Another small issue...

Are any of you other beta testers testing on an x86/win32 PC?

I am testing on both x86 and x64 PC's, and the plug-in DLL for the x86 fails to activate. For the new DS Bridge version DS can not recognize it as a legitimate file. Has anyone else experienced this?

Current:

Previous:

I will test for hair as well. I was performing hair tests before the previous one timed-out with the new version of VWD, and did not experience any issues.

Writers_Block, it could be environmental with your PC setup. I had an environmental hiccup with a pre-testing latest version of default VWD on my W7 x64 PC that was not there in my WindowsXP win32 laptop. That error message you see is what I was getting every time I clicked on anything, though the program still functioned properly (just an annoyance bug). Gérald was able to correct whatever the anomaly was before the official release went live.

What are your system specs? This might help to narrow down an issue if others have no errors, and the error lies with your environment. Philemot could then make possible changes to account for anomalies.

Tron1138:

You are welcome.

Everyone works at different speeds, levels, and techniques to achieve end results. You must do what is right for you.

I like your pick of influence for your work. I think combining those two elements will work well. I love Bruce Timm's work (I did some Batman animated series style illustrations years ago), and paired with an anime flair would look good.

One of my novels is in an anime style more akin to Basilisk (the anime, not the manga), and I have had some success working with DAZ Studio, custom modeling, custom character creations (morph target work on default base meshes - no need to reinvent the wheel and model one from scratch, even though I have the skill to do so if I wanted to), custom dynamic cloth meshes, and hair. I cheat where I need to. I am not going to create everything needed if someone already created the exact item needed, although of a generic nature (e.g., waraji straw sandals - though I will modify/retopo badly created meshes for my use).

They say write what you know, and as a four decade long Martial Artist, that comprises the bulk of my work.

I don't currently have a gallery of collected works. I once had one with a diversified portfolio of gallery work, commercial graphics, tattoo illustrations, comic illustrations, 3D modeling, rendering, and 3D NPR work over at Digital Art Zone 3D (DAZ3D) a very long time ago. But, DAZ decided to kill their entire Artzone gallery site, and delete everyones work, so I just never got around to creating another gallery again. I have everything backed up in an archive somewhere in storage.

I have bits and pieces floating around in community forums, and you can view some of my NPR work here, and here at Rendo. The first one is close to some of my hand drawn work.

Some of my other examples can be viewed here - halfway down the page, and here - halfway down the page over at the DAZ3D forums, but you will need to log-in to see the work at full size (more important on last page). Mind you, for my NPR work, I try to be unique with different techniques, but some are basis for what I am working towards. The Shinobi image with the Iga Yari is close to what I am going for with the anime style novel.

Lastly, there are a few more programs that I believe might help you out as well with your work. Some programs for digital illustrations/comic work. Some paid for software, and some for free. I am like you, financially, so I usually go for the freebies, but I have some paid for versions that took me months to years to save up for, and acquire.

Manga Studio - for comic creation and illustrations/painting: Manga Studio/Clip Studio - I have version 4 EX.

ComicLife - for comic creation: ComicLife

Krita - (free) for comic creation and illustrations/painting: Krita

MS Expression Design 4 - (free) for comic creation and illustrations: Expression

Inkscape - (free) for comic creation and illustrations: Inkscape

MyPaint - (free) for comic creation and illustrations/painting: MyPaint

There are tons of other digital drawing/painting software out there (GIMP, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.), but I thought I would bring some of these ones that I use to your attention if you haven't already heard of them (or tried/have them).

• EDIT: I see you already have Manga Studio, and I have used that work-flow. It works well.

Tron1138:

I am adding this based on your original, first post. I read through the thread, and as hborre mentioned, the old view-port visual box mode (which was for when you couldn't move/rotate the camera view, because your system couldn't handle the current load - older PC's - this allowed quick camera view movement), there is another Poser relic from the earliest versions that people tend to forget about which would give you that exact model done by yourself.

It is the "Replace Body Part" action under the drop-down menus (I think under Figure, or Edit - it is around where to conform clothing, and make morph target actions are). I used to do this all the time back in Poser 3, and 4, before I got heavily into custom model creations.

For your box model figure you would use the default Poser wooden manikin, and you would replace the body parts wanted (e.g., box for chest, and head, etc.). Technically, you would probably want to add some morph targets to the boxes via Poser magnets to make them more trapezoidal. You can create MT's within Poser, or outside 3D modeling software, but it depends on how much you are willing to do for your artistic endeavors.

From a fellow Comic/Graphic Novelist from hand-drawn beginnings, I have been working on this for nearly two decades, and first purchased Poser 3 just for the digital wooden dummy to draw from. However, trying to create everything needed for my novels, I got sidetracked along the way, and became a freelance 3D content creator. I am just now getting back on track with the novels, but I changed gears from trying to draw from digital material to completely creating digital material that matches exactly my hand-drawn work (which I am almost there where one wouldn't be able to tell if I created digitally, or hand drawn - close, but not yet perfected).

