I bought Poser 10 a few weeks ago. Turns out I shouldn't have; I apparently lack a few hundred of the IQ points required to use the software. I've developed a pronounced twitch in my right eye and a tendency to burst into tears at random.

So I'm not only throwing in the proverbial towel, but buying it first-class airfare to Aruba and renting it a beach house. 

My question is this -- can I sell my Poser 10 discs? I can't find a way to de-register the software. Of course I couldn't find a way to load hair either, but that's beside the point. I don't want to saddle some unsuspecting stranger with software he or she can't even install.

I've looked on the Smith Micro site, and can't find any mention of de-registration or the like. I thought one of you folks might know, and take pity on this hollow shell of a man.

I'll be in the corner rocking back and forth, if anyone knows the answer. Thanks!

Not sure if you have given up completely :) 

But did you go through these tutorials?

http://poser.smithmicro.com/tutorials/basics/interface101.html

You would have to ask Smith Micro's customer service directly for the real answer. I don't believe there is a way to "unregister" and it's usually not permitted to resell software you've already used. But each company has its own policies. 

This forum is intended to help new Poser users learn how to use the software and there are a lot of people here that know how to do so very well and can help you with any questions or problems you're having. It's not that difficult once you learn the basics. 

So what are some of the issues you're having that's making the experience so frustrating for you?

Thanks for the link, 3D-Mobster. I went through the tutorials (the Smith Micros and the Renderosity versions) several times. I thought I understood what to do, but it simply never worked.

I even had a friend who is an experienced Poser user try to help me. She was last seen speeding toward Mexico under an assumed name. 

I'm hopeless. This is worse than my ill-fated guitar lessons, or the Be Your Own Heart Surgeon degree-by-mail debacle. It's probably best if I just return to rendering poorly-executed stick figures on old grocery sacks with Sharpie markers. 

It takes a while to learn any 3D program--and although Poser is easier than most, it still requires time and diligence. It is like learning a new language. You cant just plop yourself in another country and start speaking Swahili in a couple weeks. I dont know the answer to selling the program, but I assume you got Poser because you want to start creating 3D images and/or animations--and so I would argue, give it another shot. Take it slowly. Import a creature, move it around a little. Dont try to do everything at once. Poser is a delightful program and I think the main trick is--well, enjoy it!

Wow, thanks for all the replies! I really appreciate the support and kind words. Wish I'd worked up the courage to post here sooner.

I'm at work and my Poser machine is at home, but I can sum up what I believe is my single biggest issue as this -- I can't get DAZ or Renderosity files installed in the places Poser expects to find them. 

I know they are supposed to reside in a Runtime file. I've tried using the DAZ installer, tried manual installs, and I actually got a single zip file from Renderosity to install using the Content pane  inside Poser. 

But for the most part, I wind up either not being able to see installed content at all, or getting errors when I click on it. I thought I'd actually managed to install hair; it appeared as content, but when I tried to use it a dialog box opened, asking me where was located. 

I apologize for being such a clueless newb. Will post specifics when I'm in front of my Poser machine.

Again, thanks!

Yes, what dnstuefloten said. There are also plenty of video tutorials on youtube that could help you. Some people learn better by demonstration than they do by reading a list of steps. 

Here is a link to Smith Micro's youtube channel, and a playlist of 30+ demonstration videos all about using Poser:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLynyD-7entJ0exWVVKLZLvUYmMFLr6lOy

As for transferring/resale, it's in your license agreement. Assuming you're using Windows, go to Start > All Programs > Smith Micro > Poser 10 and you should find a document called Poser License, or Poser EULA (End User License Agreement). Scroll down to where you see the heading Program License: 

Quote -   Subject to the terms and conditions of this EULA and your payment of the license fee, the Company grants you a limited, personal, nontransferable and nonexclusive license (without the right to sublicense): 

Thanks, AmbientShade!

don't give it up yet.  takes approx. 1.5 yrs to learn poser.

In my case, the 1.5 year figure may need to be amended as 1.5 million years, or something similar.

I suppose I should offer a few more details. I have Poser 10, running on Windows 7. My PC has 8G of RAM, a six-core processor, and a 2G video card. 

My previous experience with graphic art programs includes, um, nothing. I did have an Etch-A-Sketch as a kid, and I once depicted a crooked line on it. 

So far I've bought Victoria 4.2 from Daz, and a bunch of stuff from Renderosity (hair, clothes, props). 

