I just downloaded a cool looking set of files for Film Noir Office. Problem is, I haven't used Poser before, and can't figure out how to access the files. Seems to be all pieces with no main file. I've been a designer for 18 years and am proficient in Illustrator and Photoshop, and thought I'd be able to intuit how to begin. Do you have a How to Begin article or any kind of help that can come with a purchase/download? Just need to be shown how to open the file that I bought so that I can at least look at it as it appeared in the samples which inspired the purchase. I'm using Poser 5.

Some basic video tutorials from expertvillage in youtube will be a good start.

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2735068&page=1#message_3201624

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2818806&page=1#message_3746351

Try those. 

Usually the files are in the poser runtime order in the zip..just extract to C:/program files/Poser 5 or copy the files from the zip to the same files in the runtime. Once you get the hang of it ,its like riding a bike. welcome to Poser addicts anonymous. Make sure to pick up v4 from Daz because you will eventually anyways. Poser is a tuff addiction to kick, Cant wait to see a render. Ive seen some cool things with P5 lights but once I tasted IBL's and Ambient Occlusion, I could go back.

If the files are in a zip file extract to the poser 5 program folder. You the access them through the library panel on the right.

If its a Daz installer just run the installer and follow the prompts.

From the "Readme" file on the Film Noir Office:

"Extract the zip file to your Poser folder (eg c:program filesamith microposer) with option "Use Folder Names" checked ON.

(Note: prior of getting the lights, better delete the existing lights)

For ease of use the necessary props are gathered in 5 figures.  Get the figures (and included props) from the "figures" folder, 

then "RPublishing", then "Film Noir Detective Office" (ie from RuntimelibrariescharactersRPublishingFilm Noir Detective Office). 

To add each figure to the scene, select the desired figure clicking it once, and then click on the symbol with the double tick 

(at the bottom of the menu)."

To load the basic scene:

"The figures needed to build the scene are:

"Cabinet.cr2"

"Desk Full.cr2"

"FileCabinet.cr2"

"Floor And Objects.cr2"

"Walls with Larger Windows.cr2" - or alternatively "Walls.cr2""

...so you have to load all five of those from the characters folder. Hope this helps.

What I'm not understanding is the "get" in the "get the files" and similar advice. I have the Film Noir folders in the Poser 5 folder. It's just a folder in there as for now. I open Poser 5, look at my Libraries, but have no idea how to "get" anything that I have from Film Noir. Everything there seems to be just items for creating humans.

I want to use the Film Noir files possibly as the backdrop of a website. I could get away with just opening them large enough so that I can use it as a pict file and then manipulate in Photoshop  a bit to use as a background. I'm not really looking to manipulate the image much in Poser itself. 

It seems that placing the files in the right spot initially is an issue, but I've looked at the linked tutorials, and they're way too inside baseball for a non-pc user like me. I'm used to, say, Illustrator with a Get File or Place Image command with linked files attached. Is there any kind of direction that is broken down to that kind of simplicity? 

Thanks so much for all the input, forum!!

I believe you are misunderstanding the usage of Poser and the information the others are providing to obtain the end results.  In a nutshell, Poser grants you tha ability to manipulate 3d objects within a virtual environment, or stage, for a final rendition of a complete scene.  As I understand it, you are only interested using the Film Noir as a backdrop scene for another application.  Fair enough.  I am assuming that the Film Noir Office has been installed properly within Poser.  Which means that the runtime folder found within Film Noir zip file has been transferred to your Poser Folder (not to the runtime of the Poser folder!).  Basicwiz has provided an explanation, so I won't elaborate any further on this subject unless you require further information.

Navigate to the Figures category within your P5 Library and open the RPublishing folder, then finally the Film Noir Detective Office folder.  There, within, you will find the items you require to start populating your scene.  You must double click each item's icon to effectively load them onto the stage.  Again, as basicwiz outlined, there are many different items, and each must be loaded to build the final set. 

Now, depending which camera you are using (and I am assuming we are starting with the Main Camera), we might encounter a scene view which you may not be expecting.  You might be viewing the set through a window or an odd angle from another end of the room.  In which case, you will need to manipulate the camera's position to effectively get a better view. 

Simple?  No.  Manageable?  Yes.  There is no easier way, unless you use the camera angles provided by the file under the Cameras catergory.  I would be happy to provide an illustrated Poser view if you are still having problems conceptualizing the actual workflow.

That set was made by Ratracer and was sold here a few years ago. It most likely has a .pz3 file included which you should be able to find in the scenes folder. Most of Ratracers work had .pz3 files included. They will load the entire scene.

Thanks. No pz3 files, no pz2files. 

I have that package and you are right. I loaded it just to be sure. You have to go to the characters (figures) folder and load the entire package, then go to cameras and load the camera you want, then the lights. It does not load anywhere near the default Vicky spot so you really have to drag her around and into the office. Most of Ratracers stuff is like that. Hard to work with.