hi all :D

 i am very new here. i am currently trying to get familliar with Elite Human Surface Shader. and i have a probem. whenever i set my textures and values of additional controls as i desire (also i used RAWArt settings to check if i am doing everything right) i get my renders blank - i mean all HSS surfaces go white. no maps. plain white shape of a figure...

what am i doing wrong? (i use the ctrl+double click option when loading HSS).

i use DAZ3D 4 x64.

any guess what's going on? 

Did you install a separate version of the HSS shader? It's included with DS4, so if you did you may have repalced a working copy with a non-working copy. If that isn't it, do a render, then go to Help>Troubleshooting>View Log, scroll to the end and see if there are any shader-related errors. Also, make sure you are using the 3Delight render engine (top poisition on the quality slider in Render Settings).

**@ RHaseltine **

i had hss shader form an older version of Daz3D and i've probably made that mistake. so... i hope that uninstalling the previous hss shader will fix the thing. if not, i'll spend rest of the day reinstalling whole daz3d and libraries :(

thank you RHaseltine :D i hope this will help :) 

i had hss shader form an older version of Daz3D and i've probably made that mistake. so... i hope that uninstalling the previous hss shader will fix the thing. if not, i'll spend rest of the day reinstalling whole daz3d and libraries :(

You shouldn't have to reinstall DAZ Studio and the Libraries, not just for a shader error.

Which version of DAZ Studio do you have? If it is 4.5 Pro, there are a lot of differences in it from earlier versions of DS4. I would suggest checking your plugins to see if they are all green. Also check to see if the hss shader installed correctly.

Also try going to the surfaces tab and checking all of the sections that have to do with colors including the sliders. This can have a large effect on how an image renders.

If you reinstall DS4, it may not fix the problem. You would just be reinstalling what is causing the problem along with it.

Another thing that might be causing the problem is whether your computer is at optimum performance level. Your processor may be having trouble finding what is needed to make the shader work correctly. This can be caused by several things to do with your hard drive. To fix this, if you have a Windows operating system, do a search using the following search words: 10 free ways to speed up my pc. 

@ Agent0013

is 4.5 Pro. i have a complete machine pc made for graphics (i5, 8gb ram, nv5500 geforce) since it's my normal job. i guess i'll have to dig deep inot the files then :(

sections in surface tab are ok to me (also i've checked same thing with tutorials and patterns from raw art for example to exclude my own mistakes) 

i have also this communicate when launching Daz#d (when genesis figure is loading up with it) "Duplicate formulas found in files. Make sure that the content is properly installed. See the log for more details."

every single plugin is green light (except of "Freeimage" whatever that is)

so... what should i do now? reinstall? where can i find those HSS files?

please help 

Quote - @ Agent0013

 

is 4.5 Pro. i have a complete machine pc made for graphics (i5, 8gb ram, nv5500 geforce) since it's my normal job. i guess i'll have to dig deep inot the files then :(

sections in surface tab are ok to me (also i've checked same thing with tutorials and patterns from raw art for example to exclude my own mistakes) 

 

i have also this communicate when launching Daz#d (when genesis figure is loading up with it) "Duplicate formulas found in files. Make sure that the content is properly installed. See the log for more details."

 

every single plugin is green light (except of "Freeimage" whatever that is)

 

so... what should i do now? reinstall? where can i find those HSS files?

 

please help 

 

Go to DAZ 3D and put in a request at the help desk. There are several people there that can provide support for you. Just describe the problem in detail and submit the request. You may have to wait for a response but they will get to it.

Try using the Uber shader that comes with DS4.5 Pro it can be found in Shader Presets, omnifreak.

Aftter applying go to the surfaces tab and see what is listed at the top.

Reinstalling DS4 will give you the correct version of HSS - no need to reinstall the content, not even the Genesis Starter Essentials. As an aside, a shader like HSS is not a plugin so it won't appear in the About Installed Plugins list.

@ RHaseltine

thanx :) renistalled and it works fine now :D finally i'll be able to try my maps as i wanted to :D :D :D works like a charm :D thanx again for help and good will everyone :)

As an aside, a shader like HSS is not a plugin so it won't appear in the About Installed Plugins list.

*Thank you for clearing that up. I was only trying to cover all bases. The reason I suggested not reinstalling DS4 is because when I tried it, (my version was giving me the same problem), it did not fix it. Also, I did not reinstall the content library, since it was not the content that was causing the problem. I went through two weeks of frustration trying to fix the problem. I searched the internet every day, and finally I found the cause on my own. The specular and ambient settings were wrong. Reflection settings compounded the problem. So I backed off on the sliders for each, doing a test render each time. and began seeing improvements. It can be a problem when the workspace won't show the effects of what you do with those settings and with shadowing until it is rendered in 3Delight.

Anyway, if it will fix the problem, go ahead and reinstall. I hope it works for you.

