Quote - Thinking about it... is it possible that Poser and Daz figures have become TOO recogniseable? What I mean.. despite a lot of work in Photoshop.. or their favourite app, the figures seem to STILL be.. Micheal or Victoria... etc... I have to wonder if it may be time for the "standard" characters to either get a renovation or retired altogether, in favour of some that are less identifiable.

Marineguy... my hat is off to you... I have taken on the chore of TRYING to illustrate my book somewhere between Manga and Trade... while I have time for anything... (I am retired.. you can laugh now.. I don't mind), it is still a huge undertaking. Lou.

Thanks, I started out with DAZ just to illustrate MY book, the majority of my early pics in my gallery in rendo are MY characters for the book. I feel even a simple scene or figure standing brings a character to life for the readers "mind's eye". I illustrated "Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever" 30 year old series, my favcorite series just FOR ME because there was so little out there even after 30 plus years. Then I did my favorite childhood Superheros because I wanted to have their figures so I coujld create them in any pose I wanted. Unfortunately I got caught up in  making stuff just to get comments from people, so I burned out and stopped having fun. Now I get to read the books (free) for the people I do art for and it's fun. You can see my prrogression to burn out. My Characters, Superheros, pretty women, burnout.

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/browse.php?user_id=534733

I know what you mean about Michael/Victoria. I'm retired too and the moiney I spent outfitting, searching, fitting, modifying Vic/Mike 4 and then its Vic 5 and Genisis. I really think Vic 5 and Genesis look LESS real than version 4 (it could be just me ) how about everyone else? What do all of you think of Vic/Mike 5 and Genesis?

Quote - Marineguy, do you charge for making book covers or is it just a hobby for you?

I get paid, as a contractor, per drawing. It started as a favor and then recommendation led to other requests. It's different somehow than when I do it for myself, it's actually work! I'm working onma CD cover and a book cover.

I'm not above recommending a better artist if it's something I cant do. There are thousands of better artists than me on Rendo. Accepting a few hundred versus a couiple of thousands is very different. One artist I am familiar with on Rendo is "doc" who I say is amazing, I cant do work like his .....yet. I can do a few illustrations and a cover, BUT illustrating a whole book or series with 50-60 action illustrations isn't in me .

Getting back to original statement that Poser/DAZ or any 3D isnt acceptable cant be the true objection but more an excuse for some other reason like maybe being too cheap.

I've been doing book covers for a few authors who publish their own books. I'm familiar with the concerns of publishers, but also know that DAZ can produce verfy realistic images. We all also know there are many artist who venture out lacking the skills to produce commercial art, unfamiliar with textures, shadows, poses, etc. This isn't the artist problem, it's the publisher who decides after looking at some art that doesn't meet their criteria that they want photos.

There isn't anything better than 3D art for illustrating a book. Actual scenes can be created and brought to life in the right hands. We need to search out the self publishers to introduce our work. The more 3D art out there the more it becomes mainstream.

Quote - > Quote -  Should I open a ticket because these are too technical for the Forum?

Nah...nothing is too technical for Richard...   :biggrin:

lol, so I see. thanks all for the help. I'll just have to render the scenes to a file and say goodbye once I reload and re-install

ahhh, that clears up some things and explains the "whys" and how they got so screwed up. Early after installing  I lost one of my hard drives and DAZ never got uninstalled and I just reinstalled it. Probably never overwrote the old path in XP.

Yeah I have folders within folders and even have a runtime in a runtime

Hey thanks for all the help, at least I know how and understand the structure. Thanks again.....

lol,  yeah, "stuff"!  what better way to explain it quickly.

I realize "contents" is the place but I selected i:program filesdazstudiocontents as the path in the beginning. Now, because some programs ( other sites and people's items I've purchased) have different install parameters,  I have a "contents" under Contents which has Geometries, Libraries, textures. I 'm sure you'll agree that's NOT how it should be.

Re-installing DAZ with the same files structure would do nothing. I'm talking about having to reinstall Daz and then reload all of the the other "stuff" (props, clothing, etc, etc)

I'm asking if a saved, completed Scene has individual file paths for each article, each prop, each modification AND will the NEWLY re-installed and reloaded items stop the Scenes created under one file structure from loading properly because they won't be able to find the items under the NEW file structure.

Also, with the new self extracting items from DAZ (created over the last few years) versus the ones made for older ones for V3, it's trying to create a Resource path to a non-existent E: drive. My install drive is I: drive. Obviously when you install to a C:drive or D: drive the error doesn't come up when the program extracts, but installing to a drive letter much higher, the self extracting programs from the DAZ site wants to install to E: drive for the "Resources" and the "ContentsMapsFile" . (My E: drive is a removable CD drive)

Again I assume this is the reason I am told when trying to add certain items  to "Locate" the files because DAZ can't find it.

Should I open a ticket because these are too technical for the Forum?

Hey thanks alot!!!! Use to do Graphic Design and had big images with lots of graphic and graphic cards did little to improve it. Is it a whole different world with 3D? Will DAZ and other 3D software take advantage of the card and card memory?

Also if anyone can help. I see people listing what they used. Can this be done automatically? I wojld be embarrassed because like a newbie, I don't know what works or not and I just click stuff. I know each of my figures have stuff and parts I didn't need.

Quote - **marineguy,

One other option is to look at the "aniMate" plug-in by GoFigure!  Although it is made for animating figures, it can also be an endless source of still poses!!!  They are a huge number of aniBlocks to choose from.  You can go through the aniBlocks and save any frame as a pose!!  All aniBlocks are done from motion capture and will do away with that "stiff look"!!

Ckeck your version of DAZ | Studio, to see  if you have  Lite version aniMate first!!!!!**

Hey, I have it! That tells you how much I know ... I'll give it a try. Thanks for the tips!!!

Personally, I find DAZ | Studio to be more versatile then Poser as far as posing figures!!!!  Posing figures is not one of my strong points either!!!  I try to using a pose close to my needs and then use "Power Pose" to finish up.  Check out the tutor on "Power Pose"  if you haven't already.

Ok, thanks I'll check it out. One of the things I see here are the great Hi Quality renderings and almost perfect posing and positions. Unless I find a good pose, I have to create it and they always come out "stiff"

Hi All,

I'm a newbie here and to DAZ. I've managed to illustrate images for a book of mine and I'm startig to see limitation in DAZ that, from what I read, don't exist in Carera or Poser. I spend a ton of time getting my figures in the right poses or can't find poses online.

What should be my next step. If you look at my Gallery, you're welcome to comment or maybe give me a hint on how to expand so I can do things like some of the people here. Any help is appreciated.

Marineguy

Hey thanks, that will get me started