I'm not a DAZ PC Member but had the opportunity to look at the programm at a friend who has installed DAZ Studio. In the "Artist Guide" PDF it states: "Native File Format: The new .DAZ file format allows both flexibility and digital rights management to protect content creators' copyrights." and "New File Format: The new DAZ|Studio-specific file format includes encryption and other features to protect artists' original content." This means, that I can't export anything to .lwo, .3ds, .obj etc, because this would make the DRM useless, no? But I would like to have the freedom to modify everything in different applications for my own personal use the same way I do it today with poser and other apps. Not possible with DAZ? This would make this program absolutely useless (for me!). Does anyone know more? Will I be able to export(!) anything. At least for me this is the most important feature.

I think DAZ Studio's product development team knows a LOT MORE. Importing DAZ models into higher-end software like MAX, LW, C4D, etc. is one of the MAIN objectives of DAZ Studio. So, no need to panic. This is just the ALPHA version of the software. This is only the very BASIC first version to work out primary user bugs. They will get to export links when the Alpha, and probably BETA, is determined to be stable and ready for higher-end plugins, etc.

The .daz native format is one of the current mysteries in DS at the moment. Most people (like me) who hack poser and obj files are slightly concerned that none of this will be possible with DS. The thing is, no one's really sure yet what way DAZ intend to go. We do know that DAZ have gone for the binary option, which is a bit of a pain, What we don't know is what impex options will eventually be available. I have a feeling they're trying to avoid the poser trap of relying heavily on obj files, since they're large and klunky. And obviously, if they can work some kind of protection system into their own format, that would be a big plus for them. At this point, I'm pretty much betting on continuing to make everything the same way I've always done. Do it in 3d max, modify it and get it poser-ready, then add the possible step of making it DS-compatible. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. mac

I must try hard not to write a lot of speculations about things I "smell" which I don't like... So your right: Best wait and see.

Should read: So you're right. Best is: wait and see. [Where is the EDIT function?]