Quote - @ RHaseltine

thanx :) renistalled and it works fine now :D finally i'll be able to try my maps as i wanted to :D :D :D works like a charm :D thanx again for help and good will everyone :)

Good deal! Have fun and let us see something you do with it.

Stay awesome!

Agent 0013.

@ Agent0013

** **

your advice was good, but i've reinstalled thing twice. once i've aloowed setup to use ththe same content library and the same installation folder. didn't worked (probably 'cause i haven't cleared old data from the folder). 2nd time i've changed the installation paths for both - studio and content library folder. worked. now i've simply cropped and pasted all my collected/made content to new content library folder and finally i have it all fixed :D

yu are right about specular settings, they can cause some problems (i use 2 spec's 25% & 35%  + textures) and i've decreased ambient to less than 50%, just as you did. finally i can go experiment with lights and shadows :)

btw. i hope i'll be able to show some of my works to this wonderfull (and really helpful) community :D check my gallery to see what i am going to make daz/poser aviable :D here is today's prop in progress and in the galllery is the "prop bearer" :D

Happy that you got it fixed. Your prop looks good, similar to a fantasy video game sword or machete. Perhaps you can post a link to your gallery so we can go there to look at it.

Stay awesome!

Agent 0013.

When James Bond sees me coming he says "Oh! Oh! One! Three! Everybody RUN!"

Glad you got it working.

Just out of curiosity why are you using tthe HSS and not the Uber shader?

@ Agent0013

props are is still in progress (i have to make 9 types of swords at least).

here iare 2 links to my recent (and only due to limitations) uploads

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=2373885

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=2373654&user_id=715260&np&np 

i have the "underarmor" ready and working to view at my "artist" :P page 

http://www.renderosity.com/homepage.php?userid=715260 

@ tparo

 uber shader won't give me the effect i require. i've made some extra textures (veins, muscles, blood and meat) i need for my characters. i want them to be extremely detailed. with bump, specular and displacement they are quite satisfying for me, but i need them to "come to life" and gain some guts and "extra vibration" from beneath the skin. also i need to check if what i made in 3dsmax is achievable in daz3d.

sss maps and hss maps will give me (i hope) that extra touch ubersurface won't for now. also i am not very familliar with ubersurface yet ;) and i need to base on what i know better.

what can i have with UberSurface by the way? anything good for characters? armors? 

@ haeressiarch:

As with you, I don't know much about ubersurface. What its capabilities are, and how well in works are two things I would like to know. Also, an easy to follow tutorial would be nice, preferably in document form. It may be nice to have new tools to work with; but if there is no instruction describing how to use it, that can be a source of frustration. You wouldn't put a new type of powertool on the market without instructions on how to use it.

@ Agent0013

i will put a RawArt settings here (i find them useful for human figures and human skins with few small tweaks, ;cause i use separate HSS textures (2 types actually and +1 for extra template for tattoos/bodypaint). for creatures (depending on skin types i want to have) i also use my own SSS maps and lots of tweaking.

i will try to put up a good tutorial (settings of dialers and examples of my own work) if you need, but i must warn you - my english is not as good as i want :(. 

here is what i do without SSS maps:

it's not very impressive, i know, but i will try to explain the issue (remember - i'm a newbie here, so if there's someone better informed, please check and correct).

gimme few hours and i'll be here with some explanations and few propositions of settings :) 

@ haeressiarch: 

The image is really good I think. I like the textured look of the character's skin markings. This is something I have been unable to do as of yet. In Bryce I can get textures to have depth, but in DAZ Studio I cannot even find any tutorials covering this subject in particular that is easy to follow. You even have the vein shading working correctly. Simply amazing!

Great job you did on this one.

uberSurface is pretty much HSS2 - I can't recall that it lacks any features of HSS, and it adds some new things.

haeressiarch that is a very cool character, I like it alot, the textures are very impressive.

Agent0013 to get what I think you mean by depth in DS, you would use displacment maps. White is positve black negative.

Thank you **RHaseltine. **I will check with some friends over at DAZ 3D to find out more. What I find will be posted here.

:D thank you very much. simple displacement ant bump texture work. so... maybe i'll start from explaining the textures and values, and i'll also put out my preferences about them. here we go with trembling heart. some people may find it very obvious what i will write about here, but understanding of basics always makes human life better ;)

TEXTURE TYPES

DIFFUSE MAP

or simply the Color Map. not hing more to add. color works as it is. represents the color surface of the model, no matter if it's human body/skin or metal/wooden/plastic prop.

Making the Color Map

** **

black color - it's black as it is. it's value/gradient may vary with lights/surfaces etc.

white color - it's white as it is.   it's value/gradient may vary with lights/surfaces etc.

rgb (red-green-blue) colors - their value/gradient may vary with lights/surfaces etc.  skin pigment will apear with that color. you may always adjust some color for better/more toned skin.

