Hi, Just wondering if there is a "preferred" Z-Toon camera assignment? Noticed that some cameras still show "normal" mode while others show Z-Toon mode. Also, If you have "Z'ed" a character, and you start running her through some poses (which is a cool feature of Z-Toon, I think- poses, transmaps, etc, all work) you run into some poses which have the model ending up in the wrong view- i.e, flat view from the side. Is there a control to spin her into the correct flat plane view, or must she be "de-Z'ed", spun, and then "re-Z'ed". I'm sure some Poser Wizards know the trick to this.

I use the main and face camera for almost everything, using the Aux camera when I need a wide angle to see where things are, but that is just my preference. If you use Stewer's method of the cube (parent everything to the figure as usual, then parent the figure to a cube and set the CUBE to 5-20% Z-scale), the figure can turn as needed with no problems, this was the method used to created my animated gif of Celes in my Z-toon++ thread. For more "advanced" use, check out darken666's idea for the sphere camera (just search for the name, I don't remember the whole idea), or as William the Bloody (I think it was WtB, anyway) suggested, set your camera to 300% on Z-Scale and you get a somewhat similar affect to the Z-toon method.

Ah yes, thanks! I did the Z-Cube Camera thing, but never realized that it also meant I could turn the characters independently. Of course, you ALREADY demonstrated this. I have a real case of the stupids today!

Not being stupid, just excited :)

If you just Z the camera and not the object, figure rotation doesn't matter. It's hard to set up though. I was playing a bit yesterday but didn't save a pz3. AARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHH. I don't believe it. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I tried to make a Z-toon with the camera yesterday. I don't think it gets quite the same flat look as the "normal" z-toon, but perhaps that's just me? I must admit I didn't tru to rotate the character after I z-toon'ed it, so I missed that feature. If it really works, it's great. But parenting everything to a cube is also nice and easy. Gawd I love this new technique!

Ummm...I'm just stupid here, I know it but when I scale the camera nothing happens. (Only the view angle). The same with a parented box: I still have problems to z-scale a side view.... I KNOW I'm doing something wrong but what?

(I turned shadows on so it's easier to see exactly what the camera is doing.)

First, be sure the Main camera is selected and reset it. Edit/Reset...camera)

Add your figure. Add clothes and fiddle materials now or later.

Use parameter dials Dolly-y and Dolly-z to position the figure.

I also set focal length for Gobbles to 150 and Scale to 100.

Set up the lights first because they're very hard to manipulate after you've z'd the camera.

Delete lights
Add one light, make it infinite through Object/Properties
Set the intensity to about 200 to start. The more you z the camera, the darker it seems to get.

Click on the camera ball to get the Main camera's parameter dials and zet the zScale to 2500 to start.

You can rotate your figure freely.

Minor detail..you don't see it until you render :)

...yeah...these damned minor details...you were so right!