I'll take another stab at it tonight. Thanks for the suggestions.

Welcome to the world of 3D and some of the frustrations but believe me there is an up side.

If you have had problems in installing the content and programs into the right place then you are not alone, the question about how to install files comes up in the forum once or twice every month.  I can understand the frustration but if you have had problems with the install then you really have not had time to really play with Poser.  It does take time to learn, I have being playing with Poser for over 10 years now and I still learn something new most days.  The good news though us that I was creating pictures (renders) that fasinated me in a couple of weeks.  OK I cringe a little when I look at them now but it shows how far my skills and the software has come.  Give it another shot and let the people here help you, they are good at it, believe me.

Finally I am an ex-traininer and my definition of a stupid question is very simple, it is the question that is thought of but never asked, anything else is fair game.  We have all been at the start of something and needed help, so let rip. 

Just a quick word of encouragement. As others have already noted, Poser does take a bit of time to learn. Unfourtunately, due to the complexity of 3D, and the attempt to keep Poser a bit more user freindly, content installation, and understanding how it is organized, can be a bit complex for the new user. But once you begin to understand the basics of both content organization, and how Poser works, things  get easier.

I had a bit of an advatage when first starting with Poser/3D because I worked with (and supported) computers at work every day. But I had no art or 3D training at all. It took a while, and I actually read the manual of my first 3D app from cover to cover, which helped a lot. But give yourself some time, and take baby steps, and you will get there. Heck, if I can make images people actually like, most anyone should be able to. (I have a science degree ..... major linear/logic driven thinker, and not very artistically inclined. I can do just about any kind of technical drawing or make a highly acurate map, just don't ask me to draw a bunny rabbit and expect to get anything better than a blob with ears)

Please don't give up in frustration, take a deep breath, recite your mantra ("I love Poser, I love Po...") and ease into the Poserverse slowly.   You're obviously smart (your writing is a hoot!) enough for this, it just takes time.  Read everything, fiddle with it a bit, read some more, fiddle...and so on, you'll gradually pick it up.  Most everyone here has gone through the same process.   I'd suggest you grab a bunch of the free stuff before investing money.  Hit the 'freebies' forum for many (many, many, many...) links. Relax, have a cookie and welcome to the nuthouse.

as imposable as it seems now.
very soon it will seem very easy.

just hang in there for a week or two.

poser comes with a lot of stock meshes.
there fun to play with

Quote - The last time I mentioned this I was thoroughly shot down, but I have never EVER installed Poser to C:Program Files. I have installed Poser directly into the C drive in its own folder and have no problems. I also unzip my content inside of my Downloads folder and hand install everything into Poser, changing folder names if I have to so that it fits into my own type of organization. I never EVER unzip anything directly into Poser. Yes, it's more time consumming, but you learn Poser's file structure this way and you know exactly where your purchases are and have no problems with Window's new security precautions regarding the Program Files folder.

^

All of my project files, regardless of program, are on a seperate partition of the hard drive and all zips are unzipped in dedicated folders in my Downloads folder, then manually placed where they go.  Too many times I would try to unzip, say, a hair item, and it would want to replace my entire Runtime with its own just to install the hair.

Besides, in theory, if I put it somewhere, I should remember where it went.  I write it all down, though, since each main subject (Victoria, Animals, Locations) has their own Runtime and some products - let's use hair again - are made for more than one figure.

Basicwiz has a thread or three around here somewhere about how he organizes his truck load of stuff.  I need to go check those out myself . . .

Quick update: Victoria 4.2 loads. I can pose her, move her, all that.

I hoped to add hair. Got Crazy Locks from Renderosity (http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/phc-crazy-locks/101796/) and thought I even managed to install it by using the Unzip function in the Content pane. 

Hair items -- lots of them -- show up in my content folder, under Figures. 

Clicking on hair does one of two things -- nothing, or I get the error message shown below:

I know I'm doing something imbecilic.  There's probably a double-secret hair follicle stablizer script I need to run first. But if anyone has any suggestions, including 'Take up stamp collecting,' I'd appreciate them. Thanks!

The screenshot shows you trying to load a hair pose - was the hair figure in the workplace (now covered by the pop up), or did you try to apply a pose to nothing?

Edit:  Also, make sure the poses you are trying are for the hair figure they came with - you can experiment by mixing, but poses that are included in a product are meant for that specific figure. :)

If you had a figure in the workroom and that is an otherwise correct pose you are trying to apply, and it still did not work, I would guess something was installed to the wrong folder.  Follow the prompt in the pop up to locate what is in the wrong place, then consider moving it.

