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Novica & Invited Guest Contributors Tips & Product Reviews Pt 4

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  • TJohnTJohn Posts: 11,106
    edited December 1969

    Invited Guest Contributor

    Products used:
    Kori (for Oympia 6) by DAZ 3D, Countess. Silver
    http://www.daz3d.com/kori
    Loyce Hair by DAZ 3D, SWAM
    http://www.daz3d.com/short/loyce-hair
    Autumn Afternoon Outfit for Genesis 2 Female(s) by DAZ 3D, Bobbie25, Sarsa
    http://www.daz3d.com/new-releases/autumn-afternoon-outfit-for-genesis-2-female-s
    Advanced Light Presets for AoA's Lights by DimensionTheory (requires Advanced DAZ Studio Light Bundle)
    http://www.daz3d.com/advanced-light-presets-for-aoa-s-lights

    (A little post-work in Photoshop Elements)

    Kori.jpg
    1250 x 1500 - 328K
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Very nice! Is that lighting product easy to use/ worth it? Using the Advanced Ambient product, I have to tweak them even if I add other lights. So is that basically what the Advanced Light Preset product does- simplifies it?

  • TJohnTJohn Posts: 11,106
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    Very nice! Is that lighting product easy to use/ worth it? Using the Advanced Ambient product, I have to tweak them even if I add other lights. So is that basically what the Advanced Light Preset product does- simplifies it?

    Yes. This is one of the Specular Accent presets. The only light tweaking I did here was setting the hair diffuse to 99 so I could flag the lights to use the Alt Samples on the hair. This render took about 15 min. Post-work took longer. :)
  • luci45luci45 Posts: 2,762
    edited March 2014

    Beuatiful render, Sasje! (I bought the Luxus tutorials and am going to learn to use it I hope, if I don't get distracted again.)

    Jaderail, thanks for that. I didn't realize that came with V4 hi-rez textures and wouldn't have thought of using it. Sometimes a little change in the diffuse helps a lot.

    Thanks, Novica. I enjoy making characters. Don't know or have Zbrush however and woudln't have the patience to learn it. Mosy of the PAs seem to use it for their original head scupts. Some dialed characters are really good too though. I love the Man in the Mirror morphs for M4.

    I also really wish their were more of everything for M6 and G2 Male, clothes and characters. I didn't get Dan as I didn't think he looked that great, but everybody seems to like him so I will take another look. :-)

    Post edited by luci45 on
  • SasjeSasje Posts: 835
    edited December 1969

    Thank you Novica and Luci45
    Luci45 I'm still learning :)

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Totally redoing where studio is located, getting bogged down of course- here's what I am currently reading.

    https://helpdaz.zendesk.com/entries/22709104-Custom-Content-Path-Configuration
    http://www.sharecg.com/v/29425/view/3/PDF-Tutorial/Reorganizing-Your-Content-in-DAZ-Studio

    Interesting- how much RAM the Content Management Service uses- so if your C drive is getting full, moving that won't be a big impact if I'm reading this right.
    http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/17/#34

    Re-reading stuff about files:
    http://docs.daz3d.com/doku.php/artzone/pub/software/dazcontent

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    In re-doing my content, a few interesting things that were driving me bonkers. And something to think about when you are re-doing your content-

    First, my re-do is a mess. Nothing is showing up in Products, I wanted to start over but my DIM is still showing content that was removed from my old C drive, etc. So taking things off one by one and reinstalling and testing to see if they are working, and that's okay, because I am categorizing as I go. With respect to that-

    If something is not showing up in Products, to add it, you must click on the TEXT to get the popup. But to categorize something, you click on the image. To add to Smart Content, it's also the image. It's fun to be able to label the stuff the way I want it for Smart Content :)

    I'm just putzing. It's frustrating that even though I have changed the install paths in DIM and also in the Studio to receive those paths, the DIM is still showing thousands of products installed that aren't. They've been taken off C Drive because I didn't want them in the studio. So I guess I have to manually delete them from the DIM? This entire thing isn't really confusing, it's just me. (I have been up every hour to 2 hours all night, hydrating the sick cat, so putzing with this is not going to get me worked up. If I have to delete the entire darned thing I wouldn't bat an eye at doing it.)

