I just came from www.curiouslabs.com, trying to find some information from the horse's mouth about the mythical Poser 5 and its supposed release date. I know that CL has been gathering input from its users, but how about some feedback? So far all I've seen is speculation here in the forums, but no official word. Maybe I'm not up to par on good business practices, but isn't it usually a good idea to release information on an upcoming product, in hopes that somebody might be interested in buying it? I guess my question is: when is Curious Labs going to give us some solid information?

Who knows? ;=]

You know, the weird (or, not so weird, depending on how you look at it) thing is that lately, something called Poser 5 has been showing up in some of the more... hmm... "disreputable" sites around town, and its taken every bit of conscious will not to break down and grab it.

Heh - it's easy to refuse the w@rez's version of P5 that's supposedly running around... they're most likely packed with trojans of every given description. You don't want to know how many bugs I have to fight whenever one of my students gets a terminal case of the stupids and drags in a pirated copy of something to show his buddies. /P

I am starting to wonder if Poser 5 will ever happen, and if it does, how much it will cost. If Poser 5 is going to take years to develop, I would REALLY like to see a small Poser 4 patch to fix some of the most common useability issues, like the ability to add new directories to the libraries palette and a separate MAT pose section. Oh, and the ability to CHANGE THE DIAL FONT. Italic pale brown over slightly less pale brown is a total freaking nightmare. Poser Pro Pack is uesless to me. I have no desire to do anything that Pro Pack offers, and I don't want to buy the Pro Pack just to have some small useability problems solved. I am getting a little annoyed with Curious Labs. SOME kind of update on the development process for Poser would be nice. If they would spend less time going after warez kiddies and more time getting Poser 5 development updates on their web site, I would feel much better about the company. But so far, as a non Pro-pack user, the only thing I can thank CL for is a patch that lets me use Vicki and Mike and fixes a couple of bugs. Yawn.

Ya know, Kieraw, you can change the background colour by clicking the "Paint Bucket" icon and clicking on the background. Might make the text more legible.

It does help, just "play" with the color 'till ya like it. ;=]

Good suggestion, Rex!

cheers,
dr geep <-------------------------------------------------(wonderin' why geep didn't think o' that?)
;=]

I DID know that. ;) However, it changes the font color AND the background color at the same time, and even with my monitor contrast at 100% it still isn't different enough to help. =(

dude you must be blind

Actually, I am legally blind in my left eye, Stolen. Even with my glasses or contacts on my vision is slightly blurred, so I rely on strong contrast to be able to see user interfaces.

And could someone explain to me what Poser Pro Pack does? I downloaded the trial version, and the only thing I thought I could use was a motion blur . . . I didn't really give it a chance, but still, I can't figure out what its for, other than exporting to Flash and other programs that I don't own . . . Ben

It would actually be nice to have a some kind of idea what they are considering. For example rendering Poser stuff in Vue can be a dramatic improvement. If for example Poser will have a better render engine it would be nice to know. That way rather than spend money on Vue or Bryce, I could save the money and put it towards a much improved version, and hopefully not too much more expensive version of Poser.

That's my point exactly: if you're making a product, ADVERTISE IT. I don't understand why CL is being so tight-fisted with its product information. Do they not WANT to make sales? I'd like to know, too. Will they have collision detection, improvements in the interface, easier-to-use libraries, WHAT?!?

Out of curiousity, I've just tried the High Contrast accessibility feature built into Windows, which messes around with font size, colors, etc. to improve visibility for people with vision problems. My recommendation: never use it with Poser. It only affects the menus, not the workspace.

TalmidBen, in addition to the extra export options (Flash, Viewpoint, 3D Studio Max animation, Lightwave animation), you get the following with Pro Pack:

• Python scripts for added functionality (automation, new features, etc.)
• The setup room, which greatly simplifies the figure/clothing creation process
• Some new models, mostly designed for web use
• File compression
• Multi-pane windows (simultaneously view multiple angles)
• Animated materials (change colors, bump strength, or transparency in animation)
• Uses PNG format for thumbnails, which can be edited with most paint programs
• Doesn't use .rsr binaries in Geometry folders; no more .rsr corruption issues

I haven't heard anything about the interface for Poser 5, but kupa dropped some hints that suggest that it will have collision detection (necessary for the cloth-draping system). It'll also have a true raytraced rendering engine that is Renderman-compliant.

