Look what other software can do these days. The reason people stick to Daz is that they sunk considerable amounts of money into a software ecosystem that's large and by compatible to only itself. You are hardware locked into NV (unless you are seriously willing to software render, which I can only recommend to high elves and other eternals) and is riddled with ridiculous feature lackings, such as the main mode in the editor being actually software rendered which means large resp. complex scenes are impossible. Their forum is from last millenium, their shop is magnitued behind the competition (Rendo, Rhub), support is practically non-existent, so is documentation. You can only run multiple instances with a 3rd party script that can break any day and if you use it a plugins like Bookmark Manager don't work as only the UI of the main instance saves them to disk, the others won't merge. And we haven't started on how out of nowhere cryptic erroneous entries appear overnight which only gives you a glimpse of what a patchwork the underlying code must be. The content libraries are void of useful search functions or display options. I could go on and on. 

All of this I could stomach as long as it was free, but now 18.99 a month to get a handful of good features while the rest stays a ruin and questions about DS5 roadmaps get deleted?

SydneyInPeril posted at 11:32 AM Sat, 12 October 2024 - #4490226

About the only prep I can effectively do for the future, is make sure that I have full unadulterated control over my own hardware that I've paid for, wherever I can do so, and that does mean stepping away from just about all commercial software offerings involving it. There is no such thing as a "perpetual" software license, at best it only effectively lasts as long as you have a computer that can run the software.

Legality will always be connected to money. Look at Disney, getting copyright extended to 70 years. Most younger people today have never seen any of the films I grew up on, never heard of any of the great actors and actresses. The purpose of copyright law was to protect the artists. Now it's used to make them disappear.

About copyright, the Chinese say "How can I steal it if there isn't anything missing?" Any good idea can look ridiculous when taken to an extreme. Al Gore passed a law in 1996, the DMCA, that says anything we post on a website becomes the PROPERTY of that website. What was he thinking.

I've tried to read about these laws, but every other word is Maybe and Sometimes and Possibly.

...........................................................

When the Music Industry turned against the music video, Popular Music as we knew it devolved into cursing and shouting. Today, rentware is having a negative effect on our definition of Art.

I LOVE LA --- LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD --- HOT FOR TEACHER

DarkElegance posted at 10:45 AM Wed, 9 October 2024 - #4490117

plainsimplejoel posted at 4:01 AM Tue, 8 October 2024 - #4490088

I hope that one day there is a tool that converts G9 Hair to G8. Like Sickleyield made for other figures. I can wait.

I could have sworn there was one.
But as noted by @Torquinox its easy to fit a hair to other figures.
Using it more as a prop than a conforming figure.

Seen a few of those. But they make the base file much larger. Some G9 hairstyles on a G8 model can be over 100MB - when generally the base for most models with G8 Hair is less than 500kb. What I found this does is make the render time longer, especially if you have multiple figures in a scene.

RHaseltine posted at 8:04 PM Sat, 12 October 2024 - #4490248

DexterF posted at 2:19 PM Sat, 12 October 2024 - #4490229

RHaseltine posted at 6:28 PM Thu, 10 October 2024 - #4490171

Five plug-ins, four previously available commercial items and one a planned upgrade for a stil-available commercial plug-in have been purjhcased by Daz and are now available to Premier subscribers. Nothing has been removed from the Standard(free, no serial)/Pro(free, enter serial) versions - indeed, they have new features from the latest update and a batch of free (but previously purchasable, so some people may already have some or all of it) content has been added to support updated interactive lessons and scene builder. An odd way to move to subscription-only.

So keeping one of the most awaited feature (MG4 or whatever the new name) exclusively to the 18.99/mo subscribers is not strongarming users into the subscription to you?

No - the previous version is still available, I think, as a PA product and even if it isn't I have usually found dForms with a weight map adequate (so no, for me Mesh Grabber 4 was not an eagerly awaited product). Also, the SDK is free, there is nothing to stop another person or team from developing their own tool with similar features and selling it for some small number of months subscription - especially if there is as much demand as you say.

MAYBE youll answer HERE!

So why is it customers have to wait a year or more for a support ticket to even get a reply? Much less help?