  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,651
    edited December 1969

    Can you use dim to uninstall. If it is no longer there, it will just remove the product. Then it won't be in the dim list.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    The studio is totally messed up (again, it just did it on its own, nothing changed) with Products not having products but they are listed. Then other things don't have the textures, but used to, etc. There are too many products showing as installed with DIM to possibly pull them all and try to figure out which ones are working right. I completely removed everything (studio and DIM) and am starting from scratch, and only adding products as I use them after I get a good basic batch categorized. I posted a question in the commons and a link to a previous discussion about all this.One discussion asked about copying the MyLibrary from C to another directory, I don't want it there to begin with. :)

  • JaderailJaderail Posts: 0
    edited March 2014

    Novica said:
    In re-doing my content, a few interesting things that were driving me bonkers. And something to think about when you are re-doing your content-

    First, my re-do is a mess. Nothing is showing up in Products, I wanted to start over but my DIM is still showing content that was removed from my old C drive, etc. So taking things off one by one and reinstalling and testing to see if they are working, and that's okay, because I am categorizing as I go. With respect to that-

    If something is not showing up in Products, to add it, you must click on the TEXT to get the popup. But to categorize something, you click on the image. To add to Smart Content, it's also the image. It's fun to be able to label the stuff the way I want it for Smart Content :)

    I'm just putzing. It's frustrating that even though I have changed the install paths in DIM and also in the Studio to receive those paths, the DIM is still showing thousands of products installed that aren't. They've been taken off C Drive because I didn't want them in the studio. So I guess I have to manually delete them from the DIM? This entire thing isn't really confusing, it's just me. (I have been up every hour to 2 hours all night, hydrating the sick cat, so putzing with this is not going to get me worked up. If I have to delete the entire darned thing I wouldn't bat an eye at doing it.)

    You need to delete the CMS Database file to start a new folder. The Old database will not clear unless items are uninstalled by DIM. Or the file Deleted also CMS needs its own Uninstall once it is on your PC. Removing DS does not remove the CMS as it is a Running Service and needs shut down by the user to be removed.
    Post edited by Jaderail on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited March 2014

    Thanks to Jaderail, Fixmypcmike, and mjc1016, I started from scratch and fixed things onto my D drive, found how to remove the DIM files ultra fast (not using DIM to do it) and am ready to rock and roll installing products. Below is the thread from start to finish and I asked a lot of questions about what certain things did (such as what those Download options meant in DIM) in addition to just how to set things up. The thread is here:

    http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/39030/

    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited March 2014

    In case you didn't know it (and I did a $35 order THEN spotted it) the spend $50 and get $10 off is running right now. The $50 is determined by the DROP DOWN price when you select the cart, not when you open up the cart. Mine was $105.75 (the full price that they show when you check out) -$76.49 = $29.26

    BUT it was really $51.68 for the drop down cart.
    I ended up getting Stephanie HD for 9.33, Suite 2101 for 8.33, FWEJ Sayuri for 4.99, Mature Mark Hair for 4.99, and used Affection Poses for 1.62 to put me over the 50.00 mark. The thing to do is have 2 MM items so you get the additional 10%, then the over 50.00 with 10.00 off drops those items a lot (particularly if you only have a couple things in your cart)

    You could also put your MM rewards items in the cart and go over 50.00 and get 10.00 off, then use your code and get that amount off.

    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Okay, here's what I am exploring.
    Neftis is one of the stores where MM applies. So you get an additional 10% if you have 2. Some are already 58% off.
    Neftis also has DAZ so you can use your MM rewards.

  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,651
    edited December 1969

    The 10 dollars off fifty made all the difference for me when I used it earlier. I want going to immediately buy prototype. But with the coupon he was more affordable. Still have to decide what to use last week's 3 dollar coupon on. =)

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited March 2014

    For the MM rewards I went with Torianna Hair since it was Neftis and with 2 other MM's in the cart, it got a 10% additional discount. Then went with Retro Party Wear and the Textures as I like the length of the dress and its a Genesis item. With Fabricator, that dress will be adorable. Very pretty neckline, not overly sexy but very sporty.

    http://www.daz3d.com/retro-party-dress

    Post edited by Novica on
  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,651
    edited March 2014

    Invited Guest Contributor

    Galaxy for Genesis 2 Females
    http://www.daz3d.com/galaxy-for-genesis-2-female-s
    DAZ 3d, • 4blueyes

    Star fleet textures for Galaxy outfit
    http://www.daz3d.com/star-fleet-textures-for-galaxy-outfit
    DAZ 3D • bucketload3d

    Tachi for v4
    http://www.daz3d.com/tachi-for-v4
    XP Pointblank• DraagonStorm

    Casual Long Hair
    DAZ 3d
    http://www.daz3d.com/casual-long-hair

    Lantios Portrait Lights 2
    Lantios
    http://www.daz3d.com/portrait-lights-2

    Galaxy for genesis 2 females is a nicely made, detailed short dress with a believable fitting top, belt, and some good wrinkling around the hips. The dress includes a demi-bolero jacket and belt. The default textures include a black Xena-esque style (shown here) (Image 1) and a camo outfit. Image 2 is from the texture expansion Star Fleet Textures for Galaxy.

