Working with 'large' scenes: obj placement and navigating

crl_ca_1da4cb0097

Hello,

I am very new to DAZ Studio, however I have diligently worked through both the quick start guide and the user guide. Also, I've done several searches for additional information and tutorials. However, I still have some questions about issues that I'm running into when working with 'large' scenes. Please notice the emphasis on 'large'. I realize it is relative and what I struggling with as a being a large scene is likely considered a 'small' scene for more experienced users...

The first problem I run into is how to efficiently navigate through the scene. I've downloaded the area 19 scene from the store and load it into Daz Studio. I do use the rotational orb and the pan, dolly zoom, frame, etc... controls but I find that on 'larger' scenes like this it often takes an insane amount of time and mouse moves to go where I actually want to within the scene. Are there keyboard shortcuts available for these motions that we can just hold down? Examples of specific issues I run into: If I accidentally zoom way out (i.e. by trying to frame a specific object and unintentionally ending up looking at the entire scene as if I'm a mile away), it takes a large amount of time and mouse drags to zoom in noticeably. Similar for pan. When this happens I have to click on reset view and start over again. Another example of where this happens is if I load the Slaying the Dragon Tower. I automatically start with a view that is far away from the tower / rock. I can get closer quickly by framing the tower or the rock, but precise navigation after that is still an issue.

The second problem I run into is default placement of objects when I load them into a 'large' scene, i.e. a new figure. They are placed apparently at an origin, regardless of where other items in the scene are placed. I haven't figured out the exact nature of this as for example the Slaying the Dragon Tower when placed in a new scene will be in one location but a new G2M figure will be placed at another location far away. I've tried dragging and dropping new figures on specific parts of a scene but they all still load to a default position. Is there a way to automatically place new objects relative to other objects similar to how I can put props in a figures hands? Or can I get the coordinates for a point within my scene and use those coordinates to define a new default position for figures?

And lastly, if I am stuck with moving position slowly via the controls or parameters tab, is there a way I can 'follow' what I am moving? i.e. if I load a G2M figure in the Slaying the Dragon Tower I can move him somewhat quickly using x, y, z translate but is there a way I can frame on the G2M figure and then have the frame follow him as I move?

Any advice on these issues would be greatly appreciated. I realize I'm most likely running into this due to my newness with DAZ Studio and just not knowing the ins and outs of it. Apologies in advance if these questions have already been asked and answered on the forums, my attempts at searching the forums did not turn up any topics like this. Also, I would be equally grateful if there are just some additional documentation resources that you could point me towards that I haven't found yet. The user guide for instance states that full treatment is beyond the scope of the user guide. Are there similar caveats for scene navigation like I'm asking and if so, are there existing resources that do give the full treatment for scene navigation and object placement?

Thanks in advance for any and all help offered.

Scott Livingston

Hi, crl_ca!

Navigation: Cameras are your friends. Load several of them, then you can set them to various positions and angles around the scene and switch between them. You can select your camera (on the Scene pane) and then go to the Cameras pane to adjust its position, rotation, and other properties. There are some tutorials specific to using cameras...this free one is a good place to start: http://www.daz3d.com/tutorials/great-art-now-step-4-camera Still, navigation in general might be challenging for a while...just remember that with practice it will become much easier.

Default placement: usually things load at world origin (coordinates 0, 0, 0) but some scenes and sets, for various reasons, are set up to load elsewhere. If you want to move a prop to a figure's hand, you can parent it there. As I recall one simple way to do this is to right-click on the item and choose "Change Parent," but I'll have to check the exact steps once I get back to my rendering computer. Once parented, when you move the parent (the hand, for example) the prop will move with it. You can either manually move the item to the position you want and then parent it "in place," or leave it at 0,0,0 and leave "parent in place" turned off and it should jump to more or less the correct position.

I realize this is a little short on details, so please feel free to ask if you need more information on any of the above.

crl_ca_1da4cb0097

Thanks for the quick reply Scott, very much appreciated! I will definitely go through that tutorial that you referenced.

Also, somewhat ironic, after posting my question to the forum it now shows up #1 in my google searches. The irony comes into play that the google searches show other forum topics that are similar to what I posted. Because of that I found a post that asks almost the exact same questions I was asking, from back in 11/13. It is kind of odd that google is better at searching the forums and finding relevant content than the forum search option! Oh well...

Here is a link to the previous forum post which contains many useful answers.
http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/32494/

Hope this helps some others out, it certainly looks like it is going to help me :)

Szark

If you want to place objects and People in a different places than the origin while using any of the Translation Gizmos hold down Alt and DRAG the item from Smart Content or Content Library into the Scene. You will see a round circle appear in the Viewport Window (working window) when your mouse is in the right place release. I do this in Top View by any view will work.

PS seems to work no matter what Tool you have selected.

ZarconDeeGrissom

One trick I use, is I spin my view around till I see an object where I want to be around. I click it in the Viewfield, then I hit the center-view thing just under the hour glass. smaller objects get you closer, and larger ones back you off more, when doing this.

Sometimes I'll create 'primitives', place them all over the scene, click the eye in the scene tab to make them invisible. Then I can select them in the scene tab, and use the method above... center view, spin around to see what I'm working with.

With cameras, I select the camera as my view, then I'll use the XYZ transit sliders to get the camera roughly there, then spin the cube-thing around till I have the view I want. Sometimes I want a specific angle, so I'll use the angle sliders instead. I don't always use this method, it's an option.

Other times, I'll do a split view, and just use the red/green/blue arrows on the selected item to move it.

Different methods, or combinations of methods work best for different things and different people.
(edit)
With getting people up to the top of the tower, I select the tower. use the Z transit to bring it down to the world zero. Place my figures and stuff. Parent them to the tower. When done with that part, I move the tower back up. Everything parented to the tower, will move up with it.

gitika1

Szark said:

If you want to place objects and People in a different places than the origin while using any of the Translation Gizmos hold down Alt and DRAG the item from Smart Content or Content Library into the Scene. You will see a round circle appear in the Viewport Window (working window) when your mouse is in the right place release. I do this in Top View by any view will work.

PS seems to work no matter what Tool you have selected.

Thank you!  Bless you!  Oh my goodness, my trackball can stop feeling like the hamster never sleeps!

Szark

LOL

nice see some good old info still has use...my pleasure.

Ostadan

Also, the Align window can be your friend for moving item A next to item B.