Niiiiiiice!  I hope you're going to do a nice dirty/rusty finish!

Klebnor

Estherau:

Poser shaders don't always import into Carrara well, I see the highlights you are describing frequently.  If you recently bought Carrara 7, it comes with Carrara shaders for V4.  I have also had good luck with the shaders for the elite skin textures.  You have to apply them in the shader room - see the description on the DAZ wiki for the elite skins.

In some poser objects I have had good results by going into the shader for the part which is shining and looking at the highlight.  If it's anything but black, changing it to black will frequently eliminate the shiny highlights.

Good luck!

Klebnor

In case anyone hasn't been there:

http://icanhascheezburger.com/

Klebnor

I Can Has Cheezeburger?

My wife gave me the book for Christmas.  We laughed 'til we cried!

Klebnor

I agree, however, I usually go with a small format drive (essentially they are laptop drives in small cases) as they use the USB port and don't require an external power source (which I consider a PITA).  You can get one of these with 160 - 250 GB for about $60.  They are about the size of a deck of cards.

With USB flash keys going up to 64 GB, this may become an option too (although still much more expensive).

Klebnor

It appears the file is corrupted.  Your roommate should download again from DAZ.  This happens from time to time, but the file can be downloaded again from his/her account at DAZ.

Klebnor

Just a little housekeeping suggestion.  I maintain a separate directory of content (I call it poser runtimes) which I have set up with the same runtime names (Animals, Buildings, Furniture, Props, Environments, G2 Characters, V4 Characters, V4 Clothing, M3, etc.).  When I install new content into one of my active runtimes, I then move the original content file (DAZ exe or zip file) to the corresponding directory.  That way, when the time comes to do a reinstall (and it will come!), I can simply install content one directory at a time, and all my runtimes are set up the way I like them.

This also makes it easy to back up content (directory by directory) and to split up content when one runtime gets too big.  SImply decide how to split up the content (old buildings vs. modern for example) place the content in the two directories accordingly, blow away the old runtime (buildings) and install content to the two new ones.  Presto, they each open quickly again!

By the way, I long ago gave up backing up to DVD's and simply bought a cheap external drive (check out the prices, they are way down) with 160 GB capacity.  I copy the content runtime folders to it and then sync it occasionally.  I use this for off site - I run a home server which backs up everything nightly, but it occurred to me that I could have a sytemic failure (can anyone say house fire?) and then I would have to try to reassemble all my content from vendor sites - yikes!  I also back up output (save files and WIP) while I'm at it.  SInce I usually use Carrara, I also grab the carrara content I've created (it's in the My Documents folder under DAZ3DCarara7MyPresets.

Klebnor

Bitrock is used to create the self extracting content packages used by DAZ.  The file produced should be a self contained executable.  It should have the extension .exe.  Just click on the exe file and it should self extract - asking you silly questions and then placing the content in the folder you specify.  Be sure to specify the folder above the runtime you want it placed in (the poser directory if you haven't created additional runtimes).

If it's not an exe file, there is a problem with the content.

To my knowledge, DAZ only distributes in this fashion.  Many have suggested they switch to zip files, but they don't seem to trust their user base to put the content in the right folders.

Klebnor

We had another cat, Schmekt, who was a russian blue (at least he looked like one, he was born in a barn to a stray).  We got him while in the US, he lived with us there for a few years, in Germany for a few years, and then back in the US.  He got diabetes in his old age, and I had to inject him with insulin twice daily for the last year or so of his life.  Even though he knew he was going to get "stuck" he always came when called for his shots.  What a great guy.  When his liver finally shut down and he died, we resolved never to only have one cat ... it's just too much when he goes.

I hope all the best for you and your lovely cat.

Klebnor

Michael Moore is an obese buffoon.

Klebnor

Mark:

It sounds like you have a solid work flow for dealing with this constant issue (it crops up on almost anything I try to use in Carrara to one extent or another).  I used to use Poser 7, but since using Carrara, I'm spoiled.

If you walked through how you do the custom shader tree and use of the reference shader option, I'm sure many would benefit.

Klebnor

thefixer:

You should have an email.

Klebnor

thefixer:

I did some examples, see my PM.  Amber works well in Poser and Carrara - I use her instead of V4 and she takes all the character textures I've tried.  V4 clothes fit fine as well - you can morph the Amber body on and off, the extra hip bits don't interfere.

Klebnor

Mark:

Mangled shaders.  What I mean is, when I import objects created for Poser or Daz Studio, frequently there are problems.  The most frequent is an annoying shininess with inappropriate textures, like fabrics.  A fabric will give off glare as if it were rubber or plastic.  Then there is the problem with meshbox buildings, which import (have to import the 3DS version, the poser versions are one big mesh) with the shader, but with all parts exhibiting some transparency so you can see through everything to varying degrees.  Then there are the extreme highlights on skin shaders for poser and DAZ figures.  All lighting must be at high angles to the camera in order not to create bright reflections off the skin.

If there is a standard procedure to deal with these issues, I would be very interested.  I usually poke around the shaders until I get the problem fixed to an acceptable state.

Klebnor

Yes, but it will be later, I'm at work now and we're getting dumped with snow.

Klebnor