Another way of looking at the evolution of DAZ figures is like this.

Generations 1 to 4 are stand-alone figures comprised of unique meshes, bones, and maps. The popularity of generation 4 (eg. Victoria 4.2 & Michael 4) largely continues due to their compatibility with Poser.

Generation 5 is known as Genesis. These figures move from stand alone meshes to the use of morphs for unique character creation. This is also why Genesis characters are nomenclatured "5" (eg. Victoria 5, Michael 5, Aiko 5, etc). While a viable and inovative concept, Genesis revealed compatibility issues between male and female geometry when creating clothing and wearable items. Genesis is the only androgynous (neither male nor female) generation.

Generation 6 is known as Genesis 2. That is to say, it is the 6th generation of models and the 2nd generation of the Genesis concept. The characters are so named for the overall generation "6" (eg. Olympia 6, Lee 6, etc.). Genesis 2 also noted a return to seperate meshes for male and female geometry, yet they continue the Genesis concept where characters are morphed from the base mesh.

Generation 7 is known as Genesis 3 and continues the nomenclature to the next step; 7th generation overall, and 3rd generation Genesis. Characters are noted by "7". What was also noted was the increasing confusion about which assets were intended for which generation of meshes.

By this point, the nomenclatures became confusing enough. 4 is 4, 5 is 1, 6 is 2, and 7 is 3. DAZ responded by keeping with the overall generation rather than adding another step to the Genesis evolution. This also solved the potential confusion with "Genesis 4" (current models) being mistook for Generation 4 (Victoria 4, Michael 4). So, the newest generation was nomenclated for the overall generation "8". This makes character allignment simpler as well. All models and characters of the 8th generation are named as "8".

The FigureName Number figures up to 4 are in Poser format, the Victoria and Michael are stand-alone figure and for older gernations so are the others with the same number; the 4 series are all add-ons for Victoria 4 or Michael 4. Victoria 4.2 is the last update, in general anything for Victoria 4.x will work on 4.2.

The Genesis (unnumbered but effctively 1) figure and its successors are Daz Studio native figures. Victoria 5/Michael 5 and co. are add-ons for Genesis, Victoria 6/Michael 6 and co. are add-ons for Genesis 2 Female/Male, whatever 7 for Genesis 3, and then the latest generation has jumped the Genesis number to 8 so it matches the named figures (Victoria 8 and Michael 8 etc.).

There is a certain amount of backwrad compatibility - the Genesis figures, for example, come with clones for the previous generation that can convert clothing (the 8s include clones for all previous Genesises) and textures often carry over at least one generation - but each geenration is new mesh and rigging.

I'm fairly new into DAZ, and trying to orient myself in what fits what, and what is compatible with each other.

So far i'm seeing that starters start out with Genesis Starter figures, but what exactly is a Genesis figure?

Browsing the shop i can see several Characters/People like Victoria 8, Ophelia 8 etc, but also other characters like Victoria 4.2

However, some bundles like the Trefoil Eavan states it's for the Victoria 4.2 Base Figure, and not Genesis

This is incredibly confusing, since i thought Genesis was the figure, and Victoria the character? Where is the baseline? Is there any guides on this? 

Could i fit the Trefoil Eavan to Victoria 8, since Genesis 8 is backwards compatible?

Exactly how many Figures have been released? From oldest to newest?

Looking around Youtube for guides and the forum in general, it seems Victoria 4.2 is a very old figure? So exactly what is the go-to framework here?

It seems like it could be incredibly easy to accidentally buy something that isn't compatible with what you're working with, so how can you know for sure exactly?

Thanks

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps if you want absolutely drop dead goergous how about

https://www.daz3d.com/lydia-hd-for-victoria-7

To me this is a bit too perfect.

I strongly agree with you and what I'm hoping to see are characters that have so much details in the skin that they look like real people instead of everybody using the same stale old "merchant resource" that has washed out skin with no "real details".  The skin should look real because it has so much detail .. we want fingerprints on the fingers and palm prints on the palms.  The under side of the arm should be a different color from the top of the arms since thats how it is on every human alive.. look at your own skin and make it look like that!  I have micro hairs and small scrapes and freckles.. we need all the details.
Thanks for making a great character. Keep up the great work...

