I think it's animals in September.. 

modelled and rendered in Carrara 

• How long have you used Daz 3D Studio?
  About 20 years.
• Do you use any other software with Daz 3D? (bridges, photo editing, or other rendering software)
  Cascadeur, Gimp, and occasionally Blender and Hexagon (oh, and I sometimes try working with a render with image to image AI)
• How easy or difficult was it to learn Daz Studio?
  Fairly easy, I was able to create decent renders after about 8-12 hours (but I already had experience with Poser. Carrara Studio Pro, Cinema 4D, Vista Pro, and Visual Nature Studio)
• Did you have to purchase a specific computer to use the application?
  No, I use the same computer that I use for work (at home). I do Photogrammetry, Lidar Processing, and use other 3D software that also needs a fairly robust computer.
• How much money have you spent at the marketplace or other third-party sites for content?
  I'm not sure ... but probably too much. I try to keep my spending to an average of $30 a month. Some months I don't spend anything, others I will spend more (like if there is a new Genesis generation released).
• What kinds of bugs or errors have you ran into?
  Not real show stoppers, mostly just annoyances that have workarounds.
• Is there anything you would change about the application?
  Scalable fonts in the UI!!!! Old eyes with a laptop screen make using DAZ Studio extremely difficult at times (I quit using it for several months, but eyesight has improved just a bit).
  I think changing to Vulcan over Open GL would be a massive improvement.
  If they won't replace Open GL with Vulcan, then improving Filament, especially how it handles opacity maps, would be a big plus.
  Improving the animation tools.
  Giving us full access to all of the features in Iray (i.e. motion blur).
  I think having another professional render engine available in DS would be a huge plus (something designed for production environments with access to all available tools/options). Or, probably an even better option would be to have a full, comprehensive, and pro level implementation of USD. This would open up the use of other render engines and other software without writing and maintaining a bridges to various additional applications.
  Yes, this may be old fashioned, but a real up to date manual would be HUGE! I recently started using Cascadeur, they have an extensive set of video tutorials as well as an outstanding manual. There is often critical information in well written manuals that can't be easily provided in a video tutorial.

• How long have you used Daz 3D Studio? 

...since 2007

• Do you use any other software with Daz   3D? (bridges, photo editing, or other rendering software)

...Gimp, PSP, Filter Forge, and occasionally Hexagon 2.x (64 bit)

• How easy or difficult was it to learn Daz Studio?

...at first it was fairly simple as I have a lifetime of experience in the traditional arts, as well as spent a number of years in theatrical set design, blocking, and lighting.

However, when Iray came online it introduced a whole new learning curve that was more complex compared to 3DL (which in some ways was similar to stage lighting).. I am still wrestling with Iray's details and nuances.  The tone mapping part I get as I've also been worked with photography, but dealing with lumens, temperature, subsurface scattering and the like makes it a whole new ballgame. I am disappointed that in the next full update of the programme that the 3DL render engine is being dropped.

I also find dForce to be a bit daunting given all the parameters involved .  I do have dForce Companion which simplifies matters but ir is not "infallible".

• Did you have to purchase a specific computer to use the application?

Originbally worked on an Xp Notebook wiht r GB  mmory.  Five later as the progremme became more "robusr" I built a system dedicated to working and rendering in Daz and Carrara which I've updated as far as I could (It a bit long in the tooth these days but still does the job).

• How much money have you spent at the marketplace or other third-party sites for content?

About the price of a nice basic small car.or one heck of a desltop "supercomputer".built around the 96 GB RTX Pro 6000 GPU and 32 core EPYC CPU..

-- misunderstood the question, thought it was just other stores than here as one site calls their store "Marketplace".

• What kinds of bugs or errors have you ran into?

Currently , display driver crashes when running dForce simulations. along with "explosions even with dForce rigged clothing and hair.  

• Is there anything you would change about the application?

...the ability to select larger text in menus,.(particularly Surfaces, Parameters, as well as the LIE Editor) 

As I built a custom library/runtime structure, I have no opinion concerning Smart Content save for the fact it seems the database is still prone to crashing and corruption.

Oh, and as mentioned above, real documentation/manual. Video tutorials don't always cut it as it is much more convenient and expedient to have a PDF file open to information concerning the task one is working on..

