Unless I am misreading the functionality of DAZ|Studio, DAZ is going to provide the functionality of Poser 4 for free. Advanced functionality, like plugins to other applications, will be for sale. Below is a list of features [Source: DAZ], and the current schedule:
Items included in the initial stage of the DAZ|Studio Beta Program:
- Support for Windows 98SE/2000/Me/XP and MAC OSX 10.2 and above
- Single select and edit of bones or objects in scene via controls in the Scene pane (i.e. visibility, color, and position)
- Cameras, props, scenes, and figures can be posed and manipulated using controls in the Parameter pane
- Material editing will allow user to alter properties of existing materials
- Editable material properties include: surface color, surface texture, bump map, transparency map, and displacement map
- Open-GL support in 3D views including: real-time texture and transparency maps
- Import of .OBJ and .PZ3 (including all PZ3 subsets) file formats.
- 3Delight renderer by DNASoft included (Renderman compliant)
Items that will be implemented at a later stage of the DAZ|Studio Beta Program:
- 3D view display will be optimized for speed and quality
- Save function enabled
- DAZ|Studio specific file format
- Selection of objects through 3D view
- Additional Open-GL support in 3D views of: anti-aliasing, depth of field, and specularity.
- Animation timeline that allows user to set and edit keyframes, create, and play animations
- Python support
- Advanced asset manager for handling large asset quantity and content directories
- For-sale plugins for .LWO and .MAX import/export
Anticipated Stages of program completion:
- Limited alpha (current stage)
- Initial Public beta release
- 2nd beta release, Lightwave 3D® and 3ds max® Plug-ins available
- DAZ|Studio Basic 1.0 release
- Gradual addition of plug-ins with advanced features
[Schedule subject to change]
Does it have the functionality of the face, hair or cloth rooms in Poser 5, no. But, if you are a DAZ customer and purchase their products, do you really use the previously mentioned rooms much? Will they provide similar functionality? Who knows. Maybe Dan Farr and Chris Creek do. :)