According to my account page, here, I bought Victoria 2 on August 31, 2001, shortly after I received Poser 4 from Curious Labs. I was addicted immediately.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps if you want absolutely drop dead goergous how about

https://www.daz3d.com/lydia-hd-for-victoria-7

To me this is a bit too perfect. I'll probably continue to try and make characters with... character. Cute sure, beautiful too, to me anyway. But these too perfect women, where I get the feeling that they could never exist, or if they did they would spend all their time in the gym or under a scalpel. That just bores me. 

Anyway, I'm so happy to even read my name in a thread like this! Thanks so much all 

I'll leave this here too. It's a promo for my girls that didn't make the cut. They've fallen asleep on top of each other (they are not dead, I assure you!).

Ah, G8 only. Sorry, shouldn't post just before bed.

gopherus #2

Bucket List 
Pier View 
Fiora Hair
Uptown Bundle 
Marissa for K4    (LB)

Eric would like to thank WilmaP for his leathers. and Frankie would like to thank her for his swimwear.

Back to the Beach Party

Frankie and Annette have decided to give the beach party one more try.  While Frankie is running to catch his first wave in years, Eric Von Zipper has grabbed Annette.  Will Frankie hock his board to ransom Annette?  Or will he dump her and take up with Gidget and be her Moondoggie?  Will Eric swap Annette for Clint s orangutan Clyde?  Inquiring minds want to know! 

One I want to point out (that goes to 51%, I haven't checked to see if that's the right discount, just got online) is Tara 2 HD for Victoria 7 and Victoria 8  by @Kayleyss. Don't let the main promo fool you, there's other brows, including "soft" versions. I have a new release in the cart. And although she won't look quite the same on G3F/ G8F you don't have to have the Victorias. 

Only the body morphs use the Victorias. The Head morphs don't need them  

 

Only $7.11 https://www.daz3d.com/fw-honey-hd-for-victoria-7

I'd love to purchase her but she's still a Encrypted DAZ Connect product.

same here, on my wishlist for sure, can't wait to get her.

I don't have any fav artists, they all have products I like and ones I don't or have no need for. There are vendors I admire for the quality of their work though. I do have lots of fav/go to products though. My fav/most used skin texture for GF3 came from a vendor at Rendo, second is Frida from FWSA. I use hair from many vendors, Goldtassel, Redz, Ali, SWAM, AprilYSH, etc, etc. Really depends on what kind of hair I need.

 

Only $7.11 https://www.daz3d.com/fw-honey-hd-for-victoria-7

I'd love to purchase her but she's still a Encrypted DAZ Connect product.

This is more a few questions than suggestions.
-Real time Rendering: With programs like Marmoset toolbag and lumion, i wonder if Carrara or Daz could handle this technology to improve the speed of work for that people that don't are interested in deep 3d design. Or even for people with low or mid end PC, that can handle a nextgen videogame but still takes hours to make a render. Also, it could open the doors to new possibilites, as muzzle flashes, fake particles, fire and water that are very hard to emulate in a render engine. 
-"Dynamic" skin: I mean, don't just collision detection, but an actual interaction with objects. For example, if Victoria 8 sit on a chair, the legs get deformed as the form as the chair. 
-Procedural enviroments: Or something like that. I mean, imagine you load a city like you do with a videogame. You load GTAV city, then you navigate through the city, choose time of the day, weather and lighting. Then you load your Daz model, pose it, and render.  Now you want a halloween scene, load a Silent hill city, etc.. Vendors could sell new locations in that huge worlds, textures, etc.
Well, just are questions, maybe it is impossible.  

Also, consider buying characters which are significantly different from each other.  For instance, instead of buying 11 characters with a similar skin tone, maybe take a look at some of the very beautiful different skin tones some artists make, such as:

https://www.daz3d.com/fwsa-taia-hd-for-victoria-7

https://www.daz3d.com/p3d-aluna

Only $1.39 character and hair https://www.daz3d.com/wynter-snow-bundle

Only $2.10 https://www.daz3d.com/carissa-for-genesis-2-female-s

https://www.daz3d.com/nyarai-for-genesis-3-female

Only $7.11 https://www.daz3d.com/fw-honey-hd-for-victoria-7

https://www.daz3d.com/ceridwen-and-fantasy-skins-for-genesis-3-female

Only $3.99 https://www.daz3d.com/fwf-sumiko-for-mei-lin-6

The more obvious answer is going to be that it would likely massively cut into sales of their optional 'pro' bundles for whichever Victoria/Michael set comes out first for the newer generation.

