Here comes a idiotic question from an idiotic idiot, hoping that all the good people here solve his problems for him.

(Deep Breath) I'll outline everything from the beginning: I just recently bought Poser 4 off of Ebay, and am still learning the ropes, in hopes that I can make a little money off of it. The thing is, I have no idea how to go about it at all! I need help! I know a little of what can be accomplished with P4, but not as much as I need to know, certainly. What I really need is someone, anyone, to tell me how I can get this all off the ground floor.I have to know what software and tools I need to have, proven techniques and methods, how to maximize profits, what I should do in regards to creating a website for my crafts, blah, blah, etc. I'm interested in all the aspects of digital figure design using Poser, but I've yet to find my talent with it. I have never done anything business-wise like this before at all, but am keenly interested in seeing if I can pull it off.

The only tools I currently own are Poser 4 and Paint Shop Pro 7. In other words not much. Assume I know nothing about anything, which is true.

I know this is a huge favor to ask on the forums. If anybody can help at all in any way, fabulous. Thanks a hugely incredible ammount.

You outlined everything from the begining....except what kind of business you would like to use poser for to make your money LOL

Well, all I can do is tell you my own experience with poser. Maybe it'll be of some help. I started using poser 5 years ago, played with it half-heartedly, then discovered some online communities and started learning. I scoured the net for tutorials, information, etc, then started building small freebies. I uploaded about 50 over the course of 2 years (still up at 3d commune), then started a 3 month project, which I finally brokered through DAZ (I was one of the first brokers there). Over the last 2 years, I've been refining my modelling techniques, and recently released a few new things which are doing very well, plus I have a lot more half-built or partly designed. So that takes care of my 'public career', which is about 1% of the story. The other 99% is made up of endless hours in poser, 3d max, uv mapper, photoshop, cr2 editor, etc, etc, testing, experimenting, trying things that don't work, then figuring out why they don't work, designing models (I'm practically an architect by now!). Not to mention the time spent in here and other sites, reading threads, saving technical information, answering questions, asking questions, yadda, yadda, yadda. You get the picture, I'm sure. Modelling is a solitary business and in the end, there isn't really anyone who can tell you how to do it. And very few people actually make a living out of poser. To do that, you have to dedicate so much in terms of time and effort, that most people get put off or give up. I don't want to be a wet blanket, but these are the facts. On the other hand, when you finally begin to get good at it and create things that people like to use, it's quite a buzz. My advice would be to read and learn, experiment in poser, try all aspects of modelling, texturing or whatever, until you find the side of it you really enjoy doing. Start with freebies and learn from your mistakes. (And you'll make 1000s of mistakes - Don't worry. It's healthy). And above all, when you don't know, ask. mac

Might not know, actually. Bear with all of us, ochrejelly -- you are asking essentially to tell you how to do what a lot of folks have spent the last three years just learning! There is modelling (figures, sets, props, and more) Texturing (clothes, sets, figures, props, and more) Poses, Lights, -- heckfire, take a look a the marketplace to get an idea. Couple things I will say: one, go to the top of this page. Right above the spot where it says freestuff is a link called tutorials. Follow it, and start digging in. Not just the ones about Poser, but as many as you can stand. Read them all, try them all out. Throughout this forum are several posts by a DrGeep. Read them. Twice. Look at the stuff that is being sold now in the store, and look closely at the details and stuff -- texture maps, mesh building, the kinds of things being offered. No go do it better and more distinctively. The point is, before you'll be able to sell anything, you have to learn Poser. Inside and out. You gotta know what folks want, what they are using, and what they buy, but you also gotta know what all of it is -- what the terms used mean, how the things are used in Poser 4, in Pro Pack, AND in Poser 5 -- and that's not even counting DAZ Studio. If you model, you'll need to learn how to use the program you model in. If you are make textures, you'll need to learn how to make textures. Now, if you want to go beyond working within the community, as in doing stuff in the real world (lol), that's yet another issue. And it's a doozy. There are a lot of very exspensive programs out there that can do all of the above plus what Poser does, and they are used to make commercials, movies, stills, the works. So you have to look at the marketable abilit standpoint -- what can you make that isn't being ade out there right now, and who will buy it? That's called business planning and market research. And you'll need to do a lot of that. As long as ya don't live in arizona I'll tell ya what I do, lol!!