I agree with Sgt.Jack.... if a new product is coming out, even 6 months from now, a business should be busily teasing, tantalizing, and whetting the appetites of its customers. That's especially true in a competitive market. It's not quite like Pepsi versus Coke, where brand loyalty depends on nothing but image. Poser versus LifeForms, or Poser versus Maya, involve much deeper differences, and a steep learning curve in either direction. Even so, a little puffery would help to keep our eyes from wandering!

Well, I think that "hints" are all well and good, but we've all been waiting a while now...and I think the question actually is...Are they really going to do it and soon, or are we just being fed hints that may or may not happen? Pendy

Actually I don't think there is going to be a Poser 5. The advances in Computer Graphics have really set the creators like CL on their ear. People see the stuff that comes out ILM and other effects house or watch something like Shrek and that what they want. And what they get is poser. personally I really like poser, would love to see another better version of it. But I don't think that is going to happen. Instead CL is going to try and create a program that is alot more advance and alot more expensive. it is going to fall somewhere in between Poser and the top end programs like Maya. The cost is going to a very step increase over the cost of poser and it is going to leave all us in the dust. The New program is going to fail because if you could afford it, you could afford something better. CL is going to fold and then we all really will be out in the cold. I think that this is going to happen simply because we haven't heard anything, and I keep looking at what other software companies are doing with their upgrades. personally I have reached the end of my wallet with regards to software and upgrades. While I know that software costs money and the development of the software isn't necessarily cheap, still you would think that the makers of software customers, would give us loyal users a better break on their products. Selling us the product at 40% to 50% off the retail price sounds like a good idea, until you remember that there is almost a 100% change that the price of the product is keystoned.

Attached Link: http://homepage.mac.com/stewer/CL/disco.htm

There will also be a release of a Shockwave w3d exporter for Pro Pack soon, allowing you to create stuff like in the link above. This exporter is in beta testing right now.

If you don't hear or read anything from CL about P5 then it's not because we don't care about it but because we're too busy working on it. We want a Poser5 release as much as you want it.

Great animation, stewer. Needs music, though. I'd still like to know if that Shockwave w3d engine can handle something as complex as Michael and Victoria. How did CL resolve the legal issue of downloading/distributing geometry based on their figures?

Well, I don't want to sound grouchy or anything, but maybe we haven't heard anything about Poser 5 because CL has been too busy doing things with the Pro Pak? Like some users of Poser, Pro Pak holds NO interest for me...so sorry if I don't jump up and down about the new exporter. I'd much rather here some concrete words about Poser 5 and what they are planning to put into it and some type of price range. There are so many things that need to be improved in Poser, two of the largest I think are render engine and memory management. Right behind that is a way to make new libraries and separate places for Mat poses..... I mean I try to believe you stewer when you say that CL wants it as bad as we do, but.....I'm thinking not LOL!! We were hoping something would show up when the Pro Pak did. Oh well...someday. Just being grouchy and feeling a bit dissolusioned at the moment. Pendy

This is a lot like what happened with Corel and Bryce 5 when you think about it. We heard basically nothing, right up until release, and even then, it was tough to get any solid info out of Corel as to what exactly was new, aside from the MetaBalls and the tree lab. Cmon, Steve, dont play games with your target audience. Tell us what you have in mind so we can start planning ahead for it.

