I finally installed the Alpha DAZ Studio. I tried to do a spot render on default scene.. not sure what I did but it started a FULL render and was soooo slow! (have a fast AMD PC with 500 mb ram and high end video card for graphics). I actually finally crashed it on purpose (control alt delete works super well in win2kpro) to get out of the render, as it would not respond to the cancel button. I then made a pz3 of my own model flamingo bird in Poser 4.3, and saved.. opened DS again (after getting rid of all my temp files everywhere) and did an import..it asked me for the obj, so I gave that to it.... and the flamingo popped into the scene... GOOD GRIEF ! I was looking at a gray plastic bird, in a 3d "room" that looked more like trueSpace...and when I clicked on it to see if it was solid or had body parts, these funny circles showed... THAT is how I am to move the parts?? Erg. I then did a render..NO MAP! (simple bird, one map!) So I clicked all around to see how to load it... could not find a way to map it... Looks like I will have to do a LOT of reading on how to use POSER content...but the slow funny block by block render is a real frustration. I would like a bigger scene window and straight on, but assume I can change it to be that... I don't want to look down onto the bird (was NOT that way in Poser). Also noted that there are ODD file formats for the DS content...so this program will require a whole different type of file format of obj's, etc?? If I had to invest in an entirely new set of model formats for a program, when I have poser 4, why would I? Well, Off to do some reading and leaving DS alone for a while.... Willing to learn, but of course I want to know how to use 3rd party content in a program. It has to be fast and easy to use... Lyne

Open the render options window and check 'Open GL'. DS will now do renders in a few seconds. With this option unchecked, it's doing ray-traced renders, which take a LOT longer. There's also an option to render in a new window at any size you want. Don't import the flamingo. Go to the Content Palette and click on the button that says 'studio alpha'. You should see a list of your Runtime. Go through it and find the flamingo cr2 and just double-click to open it. If you save any scene with in DS, it will save as a .daz file (native format) One more thing - To save any render you must add the extension to the name, like 'myimage.jpg', not just 'myimage' DS seems funny at first, but it works fine once you know what to do. Most of us had the same problems at the beginning. The posts here and at the DAZ forum will probably cover most of the things that puzzle you. It's worth looking through them as well as reading the manual. mac PS Before you ask.... part of the manual is missing too!

You can also go up to the "Windows" menu and selectively
turn on and off these DS palette-windows. Haven't tried the control keys yet, but they can, or will, make using keyboard short-cuts another way of having an uncluttered and wide-open view of the model you are working on.

These UI settings are not yet savable in the Alpha, however. Expect to see it in the Beta.

Actually, that's the way I normally use mine too, since the scene size on the left seems quite good, especially if you are using a resolution like 1024x768 (or higher).

Well, practically every app I have is set up so the image is on the left-hand side and the tools on the right. Easier to work that way. Here's hoping the next build saves the prefs. It's a PITA to keep setting it up. mac

Does D|S give you the option to save a scene as a .cr2 file rather than .daz? It would severely reduce my enthusiasm for the program (down to no interest) if you can't bring a scene back into Poser.

Not at the moment, and since one of the things mentioned in the manual is that D|S keeps any embedded copyright notices from loaded products in the scene they may not implement it later (otherwise you could kill the DRM by going D|S>CR2>D|S). On the other hand, integration with other apps is on the cards so they must be planning some sort of export.

mac, thanks very much for that information! With limited time, it helps to have help to jump right into unfamiliar territory! :) Lyne

ARGh! I let DS search.. found how to load the MAPPED flamingo.. which came in un mapped.. found the way to put the TIF on it.. not a jpg... it loaded that.. found how to set open gl, set it to aa.. render in viewport.. rendered... there is flamingo rendered FAST, with map on, BUT not well lit, nor is it aa'ed!! I can't figure out the lights...I added one.. can't find out how to control it.. WHERE ARE THE BUTTONS DIALS, HOW CAN I CLICK AND DRAG?? It all seems way too odd and different.. if it does not work with dials, and mouse... sigh... I clicked on light (which landed in front of bird, made him black) to MOVE it..but it does not move.... I am supposed to use those little rings around things to manipulate things?? NOT! (don't seem to work on light) Okay... deep breath and off to do simpler things...like eat an early dinner! ;) Lyne

DS will IMPORT (go to FILE, IMPORT) and you will see all your favorite Poser file formats. While there may be "issues" still with other imports, the Poser Light Models (*.lt2) always seem to import without any problems at all. So I IMMEDATELY import my favorite light set into DS after loading a model- usually via the Content Menu, which has been working fine for me. In fact- you can load the lights that way ALSO. I have been using my favorite Poser-Tweaked pastel lights and DAZ Global Lights, and you will see all your scenes look much better! But you will also have to reduce the Diffuse and Specular settings way down or your models will look too bright.

The rings are for rotation - click the four-way arrow in the tool bar to get the mover, and the sphere will be replaced with three arrows which you can drag for x, y, and z translation. Right-clicking on a parameter dial lets you type in a value, but remember all dials have limits on and the limits can't yet be changed.

Will give these things a try but these methods seem very cumbersom to me. I am not at all sure, as I said about a program with all new formats! Am curious so will pursue a little farther, but getting a bit put off.