    The texture expansion adds a nice selection of textures to expand the outfit from basic black to something a little more day-to-day.

    I really like this dress. I particularly like the way the bodice fits, and the fact that the cleavage doesn't look shrinkwrapped. The dress has some styles and the wrinkles and folds add realism lacking in other outfits.

    Now All the set needs is an expansion with some accessories and uniform options and a guy version =-)

    I modeled the dress on Tachi who I converted to genesis 2 female using Gen X. Tachi as reviewed earlier, has a lovely skin and nice face morph easily converted to the Genesis 2 female line up.

    2.jpg
    800 x 800 - 306K
    1.jpg
    800 x 800 - 295K
    Post edited by Serene Night on
  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,651
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    For the MM rewards I went with Torianna Hair since it was Neftis and with 2 other MM's in the cart, it got a 10% additional discount. Then went with Retro Party Wear and the Textures as I like the length of the dress and its a Genesis item. With Fabricator, that dress will be adorable. Very pretty neckline, not overly sexy but very sporty.

    http://www.daz3d.com/retro-party-dress

    Agreed. Nice dress. I don't have that one yet. Will add it to my wishlist. =-)

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited March 2014

    Oooh, those are gorgeous! Love the textures! The lighting is very appealing as it shows off the textures perfectly. I havent used Tachi yet, thanks for the preview. I think you should do promo art :)

    One thing to note about the spend $50 sale- URGENT, you may only have a few minutes!
    "....so owners of version 1 of Genesis Generation X (full or upgrade version) receive a 66% off coupon at checkout." regarding the Genesis Generation-X2 product. IN THE CART IT WILL GIVE YOU A $30.36 BOOST TOWARD THE $50!!! Remember, you go by the drop down price when you click on the cart, NOT the cart when it opens (where it gives you the discount.)

    http://www.daz3d.com/genesis-generation-x2

    EDIT: In other words, once I had $50 in my cart (and I also had MM qualifying products) I ended up paying $6.02 for it, but when PUT in the cart, it went in at $30.36. You can get great deals on the Lyoness characters- about $3- $4.50 apiece as it's an MM store.

    orderShow.jpg
    1800 x 984 - 92K
    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Just in case anyone has forgotten to routinely back up their studio (particularly if you are customizing it) SereneNight was nice enough to post the "how to" in thread three. Here's a reminder:

    http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/28138/P120/#431146

  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,651
    edited March 2014

    Glad you like it. =-)

    Lights used are Lantios Portrait Portrait Lights 2, #6 I believe. I'll add that to the review.
    http://www.daz3d.com/portrait-lights-2

    Post edited by Serene Night on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    I mentioned this one in the Commons regarding what was bought with MM. This one will be next, haven't got it yet, because I'll put it with pants. I like the detail on the side and the neckline is pretty. Will make a good top.

    http://www.daz3d.com/starlight-dress-for-genesis

  • Tramp GraphicsTramp Graphics Posts: 2,411
    edited December 1969

    3DLust has a lot of hot dresses. Most of them would be perfect for my character, Ashley Chrome's wardrobe.

  • luci45luci45 Posts: 2,762
    edited December 1969

    Invited Guest Contributor

    Peter for Genesis 2 Male(s)
    http://www.daz3d.com/new-releases/peter-for-genesis-2-male-s
    Required Products: Genesis 2 Male Morphs Bundle

    I like unusual characters and, as the promos show, Peter is an odd looking little man. The texture maps are very good, include SSS. For some reason bump and displacement were set at 0 on the face, so I turned them up to 100. The body and head morphs are completely dialed rather than new "sculpts". Genesis 2 Male Morphs Bundle is required. The unique body shape comes from using "emaciated" at 100%, and "thin" and "heavy", and also "short". The face, especially the nose is asymmetrical, giving it more realism. There are some pretty weird makeup options that I haven't used - for me he is weird enough without them. The head render on the bottom right is done with a little M4 and the "thin" and "emaciated" morphs removed, so he can make a healthier looking older guy.


    Peterken for Genesis 2 Male(s)
    http://www.daz3d.com/new-releases/peterken-for-genesis-2-male-s

    Peterken, the jester costume is pretty nice too, comes in diverse five colors. There are two hat sizes, a very large one and a tiny one. The "branches" on the hat have some movement adjustments.

    peter3.jpg
    1800 x 900 - 262K
    peter_2.jpg
    1800 x 1200 - 288K
    peter_1.jpg
    1800 x 900 - 327K
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Two handy tips if you are customizing your studio-

    If you put an exclamation point in front of a file name, it will stay at the top of your list. Because you do characters and posing a LOT (I haven't seen a huge amount of just scenery renders) it makes sense to put !Characters and !Poses in Categories. You can zip right to your Victoria 4, Genesis, etc.