I am left with the embarrassing conclusion that I have been trying to put something that isn't hair at all on this poor woman's head.

I thought all that was hair. 

Ouch. 

I see what you mean now. I bought hair -- poses? 

What I should have bought was hair. No wonder Poser just sort of looked at me funny.

Thanks. 

"I'm not always a blithering idiot, but when I am,

I do it in public, in a Poser user forum."

Quote - I am left with the embarrassing conclusion that I have been trying to put something that isn't hair at all on this poor woman's head.

I thought all that was hair. 

Ouch. 

I see what you mean now. I bought hair -- poses? 

What I should have bought was hair. No wonder Poser just sort of looked at me funny.

Thanks. 

"I'm not always a blithering idiot, but when I am,

I do it in public, in a Poser user forum."

 

 

 

Odds are good you bought "hair," which usually include a figure and differen colors (called poses - long story).  I doubt you bought just the poses unless it was an expansion or add-on and should have been marketed as such.  I will look at the products you mentioned.

Yes, you bought an add-on (just the color poses).

Since you are new - welcome :) - you probably overlooked the Requirements notice located under the product images.  In this case, it says:

Requirements:  Crazy Locks by Goldtassel available at DAZ

Departments: 3D Figure Essentials • AddOns • Hair

You have to buy that product, located at Daz3d.com, for there to be a figure to change. :/

Note:  I have no idea if Renderosity has a return policy on downloaded items.  If you do not want to buy the required item, contact the Renderosity Customer Support and see what they can do about refunding your money - again, no idea, since they would not want to give you your cash if they cannot verify you uninstalled the product and recycled the zip.

I would go look at DAZ and make up your mind when you are not quite so miffed. :)

(ALSO:  DAZ HAS THEIR OWN PROGRAM - MAKE SURE ANYTHING YOU GET THERE IS POSER COMPATABLE)

Lesson learned. I'll keep the hair poses, and get the hair object, and not be so fast to click buy in the future. 

Thanks for checking! 

I've heard of something called 'reading comprehension.' I'll see if I can get a bucket of that before I go off an another buying spree.

Quote - Lesson learned. I'll keep the hair poses, and get the hair object, and not be so fast to click buy in the future. 

Thanks for checking! 

I've heard of something called 'reading comprehension.' I'll see if I can get a bucket of that before I go off an another buying spree.

"For everything there is a first time, Lieutenant." - Spock

We are not allowed to link directly to off site things, so copy this in and it should take you to the item:

http://www.daz3d.com/crazy-locks-female-hair

It is by Goldltassel (as mentioned in what you bought) and the girl in the promo also appears in the corner of the promo for what you bought.  Odds are good this is it. :)

That's it. I really appreciate your help!

Since that should solve that issue, I will make another post about buying hair:  If it says "Touchable," "Candy," or "Toxic," it is probably just colors requiring the base figure not included.  I do no know what "PHC" means, except it is by P3D-Art, so maybe "P3D-Art's Hair Colors."

This has really been helpful.

I feel stupid, but that's more or less my ground state so I'm used to it. But I made progress, and I know a lot more now than I did an hour ago, so I am grateful.

The truth is this -- I've ALWAYS wanted to create visual art of some kind. I don't have the innate talent for drawing or painting, so when I saw Poser I thought I might finally be able to create something beautiful. 

Now I have hope that might actually happen. The problems are solvable, and there are cool people who will help. Thanks.

You are very welcome, in every sense of the word.  I lurk far more than I post, and I arm wrestle with Poser more often than not.  Most people here are a) friendly, b) helpful, and c) correct.  Hard combination to find. :)

Franktut

If you are interested I can upload a Poser for Beginners video from one of my Poser workshops I taught a few years ago.  The videos are good if you are looking for a step-by-step instructions for Poser basics.

Hi, I could help you with the heart surgeon part, or the guitar or poser.  but we'll start with poser.

the best way to load your content (until you really get the hang of it you can change later if you wish) is just unzip your folder of bought stuff.  You should have a folder called vickiebigtits or something, with a folder called Runtime inside it.  Now put this vickiebigtits folder anywhere you like. I put mine in a folder called PoserAll that I made on one of my drives.