Odd dynamics... If I say anything about this future feature or that, I get accused of teasing, if I don't say anything I get accused of playing games ;-) I can't go into specific details about the next release. Sorry about that. We're still selling Poser 4. There will be a Poser 5, we're hard at work on it, and there still is a lot of work to be done. It will be priced in a Poser price range, and it will be very, very powerful. It's going to be the most significant feature upgrade of Poser to date. That said, those who have Poser 4 today will be better off $-wise when it comes time to upgrade, and it still makes sense to upgrade to 4 if you haven't already. Here's the little bit of detail I'm able to share- new features to include- * dynamic strand based hair * dynamic cloth with physics * a renderman compliant renderer and raytracer engine * tree and shader node based material editor with procedural shaders * facial photo mapping technology * morph target sculpting * non linear animation * new content I think is is about a deep a peak as can i share at this time. Sorry, but no delivery timelines for now. Steve Cooper Curious Labs

oops, forgot about one other thing- * collision detection kupa

******************************************* ************* Stunned delight ************* ************* Eager Frustration *********** ************* Wistful yearning ************ ******************************************* { deluge of inquiries - "How Soon" } G Thanks kupa! - I see what you mean about accusations of teasing (just from my own internal reactions to your posting :-)). It's a really impressive list!

Thank you for sharing this information, Steve. =) I had heard some of this, but strand based hair, photo mapping, and procedural shaders are all new to me. ;) And the info on the price range is extremely useful.

Only two words to say... HOLY CRAP!!!!! Gawd, I can't wait... will the renderer have radiosity and caustics? Wait, I know, you won't say. 8-P

This all sounds wonderful to me :) Thanks Steve for saying something. I had heard NONE of this...(I don't get around much, I'm busy working in Poser) LOL!!! now we can all start foaming at the mouth in anticipation! Pendy

WOW! All those features and still in Poser's price range? Let me repeat "WOW!" This is really an impresive list of features. Thanks for the update.

Just tell me one thing: Will ERC crosstalk be fixed????

Ron, he already said that Poser 4 users would get a special upgrade price. ;)

Man... I'd KILL for a better way to put up backgrounds in Poser! As it is now, I do it by making a square, stretching it to the size of the background image I want to use, texture, line up the camera, make sure the lighitng is okay, make sure there's nothing relflective, and that the square texture is just so, make a snapshot of it by hitting "copy to background"... etc etc etc. 98 steps later, I might have something I could use. Geez - why not just add a simple little "import background" function and rig it to suck in .jpg/.png/.psh images from an external file... If your working window is 640x480, then a 640x480 .jpg would fit perfectly! ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! whew - 'k, rant over :) Other than that, I think an easier way to set up point-source lighting (have light emanate directly from a prop, say, like they do in every FPS game editor I've ever seen) would be real cool, too. Oh, and an easier fog and volumetric efects thingy would be really cool. /P

gad... my spelling sucks. /P

Umm... P... I hope you were joking in that post...

Wow, P5 sounds great! Imagine, a world without Poser . . .

You're just ........

• • • • E X C I T E D * * * *

So am I!

But, I can wait ...
[geep, you stupid idiot, you don't have any choice]
... but, I don't know for how long ....

To whom may I give my deposit for Poser5?

cheers,
dr geep <-------------------------------------------------------------------- [already drooling]
;=]

O. M. G. When you said that I hit the manual (it's rare for me to actually do that.) I found Import|Background Picture. 'scuse me while I go beat my head against the wall for an hour or so. /P <----------- (a guy who stupidly tends to miss the obvious a lot.)

... glad I'm not the only one that does that! ;=] <--------[you know who]

I would love to see curious labs let us take a demo of poser 5 beta version for a test drive.

I hate to rain on the parade, but we still don't have a date, a price, or even a firm idea of what Poser 5 is actually going be in relation to 4. Alot of all this that is coming from CL is stuff that we have already heard and heard. Sure we got tossed a small tidbit, but the important stuff is still "we're still working on it." I really really want an afordable and great Poser 5. But I am not going to start jumping up and down with excitment until I see a date, and a price. It would help greatly if the folks at CL would give us an ETA of Poser 5, especially those of us who would have to start socking away some cash to be able to get it when it does come out. Sigh!

Collision detection?! Strand based hair!!? Cloth with physics?!

Waiter, I'd like my cloth with physics, please.<<

I do feel like I've been tossed a morsel, but what a morsel. I can't wait.

