Quote - ... only prob i have is sorting ezskin config part of it.

Can I help?

think i might have sorted it, but appreciate the offer.

Thanks Snarly.

I had a senior moment & didn't have the right figure selected.

Really liking this addon, would definitely pay for it.

Has anyone made any leather presets yet they'd like to share?

I forgot to answer about distributing plugins based on my forum posts. That is fine, Snarly.

Sorry I haven't got more time to talk - gotta run!

I have a V4 project going and need to finish it.

And then I'm going to take time to do some stuff with EZMat, now that I have it straight which is which...lol.

Quote - I forgot to answer about distributing plugins based on my forum posts. That is fine, Snarly.

Cool.

I have updated the EZMat downloads page to include a zip archive with a collection of plugins that implement Bagginsbill shaders, as published on various foums.

Here is a direct link for convenience:
BB free plugins for EZMat

These plugins implement the following shaders:
BBAsphalt, BBGlossy, BBIce, BBPolkaDots, BBPuddles, BBSlimySlug, BBStripes, BBSuede

Thank you both very much.

thx BB & snarly for those plugins.

snarly, is there any advice if I want to use EZSkin on old figure (V2LoRes)?  it's avatar to left of this post.

Quote - thx BB & snarly for those plugins.

snarly, is there any advice if I want to use EZSkin on old figure (V2LoRes)?  it's avatar to left of this post.

You can create your own figure definitions easily using the EZSkin editor tab of EZMat.
let me know if you need any help doing so, but it should work the same as it does in the regular EZSkin script.

Thanks for the zipped files. Can the figure definitions already created in the regular EZSkin Scipt be used in the EZSkin editor tab of the EZMat?

Quote - Thanks for the zipped files. Can the figure definitions already created in the regular EZSkin Scipt be used in the EZSkin editor tab of the EZMat?

They should be picked up automatically: EZMat and EZSkin use the same definitions file so anything added via one will be found by the other. That's the way it is supposed to work anyway.

Thanks again... I had the definition file installed under PP2012, in another folder, so the chance of them loading under 2014 PP is nil... :lol:

glad to report EZSkin worked well converting toon figure with P4 shaders to PP2012 (OS X).  had never actually used EZSkin stand-alone script (too timid).  after assigning custom set in EZSkin editor, it gave small error screen in re L: drive (see below), but no errors when clicking "do it - convert all materials".

toon hair in this one would be great with some kind of strand fx, but UVMapping precludes it.

Quote - ... after assigning custom set in EZSkin editor, it gave small error ...

Thank you - all bug reports very welcome.

This bug is fixed in build 097. Just download the zip again and overwrite the old file.

NB: To update EZMat properly, follow these steps:

1. Run Poser and launch EZMat
2. Right click on EZMat UI background and select 'Close' from the submenu (i.e. do not close it with the system icon)
3. Close Poser
4. Re-open Poser and launch EZMat, resetting your preferences.

This method unfortunately loses your docked/undocked preferences, but does cause the plugin title bar to show the correct build number, which it won't do if you just overwrite. Up to you whether or not it's worth the effort :-)

A question: I use XA from D3D. This is a toolbar that I have at the top of the poser window for frequently used commands. I have a button "EZ" for EZskin. I'd like to make one for EZmat. What is the Python call to get the EZmat window up, please?

Thanks for a really really useful new tool.

Wow, As a DAZ Studio user I can easily copy and paste whole sets of textures from one object to another or just one at a time.

Anything that will let me do the same sort of thing in Poser I will happily pay for. 

Keep up the good work, I will be waiting for the release !

Quote - Wow, As a DAZ Studio user I can easily copy and paste whole sets of textures from one object to another or just one at a time.

Anything that will let me do the same sort of thing in Poser I will happily pay for. 

Keep up the good work, I will be waiting for the release !

Have yet to use EZ Mat---project for this weeekend---legacy method pre EZMat

In the material room with the source object and materail zone you want to copy from selected, right click in the material room window, and select "select all", repeat the right click and select copy.  Change to the target object and select the material zone you want. In the material room window, right click again and select paste. Asuume you have the right macro menu showing, select remove detached nodes (assumes you no longer want them vs edit the combo of the original material nodes and the pasted material nodes). Done.

There is also an 'Apply to all' command in the context menu, however that will not work very well with figure models because the mesh relies on separate maps for torso, face and limbs.  It is just practical for uniform material zones.

Thankyou both of you.

grichter, thanks for the tip.you have saved me a LOT of clicking.

Note to other folks: this works in the Materials window in the "Advanced" tab - where the nodes are.

As part of my creation system I would really like to be able to copy and paste ALL of the materials of a mesh in one go as I update the mesh (lots of trial and error!) so I will still be getting the EZMat plugin.

