Howdy! O.k., just for a kick, I made a simple stickman figure in Carrara and imported it into Poser 4. (I've got P5 but I thought I'd try it this way first.) I got it to accept the "props" as a figure by using the grouper and then the hierchy tools. ... but now I'm stuck (sort of) ... is there a quick and easy way to set joint parameters or am I going to have to set each joint seperately? and do I work towards the parent or away from it? - TJ

I don't think there is a hard and fast rule here. What I do is start at the hip and work up to the head then back down each limb. I work this way so as not to miss any part, but you could start anywhere.

Philc, I sort of guessed there wasn't an easy way to set joints. I appreciate the tip - moving outward from the hip seems more natural to me now that I think about it. I was looking on the modeling forum and there's a a link to tut anim8or or wings(one or the other) on using various programs including phi builder and uvmapper to make a gingerbread man that ends up I assume being posable in Poser. I'll have to paruse that tut a little more and see what I can learn from it. Thanks much! - TJ

I'd just add that the gingerbread man tutorial is really great and it must be very easy to understand, coz I got it right first time I tried LOL

ernyoka, OK, I'll get on it then straight away. live long and prosper, - TJ

I sort of go the opposite direction from Phil... I start at the extremeties, and work inwards from there...

(: sdrawkcab sevil rieht evil tsuj sklof emos tub radnalaV seY

or even inside out...

Heheh. I just find it easier to align joints that way, when they need aligning.

You can also do just one side of the body and click on the symmetry button and copy JP's over to the other side. Saves lots of note taking and typing. :O)

fls13, Thank you! Any timesaving device like that is very much appreciated! I'm putting off doing the JPs until this evening when it's quiet but I'll try that. - TJ

Just checking back - I got it to work sort of. still a little buggy - I think the feet are oriented in the wrong direction and the thighs run into the shins- oh well that will be easy to fix. I ran across a few questions along the way: 1) Should I check weld when importing? 2) In the joint editor, on center, the hips red cross is almost to the knees shouldn't that be in the center of the hip? 3)should the thighs upper joint parameters(red) touch the hip at the top of the thigh - or should it remain centered at the top of the thigh? Anyrate I'll keep working on it and old "Luke Stickwaker" will look better next time. Thanks again for helping me out, - TJ