Doubtful.

 

I honestly don't feel that there would be a legal necessity to push the entire store to be labelled as adult if they did it, any more than phsyical art stores need to be if they happen to sell artistic manuals which spefically deal in nudes.

If they honestly believe that, for some odd reason, then they could just as easily do a compromise of an 'anatomical bundle', which includes the primary figure and the anatomical extras, without needing to pay the excessive amount for all the other poses and clothing.

Personally, I think they should do that for at least Victoria/Michael, along with the basic additional face/body shaping morphs. That's all the stuff you really need to be able to have basic all-around use for art. I would absolutely buy that on day one! Instead, I have to wait for the pro ones to have a steep 70% or so discount, before I can even consider them... Which, in turn, is bad business practice for Daz, since it means I'm prevented, as a potential customer, from purchasing any of the other products which have Victoria and Michael as requirements for use.

Why assume that the only reason people are buying the Pro bundle is to get the anatomical elements. My best guess is that DAZ sees the bundle as the best value of released content for those that want to get it all at one time, and they simply toss in the elements as a bonus. They also offer the various items except for those as individual items for those that may not be interested in the figure they're released with but like the outfits or poses.

Sure, I could get Victoria and Michael as basic figures, but I want to at least have the option for nudes if I ever need them. So, have to wait for the pro options to discount.

Your choice.

Daz Studio crashes whenever I try to render FWSA Meifen HD for Victoria 8. Nothing else is loaded. Anyone else having an issue?

Oh wait.. I think this one might be just a little better to demonstrate Estel 8 skin on Vic 8 morph vs Milan 4 on Gen 2 body

.

Anyways.. I'm finding enough real looking options already that I don't have to worry about resurrecting them.. it would be nice if somebody can make it easy to convert... but in the meantime... if you need some brown sugar, try Kiara 8... she looks very realistic too.

https://www.daz3d.com/fwsa-kiara-hd-for-victoria-8

 

I do think its very interesting to see the two next to each other so we can illustrate for everybody to see... Still you can see the refinements of the HD on Victoria 8.. now if we can get those kind of color variation details.. it would be Nirvana :)  Or if I can just figure out how to move it to Victoria 8 myself.. Hmmm What are you doing?  I wouldn't know where to start ...

From what we were saying earlier about the different generations of figures, here we can definitely agree - the Genesis 3 and 8 figures have the generation 4 beaten when it comes to full body poses.  It's a day of coincidence - I want to look at my "new" dublin character compared with the old one, so right now my machine is rendering on the GPU in DS and on the CPU in Poser so that I can get a comparison of the two characters.

As for the conversion itself, here's what I've done:

1) Blacksmith3D's Texture Converter to convert from V4 to Genesis 3.

2) V3Digitimes's Iray Smart Converter and Advanced Skin Managers for Genesis 3 to convert the skin to Iray (managed to get this in the sale back in September)

3) Saved as a Material Preset.

4) New scene, then applied the saved material to Genesis 8 (I used Lyra as a starting point).

5) Replaced the eyes.

6) Loaded V4 with Dublin into DS and tweaked the morphs on Genesis 8 to get as close as I could (which isn't ever going to be very close - there is a reason I use DS and Poser instead of drawing by hand).

I am sure that this could be done in lots of other ways - the V4 UV maps that Leana mentioned above would be another way to start.

I'll post the comparison I'm rendering now in this thread if Poser ever finishes rendering.  Do please let me know how you get on if you try converting any of the characters you mentioned.

In another comparison I put Danea's Milan 4 (which was always my favorite) next to one that I would recommened which is Deva3D Estel.. granted, I gave her lipstick from another character but I think the results look like I Frankenstiened another real looking character... What do you think?

 

I do think its very interesting to see the two next to each other so we can illustrate for everybody to see... Still you can see the refinements of the HD on Victoria 8.. now if we can get those kind of color variation details.. it would be Nirvana :)  Or if I can just figure out how to move it to Victoria 8 myself.. Hmmm What are you doing?  I wouldn't know where to start ...