Thanks all.

Okay, so I have dowloaded the prerelease version of EZMat and the free plugins -

  Where do I put the plugins?

I can't find anything that tells me where they go. there is a folder with them titled "plugins" but it is empty.

You can't find anything that tells you where they go because you tell it where they go.

Decide where you want your plugins to be. Tell EZMat where that is by entering the path or browsing to the path. It goes in the very first labeled field called Plugins folder.

0.0 wha?

I am subscribed to this thread and it wasnt giving me updates :(

its released?

It's the same for me...

You've gone so ahead on it and I haven't received any update!

Same here.

Laurie

I'm sorry that news of EZMat free availability hasn't reached everyone. I thought this thread would suffice for the announcement, but clearly there have been some technical issues.

Anyway, here's an update regarding the current situation of EZMat:

• I am not currently in a position to spend enough time on developing the product to be fit for a full commercial release.

• There are a few of features not yet implemented, including (but not limited to):
  (a) Support for overlaying plugins on each other or existing shaders
  (b) Support for user-designed plugin interfaces

• There is very little documentation

• The current version of EZMat still has an awful lot of functionality :-)

So, where does that leave us?

• It remains my intention to finish EZMat, but I cannot give an estimated schedule.
• If I get help with the documentation (i.e. somebody does it for me!) then I will finish EZMat and release the final product as a FREE version for the community to enjoy.
• If I end up doing all the documentation and finishing off the code myself, then the current version will remain free but the final version will be distributed as a (very) low cost commercial product.
• I am willing to do tutorials on the use of EZMat to people who could then share that knowledge with the rest of the community. I don't have time to write extensive tutorials (or I would just complete the documentation!), but I'd be happy to do online 'webinar' style tutorials, maybe using something like Vyew.com
• I will help anyone who wants to be able to write their own plugins for EZMat. It's surprisingly easy, requiring only very basic Python skills. Typically it has taken me about 20 to 30 minutes to guide someone through to the point where they can create their own plugins.

Finally, I should like to thank those people who have offered via private PMs to help test EZMat. I haven't replied to everyone, but rest assured that the offer is appreciated, and don't be surprised to get an email asking for such hep when I resume work on EZMat in earnest :-)

I'll do documentation and tutorials for you - and for anyone else of course :-)

I already promised that in an earlier post (and you accepted). Proofreaders are welcome.

Up till now I've been busy clearing up my immense to-do-list to create the "space" (at least in my head) to get this started.

a) no estimated schedule - haha, same for me. Before Christmas. Any Christmas.

b) resolved

c) not applicable, see b)

d) resolved

e) look like this can / should / will be resolved by docs (b) & tuts (d) in the first place

I can do proofreading. Used to do it for a living ;).

Laurie

Count me in for the proofread too.

I have come to the point where I managed to join a shader definition, made with the EZMat-Generator, into the template plugin code, connected diffuse color with an input node and have it working!  Heyhey! Victoria 3 can have her various materials recolored.

Many thanks Mr. Snarly!!

I have a question now: How I can force a refresh of the document window?  I see the result of my changes only when I go into the material room and select the material. 

Do I need to remove the 'pass' at the end of the code?

I have come to the point where I managed to join a shader definition, made with the EZMat-Generator, into the template plugin code, connected diffuse color with an input node and have it working!  Heyhey! Victoria 3 can have her various materials recolored.

Many thanks Mr. Snarly!!

I have a question now: How I can force a refresh of the document window?  I see the result of my changes only when I go into the material room and select the material. 

Do I need to remove the 'pass' at the end of the code?

Added in edit:

Do I need to restart Poser when I made a change to the plugin or is the latest version read from the folder by pressing 'refresh'?

Ok, found out that 'refresh' loads the version on disk of the codes.

Found also that call to 'UpdatePreview()' in MakeMat triggers an error message.

Quote - Ok, found out that 'refresh' loads the version on disk of the codes.

Yes, this is how it works.

Quote - Found also that call to 'UpdatePreview()' in MakeMat triggers an error message.

EZMat always attempts to update the Preview for you anyway, so you should not need to do this.. This may not work, depending on your version of Poser. The function has a history of being buggy.

However, I'd like to rule out any error messages. How are you trying to call this method? And what is the error message?

Quote - I'll do documentation and tutorials for you - and for anyone else of course :-)

Excellent. How about we put together a team of three (Yourself, Laurie and FVerbaas) to produce the documentation. I'll keep my part of the bargain and finish the coding, then release EZMat as a free product when it is all done.

I'll add you to the EZMat 'About' dialog box too :-)

How should we take this forward?
Shall I create a place on snarlygribbly.org for you to collaborate, or would you prefer different arrangements?