The eye package I brought to notice over a YEAR ago in the tech forum, and it was noted the issue has been known of since 2018...is STILL without support, I cant get money back or anything. Your "team" just ignores the open ticket. You are saying since 2018 the support team doesnt know how to fix the package?

(or rather..not saying as there is deafening silence)

OR...I dont know...the VDB issue I raised, complete with screen shots?

A YEAR on...and no support, no answer, no reply.


PLEASE tell me why ANYONE should pay MORE for LACK of support?

DexterF posted at 2:19 PM Sat, 12 October 2024 - #4490229

RHaseltine posted at 6:28 PM Thu, 10 October 2024 - #4490171

Five plug-ins, four previously available commercial items and one a planned upgrade for a stil-available commercial plug-in have been purjhcased by Daz and are now available to Premier subscribers. Nothing has been removed from the Standard(free, no serial)/Pro(free, enter serial) versions - indeed, they have new features from the latest update and a batch of free (but previously purchasable, so some people may already have some or all of it) content has been added to support updated interactive lessons and scene builder. An odd way to move to subscription-only.

So keeping one of the most awaited feature (MG4 or whatever the new name) exclusively to the 18.99/mo subscribers is not strongarming users into the subscription to you?

"hey, there are angry customers, deeply unsatisfied with the service we are providing or rather NOT providing...LETS PUSH THEM TO PAY MORE!"

SMH

Rottenham posted at 6:29 PM Thu, 10 October 2024 - #4490172

DarkElegance posted at 5:15 PM Thu, 10 October 2024 - #4490168

           The one thing people keep forgetting…is their voice CAN be heard.

---

Me, I don't want to be heard. Not there, anyway. I just want the models.

I was finally able to log in to my actual account. There's no cancel button anywhere. I know somebody here was able to see one, but I can't. I tried to engage DAZ Tech Support over it, but their interest was short lived. I even sent them screen shots, with no response. Zzzz.....

Then I discovered they had blocked my credit card, the one they've been using happily for a few years. It's a fine card, nobody else has a problem with it, but they did. I used a different card, and it worked. Will it work tomorrow? Who can say. You just can't use a marketing person as a project manager, it's obvious that's what they've done. It's a miracle they've lasted this long.

---

FWIW, here's something I'm working on. I found I had an old Genesis Aniblock that was a "Zombie Walk." I broke it up into poses, I can get a dozen poses out of it. Then I found, here on Renderosity, a script that can apply an old pose to a new character. It works very well, and the price was right. Here the old poses are applied to a G8. Ugly faces have been added. Only torn, filthy clothing is missing. DAZ has an Iray shader for that. I have a plan for these characters. It will be a surprise.

OH! and btw...as of last night before logic took over, and I attempted this odd thing sleep. I had been taking full page screenshots of one of the forums that was raging against the new subscription. So if anyone wants those...let me know.

ALSO…

Feeling helpless? Feeling tired of being ignored by the big mods?
There are other ways to skin cats(no cats have ever been harmed)
There is LinkedIn…
You see, the daz site is an echo chamber. But there is a way to get heard.
I believe…that the name Matt wilburn will ring a bell to a few.

The one thing people keep forgetting…is their voice CAN be heard.

That they CAN make a difference.
Daz is a company reliant on customers. WE are those customers.
If people actually started to take valid complaints up the ladder, someone either has to listen or other people will hear you and start avoiding the situations at Daz.

Katsuyaki posted at 8:45 PM Wed, 9 October 2024 - #4490135

Rottenham : "My DAZ login seems to be coming back to life now. I was blocked, and getting an error message I'd never seen before. Only on DAZ though, and only today, so I was suspicious. Now it seems to be clearing up. I'll keep an eye on it."

Take a look at your account once you've logged back in. It looks like any DAZ+ members have been migrated over to DAZ Plus accounts, with its monthly billing. You don't want to get hit with any surprise charges on your credit card or bank account after the first of the month.

I think @Rottenham might be talking about the weird Google "We're sorry..." message that's been popping up randomly since last night.  I looked everywhere to find something about it, but couldn't find a thing.  Seems to be happening sporadically today, too.