From what we were saying earlier about the different generations of figures, here we can definitely agree - the Genesis 3 and 8 figures have the generation 4 beaten when it comes to full body poses.  It's a day of coincidence - I want to look at my "new" dublin character compared with the old one, so right now my machine is rendering on the GPU in DS and on the CPU in Poser so that I can get a comparison of the two characters.

As for the conversion itself, here's what I've done:

1) Blacksmith3D's Texture Converter to convert from V4 to Genesis 3.

2) V3Digitimes's Iray Smart Converter and Advanced Skin Managers for Genesis 3 to convert the skin to Iray (managed to get this in the sale back in September)

3) Saved as a Material Preset.

4) New scene, then applied the saved material to Genesis 8 (I used Lyra as a starting point).

5) Replaced the eyes.

6) Loaded V4 with Dublin into DS and tweaked the morphs on Genesis 8 to get as close as I could (which isn't ever going to be very close - there is a reason I use DS and Poser instead of drawing by hand).

I am sure that this could be done in lots of other ways - the V4 UV maps that Leana mentioned above would be another way to start.

I'll post the comparison I'm rendering now in this thread if Poser ever finishes rendering.  Do please let me know how you get on if you try converting any of the characters you mentioned.

 

If I could take "London"'s or "Toyko" 4.2 skin and put them on a G8 character.. I'd use it in every render just like I use to use Danae's back in the day.... Here is one of them from my own gallery...
 

I've got to agree here about the quality of those characters, and thank you for sharing the render.  I might have a go at converting some of those textures to Genesis 3, use the Iray converter for generation 4 figures and then move it to Genesis 8 and see how it turns out.  It'll be interesting to see how it turns out - it could be that without the original morphs and SSS it might not be quite what it was, but on the other hand, the iray renderer might do a nice job.

On a slightly different note - it's been very interesting discussing this with you.  Thank you.

Thanks for the inspiration... You really got me thinking.. I've already got Milan V4 on Genesis 2 and even though she's not made for Iray.. I gotta tell you that girl is still a work of art... 

I do think its very interesting to see the two next to each other so we can illustrate for everybody to see... Still you can see the refinements of the HD on Victoria 8.. now if we can get those kind of color variation details.. it would be Nirvana :)  Or if I can just figure out how to move it to Victoria 8 myself.. Hmmm What are you doing?  I wouldn't know where to start ...

If I could take "London"'s or "Toyko" 4.2 skin and put them on a G8 character..

Well, that's what this is for: https://www.daz3d.com/legacy-uvs-for-genesis-8-victoria-4

You'll need to convert the presets to .duf first.

It's very kind of you to give the link, but unfortunately, whilst there are several ways to get the texture maps to a Genesis series character, it isn't possible (as far as I am aware) to transfer the sub surface scattering shaders from Poser to Daz Studio.  The product that you've linked above does take a lot of the work out of transferring older characters, but you then have to try to duplicate the morphs and the shaders.  I've spent about an hour this afternoon trying to port the Dublin character to Genesis 8.  It's actually starting to look ok, but I don't think I'll get it quite like the original.  On the other hand, it's an experiment in seeing just how much use my library of V4 textures can be in DS with Iray.

Indeed, that will enable you to use the textures and existing DS materials, it won't help at all with Poser to DS material conversions. But you'd have the same problem using them on V4 in DS anyway.

If I could take "London"'s or "Toyko" 4.2 skin and put them on a G8 character..

Well, that's what this is for: https://www.daz3d.com/legacy-uvs-for-genesis-8-victoria-4

You'll need to convert the presets to .duf first.

It's very kind of you to give the link, but unfortunately, whilst there are several ways to get the texture maps to a Genesis series character, it isn't possible (as far as I am aware) to transfer the sub surface scattering shaders from Poser to Daz Studio.  The product that you've linked above does take a lot of the work out of transferring older characters, but you then have to try to duplicate the morphs and the shaders.  I've spent about an hour this afternoon trying to port the Dublin character to Genesis 8.  It's actually starting to look ok, but I don't think I'll get it quite like the original.  On the other hand, it's an experiment in seeing just how much use my library of V4 textures can be in DS with Iray.