Also, to ensure that the project can cope with unforseen events in the future, it is important that the source files are shared. I suggest any of these applications for creating the source: MS Publisher, Adobe Indesign, HTML or even MS Word because i can work with any of those. Any other free, open source utility would be ok too, if you give me a link to the download for it :-)

Let me know how you'd like this to work and how I can help. I don't require editorial control as I'm happy to trust your expertise at producing documentation, but I suspect I could be useful to you during the process.

I'll kick it off soon, create some concepts, then we'll find the best way forward with the four of us. I'm working in MS Word 2010 and produce consequential results from there. My www.artbeeweb.nl provides plenty of space for anything, don't worry about the logistics.

we owe you, and we'll go for it.

Quote - I'll kick it off soon, create some concepts, then we'll find the best way forward with the four of us. I'm working in MS Word 2010 and produce consequential results from there. My www.artbeeweb.nl provides plenty of space for anything, don't worry about the logistics.

we owe you, and we'll go for it.

Cool, I'll leave it in tyour capable hands. It'd probably be best to carry on this conversation elsewhere now, unless you want to solicit the opinions of others here as to how the documentation could be best implemented.

Sounds good to me :D

Laurie

Quote - EZMat always attempts to update the Preview for you anyway, so you should not need to do this.. This may not work, depending on your version of Poser. The function has a history of being buggy.

Ok I will stop my attempts then. I use PoserPro 2014, build 10.0.3.26510; to my knowlege the latest version, on Windows 8.

Quote - However, I'd like to rule out any error messages. How are you trying to call this method? And what is the error message?

I cannot remember exactly. I took the code out when I noted the other plugins did not update the screen either. It was not very informative, just saying something like. 'Oops this plugin did not work correctly'. I noted it was associated with me just calling the method, without the 'Poser.' prefix. When I added the prefix, it did not appear.

I have just started playing with EZMat and I can see it is already a 'must have' so thanks to everyone who is now invovled in the process of taking this forward.  It never ceases to amaze me that so many talented people are prepared to give their time for the good of the community.  I only wish I had the skills to be able to help but as I don't I can only send everyone sincere thanks for all your efforts.

You only have to give the best you can, either in making tools & tuts, or in using them. That will keep all the others going. So perhaps "our" reward is in your gallery.

Quote - You only have to give the best you can, either in making tools & tuts, or in using them. That will keep all the others going. So perhaps "our" reward is in your gallery.

Well I will certainly be using EZMat a lot and I have refered to your other tutorials on a regular basis and I am sure my renders and use of Poser have improved because of them. 

Snarly has been an invaluable guy to the Poser community for sure :D

Laurie

has been? oh no, no way! still is!

Well, I sure didn't mean anything past tense if that's what ya think. LOL

Laurie

Is there an EZLight tool too to get the best out of the EZSkin/EZMats? Or if not a tool, are there some reference light settings everybody is using? Studio, interior, outside

In my opinion, it's like real life. That''s why we like it so much.

skydome emitting from a sky image to simulate the sky, or the overall lighting level in a large studio environment
single infinite light to simulate the sun (two for alien two-sun planets)
one or two light emitting panels to simulate studio softboxes,
point/spotlights to simulate any kind of flash or for deliberate strong shadow effects (Rembrandt lighting etc).

Just look around, or in a book on Photography: the lights you see are the lights you need. Except that elaborate reflector setups can be replaced by low intensity emitter disks, as you don''t have the cabling / power supply issue in your virtual Poser studio. But mirrors, whitish walls etc still do a good job.

Photographers rule for softboxes: about 1.5 times as large as the subject, and about 1.5 times that size for distance. Going larger / closer flattens the result, going farther / smaller will re-create the sharper shadows you''ll get from flashes.

just my 2cts.

A downloadable example of a Poser softbox would be helpful. I'm having trouble with lighting of late.

Also, I wanted to ask on the EZMat Leather, is there a way to remove the scatter from the shader and keep everything else in it? I had trouble with a large render using the leather on a high backed chair. I had to swap that shader out for a grey suade shader instead because the render time was insane.

Quote - A downloadable example of a Poser softbox would be helpful. I'm having trouble with lighting of late....

Like this?

https://sites.google.com/site/bagginsbill/free-stuff/tutorial-scenes/poser-8-soft-studio-lighting

Quote - Also, I wanted to ask on the EZMat Leather, is there a way to remove the scatter from the shader and keep everything else in it?

The long render time is more likely to be due to the soft reflections. Changing the softness from 2.00 to a lower number will help. I'm away from home at the moment, but I'll upload a new version of the leather plugin on Monday which lets you switch off reflections and scatter and we'll see if that helps.