Yep- the "error" message is because the pz3 scene file is bigger than your document window. Poser will load it the best it can (in other words, the scene may be zoomed in or out). To "fix" it- go to Window > Document Window Size and reset the Width and Height to whatever you like. The scene may look funny again, so you'll have to play with the camera controls to get a good view of the characters. Also, since you're working with someone else's pz3 scene file, don't forget to check the Render Options before rendering- it may be set to "Cast Shadows" when you may not want it to! --John

Getting off the topic... "And who can find fault with this kind of desktop?" As, PC Gamer magazine said, it looks like the Teletubbies backyard! Or, for the sci-fi people out there, it's the scene from Star Wars: Episode I (and the trailer), just before the Trade Federation tanks coming rolling over the hillside to attack the Gungans. Besides that, it does look like Microsoft is finally moving away from the "computer" look (the default gray background & black text) to a more colorful, "real" interface. Who knows, maybe in a few years, they'll catch up to the Macintosh OS interface. :) --John

Attached Link: http://www.renderotica.com

Just to jump in here: First, there is a place for adult & erotic graphic art- see the attached link. I don't know the history of the site, but I have the feeling that it may have been the adult "spin-off" of this site. Go there for your erotic and adult artwork- when you enter the site, you know that's what you're going to see, so there are no self-appointed "censors". To get into this debate, though: As some of the comments on some so-called "nude" images show, nudity "sells"- it gets more views and more comments... even if the so-called "nude" picture is nothing more than a "Ha, made ya look" image. And, yes, some "artists" (and I use the term very loosely) are actually doing this- they post a "nude" thumbnail and when you click it, the real picture has nothing to do with the thumbnail... but they got another viewing (and further rise in the "Most Viewed" listing). And, as you read the comments about the picture, you'll see the debate about this very issue. As for the argument over "nude" pictures, it's a debate that will probably go on forever. Just look in the news for the American people's warped ideas: ABC-TV has come under attack for showing "too much" when it aired its "Victoria's Secret Lingerie Special". Well, duh, it's *lingerie*, it's probably going to show "too much" (even though ABC did use "creative camera angles"). If you don't want to see stuff like this, don't view it. As less people view it, the less popular it is and the less likely it will be shown again. And, of course, no-one gets upset that the previous night's "NYPD Blue" had a gunfight or shooting or that an episode of "ER" showed too much blood. But, if someone's naked backside is shown, then there needs to be adult warnings and parental discretion and kids should leave the room and ... --John

I read through your tutorial and it is pretty good. I do have one suggestion though: On Page 5, you recommend that people save the file as a JPG image with the lowest quality setting ("Low Quality 25"). Your tutorial then proceeds to show people how to "upgrade" the image by increasing the render size and resolution and then saving it as a .tif. If you'll notice, even if you increase the render size and resolution, you will still get the "artifacts" when you save at such a low quality JPG. Usually, you only need to increase the resolution if you're going to be printing the image to a high-quality printer. Otherwise, 72 dpi is perfectly fine for displaying on screens. What about just "upgrading" the JPG image to "High Quality 100" (by selecting it on the second pull-down box)? Or, save the image as an uncompressed Photoshop image, which can then be further edited in Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro. (This file format has the least amount of "loss".) Then, use Photoshop to save the image as a JPG- it does a much better job at compression than Poser. You should probably tell people that a low-quality JPG image has the smallest file size, a large-sized, large-resolution tif has a larger file size, and a Photoshop image will probably have the largest file size. But, both .tif and Photoshop images aren't suitable for the web, so either file type must be converted to a JPG. And, in either case, the resulting JPG image will probably be a better quality, smaller file size image than Poser could export. --John

To answer Ron's question: A "texture" is the same as a "texture map" is the same as a "texture image" is the same as an "image map" is the same as an "image". They all mean the same thing- it is simply an image file (.gif, .jpg, .bmp, etc.) that can be applied to "colorize" a 3-D object. (The word "map" refers to the fact that the image can be "mapped" to precisely cover the 3-D object's geometry.) A "MAT Pose" is Poser's automated way of applying the texture to the selected 3-D object. The MAT Pose defines which texture is applied to which part of the object (the "material"). Ron, in your example, the "Michael Map" is a "figure" created by DAZ: it is the "Mike" figure, but with textures already applied (compared to the "Mike" figure, which does not have the tetxures applied.) P.S. Thanks for the screen shot using Windows XP- it looks cool. But, next time, could you make the image a little smaller? --John

To answer Ron's questions: My program doesn't come with any textures- you use your own maps for the "body" (and for Vicky & Mike, select a map for the "head"). You select a figure, select the maps, and click "Save Pose", and repeat as often as you need, with as many textures as you have. You could even create a MAT Pose for every Vicky (or P4) texture you have (which is actually what I have done). Also, keep in mind that I have a "test" version available for download that people can play with. Just go to the MAT Pose Applier "sales page" (see the link in the first message), scroll down, and click on the link. Sometimes, using the program could answer your question better than I could word one. Of course, feel free to keep the questions coming- I'm sure other people are wondering the same thing (and I don't mind answering them at all). --John