Thanks, Steve.
Now, hurry up!! :oP

Hey Steve, et al, just one teensy little itty bitty request if I may? Could you please, please, pretty please with sugar on it, restructure the library system so that we can include sub folders? As it is, I'm about to wipe my c: drive and go back to win95 because I just can't handle the single column scroll forever feature that win98 and up enforces. It's sooooooo much faster for me with the multiple column menu of win95. BUT if y'all would let us use subfolders the problem would be eliminated. Oh, and since we're restructuring the library system, could we maybe add our own categories (like one for MAT poses, etc?). Like my kid used to say when he was six and he really really wanted something "I'll be your friend" g Kate(who will be out of commission while she downgrades her operating system to one that actually works the way she wants it to work)

I would like to see shaders. better animation rendering a gamepad program for controlling animation of figures would be very cool a better easy to understand animation controls animated textures a new camera system tat allow you to parent cameras to figures and move the cameras around the scene multiple windows for viewing a scene physics with gravity and collision would be great auto parenting would be possible with collision, when a figure touches a prop the prop that has auto parent tuned on would automatic parent to the figures hands so the figures could pick things up or drop them. A movie editor for splicing animations and sound blab for making characters talk to sound bytes a text to speech editor multiple texture layering of textures so a figure can have more then one texture allowing another texture to show through. glow, a way to make things glow volumetric lighting background that can run an animation like an AVI file better ray tracing engine better file system faster program that takes advantage of duel pentiums and Macs. Animated trans effects for making rain or snow.

I would also like to see plugins made for poser 5 that enhance the programs abilities, this could lead to a new market an allow people to purchase functions to make the program do new things. Plugns culd be Physics or underwater effects maybe glow effects, there could be a whole new market out of this.

Something ele I would like to see,I would like to see curious labs purchase rights to bryce another metacreations product. If the were to combine both poser and bryce into one program, that would knock my socks off.

Too late, Mesh. Corel bought Bryce. =D What I would like to see is for CL and Corel to work together on a Poser plug-in for Bryce that would make it so I didn't have to spend 40 minutes setting up textures on complex figures. Nothing like bringing in two characters fully dressed each with hair that uses multiple transparencies and setting up CORRECT ambience settings on EACH material part. (Just LOVE that 100% diffuse and ambient. No, really.. I do. It's so fun.)

Ok, this is all well & good. But.... How is it that poser 5 is showing up in warez sites if it hasn't been released yet? (this info from the beginning of this thread) 1. is it warez people have renamed poser 4? 2. someone at curious labs is in the warez business? 3. a beta tester is in the warez biz? But then I'm pretty much clueless when it comes to warez stuff.

They have a gazillion lines of code to write and debug and rewrite..., for two different platforms (maybe they're even working on a Linux version). Patience - start planning that great Poser 5 epic, buy memory, buy a dual Athlon and a bigger hard drive. If you keep peeking up the chimney, Santa will leave you a lump of coal - or maybe a 386SX and a copy of Windows 3.0 PaintBrush.

About the warez thing... Most likely it doesn't have any copy of poser in it at all. It's probably a tojan horse meant to eat your computer. I don't know this is true, but I'd bet on it. Phoenix

Hey stewer. New render engine? A Morph Studio(Advance the old magnet into a whole 3D tool set to make morphs)? Ok I can dream a little can't I? Hint hint, wink wink, nudge nudge.... :) :) :) Yous guys is beautiful!

Hi kupa, I have a question. Will the Pro Pack work with Poser 5 or are its features part of P5? Also if you can't give an ETA for P5, can you give us an ETA for the day you know the ETA of P5? ;)

This new release had better be MAC OSX compliant
as promised to me by curious labs.
and a new ray tracing render rengine is nice but PLEASE dont do what COREL did to Bryce users
with Bryce 5
by adding alot of super raytraced render effects and make you wait 16 to 36 hours to render a quality still and forget about an animation!!!!

and make the cinema hosting plugin compatible with the OSX version of cinema!!!

the nonlinear animation system sounds alot like lightwave motion mixer...cool!!

GIve me those three things and i will be happy

: )