Genesis 3-8-8.1 what makes them special?

donchan1

Hi everyone I just noticed most of the items on sale on Daz studio store was for Genesis 3-8-8.1 what makes them special and what differences are they from all the genesis versions not mentioned above? I see alot of preferences on this 3 genesis versions makes me wonder why, can someone please give me a quick explanation or reasons for such preferences? thanks alot.

Hylas

Just in case you're wondering, the progression of DAZ figures is as following:

- [ancient figures that no one is talking about anymore]
- Generation 3 (Victoria 3, Michael 3, Aiko 3, etc)
- Generation 4 (Victoria 4, Michael 4, The Kids 4)
- Genesis (core characters from this generation have the number 5 in their name: Victoria 5, Michael 5, etc)
- Genesis 2 (core characters from this generation have the number 6 in their name)
- Genesis 3 (core characters from this generation have the number 7 in their name)
- Genesis 8
- Genesis 8.1

 

DAZ figures made quite a leap in quality from Genesis 2 to Genesis 3.

The posing is better, facial expressions are better, the eyes look better, the poly count is lower. Also, starting with Genesis 3, all figures come with IRAY skin materials.

Since Genesis 3 the improvements have been more subtle. Genesis 3, Genesis 8, and Genesis 8.1 are similar enough that they're hard to tell apart. There's a lot of cross-figure compatibility between the three generations.

 

Some differences between those latest 3 generations, ordered from most improved since G3 to least improved, in my subjective opinion:

 

- Facial Expressions improved (in my opinion significantly) from G3 to G8 and again from G8 to G8.1.
Facial expressions are not compatible across those three generations. However there's a trick to make G8 facial expressions work on G8.1:
https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/477386/how-to-get-genesis-8-expressions-working-on-genesis-8-1#latest

 

- Eyes improved from G3 to G8 and again from G8 to G8.1.
Eye geometry has changed from G3 to G8 (but not the UV); eye UV has changed from G8 to G8.1 (but not the geometry).
In practice this means: G8 eyes can be used on G8.1; other than that, eye materials are generally not compatible across generations.
However you can make G3 eyes work on G8 and G8.1 with some manual fiddling: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/5816691/#Comment_5816691

 

- Lashes and Tears: In my opinion the improvements in lashes and tear only matter if you render close-ups of the face.
G3 has lashes/tear as a part of the figure.
G8 has lashes/tear as one separate geograft.
G8.1 has two separate geografts, one for the lashes and one for tear.
G8 lashes can be used on G8.1. Other than that, lashes/tear are not compatible across those three generations; however you can work around that by using the scene identification trick.

 

- Skin Shader: All three generations are focused on IRAY. G3 skins don't use Dual Lobe Specular, Chromatic SSS, Diffuse Overlay, and possibly some other features I'm forgetting. G8 adds those features; G8.1 uses a completely new shader called PBR skin shader.

To be honest I don't think the improvements in skin materials are all that great since G3 and I find that the best G3 skins can easily stand next to the most recent G8.1 skins.
Skin materials are compatible between all 3 generations as long as they use the same UV. Speaking of which...

 

- Skin UVs: G3 and G8 largely use the same UVs and as such are interchangeable.

There's some exceptions; the most notable ones are all G3 core characters. So that's Victoria 7, Michael 7... basically all characters that have a "7" in their name.
To use those G3 core chatacter skins on G8 and G8.1, you'll need these two products:
https://www.daz3d.com/genesis-3-character-uvs-for-genesis-8-female
https://www.daz3d.com/genesis-3-character-uvs-for-genesis-8-male

G8.1 has a new UV with a better transition from face to neck to torso. G8.1 can use the UVs of G8 and G3, but not the other way around.

 

- Poses: G3 loads in T pose, G8 and G8.1 loads in A pose. I find that one is not really better or worse than the other, so I don't know why they changed that.
Poses for G8 and G8.1 are interchangeable. You can easily apply G3 poses to G8 and G8.1 by using free pose converters, such as these:
https://www.deviantart.com/agentunawares/art/G3F-to-G8F-World-s-Greatest-Pose-Converter-709591348
https://www.deviantart.com/agentunawares/art/G3M-to-G8M-World-s-Greatest-Pose-Converter-709731867

donchan1

Thank you for the well laid information, ill be using Genesis 3-8 then and hopefully 8.1 : ) but genesis first generation has still room in my heart.