NikKelly posted at 11:42 AM Thu, 19 May 2022 - #4438838

I've accumulated ample store points for P12, but I've held off upgrading my P/p11 for several reasons.

First, I would have to use Cycles from the start. As yet, I cannot 'grok' more than the very basics, and the recent Cycles version change is as potent as the Python switch. I need a 'Cycles 3.0 for Dummies' book, something that is cross-platform, not just a Blender text.

Firefly is still there, or PhysicalSurface if you want to use Superfly without using Cycles.

If you are interested enough to learn it, Cycles is fundamentally simpler than PoserSurface, which is a crazy hack of multiple overlapping and contradictory approaches. If you learned PoserSurface, you can absolutely learn Cycles. The PhysicalSurface root node is even easier, and since you can freely use both PhysicalSurface and Cycles in the same scene, it's easy to use PhysicalSurface where appropriate while taking advantage of Cycles shaders. That permits you to learn Cycles gradually.

Second, I want robust rigged-FBX import, as 'take it for granted' as OBJ+MTL, but boned. With a few, honourable exceptions that manage to 'play nice' --Kudos, guys !!--  my understanding is that the rest will stay 'pot luck' until Unimesh arrives to simplify rigging. Meanwhile, there's Mixamo, exporting as FBX version 6.1 (~2016)...

Third, rather than up-grade either of  my twin, now-ageing graphics cards, I realised it was cheaper and more future-resistant to build a network-render 'Box', send jobs to that. Sadly, a lot of P12's super features need super GPUs...

Superfly rendering is faster with newer GPUs but they aren't required.

I do sigh when I see the latest 'photo-real' DS figures but, truth be told, I lack both the skill and artistry to make use of them. In fact, I reckon I 'topped out' at VAGM4. Later props and clothing are a different matter, as I'll happily 'rip' such to OBJ+MTL, port to Poser. FWIW, DS' procrustean UI gives me a prompt migraine... 

IMHO, reliable import of  XNA/Lara's rigged XPS, X & ASCII and MMD's rigged PMX would trump Daz' Series 5~6~7~8 figures for most Poser users...

Sounds nice. It's not an advantage of P11 over P12 though.