Good luck with your comic endeavor, and welcome to the wonderful world of Poserverse.

Some additional things to note that might help you along the way:

• Blender 3D software suite (free) - modeling, texturing, morph target creation (plus much more): Blender

• Wings3D (free) - 3D modeling software (modeling, morph target creation): Wings3D

• Metasequoia 3D modeler (free version) - modeling, texturing, morph target creation: Metasequoia

• XNALara (free) - 3D game meshes posing studio (Video game models - can be used with Poser/DAZ Studio - might find models you are looking for reminiscent of RWBY images in one of your posts with accessories [weapons, hair, environments, etc.]): XNALara

tomyee:

Yes, and no. It is a composite of approximately 20 layers that utilizes both DS default toon shader and OpenGL toon shading render along with ToonyCam Pro Line work, and some outside post-work.

Ashfire45 and 3doutlaw:

You can export directly to OBJ from XNALara as well.

I'm sad...

The DS Bridge beta timed-out today, and I was working on detailing a work-flow for using XNALara hair meshes for Ashfire45.

I thought I stumbled upon a new bug, because I was working in VWD via the bridge for approximately two hours, and when I went to "Send pose to host" I was greeted with an error pop-up about VWD not being able to find the support lib file and to close VWD because it has lost connection with host.

I tried two more times with different components, and all ending in the same error message. It finally dawned on me that it was the plugin DLL, so I checked the installed plugins list, and sure enough, zero days available. So sad...

The damnedest thing though, the bridge worked from DS via the script launch, but failed on the return trip from VWD.

Ashfire45:

You should be able to use those the same as any prop hair. I have XNALara, and some of those hair props. I will give it a test, and let you know in a couple of days.

Here is another NPR render from me from DAZ Studio, and VWD. Hair, pants, and belt all simulated in VWD:

janrendo:

Welcome...

Yes, there is a win32, and a win64 version. I am using both. 32-bit for my Windows XP laptop, and 64-bit on my Windows 7 PC. Both work equally great with VWD.

agape:

You will still be using the same VWD software you are using right now. The DS Bridge is only a way for us to interact with VWD (send to, return from) with some small differences in how Poser, and DS handle returned animations and poses. I like using DS more than using Poser, but I use both, so I will continue to use both, the DS Bridge (beta testing for now), and default VWD with Poser. Long live VWD!

Mac:

I don't have the answer to that question, but I do know there has been talk of it before. Hopefully, Philemot, and will come along and have an answer for you.

Yes, thank you, Writers_Block, for the heads up on Duplicate Node. This is far better than my work-arounds.

Since I just started using DS4.9 to use the VWD_DS Bridge, i did not know they implemented it into DS. It was something I was wanting for many years.

I just tried today, and it works great. Thanks again.

tomyee:

It means that you will see only the mesh color, and no longer black for reversed normals (inside mesh). It looks great, and you can still tell when internal mesh is penetrating external mesh to make corrections.

diomede: This might be better answered by philemot in the the thread "Carrara bridge to VWD questions". He set it up to address any issues regarding the Carrara Bridge.

I don't use the Carrara version, but I experience this on a regular basis with the DS Bridge. However, I believe it might be environmental, and not the software, because this only happens on my Windows XP laptop, but never on my W7 PC box.

For me, it is related to button clicking. If I simply left-click on the VWD buttons (collision, cloth, etc.) it will start to process (as in your scenario), but fails to create the OBJ, and I receive same error message. The work-around I have found to work is to left-click and hold button for a solid second, and then release. This seems to allow the OBJ creation function to finish, and everything works fine from there.

This hasn't been a repeatable bug on other systems, so you might be the second to encounter this (as far as I know). Please, try the slow-click method, and see if the process finishes without error.

This, of course, is just conjecture, because although similar, there are differences between the two bridges, and only philemot can really give you a proper diagnosis of the issue based on your variables.

I agree with you, Mythico, but you really should add your wants to the thread "New functions for VWD".

This is for discussions concerning the DAZ Studio Bridge to VWD, and the author (Philemot) does not have any control what the author (VirtualWorldDynamics) will implement into the software. Hence, why there is a request forum thread (New functions for VWD).

Not trying to dissuade you at all. You have some great ideas there, and I second their implementation. Please post over at the other thread where VirtualWorldDynamics can keep track of them.

Right now, this thread is more about beta testing the bridge to VWD to get everything lined up for production release, but it will eventually be in the hands of the masses, and co-mingle with default VWD users. Both authors are working very hard (and the beta testers) to get the product in your hands, so you can play too.

Oh, and one more thing...

You stated that VWD is supposed to be calculating the normals, but objects are coming into VWD through the bridge without any smoothing calcultaion by VWD. Both collision, and cloth objects are faceted without smoothing normals.

And here is one more example showing both the collision object, and the cloth object with Sub-D on. There is no artifacting on the cloth object (all tris):