutorials totally eradicate the problems of no index (at least, in an un-indexed pdf, there is a search facility provided by the pdf reader...), not being able to hear and not being able to stop & go back easily. It also does away with the problems of resolution & display size manifested by video tutorials. The final benefit is that you are far less likely to miss a needed nugget of information encapsulated in waffle about the naming of a doughnut because the writer of the PDF will have thought about what they are writing as opposed to flying after an unscripted and vague thought.

That way, having followed a written tutorial and with the simplest of basic basics under my belt, I hope I'll be able to know enough to experiment. At the moment my life is being wrecked by knowing so little that having started a command (like Loop Cut) I can't stop the wretched thing without starting another command (like extrude region) which I can't then stop either. It's even persistent through a save, exit & open saved file, or going to Object mode & returning to Edit mode. It's UTTERLY INFURIATING, and it's one of those simple things ignored by the [self-titled] Blender guru's. I'm sure there is a simple solution, but where in several months worth of un-indexed videos on UBend could I find it? 

I do hope someone knows of such a resource & is willing to share,

Regards,

Richard

PPehrson said:

Taoz said:

Here's an offline database (Windows) for all your DAZ products with DS Product Library integration (locate any installed DAZ product with a couple of clicks).  DS Library integration requires DS 4.12.1.117 or later and that your products are installed with DIM, currently no Connect support (may possibly come later).  Free up to 250 products.

http://taosoft.dk/software/pm-daz/

A couple of demo videos:

(this is from the current build, with improved search (AND plus EXCLUDE), not released yet)
https://www.screencast.com/t/kQ4u0UF4ohD
(current public release, showing DS integration)
https://www.screencast.com/t/ofZEsVpkwyN

Nice tool. It has flaws, though:

- Importing product data from DIM export csvs result in a .NET exception, no matter how you choose to export (Windows 11 22H2).

It doesn't import DIM CSVs, but the manifest files generated by DIM when installing your products (those in DIM's ManifestFiles folder).  And you only have to import them if you want to store them in the database also, otherwise you just set the path to the ManifestFiles folder once, and that's it. 

As for the rest, yes it has its limitations, but it does the job for me which mainly is collecting data, so take it or leave it.  But after my experiences with the DAZ and the Renderosity product managers I think I'm done with writing software that depends on other people's websites or software.  It's a nightmare of constant updating (in 8 years now) when they do something that breaks the programs, perhaps unrecoverably.  Not to mention the staggering lack of data consistency in the 3D content world which can drive you nuts sometimes. 

So I'm seriously considering stopping selling the DAZ and Renderosity product managers, and then refund or compensate those who already have purchased them in some way. 

Instead I'm considering writing a general content database which can import data from the other programs and other sources, as well as manually.  Mostly because I need one myself, to have all my stuff in one database (I agree that's how it should be).  I practically never use free content anyway and the small amount of content I have from other sites than DAZ and Rendo isn't a big deal to import manually.  But no collection of data from websites, too much of a hassle with getting that to work and maintain it (which is probably why the other programs you mention are no longer being updated).

no idea if this is the right place to ask but.. (yeah i also did on rendo's forum, duh)

has anyone ever done daz materials for coflek gnorg's 2049 tree hat ? even non iray mats would be cool.. this is less of an issue to transform into iray..

because the original is mc6 - yeah i can kinda make a pz2, i have a tuto somewhere, i've done it (and it's a pita) - but i'm gonna lose info on the way. and just putting the "right" maps in the DS surface panel is doable, i tried but the results are horrible, there are maps that i see but dunno where to use, it doesn't seem to change anything somehow - and when i render it's crap.

so instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, maybe someone has already done it?