I don't own any but I can be 100% certain they won't work in Carrara which will load duf poses but certainly not dsa

Since to make Carrara plugins you do not only need the C editor, but also the Quicktime SDK - and the links provided in the documentation do not work - I put here a link to an archived resource

https://archive.org/details/quick-time-sdk-7.3.0.70

Dartanbeck said:

Headwax said:

Happy birthday, 12 years old last month, how time flies

Absolutely!

For the record, I still pester Daz 3D to develop Carrara further! :)

Still a Carrara Master Pesterer, Dart? We love you also for this! ;-)

WendyLuvsCatz said:

I just know ordinary users cannot do it

I don't use Maya either but do know some PAs have used Xgen hair from comments made

I actually don't think it matters where the hair is created so long as it is in a curve format, ie polylines

I use Carrara for example and can make non Dforce curve hair

I don't think many use the Strandbased hair editor in DAZ Studio itself

honestly you won't get any information at all because the PAs are not allowed to share the methodology 

so we are all just guessing 

I just know ordinary users cannot do it

I don't use Maya either but do know some PAs have used Xgen hair from comments made

I actually don't think it matters where the hair is created so long as it is in a curve format, ie polylines

I use Carrara for example and can make non Dforce curve hair

I don't think many use the Strandbased hair editor in DAZ Studio itself

honestly you won't get any information at all because the PAs are not allowed to share the methodology 

so we are all just guessing 

Back in 2k, I decided to go with Cinema 4d. Its interface made the most sense to me. I skipped it with version 10, because it became unaffordable to me.
Besides, Maxon is now predator software like Autodesk and Adobe.
Switching from C4d to Blender, maybe that's why I struggle with Blender.
Those two softwares feel so fundamental different.
____
I reached a limit with settings in DAZ Studio by now.
DS lights have flaws. The more you use in a scene, the less photo real the render will look. An accumalation of flaws in the lights.
PBR skin shaders only look real with dark skin tones. There is no way to get a bright realistic skin tone with PBR skin shaders.
The camera settings are limited. There are no exposure settings with the cameras.
Yesterday, I remembered, that there is Nvidea Omniverse, only to find out, that it's gone.
So, there is only Blender left, obviously

I really can second that. Started with Poser. Used Bryce and Carrara, but finally changed to C4D / Vray and loved it.
When they chaged the pricing and license system, I abandoned C4D. Finally with the new interface, I started to use Blender, but I'm still struggling with the features.
I see amazing results with Blender, but the learning curve is not an easy one. Nevertheless, I will stay with Blender, transfer and improve my Daz content there. Diffeomorphic is the tool that makes it a lot easier.  

from the cube comes the wacky witch doctor with shrunken skulls dancing and prancing his way to save your Runtime from invading polygon types! 

boned in more ways than one and morphed and used Carrara hair. 

barbult said:

Taoz said:

Do I need the Premier Geometry Editor for this?  And can I use Hexagon or Carrara instead of Blender?

No, you don't need any Premier tools or even Mesh Grabber. The Geometry Editor is a tool that is part of Daz Studio. You don't even have to interact with Geometry Editor other than to have that tool selected when you export the hair to OBJ. I have only ever used Blender, but I would expect any modeling tool to work, as long as it can handle the large hair OBJ files and you use the right import and export options. I don't know other tools, so I can't advise on specific settings for Hexagon or Carrara.

OK.  I'm quite familiar with the Geometry Editor in DS, so I may give it a try with Hexagon or Carrara when I get the time.  Thanks!

Taoz said:

barbult said:

Taoz said:

How do you make morphs for this type of hair?  Only two are included, and they are not very usefu, I'd like some that can move the strands on the right side.  I've tried Mesh Grabber but that doesn't work. 

Select the Geometry Editor tool when you export OBJ and also later when you import the modified OBJ. I modify the OBJ in Blender.

Do I need the Premier Geometry Editor for this?  And can I use Hexagon or Carrara instead of Blender?

No, you don't need any Premier tools or even Mesh Grabber. The Geometry Editor is a tool that is part of Daz Studio. You don't even have to interact with Geometry Editor other than to have that tool selected when you export the hair to OBJ. I have only ever used Blender, but I would expect any modeling tool to work, as long as it can handle the large hair OBJ files and you use the right import and export options. I don't know other tools, so I can't advise on specific settings for Hexagon or Carrara.

kpr said:

...

