Having just been treated to a royal case of arrogant and deceptive unfriendliness by Smith Micro to me as a Poser loyal customer (all 8 releases) customer 'service?', I would like to get opinions on the current state of comparative capabilities of the 2 products.

I would do anything to find an alternative (even at high $ replacement cost) to Poser and Smith Micro after my recent experiences.

Thoughts opinions on Daz Studio versus Poser Pro?

I try to sleep on it and rethink it over 24 hours later. Forum shit is so shortfuse. Got a good Vodka? Fireplace? ;)

Two major reasons I use Poser is the material room and dynamic clothing. As far as I know, you still can't create your own dynamic cloth for Daz Studio, which is a big turnoff to say the least.

Quote - I would do anything to find an alternative (even at high $ replacement cost) to Poser and Smith Micro after my recent experiences.

Have you looked at Carrara?

DSA and PoserPro are both 64 bit. As Grappo said, you can't create your own dynamic clothing in DS, but if that's not a concern for you, you can still use OptiTex created dynamic clothing in DS. Which DS plugins you think you'll need is strictly up to you. DS has some things Poser doesn't have and Poser has some things DS doesn't. I know that DS cannot use Python scripts.

Laurie

Personally, I wouldn't let a single lousy experience with customer service have me dump a program I've used for years just out of principle. In my perspective, that would be giving a lot of power to... lousy people.

If I would choose another program over Poser it would be because I like the software better.  If customer service in the long run makes it impossible or difficult for me to use the software as I need, that would be a different matter..

Of course I've been in similar situations myself, so I know what it's like. 

Why not check out some of the other programs and sse what you like best? 

Quote - Having just been treated to a royal case of arrogant and deceptive unfriendliness by Smith Micro to me as a Poser loyal customer (all 8 releases) customer 'service?', I would like to get opinions on the current state of comparative capabilities of the 2 products.

I would do anything to find an alternative (even at high $ replacement cost) to Poser and Smith Micro after my recent experiences.

Thoughts opinions on Daz Studio versus Poser Pro?

Just a little encouragement, what ever issue you have with Smith Micro or any other service provider you deal with , if they give you a bad time , get in direct contact with the MD explain your complaint and wait for his comments , should that not work for you explain to the company that you are dissatisfied and you are going to take the complaint further, in the UK we have an ombudsman service to which we can address complaints, Post the whole complaint to the professional governing body for the industry. Most of all , do not let the provider off  lightly. It is imperative for  Smith Micro to have good customer relations.

Oh?
I"v had my share of "return's" from company's.

Mostly it is not the company, but the responding individual.

Write to management with all available details.

Stay polite but firm.

pruiz...

Not sure if I was the one that you were in contact with, but I did send you a Site Mail.

Anyone that does not feel they were dealt with professionally, should always ask for a Manager.

I got to the CEO and he backed up his people who were wrong.

D|S is free, but any clues what they were wrong about?  perhaps somebody here knows something.

Like others have said, If you use your own dynamic cloth, or dynamic hair in Poser, then DS probably won't work for you. The interface and workflow of DS is a bit different than Poser. For some people that is a show stopper, for others it's not a big deal, and for some it's much better.

Honestly, IMHO, other than the dynamics issue, it's a matter of personal preference. They are both capable of creating outstanding images. There still seems to be more vendor support for Poser, but the amount of content with DS materials is rapidly improving (though adjusting materials is usually not a big deal).

My favorite "Poser" app is Carrara. It's not as powerfull as say Cinema 4D (which would be another great choice if you can afford it), but it opens up a whole new world of possibilities since it's an all purpose 3d app that supports Poser content very well. I've got Poser Pro 2010, DS3A and Carrara 8 Pro, and have done renders for my gallery in all three. It's easier for me to get the results I want out of Carrara, and just fits me better.

If you do go to a new app, be prepared for what might be a steep learning curve. You should download a free/trial version of DS3, Carrara, or what ever else your interested in before making a final decision, just to ensure that you would be comfortable with them.

8 Releases?...It might be time to go to the next level anyway...Maybe start making your own stuff. (perhaps you already do)  8 )

I'd Consider Lightwave or Cinema 4D if you can afford it.

Sorry to hear of your bad experience. Hope you can get it sorted out.

Tom 

Would you mind sharing what the nature was of the dispute with Smith Micro's customer service?  (so the rest of us don't get caught?)

According to the original post, SM was not wrong about some technical matter, but rather was unfriendly. Deceptively unfriendly - whatever that means. I don't get it. In any case, I have no hope that we can solve the unfriendliness issue by us being more friendly. grin

I can't believe it was John (ratscloset), although odds are it was John on the phone, statistically speaking. John is very helpful and friendly.

I have never known anybody in the Poser group of SM who is unfriendly. They are friendly to a fault.

However, I do know more about Poser shaders than any of them and that's not their fault. They have to deal with customers and don't have time to try every possible thing imaginable like I do.

Anyone can have a bad day and sound unfriendly over a phone just as anyone can hear an unfriendly tone that may or may not actually be there.  

Let's not go there.

"I would do anything to find an alternative (even at high $ replacement cost) to Poser and Smith Micro after my recent experiences."

Then Get  Maxon C4D with interposer pro and get on with your creative life.

Cheers

just wait another 9 a 10 month's and take a look to studio 4.

daz is working on a full poser equal or possible better system. (dynamic hair, face room, animation, collisions and more)

for dynamic clothes you can use marvelousdesigner 2, awesome program!

plugin for studio is in the works.

after all, this goodies will have a price.

you will have a free version, but remember it is just a basic version.

you pay if you like to play ;c)

I use Poser Pro for two things that are not available in DAZ:

• Gamma Correction

• Non-Proprietary Dynamic Clothing

GC is in DS - however, the shaders haven't been modified to respect it so unless you use DS Advanced (or a text editor) to create your own shaders using the methods BB has posted for Poser it's of limited benefit.

And what about GI (Indirect Lighting) in DS?  I don't use DS but I have just recently fell in love with the GI in Poser 2010 and the wonderful lighting it can create.

Quote - And what about GI (Indirect Lighting) in DS?  I don't use DS but I have just recently fell in love with the GI in Poser 2010 and the wonderful lighting it can create.

DAZ Studio 3 Advanced has Global Illumination and Indirect Lighting.

Coldrake

K, haven't tried DS since version 2 I think.

Quote - K, haven't tried DS since version 2 I think.

It's come a looooooooooooooong way since DS2.

Coldrake

Just by looking at the Daz galleries, it seems that Daz Studio can produce very good, professional looking images. Of course I don't know how much post work has gone into those images, but it seems that Daz can rival poser.

I don't use Daz Studio myself, but it seems that now I have to. I bought Bryce pro lately and it basically  works better with Daz than with poser.

" I bought Bryce pro lately and it basically  works better with Daz than with poser."

by design... Daz linked Bryce and Daz Studio.......

Another reason why I chose Poser over DAZ:

• Larger community support - I can find content at many 3D art sites and not have to wonder whether they'll work with Poser.  I can also find a lot more information about how to get the most out of Poser.

Quote - " I bought Bryce pro lately and it basically  works better with Daz than with poser."

 

by design... Daz linked Bryce and Daz Studio.......

Well, yeah, but Bryce pro was heck of a lot cheaper than vue and I simply can't afford vue. In some ways, it's a pretty cynical move by daz , to make Bryce perfectly compatible with daz, but not with poser. I'm not really ecstatic about the fact that I now have to learn how to use Daz, But I'll just have to live with that, because I really want to create proper 3d scenery. With Poser, it seems that you can't really create beuatiful landscape or scenery at all.