Answering today's questions: Working with Dina V- Currently, it is not designed specifically for the "Dina V" character, but you can import it as a "Other Figure" cr2. However, if it used two texture maps (like Vicky & Mike), then the current version of my program won't handle it correctly. I will go ahead and add this as a feature to the next version of the program. .rsr files- I will look into creating a more "descriptive" rsr image, but I may be limited by what Poser can handle. For now, you can make your own thumbnail rsr image and have Poser use that one instead. All you need to do is create your own pose (with a similar name), delete the original rsr and new pz2 and rename the new rsr file to match the old name. Here are the specific steps: 1) Create a MAT Pose with my program and call it whatever you want. For example, "test.pz2" 1a) The program will automatically create an rsr file with the same name: "test.rsr" 2) Open Poser, and go to the Pose Library and you will see the "test" MAT pose and custom rsr. 3) Apply this MAT Pose to a figure. 4) Click "Add to Library" and call it "testTEX". After a pause, you will see it in your Pose Library. 4a) Poser will create two files: a "testTEX.pz2" and testTXT.rsr". 5) Switch to another Pose Library- any other one will do. (We don't want the library open when we switch rsr files.) 6) Open Windows Explorer and go to that Pose Library folder on your hard drive, under PoserRuntimeLibrariesPose(folder) 7) You'll see the 4 files: test.pz2, test.rsr, testTEX.pz2, and testTEX.rsr. 7a) Delete the middle two files: test.rsr and testTEX.pz2. 7b) Rename textTEX.rsr to test.rsr 8) Switch back to Poser, open the original Pose Library and you'll see your new thumbnail image for your MAT Pose. --John

Dan- While I've never used your program and I'm sure it does an excellent job at what it does, you forgot to mention that it costs $15 for an upgrade and $50 for a new user. My program is $10 for the current version and "version 2" will be a free upgrade for everyone who purchased the current version. I will agree that my program doesn't have as many features nor is it as powerful as yours, but it is significantly less expensive. --John

To answer some more questions: My program is a quick & easy way to create MAT Pose files, so, no, there is no way to change the texture or colors for a specific material or body part. This "advanced" feature is planned for "version 2", due out in a few months (and, when finished, will be free to anyone who purchases the current "version 1"). This version of the program is really geared towards the people who want to apply a texture map to the figure and not worry about which texture goes on which material. If you are an artist who would like to see more features in the next version, feel free to let me know your ideas. To answer another question: The program can handle both the P4 and Vicky/ Mike characters with the same ease and knows which texture maps go to which body parts. For the P4 figures (and cr2 files), the "Head Texture Map" option is "greyed-out" to let the user know that this texture map is not required. Also, you can't edit an existing MAT Pose in this version, but I can certainly add it to the list of features for "version 2". --John

To answer everyone's questions between my program and the free one. In one sentence, they are both different, however: My program is the quick & easy way to apply textures to the entire figure. The other program requires that the user apply the texture to each and every material (similar to the "Materials Editor" within Poser). My program comes with the P4 Male & Female, Vicky, Mike, and a large number of cr2 figures already built into its database (as well as the ability to import and save cr2 figures). The user simply selects the figure, selects the texture(s), and then saves the MAT Pose. The other program requires the user to select a cr2 every time the program is run (including the P4 figures, Vicky, and Mike), and then select a material, and then select a texture and then select a base color, (and then select another material, select the texture, etc.) and then save the MAT Pose. (This level of detail may be perfect for expert users, but the average user may not want to have to do all of this selecting.) My program has been beta-tested by a number of other users (using Windows 98, NT, ME, 2000, and XP) and has passed Renderosity's approval process (or it would not be for sale in the Marketplace). The other program is in the Free Stuff section and there is no way to know its quality until you use it. My program creates a custom .rsr thumbnail image so you can find it in the Pose Library. The other program does not. My program has a big button labeled "Save Pose" so it is obvious to the user. The other program has a menu option: "File" > "Save" and "File" > "Save As...", which could cause the user to accidentally resave the loaded cr2/ figure file instead of the pz2/ pose file (and cause permanent changes to the cr2 figure). In my opinion, my program has a much cleaner and better-looking interface. --John

How to keep you hair on: 1) Add the character to the scene. 1a) Optional: add clothes. 2) Add Hair. 3) Select the Hair object and go to Object > Lock Actor 4) Select the character and pose away- the hair will always stay attached to the head, no matter how extreme the pose. It actually has nothing to do with the pose or the "parenting" of the object. When you apply a pose, the figure poses correctly, but since there is no "pose" for the hair, it stays in the same place- usually a few "feet" above or below the character. --John

Well, as someone who offers poses, both for free and for sale, I strongly suggest that you give credit to the original artists before posting any "tweaked" poses. In fact, you may want to actually the artist's permission- they may not want their poses "tweaked" and posted (for free) by someone else. And it is easier to pose a character without clothing (just be sure to "lock" the hair. And I would be very careful when making Vikcky or Mike poses- they come loaded with morph targets that may affect a character's shape when the pose is applied. --John

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/softgood.ez?Who=JHoagland

I would be willing to donate a prize of BOTH of my "Beach Pictures Set" 1 and 2.