Now go to poser and go to the right side near the top where your library is (just to the right of the words "show library") and click on the folder with a plus sign.  Locate your vickiebigtits folder and it will get added into poser).  Then from within poser click on the little down arrow just to the right of the show library words and you will be able to navigate to your new folder.  Then there are some circle things just above the show lobrary words, and you can go to props or figures etc there.

Love esther

Quote - This has really been helpful.

I feel stupid, but that's more or less my ground state so I'm used to it. But I made progress, and I know a lot more now than I did an hour ago, so I am grateful.

The truth is this -- I've ALWAYS wanted to create visual art of some kind. I don't have the innate talent for drawing or painting, so when I saw Poser I thought I might finally be able to create something beautiful. 

Now I have hope that might actually happen. The problems are solvable, and there are cool people who will help. Thanks.

 

Don't feel stupid most, if not all of us, have been there and many years down the line I still make the occasional blunder and purchase something without reading the requirements and then find I do not some of the requirements.

I came from a similar point as you, I am just a little further down the road.  I have wanted to be able to produce pictures for years but, like you, my drawing or painting skills were limited or none existant.  Back then I thought I might be able to create something beautiful, these days I know I can.

When you get a moment you might like to take a look at the Poser Gallery here at Rendo, that will give you an idea of what is possible.  Most are produced by Poser users with no formal training and started just where you are now.

Quote - Franktut

If you are interested I can upload a Poser for Beginners video from one of my Poser workshops I taught a few years ago.  The videos are good if you are looking for a step-by-step instructions for Poser basics.

 

If it's not too much trouble, I would certainly appreciate seeing the video! Thank you!

Quote - Hi, I could help you with the heart surgeon part, or the guitar or poser.  but we'll start with poser.

the best way to load your content (until you really get the hang of it you can change later if you wish) is just unzip your folder of bought stuff.  You should have a folder called vickiebigtits or something, with a folder called Runtime inside it.  Now put this vickiebigtits folder anywhere you like. I put mine in a folder called PoserAll that I made on one of my drives.

Now go to poser and go to the right side near the top where your library is (just to the right of the words "show library") and click on the folder with a plus sign.  Locate your vickiebigtits folder and it will get added into poser).  Then from within poser click on the little down arrow just to the right of the show library words and you will be able to navigate to your new folder.  Then there are some circle things just above the show lobrary words, and you can go to props or figures etc there.

 

Love esther

Aha! So I can have multiple Runtime files, each one located inside a folder I create specifically for a bought item?

Do these new folders need to be arranged in any particular relationship with the Poser folder, or is that irrelevant?

Thanks! It's beginning to make sense. Oh, and I replaced my heart with a pawn-shop swimming pool recirculating pump, so I no longer require a heart surgeon. It's messy, and it makes a lot of noise, but it's a real hit at Halloween.

Quote - Aha! So I can have multiple Runtime files, each one located inside a folder I create specifically for a bought item?

Do these new folders need to be arranged in any particular relationship with the Poser folder, or is that irrelevant?

Runtime folders are children of folders you which to add content to and must be linked to Poser to be recognized in the category Library.  There is a particular hierarchy of folders within runtime necessary for content to be separated so that they may appear properly in each Lilbrary category.  You can create these runtimes manually using Poser's main runtime as a guide, or you can have Poser create those folders for you with a few clicks.  Unfortunately, I am not at my own Poser computer right now but I can provide screencaps this evening to illustrate this process.

Love esther

Ps here's how it looks on my mac

In the folder called M4 is a runtime with the M4 figure.  In earlier versions of poser you used to have to have the daz people in the main poser program folder but not anymore. it's now just like all the others.  same for victoria 4.  Put it anywhere.

Keeping them all separate allows you to install easily and also find the things you need easily.  eg if you buy an item of clothing with several pose files for changing the colours and patterns, then they will all be together.

when you unzip your content, mostly it comes with a surrounding folder and a runtime inside it.  If a clothing comes with two runtimes, just merge the two folders together.  Because it is good to have everything that belongs to a particular set in the same runtime folder.  then put the whole thing somewhere where you can find it again, then add it in from within poser. Just try downloading some of the free stuff here and see if you can do it.

By the way only put in free stuff that says it can be used for commercial purposes and that does not require you to credit the maker (or alternatively put the restricted free stuff in a separate folder so you don't mix it up) just in case you make a really nice picture one day and someone makes you an offer eg wants it for a book cover or something.