    Also, in !Poses I put a Reset To T Pose and will have each figure in the T pose. If I don't like what I've done and want to start over, it's quick and easy to zip in and find Genesis T Pose, etc.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Luci45 said:

    Peterken, the jester costume is pretty nice too, comes in diverse five colors. There are two hat sizes, a very large one and a tiny one. The "branches" on the hat have some movement adjustments.

    It is refreshing to have imperfect males! Glad you shared those, they did arouse my curiosity. One question- can you change the size of the hat other than the two options, for instance, if I want the extensions a bit bigger, can I translate and get the headband (the part going around the forehead and around the head) to stay the same?

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 24,245
    edited December 1969

    Luci45 said:
    Invited Guest Contributor

    Peter for Genesis 2 Male(s)
    http://www.daz3d.com/new-releases/peter-for-genesis-2-male-s
    Required Products: Genesis 2 Male Morphs Bundle

    I like unusual characters and, as the promos show, Peter is an odd looking little man. The texture maps are very good, include SSS. For some reason bump and displacement were set at 0 on the face, so I turned them up to 100. The body and head morphs are completely dialed rather than new "sculpts". Genesis 2 Male Morphs Bundle is required. The unique body shape comes from using "emaciated" at 100%, and "thin" and "heavy", and also "short". The face, especially the nose is asymmetrical, giving it more realism. There are some pretty weird makeup options that I haven't used - for me he is weird enough without them. The head render on the bottom right is done with a little M4 and the "thin" and "emaciated" morphs removed, so he can make a healthier looking older guy.


    Peterken for Genesis 2 Male(s)
    http://www.daz3d.com/new-releases/peterken-for-genesis-2-male-s

    Peterken, the jester costume is pretty nice too, comes in diverse five colors. There are two hat sizes, a very large one and a tiny one. The "branches" on the hat have some movement adjustments.


    Very nice renders and good comments about the product features. I haven't purchased it., because his chin looks so weird to me. Is there a way to dial a more "normal" chin? Other than the chin, the product looks very good to me.
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited March 2014

    I was thinking that too. It's a bit too much of imperfection :)

    I have a question for the IGC's- is it okay if I feature you in the signature banner- I'd like to draw attention to your wonderful reviews. Give it a few minutes, I just did one for Serene Night's Tachi so you can see it. It will be just like the ones I've been doing for mine, and I called attention to the artist by putting that in blue. Depending on the amount of reviews we have posted, I can't always do a banner for every review, but for tomorrow I'd like to be featuring Luci's. I like changing out the banner so folks in other parts of the forums know when something new is shown.

    EDIT: And anyone else wanting to use it, feel free, but you also need to link to the post like I did (right beneath it.)

    Post edited by Novica on
  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,651
    edited March 2014

    EDITED: I bought Peter because I need older male figures. I found the chin distracting. There is both a cleft, and several creases which seem a bit much to me.

    The chin's look can be altered by taking the extra lines out in photoshop on the mat which I did quite quickly. I'll post a render shortly.

    Here we go. Chin lines removed. Will try it with the displacement and bump strength increased.

    I should add, what I look for in male characters is a more versatility. I would like to use the skins for multiple figures, so being able to alter distinctive features like moles, scars, tattoos and such is necessary to make a figure a good financial investment.

    One thing I really like is this figure has a nice set of green eyes. Love the color and the way they look.

    chin-done.jpg
    600 x 800 - 241K
    Post edited by Serene Night on
  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,651
    edited December 1969

    @ Luci45

    Nice review and lovely renders. =-) I like this character as well, minus the chin.

  • luci45luci45 Posts: 2,762
    edited December 1969

    Thanks, barbult, SereneNight and Novica.

    I don't think you can make those extensions longer, Novica.

    Barbult, I think SereneNight answered your question. The funky-looking chin is because of the texture - a cleft and scar or line. I don't like it either and will fix it in Photoshop. I think it will still show up a bit unless the bump, displacement and specularity maps are altered too. Worth it to me because he is the only older guy for Genesis 2 Male. I don't mind using the Phoenix66 Genesis and M4 textures on G2M but it's nice to get a new one. Phoenix66' stuff had a lot of scars and warts and moles. LOL. Is she still a PA at DAZ? I haven't seen anything new from her for a long time?

This discussion has been closed.