SPECULAR MAP

or simply the Light Map. specular map can decide the range of skin greasiness reflection and (sometimes) its shape. by default light will be filtered/reflected (reflect is a big word here - it only simulates/fakes this effect) according to the color you choose.

Making the Specular Map

black color - black painted areas are not shiny. they won't "reflect" light.

white color -  white/gray painted areas are shiny (you may use gradient rom dark gray to pure white). they will "reflect" light.

rgb (red-green-blue) colors - leave this map black and white. colors except bw won't do anything here.

*(i use quite dark specular maps, but it's just me - i give it higher values with the dialers and i find it easier to controll that way, specially while using omnifreaker HSS with it)

TIP.1. remembeer that skin is more shiny in places closer to the human bones.

TIP.2. notice that it's always bit shiny where tendons are (see your hands, achilles and neck)

TIP.3. it's getting shinier on skin tensions, to simulate this effect i add sharpness on my specular textures and some brightness-contrast is being adjusted. white spots are being stretched, and skin shines a bit more on wrists/elbows/knees when body is being posed ;) - same thing goes with muscles. 

BUMP MAP

or the Detail Height Map. i am using it for skin details as roughness, facture, small fractures, body hair, short facial hair etc. it belevels and embosses (in "micro" scale) object details, by simulating light/shadows over non-modelled objects. excellent layer for details.

Making the Bump Map

black color - black painted areas are depressed down

white color -  white/gray painted areas are being raised up.

rgb (red-green-blue) colors - no function here. leave whole texture  bw

*(i only use it for skin facture/fractures/body hair/rough surfaces/small cuts, wounds etc. it helps to add details to displacement map if you won't make any clear white displacement spots ;))

TIP.1. i use sharpness filter here as well, to add skin facture. works good for me in closeups ;) 

DISPLACEMENT MAP

or the Height Map. i am using it for skin details and changes that model details won't allow me to apply in modelling software (i use zbrush), won't do much when you want to change small things, but you may add veins, re-shape whole body (depth of spaces between muscles, body buliding structure, emaciation, "wiryness" of body parts. skin markings, deep wounds, large scars or anything you like is avaiable without re-modelling whole body. making elder bodies is extremely easy with it :) 

Making the Displacement Map

black color - black painted areas are depressed down (deep down - you can make your figure skinnier and thin fingers for example, but it's better to make some details)

white color -  white/gray painted areas are being raised up. pure white is always the highest spot.

rgb (red-green-blue) colors - no function here. leave whole texture  bw

*(i use displacement maps only in few cases. it's determined by the goal i want to achieve. using it will give you some ideas i think. experiments will allow you to find your own way for this thingy ;))

SUB SURFACE MAPS

sub surface maps are indended to show what's underneath the skin. in reality, they are here to simulate the light scattering under the skin surface. we are able to see veins, tendons and bones (their reflection) through our dermal layers as well as blood in reality as lighter or more reddish/soft blue/green areas. when light hits the skin its not just reflecting the pigment and features on the top. because flesh is relatively translucent, that light is often bouncing off multiple 'layers'. the first and most prevalent is the skin/pigment (color/diffuse map), then there is the blood vessels, muscles, insertion points, and bone. all of these elements are very subtle in a final skin texture, but when they aren't present, skin can look dead and lifeless. it may be also used to simulate injuries (hematoma, internal bleeding etc.) but it is here to work as sub surface of human flesh.

Making the SubSurface Maps

black color - black painted areas are black as in color map.

white color -  white areas are white. use it to mark bones close to the skin surface.

rgb (red-green-blue) colors - try to keep whole texture in warm red+yellow (+orange) tones. simulate the living flesh, muscles, tissues, bones, blood. yellow works great to simulate fat, red /pink is for muscles, purple serves as blood vessels (green and blue do the trick with smaller veins). everything you know about underneath the skin regions. it pays a lot to know a bit more about anatomy ;)

TIP.1. paint it red and use brightness-contrast to get the final look. use sharpness to adjust wrinkles, muscle facture, etc.

TIP.2.  paint veins, blood vessels etc. in proper colors. i use green, purple and blue. works fine on humans.

TIP.3. you can always use black-white (grayscale) texture to simulate the same thing. i prefer more detailed full color texture. you may also split this texture into three parts and use separate layers for veins/blood vessels, bones and muscles etc.

TIP.4. you can also create Back Scatter Map to simulate deeper tissues and bones. might be useful when it comes to really detailed renders (when light pierces through the skin or when you create monsters).

TIP.5. you can separate Sub Surface (second skin layer with only a reflection of what's underneath) layer from Sub Dermal (veins, muscles, closest bone landmarks etc.) layer and use them separately.

next post will describe some settings and effects but renders are still taking a while ...