Taoz said:

Here's an offline database (Windows) for all your DAZ products with DS Product Library integration (locate any installed DAZ product with a couple of clicks).  DS Library integration requires DS 4.12.1.117 or later and that your products are installed with DIM, currently no Connect support (may possibly come later).  Free up to 250 products.

http://taosoft.dk/software/pm-daz/

A couple of demo videos:

(this is from the current build, with improved search (AND plus EXCLUDE), not released yet)
https://www.screencast.com/t/kQ4u0UF4ohD
(current public release, showing DS integration)
https://www.screencast.com/t/ofZEsVpkwyN

Nice tool. It has flaws, though:

- Importing product data from DIM export csvs result in a .NET exception, no matter how you choose to export (Windows 11 22H2).
- Deadlocked on DAZ content, useless with other providers. Let's face it, Renderosity and other sites have almost as much content as DAZ do. Not supporting those makes your tool a waste of time.
- VERY manual tool. It should have a wizard to get setup for basic functionality (content management, getting local install packages etc.).
- NEVER write a tool that only expects people to be in possession of purchased items only. 90% of people have so-called "non-purchased items" and they purchase it if they use it commercially.
- Your product downloader is EXTREMELY slow compared to other tools that exist but aren't updated (specifically the tool called DAZ Content Manager which could do this:

https://attachments.f95zone.to/2019/11/476783_dcm-asset-gallery.png

Notice it supports all product vendors, not just DAZ. It also scrapes all information about products, SKU etc, and it has an extra feature to find downloads on known sites as well (which is not something I'd ask for).

The primary problem with your tool is that it's a compiled utility, not easy to update, you cannot get help from others, scrapers will fail often, and it's just generally slow. The tool named DAZ Content Manager was written in Java and it is easily five times faster than yours. Also, it's a web application.

Hello, I was wondering if I subscribe to the extension, will it allow me to sort by only 'all owned items' from Daz's main page, using my iPhone?  Ultimately I'd like to be able to see only my owned items while using my iPhones Firefox or Chrome browser.  Sorry I'm unable to upload an image to the forum.  Thanks in advance 

...I tried that and the odd thing is when I make the changes they show up in OpenGL Shaded mode, but when I switch to Iray View mode or run a render process, the materials revert back to the default shaders.  I've never seen anything like this happen before and have no idea what is causing this. it's as if there is a geoshell or something involved.

Apparently the forum software is being a yutz again and not allowing attachments.  I'll try to post the samples later. 

.

Instead of indexOf() I now use search() which works. For lastIndexOf() I seem to need a workaround.

Hansmar - yes, the forum gets wonky. I started uploading the pictures first, and when it worked, add the text. Looking forward to see your three new artworks.

NGartplay - could have been an entry for the challenge.

AOBB said:

Alligators?!!! Brrr...

I wonder how much does a night at such an upscale B&B cost in Georgia... It's funny how people used to sleep. I've been to Rembrandt's house in Amsterdam. The bed there was totally enclosed with a door and if I remember correctly, they slept with their backs upright (sitting) although I'm not sure of that bit. I'd have to find the photo I've taken of that bed.

Wow, that's awesome. Is that the 1600s? It would be very interesting to see an authentic replica of his living quarters and art supplies. 

You can camp out on the north side of Jekyll Island relatively cheap compared to today's hotel prices, at a primitive site, which is what I use, $36 a night and the RV sites are $51 a night. I know that there is camping at Fort Clinch, Fl on the north end of Amelia Island, Florida too. That is a old civil war fort that has some of the workers walking around in civil war clothing. The St Mary's River is on the north end of Amelia Island and then in Georgia on the other side is Cumberland Island. One must take a ferry in Georgia to get to Cumberland Island. There are wild horses on Cumberland Island.

I would guess, and it's just a guess, the average historic B&B in Georgia wouldn't cost more than $250 a night. I may be completely out of touch with reality though since all that covid money was put into circulation. I just checked for you. The place my mom worked as a waitress, The Jekyll Island Club Resort, is now $229 a night. Long ago, when she worked there as a waitress, it was much cheaper but I think then it was then a 'rich person's club only' and now they have shifted the whole island to be more of a family resort. All those other hotels on the link to the Jekyll Island map show weren't even there, except Holiday Inn, but I'm not sure on the rest though, certainly not all of them. Sea Island/St Simon's Island has an old Cloister if you like visiting religious places. I remember me & my friends visited a monastery once on the southwest coast of Norway north of Stavanger and a monk started following us around the monastery. It kind of spooked us so we left as we were afraid of being arrested. I guess we weren't actually allowed up in that bell tower and the other places we were wondering around aimlessly in. Next time, we'll know nynorsk so we don't cause unwarranted trouble again. We didn't see any signs though I swear.   That monastery herded sheep for their wool but I don't know if they used the wool to make their robes or what, except they had many sheep fenced in by dry laid limestone fences.