And I've had the honor of having one of my very few comments over at their forums deleted.  It was in the thread speculating on whether DS was going to go rentware and I had chimed in with:

"Wanted to add my feelings of dislike for a future of renting the studio and its products.  I'm not keen at all on the idea, but there are signs that it may be creeping closer and I feel like it's important to speak out early with these kinds of things (like with the advent of Daz Connect.)  I've been a loyal customer for quite a long time now, but renting is a bridge too far for me.  Please do reconsider this 'Premier' stuff."

And overnight mine and several others' comments were wholesale deleted by a mod, claiming, "and this is why we do not allow speculation."  I guess the backlash is spooking someone in charge over yonder.  The mod deleted every comment mentioning Premier in a negative light, citing that "there are already multiple threads on the topic," yet interestingly decided to leave the few remarks that were positive/neutral.

Tiring.

I could be wrong, but now it looks like my DAZ account has been intentionally destroyed. This is the risk we take.

I hope that one day there is a tool that converts G9 Hair to G8. Like Sickleyield made for other figures. I can wait.

Let's face it. We lost tech when we lost the manufacturing industry. Not only are there no more tech books, there are no more bookstores.  "Push every button and see what happens" is the best school we have now. Forums like this were created so we can answer our own questions. We ourselves have become the QA Department.

I say, "A good craftsman works with the tools at hand."  :-)

DarkElegance posted at 4:36 PM Mon, 7 October 2024 - #4490079

Sorry, but with Daz "customer service and support" in the state it is (non-existent) It's not worth the upgrade nor the price hike.

.................................................

DAZ has two things. DAZ has the best catalog of 3D models around. And, DAZ has the best Iray rendering around. These things, hopefully, will not change. But marketing is running the place now, and marketing is about as non-tech as a discipline can get. I think we'll be able to work around their new scheme for now.

Meanwhile, never go near anything that requires a remote server (aka "Cloud"). It has long been known to be a security risk, in more ways than one. And if you're not a big Iray fan, like I am, iClone is not too bad.

...they are literally doing damage control on this WOKE infested model.  every single time someone mentions about if and when a g9 to g8 morph conversion tool is on the way or asking about it, they delete it.  im sorry but TRUTH HURTS.  g9 was pandering.  i will not ever use that model, but I will use the characters when they make a g9 to g8 conversion like many others are patiently waiting for.  sad part is, whoever makes one, they won't be able to sell it on daz cause they won't allow it.  oh well, guess they better make sure gen 10 with Daz 5 better be separate meshes again wont they?

Sorry, but with Daz "customer service and support" in the state it is (non-existent) It's not worth the upgrade nor the price hike.

Just not worth it.

I have an eye package that according to the tech support thread, the issue I have, has been reported since 2018! Not fixed, Not usable.
I have VDB package that I provided screenshots of the issue (EVERYTHING in the scene comes out great, but the VDB looks like it was made in minecraft. Totally blocky and not usable) No reply, no fix, no anything. I can't use the packages.
I have repeatedly asked for help, nothing.
Ignored.

Now they want people to pay MORE for items? For “free” items that…really don't make up the difference?

I get my Daz+ when its on massive reduced sale. Otherwise, it's not worth it.

I understand some price increase due to "cost of living" but when I know the artists arent getting the lions share of it? Nah, Im not going to pay their staff to treat customers like crap.

ghosty12 posted at 6:55 AM Mon, 7 October 2024 - #4490051

Well Daz have just dropped a big bombshell over on their site. They just changed their entire sub structure, there is now Daz Base (which is free), Daz+ and Daz Premier. They have gone back to having two versions of Daz Studio, there will be Daz Studio free, and Daz Studio Premier an enhanced version only available via the Daz Premier subscription.

Also forgot it seems that there will be Premier sub 3D content, that by the sounds of it if you let your sub you lose access to that content as well.

And going by some of the comments on Daz's forums some are none to happy more so the changes in the subscription structure.

But I have been taking full page screenshots...because, we know that posts will go "poof!" for daring to suggest daz is not pure perfection.

I'm paid up till 2025...and now they want me to double, heck triple pay?

No warning. No loyalty to customers that have already paid, nothing.
Great way to show appreciation for those loyal members…even after being treated like poo by mods.

I still have support tickets a year old…and cant get support, a reply, a refund on the items that don't work...and now they want more money?

SMH