Geez, so much to remember. Dang, I was hoping it would be somewhat easy.. and all this started just because I made a modified mesh for MayaDoll. (Which should reach a freestuff near you soon, if Mr.Maya approves..) Anyway thanks a ton for the invaluable pointers. I'm beginning to think I'm over my head, though, but I'll give it a shot. And no, I don't live in Arizona, so you've no need to worry.

Hahaha...if it were easy, we all would hve quit our day jobs by now :) But even though it may not be easy, it can be alot of fun. I started making textures because I could not afford to buy them when I started.....so now I am glad for lack of money then, because I have so much fun making them, and learn alot with each new package I put out. Rawn (RawArt)

Most people do assume that making money from Poser is easy. Common misconception ;) The other misconception is that anything will sell. Trust me, this is not correct. You need to be experienced in what you do, AND be good at it. For this you need lots and lots of practise. If you're going to be a modeller, make EVERYTHING. Every tutorial you read, make the item and give it away free - here and on your website. Get great at what you do. If you're a texturist, texture EVERYTHING. Make new skin textures for existing models, make new cothing textures for existing clothing. Give it away for free. As much as no-one wants to say it, we see newbies pop up all the time with their "terrific" new items which bomb in the store purely because the item was made by an inexperienced user who was out to make a 'quick buck'.

The latest edition of my educational software just got published, bundled with an Anatomy text. Actually this is the 4th major version of the book + courseware, but it's the first one with heavy Poser animation content. (70 MB of images.) I'm surviving on the royalties from this software; admittedly, I live very cheaply. The point is that you shouldn't expect to live from "Pure Poser", but you *may* be able to make a living from your own special knowledge and experience, using tools like Poser to illustrate it. (Disclaimer: the ugly image on the CD is NOT my work; I think the publishers must have composited and colorized some of the book's line-drawings.)

Cool, ockham! Well done! mac

Attached Link: Free Software to use with Poser or Vue

If you want to see a list of 3D freeware and and their links you can find a nice list in the Vue forum (link provided)

Hey ockham! Congrats on the latest release! CL likes to highlight things that have been done with Poser. You should let them know too if you haven't already.

I agree, ockham! They love that stuff! And great! Now see, that's similar to what I do. I've got two competitors around here already -- market's mighty thin for me, lol What I do is create CD's that enable mom and pop retailers to train their employees in aspects of retail operations such as customer service, cash handling, inventory prep, and company scuttle (you know -- Welcome to XYZ company! Here's the rules...). All customized to the client. I happen to know a lot about retail and training folks, so it helps, and I've been doing stuff like it for a long time. That's the real secret to using poser -- it's a tool for you to use what you already know and make it more exciting, more engaging, and more interesting. And it's a heck of a lot of fun to make pretty pictures with, too :) Don't feel like you are in over your head. You are actually in up to your eyeballs -- now you just have to learn to swim. backstroke, anyone?

"That's the real secret to using poser -- it's a tool for you to use what you already know and make it more exciting, more engaging, and more interesting." Exactly. Precisely! Wish I'd said it that well.

Credit for the phrasing belongs utterly to ockham. -=poof=- your wish is granted :)

OJ: Buying Poser in the hopes of making money with it is a bit like buying a guitar in the hopes of becoming a rock star. Neither of these strategies has worked for me so far. :-) There's a lot to learn: get stuck in, experiment and above all have fun. If this crazy life is for you (and it isn't for everybody), one day you'll find that you've produced something that you're willing to share. I've been doing Poser for about 3 years now, and I haven't produced anything I'd be willing to ask money for (but I'm a perfectionist, so I probably never will).