I've been downloading like mad the past 3 weeks, downloading nearly 1000 files in tutorials, things for 3D Studio Max, bryce, and Poser. However, now that I am sifting through my "bounty" I've noticed many people don't include a text file in the zip file or have direct link to a webpage with a skin. When I do post any renders or animations in the future, I don't want to be zapped by anyone for being a plagerizer for not giving credit to the right person. And for those who might suggest writing the names down, after you download as many files as I have, writing just adds that much to the weight and I could say the same for the guy or gal who didn't include a README text file in their zip. Anyways, I just wanted to give some of you a heads up.

True, many awsome freebies come without a readme and when I go to post something using it it becomes a nightmare trying to track down the creator to give credit. Now that I am more 'particular' in what I download I have the time to open the zip and if no readme exists I create one. Someone else gave an Excelent suggestion of putting the readme(s) in the Poser Texture folders for easier reference too. But I seriously know your delema from when a started 3 or 4 years ago and went hog-wild downloading and not realy know just what I was getting into... How can someone get the credit they deserve if they don't include a readme???

I know I really feel bad if I can't give the credit to the designer and I don't always remember to make a read-me of my own. I would like to add that if the generous souls who create the great stuff we download would put a link to their site in the read-me too it would help (for those free items that are linked to a different site) as some people e-mail or I.M. me asking where I got such and such it would be nice to send them in the right direction- :) Each and every one of you deserve a big hat's off for all your hard work, and it just keeps getting better and better! Thank you all.

Exactly. Hm, would something like "And a special thanks to all the people who's textures, morphs, and models I used that didn't leave a README file to credit them for their hard work." Does that sound bad?

we had this one a while back but it seems like people are still missing it out, my 2 freebies both have readmes simply because of my finding so many with no info on how to even install them, those go in my recycle bin straight away, which is a shame as some might be worth having. Rob

IMO, if someone doesn't include a readme, they can hardly kick up a fuss if they don't get credit, can they? I mean, most artists usually like to spread the credit around, but there is a limit. My readmes aren't typical, in that they don't usually have any restrictions at all. To be quite honest, I don't care if people credit me. If they use the stuff and like it, that's enough for me. I never look at the galleries, so I never know if anyone uses it (people tell me they do..a lot), but it's not something I lose sleep over. If someone wants to put restrictions on the use of freestuff, they need to be explicit about it. If they want credit, they should say so. This is known as 'common sense'. mac

I've got tons of stuff I downloaded ages ago, before I knew I'd be posting on line. I always include a line with a post along the vein of: "As always, my thanks to those whose freestuff contributions I use, in particular this time __________________ (fill in blank) who created the _________________ I used to make ______________." At least that way I can give some credit to those whose freestuff makes my creative life easier. One thing I'd really like to see with people who do Poser freestuff - if they are doing something like a scene or a building or something - to put the .obj or .3ds file in the zip along with the .pp2. I NEVER render in Poser, since Bryce gives me orders-of-magnitude more options for lighting, etc. and it's a pain to download something like a building to use as a background, and find that I have to load it in Poser, then export it, so I can build my scene in Bryce. This isn't needed with clothes or weapons or stuff figures would wear/handle, but for buildings and such, that .obj or .3ds file would make life much easier for those many artists like me who don't build their scenes or do the final render in Poser.

Allen9, a bit of perspective from someone who has offered a freebie or two... I never include obj or lwo files (I model in lightwave :-) with my downloads. In fact, in two years of modelling, I've only received 1 request for an obj file. Because I self-host the reason is primarily one of space. With the number of freebies I make available to the community, including the base files would add a prohibitive amount of bandwidth as well as suck up a substantial amount of FTP space, with no assurance that the files would ever be used. Now with that being said, anyone who wants the obj or lwo files for any of my models, all they have to do it ask., I make sure my current email as well as my ICQ number is included in each readme file.

Another Tip: I've started downloading the thumbnails along with the Zips and making sure they have the same name. That way they alphabetize nicely and a month from now when I don't remember what x.zip is I can look at the x.jpg and remember quickly.

Re obj files. I have to agree with Cooler. I've never been asked for the obj. And again, anyone who wants it only has to ask. On that subject, one thing I'd like to hear is if anyone has a problem with normals. I always save the objs for my stuff without normals, a habit I got into a long time ago. Poser doesn't need the information and DAZ, for example, tells brokers to leave them out. Is this a big issue? I ask because because I once saw a post where someone complained about not having normals to use in other apps. I guess it's easy to overcome by resaving the obj, as Allen says. mac

I convert every single poser prop I have into obj, as I render exclusively in Bryce. However - at this point I use UVmapper to convert them, as it and Bryce can run together without making my system die I may have goofed on readme's in some of my files - but texture all get my sig image on them

On unzip, most of the time the readme's overwrite a previous one. And its a nightmare trying to sort out the non commercial and commercial freebies. So, I plan on revamping my library structure in P5 if it will allow sub folders. I don't like the current organization and hope that I can set up commercial / non commercial libraries and group by model rather than having vicky clothing scattered around between props, poses and characters. Hope they do this with P5, or allow more customization, and yes, I do have pbooost.

Since reading all previous posts on this subject I now make my readme titles personal for the file in question "readme tunic pack textures" for example, stops the overwriting. And I have started including a thumb in the zip, for qhick reference.

I've always given my readmes personal titles. Usually 'macpropnamereadme' I HATE readmes called 'readme' LOL mac

Yep, Cooler I can understand the file size and bandwidth problem. I'm sure there are loads of people who have Poser and not Bryce and for them everything is fine that way. On the other hand, like Lyrra, I NEVER render in Poser and as long as I have Bryce I NEVER will. Now, for clothes, weapons, etc. stuff that 'goes with' a character export - as I said, this is never a problem, but it means that each and every prop/scene that I download that's intended for Poser has to be saved into the RUntime folder, Opened in Poser, Exported, UVMapped to get a blank template so I can understand what part is mapped where, and then Imported to Bryce; and ONLY after all that can I even START to work with it. For those of us who live primarily in Bryce, it would be good if more people who upload these props would at least have some alternate way you could obtain the files you can actually USE. Not everyone is as accommodating as you are. That said, I don't want to sound like some totally ungrateful sonofabitch. I do appreciate the hard work that all the artists who create freestuff put in to make what they make. At some point, I hope to make some of the things I've created available for those who might like to use them.

Re: EricofSD's comments. I agree about the library structure. I've found I can customize the subcategories in the libraries to some extent. Using numbers as the first element of the name I can even put them in any order I like. For example, my "Characters" folder starts out with: 01People (The Basic Poser standards) 02Male Characters 03Mike 04Female Characters 05Male clothes 06Male Ethnic clothes 07Mike Clothes 08Female clothes 09Female ethnic clothes . . . 21Dragons 22Mythics 23Aquatic animals 24Mammals . . . etc. I currently have about 40 folders under characters, and about 50 under props. It works, but it sure would be nice if the whole library structure was more customizable.