@ RHaseltine

oh! i must try it then :D i guess i'll be very busy with it right now :D

**@ tparo **

i was going to put it in the shop here, but while it is possible to make it better with HSS maps i'll do that before i'll make it aviable :) thank you for liking it and giving me some extra strength to work on it evenharder now :)

Thanks for the explanations. Very informative, clear and concise.

This is a link to a description of the ubersurface feature. From what I just found it is indeed a human surface shader upgrade. If you wish to know more follow this link:

http://omnifreaker.com/index.php?title=UberSurface

i have a question guys, i've read in here that dynamic clothing doesnt work, what sort of outfits can be used then in animation to give the same or a similar end result?

Poser dynamic clothing doesn't work in DS - but the OptiTex clothing made specially for DS does work. Of course the choice is somewhat more limited, and you can't "clothify" a normal piece of clothing as is usually possible in Poser (depending on how the clothing is made).

am i right in thinknig the optitex range are made with marvellous designer|?

No - the Optitex range are made using software only avalilble for a very high price from Optitex.

Theres a good range of free dynamic stuff for DS here.

http://www.optitex-dynamiccloth.com/FreebieDownload01.php

ty guys appreciate it

Quote - Seeing as people are being 'nitpicky' about the name, lets get it right.

The company is called DAZ Productions Inc.

The website is DAZ3D or Digital Art Zone 3D

The program is DAZ Studio or DS for short and that name is trademarked, you'll find it on the splash screen when DS starts, on several of the help menu options and on the help/about daz studio pop up, as well as on the top left corner of the open program.

Touche

You beat me to posting this.

If I am talking about a certain software application, I either use the fully spelled out name or its shortened form (usually capital letters) and the version suffix. I do this to let folks know exactly what application and version is being referred to. As different versions will have several changes between them, it helps if the reader knows which version is being used. I understand how someone might get confused if they don't recognize something because their version is different.

can I use auto fit to make victoria 4 clothing from renderosity fit  onto genesis in daz studio 4.5

thanks

can I use auto fit to make victoria 4 clothing from renderosity fit  onto genesis in daz studio 4.5

 In my experience which I admit is somewhat limited, I have found that most third party clothing for DAZ figures do not work well with the auto fit feature. It boils down to how complete the clothing file is. As I understand it, there are certain things that need to be included in a generation 4 clothing file to allow the auto fit feature to work with it so that the clothing will work on the Genesis figure. Also, there is an extra torso bone in the Genesis figure that is not found in the generation 3 and 4 figures, and the Genesis figure is able to be morphed into either gender, (male or female). There is some clothing made by third party modellers that can work with the auto fit feature, but the only way to know if something does is to try it.

My advice to you would be to find clothing that is made specifically for the Genesis figure. there is quite a lot of it available at Renderosity, ShareCG, and several other sites. When installing Genesis clothing from third party vendors, be sure to put it into the DAZ Studio format folders rather than the Poser format folders. The reason for this is that is where the default Genesis content is located, including clothing, hair, footwear, accessories, and props. You can also find the default scene files there.

Hope this helps. 

Quote -  

 

can I use auto fit to make victoria 4 clothing from renderosity fit  onto genesis in daz studio 4.5

 

thanks

Yes it should work, shoes are a bit of a problem especially heels, long skirts also go a bit funky smoothing can help here - but theres no reason why items from rendo made for V4 won't work any better or worse than stuff from Daz.

If you have a particular item in mind can you post a link.

Since tparo says that it will work, I would advise you to take the word of the more experienced artist. Like I said, my experience is somewhat limited. tparo obviously** **knows more about the software than I do. I have only been doing 3D art for about a year. I only posted my comment because of my own experiences using the auto fit feature of DS4, which has not worked all that well for me. I think what would be nice is to find a tutorial that tells how to use the feature for this purpose and how to do the smoothing. I have seen a few video tutorials that handle smoothing but they turned out to be hard to follow for various reasons. This is why I prefer document style tutorials.

As for shoes and long skirts, tparo is absolutely correct. Even shoes and long skirts from the DAZ store made for generation 4 figures have that problem. I wound up having to make the Genesis figure's feet invisible to make the shoes look right, and if the shoe was open toe, low uppers, or sandals, even the zero opacity setting won't work. Fortunately, there are several 3rd party shoe products available for the Genesis figure.

thanks for your very informative and prompt responses -- this forum is a great resource.  

**@ **johnfairbanks I totally agree. I myself have learned quite a lot here.

I suggest you check out the tutorials as well. You can find some good information there, which covers a large variety of "how to" stuff.

Just go to the Homepage here at Renderosity, click on Tutorials at the top of the page, and then click on the software name for the application you want tutorials for. Once you are in that section, click on a tutorial title that you think would help you.

Admittedly some of the tutorials are hard to follow, but there are a lot that are easy to follow.