Hey folks =)

I just picked up Poser Pro 2010 and need some help familiarizing myself w/ the figures and the new Poser UI in general... I upgraded from 7, and I actually just upgraded from 5, so I'm pretty overwhelmed w/ the HUGE jump in difference "stuff"...

Ok, so the library window just sucks... Seems the general concensus, but I have to ask, hoping maybe I missed it.... Have they fixed it or made it dockable or something yet?!?

I see in the threads people discussing "IDL"... And that is?!?!?!?

I downed and installed the sr1.1... Is that the only update of fix I need, or are there others floating abouts?

But what I'm really here for is to catch up on the characters... I'm wayyyyyyyy behind, I know Don and Judy were for Poser 5, and maybe I used them once =P I've been using the Daz figures for so long so I don't know who's who, and what's what. I see that Miki 3 is out, who's that and who is the male counterpart?

I downloaded something at SM/CP, it was a James, Jessi pack?!? Can someone explain what this is?!? >>here<< I mean, was that part of Pro2010 and I didn't need to download/install? Is this the mirror of like V3 and M3?!?

How come the actual Pro 2010 folder has only the 1 figure, all the action seems to be in the Poser 8 folder. Even further, how come the figure in the Pro 2010 folder looks so damned creepy?!? Like a MakeHuman mesh rather than the newest Poser figure. Am I missing something, is that just me?????

It's just overwhelming all the new stuff, hope it doesn't seem as I am ranting, that's only partially true. I'd like to unantiquate myself asap, I'm mainly a Carrara user and never did much w/ Poser outside of cloth and grab my figure to render in something else, but as is, it's becoming more and more of a -tool- for me...

Any help, advice or knowledge you could toss my way will be gobbled up and immensely appreciated =)

James and Jessie are Poser 6. Have no idea of the newer ones after that.

I just side graded to Poser Pro 2010 last week. I haven't installed it yet.  But I'm going to watch this thread.

IDL = indirect lighting, I think

1 More thing...

In the content directory, there is a downloads folder. It was empty in 5, empty in 7 and is empty in 2010... How do we use this? Does anyone even use this feature???

How on earth do you not jump out your skin of excitement on having the new hotness =P I -hovered- over the download and installed immediately. So far, its really awesome, but then again I was impressed when I started using 7. I guess when you only use it to snag charcaters for other programs, it's real easy to impress me, lol... Carraras UI lets us do the grabbing str8 from Carrara itself, so I really loss any need for Poser, if not for the special sales and the coupon, I'd prolly still be w/ 7. But it is nice for once in my life having the Poser version that is up to date =P

I was using Poser 3 just 2 years ago =/

FYI ...

Poser 6 Male Figure = James
Poser 6 Female Figure = Jessi

Poser 7 Male Figure = Simon G2 - (2nd Generation)
Poser 7 Female Figure = Sydney G2 - (2nd Generation)

Poser 8 Male Figure = Ryan
Poser 8 Female Figure = Alyson

IDL = InDirect Lighting
... as opposed to
IBL = Image Based Lighting

Downloads Folder may be used for stuff you download (note - may be)

Poser 3 ??? ..... There was a Poser 3? ... :lol:

cheers,
dr geep
;=]

The figures you shared the link to from CP, are James G2 and Jessi G2. Great figures. You can use Poser 7 Simon and Sydneys clothes on them.

Quote - IDL = InDirect Lighting

I prefer to think of IDL as being "Indirect Diffuse Lighting" just to remind myself that I won't get specular reflection from it.

Ah have one word for you Matcreator, Skype ;p

LOL @ Skype =)

Attached Link: http://www.runtimedna.com/forum/showthread.php?46536-Outdoor-Lighting-with-Poser-8-IDL

" ... Indirect lighting is a great new feature in Poser 8. It allows us to directly do some things we had to fake before, like global illumination and ambient occlusion.

Keep in mind that AO in Poser is a way to fake occlusion in a render. IDL (Indirect Lighting) does the real thing.

So TAKE AWAY ALL THE AO NODES in your materials before you use IDL, or the render will take a huge amount of time to complete. AO nodes are not compatible with IDL, except the rare occurrences where the AO node is used to drive a function to give a special effect. AO in light is deactivated when using IDL. ..." (see link above)

cheers,
dr geep
;=]*

I thought Poser Pro turned off all the AO nodes on its own when you selected IDL. Am I in error?