jekyll island georgia hotels - Search (bing.com)

Believe it or not I found a very old Bulova gold watch in the buried in the sand (I was digging lightly looking for sand dollars) of the St. Mary's River where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean when we camped at Fort Clinch. It's an adventure, but a laid back sort of adventure. The watch was a gift to a man as a retirement present after 25 years working as a baker for a company. However, how to figure out where the guy was from I couldn't do as the watch had been lost a very long time. It also still worked when I wound it up! Later, when I was grown up, that watch long gone (stolen), I wanted to buy a nice gold watch to look professional and remembering that found one's quality, wanted a Bulova once again, but forget it, price was out of my league! Instead, I bought a gold Tissot watch with a leather wrist band, much cheaper (well not anymore - surprise! ), but more than a Timex.

Ahhh I understand, but at least I'm glad to know that it is working because I never sent any message in my past, I'm pretty new in this forum

I very hope that mcasual will answer me soon but I can wait. :D

Happy new year 2023

I created a couple of abstracts. Pure Bryce, with a reflecting plane and either cones or cubes inside a Nurbs cube. The first two are the same scene, but perspective and 360 degrees panorama views. Here I used the Glowing Techno Script texture on the Nurbs cube. There is a fill light with a blue to red gradient light and there are two negative lights. The third one is based on the same scene, but the cones are made into cubes, the texture of the Nurbs cube is changed (a buildings texture) and the fill light is now a yellow to purple gradient.

Now I just have to try over and over again, until the forum wants to upload the picture....

I can only agree with Yello Pen one hundred percent. I learned a lot from the tutorials I went through. Thanks a lot Drachenlords. It's a shame that the German forum had to be closed (although I can't shake the feeling that I was somehow part of the problem too) Apologies for that.)

The search feature for finding products is outdated, it reminds me of how things were back in 2005. Genesis 9 isn't even split into male and female characters, so it's going to take twice as long to find characters.  I'm hoping maybe a third party website could organize DAZ products better, and we could just use that website instead.

I'm trying to use some of the clothing for Daz I found on the Wilmap Digital Creations Site and other sites but when I try to load an item I get this error message:

The files listed below could not be found:
/data/Pusey Designs/G2M TShirt & Shorts/G2M Shorts/ShortsUV_7955.dsf
/data/Pusey Designs/G2M TShirt & Shorts/G2M Shorts/UV Sets/Pusey Designs/Base/default.dsf

So the first thing I did was to compare the path where I saved the Wilmap files to the path of another item that does load properly, some Cargo Shorts I purchased from the Daz store. Both this item and the Wilmap item are in this path:

My DAZ 3D Library/People/Genesis 2 Male/Clothing

Next, I wanted to compare the .duf files of each item to see if I could spot a difference in how it was calling for the default.dsf file. This is the line from the Daz Cargo Shorts:

"uv_set" : "/data/umblefugly/CargoShorts/CargoShorts/UV%20Sets/umblefugly/Base/default.dsf#default"

And this is from the Wilmap shorts .duf file:

"uv_set" : "/data/Pusey%20Designs/G2M%20TShirt%20%26%20Shorts/G2M%20Shorts/UV%20Sets/Pusey%20Designs/Base/default.dsf#default"

I don't see a major difference between the two so I'm stumped as to why the Wilmap and other clothes will not load, but the Daz clothes load fine. I thought I'd come here to see if anyone has a suggestion since a Google search turned up nothing. Thanks!

PS: In case anyone is wondering, yes I know these are for Genesis 2 figures but for a particular project I'm working on I need to use G2.