I found it a fun (and free) platform to use. Hordes of video tutorials to get started and there's plenty of ready-made assets available (of all types:  music/sets/characters etc). Daz G3 characters import easily and well, including mocap/animation you might already have, and with the fantastic camera controls and amazing lighting setup/rigs you can achieve some fantastic-looking results. It's well worth a look.

OK, thanks.  After a LONG time using Carrara, I am just getting serious about DS, watching tutorials, etc. (but still using Carrara for animation).  But after that, I've got Unity on the list.

Steve K said:

Thanks.  Was it the music @ 5:08? I wasn't sure anybody would get the reference to an old movie (1968!).  

Yes  

NB: Many "old" movies available on streaming nowadays! 

Steve K said:

Are "animated characters" in Unity similar to Carrara's clips, i.e. mocap files that can be applied to any character?

Yes, in that respect exactly the same. They can move around "for free" - Unity has a movement grid you can quickly shape to do "pathing" - but it's just moving a static object (a chess piece) unless the character has animation (made outside of Unity - so mocap etc).

I found it a fun (and free) platform to use. Hordes of video tutorials to get started and there's plenty of ready-made assets available (of all types:  music/sets/characters etc). Daz G3 characters import easily and well, including mocap/animation you might already have, and with the fantastic camera controls and amazing lighting setup/rigs you can achieve some fantastic-looking results. It's well worth a look.

barbult said:

Taoz said:

How do you make morphs for this type of hair?  Only two are included, and they are not very usefu, I'd like some that can move the strands on the right side.  I've tried Mesh Grabber but that doesn't work. 

Select the Geometry Editor tool when you export OBJ and also later when you import the modified OBJ. I modify the OBJ in Blender.

Do I need the Premier Geometry Editor for this?  And can I use Hexagon or Carrara instead of Blender?

Diomede said:

Ouch - that really sucks, Wendy.  I feel some of your pain.  Fingers crossed that it works out for you.

 well Carrara itself is not the issue 

its everything else 

and that is the something that doesn't work in Carrara increasingly on Win10

I know Carrara itself works in Win11

I guess I am scared as no going back and heard conflicting stories on Octane

it works so don't want to break it

I will try and buy a new PC with the latest Nvidia GPU for DAZ Studio etc eventually but not for a couple years yet

just keeping my D|S installs backed up until it breaks so can go back, even considering a separate Carrara computer more CPU orientated too

For what its worth...I recently(a month ago) undated one of my computers from windows 10 to windows 11. That computer like yours, didn't qualify for the update(TPM). I really didn't expect things to work out but to my surprise,  all my programs still work.  That list includes Carrrara 8.5 Pro Beta as well as the release version of C8.5, and Carrara 8.1, and Octane 4.05.09 for Carrara works fine as well.  All except CS4 which was causing a crash on zip and rar files,so I uninstalled that and all is well.  Although I'm really not a fan of Win11, I figured that I'm going to have to bite the bullet eventually, so I went for it.  Windows 11 iso I downloaded from Micrsoft, and instead of a clean install I opted for "update" which gave me the option of keeping all my data and apps. A clean install wipes the computer.  As far as DazStudio is concerned,  I still use 4.10 and 4.21.  I have no plans on updating those

well Microsoft support for Windows 10 is ending next month and not only does my hardware not support Win 11 (TPM) but apparently my version of Octane render 4 Carrara won't run on it

so I won't be updating 

this might mean not updating any of my software and eventually not being able to use some

fortunately 12 year old Carrara is pretty safe but DAZ studio is likely another story

my Ai stuff might not work for much longer too but less of an issue as can go the web based Google Collab route if needed

(so far avoided that but in the end no dearer as local electricity costs would be offset by the online costs and better GPUs)

DAZ studio the one worrying me which is why I posted in this thread

I have a functioning PC.  Yay.

I did a test of using Carrara to render 4 toon lineart office renders and then having the Wan 2.2 model (AI) calculate the animation tweeners.  Kind of rough, but as it was my first try, I think it is a good start.  Again, the AI model is only calculating the tweeners, the keyframes are 3D toon renders, in this Carrara.

https://youtube.com/shorts/jIqEW9H5KLk?feature=share