Quote -
Ok, so the library window just sucks... Seems the general concensus

It's not the consensus. While you'll see posts here from people that hate it, have problems with it etc., the vast majority of users - myself included - are perfectly happy with it. It's a utility, so it's hard to get excited about if it 'just works'.

Quote - I thought Poser Pro turned off all the AO nodes on its own when you selected IDL. Am I in error?

I think it does that for material AO nodes but not for AO in lighting... or is it the other way round?

Quote - > Quote - I thought Poser Pro turned off all the AO nodes on its own when you selected IDL. Am I in error?

I think it does that for material AO nodes but not for AO in lighting... or is it the other way round?

IDL turnes off the AO in lighting IIRC.  I also think that after the SR it also bypasses the AO nodes.  The AO nodes have a checkbox to include AO in IDL but by default it's checked off.

The big kicker will be the Gamma Correction applied to your renders.  It does not exist in your earlier versions of Poser, and it will be rather shocking once you start using it for the first time. 

Oh, that downloads folder is hardly used by most vets anyway.

Thanks for all the replies and responses, it is greatly appreciated. As far as the figures, I misunderstood, There is a Poser Pro folder inside the  Poser Pro 2010, and that's the folder that has the mesh that resembles a MakeHuman figure. I had to inspect and dissect all the folders carefully to be able to make heads or tails of whos who, but I think I got it now...

I'm anxious to test the Poser figures in Carrara, not expecting any problems, but I know that the earlier Poser figures do not take to it well.

Again, many, many thanks =)

If you haven't got it, definitely get Bagginsbill's Environment Sphere http://sites.google.com/site/bagginsbill/Home  and while you're there get everything else too!

Now you will have to re-evaluate everything you knew about lights in Poser so far.   The environment sphere will be a light source and you can add another for shadows and probably a specular only light.  You shouldn't need more than that for starters.   Avoid ready-made sets as they will only serve to confuse you more.

Gamma correction can really change your trans/bump/displacement maps so you will need to use the script in MaterialMods/Change Gamma.   You can batch change them all at once or make selections.

Be aware that even with the SR there are still some issues with IDL especially with interiors so do a search in the forum for anything IDL and GC related and have a look at BB's suggestions.

IDL calculations can take a while so you may also want to run Poser in low priority mode so you can at least browse the galleries as you wait for a render :)  There should also be a thread explaining how to do that.  It works and it doesn't slow down the render IMO.

Most important, have fun and don't get discouraged.  You will really love the results once you get the hang of PP2010!

LOL, you're scaring me w/ information overload =P I was never good w/ lights in Poser and sadly rely on premade light sets =/

But I will get into the swing of things. I guess I've avoided it long enough, and nothing like having the most up to date version to kickstart inspiration.

Again, thanks for the heads up and links =D

Quote - > Quote -

Ok, so the library window just sucks... Seems the general concensus

It's not the consensus. While you'll see posts here from people that hate it, have problems with it etc., the vast majority of users - myself included - are perfectly happy with it. It's a utility, so it's hard to get excited about if it 'just works'.

I've never had a moment's trouble with the library. I used Poser 8, but I think it's the same as the Pro library. I like it ;o).

Laurie

I use the empty downloads folder as the template for my external runtimes as its not really empty but contains all of the subfolders that a runtime needs. So I have a folder called Runtimes which contains several copies of the downloads folder renamed to whatever I want my runtimes to be called. Hair, Props, etc. Then I install my content into those.
Fast and easy way of setting up externals.

As for the library window, I love it. But I have mine dragged over onto a second monitor so I have no problem looking for somewhere to dock it and don't have to keep clicking it to the front either.

Actually lighting is much easier now.  You don't need as many lights and you can adjust everything much more easily. 

I forgot to mention previously that since the library is not working out for you, how about trying Yarp's P3dO?   It enables you to search through all your runtimes and preview everything much like in windows and along with a python script it allows you to open the file directly into Poser with just a double click.  I've been using it since Poser 6 when my runtimes started expanding.

It's got many other features as well that are very useful even if it's not used as an alternative to the library.

http://www.senosoft.com/

I renig my previous statement, it doesnt suck =P

Creatures of habit I suppose... Just wasn't used to an entire window for the library that used to be a side panel, but it really isnt -so- bad after all. I only have 1 monitor though =/

Still, should be optional at the very least.....

Its a shame that Poser 8 doesnt have the options for the menu that PP2010 has.