Love esther

PS heart surgery isn't that hard either.  But you might want to start with practicing on small animals first.

Poser can add all your runtimes automatically if they are already created on your drive.

Thanks hborre and Ester! I'll set up some new folders tonight, and play with them. I think I see how they should be arranged now.

Really appreciate your rtime and effort!

Woohoo! Pardon my outburst, but I just successfully put DejaVu hair by Fabiana on Victoria 4.2!

I understand Runtime files now. Sheesh, if you could see what I was doing before -- but I get it now. I created a folder called DejaVu, and then unpacked the zip files inside it, and then moved them into a Runtime folder. Went into Poser, told it how to find the hair, and bam, there it is!

Feels like a major victory. Now to shape the hair, learn the sliders, play with lighting.

I quite literally could not have done this without all your help. Thank you, thank you, one and all!

Today, hair. Tomorrow, makeup! After that -- the world! Or maybe elbows. Probably elbows, I bet they're tough. But the world any day now!

Thanks!

By the same token, you can also create a new runtime using Poser which will build up the other folders necessary to populate the Library.  Notice the Make New Folder on the lower left hand corner of that window.  The procedure is as follows: 

Navigate to the location you want create your new folder.

Press Make New Folder, and give that folder a content name, i.e., Victoria 4.

Highlight the Victoria 4 folder, then press Make New Folder again to create a new folder within Victoria 4.

Name that new folder runtime. 

Highlight Victoria 4 folder again, then press OK.

Your new runtime is now linked to the Poser Library.  If you use your Window Browser to open the runtime folder, you will notice that all the other folders needed to separate content will also be automatically created.

Congrats!

You're making great progress!  Don't forget to steralize your instruments prior to performing heart surgey.

Esther, I always dip the salad tongs in moonshine before replacing my secondary aortic valve assemblies.

This hair is awesome. You can move it around, shape it, make it longer or shorter, even add wind. Sure there are by my initial count 11,465 sliders, but that must surely allow for nearly infinite detail and flexibility. 

I begin to see why Poser is so addictive. It appears one has the tools to get things just right.

Quote - I begin to see why Poser is so addictive. It appears one has the tools to get things just right.

Yep, addictive is the right word and as you hit problems and solve them you learn more, can do more, and the addiction just keeps growing.  Have fun.

A friend sent me some fancy lights, and they're up and running, no problems!

My current project is to integrate the new hair with the pulled-back short hair that came with the Vicki 4.2 figure. I found a number of skull caps scattered about the generic props, so I'm sure there's a way to mask the stock hair so that it doesn't show through new hair. I'm not going to ask how to do that yet, because I'll probably learn a lot just by stumbling around and trying things.

But it is good to know I can ask questions of you guys! 

Can't wait to post my first complete scene. It will be a week or two, I'm sure, but I'm not in any hurry.

Be careful about content distribution if they are purchased.  Strict licensing prohibits sharing unless these lights were created by your friend exclusively for private use.  Such violations can get you banned for life from most, if not all, 3d sites.

Thanks for the heads-up! But she created them. One is aimed right at the figure's head, so you can better work with hair. 

Her earlier experiences with me led her to believe I am not to be trusted with the little pins on the light control ball. I must admit her trepidation is justified.

I'm so happy that you are beginning to see the potential.

well keep the patient hypothermic during the ischaemic time unless you have them on a bypass pump.

And happy rendering.

Love esther

PS do post a render and the results of your patient's echo post op.

Yeah, you should go back and read some of my first posts.... ewww...

Last week, I conquered hair, if we define 'conquered' as meaning 'achieved rudimentary success in installing, see also Skill Level: Chimpanzee.'

I'm now working to clothe my Victoria 4 figure, as she has made it plain she has remained nude in the Pose screen for far too long. "Really," her expression says. "Not even a pair of shorts and a sports bra? What are you, fourteen?"

So I bought her a really nice Victorian gown, and installed it in my library (yay!) and -- well, that's pretty much it. I click on the Boots, for instance. I am told they are loading, and then Victoria stamps her foot and mutters something about perversion coupled with incompetence compounded by profound ignorance.

So I'm off to explore the myriad wonders of dynamic versus conforming clothing, the cloth room, and quite possibly the comparative effectiveness of various over-the-counter headache relief remedies. 

But never fear, Victoria, I'll get you clothed yet!

and did you manage to get conforming clothing working. ie if you applied a pose to V4 did the clothes still fit?

Love esther