Hey guys! I got a pretty deep question for you. 

I have the following programs  Poser 6, Bryce 6 (with DAZ Studio), Cinema 4D with Body Paint (Just bought yesterday... No clue how to use yet!), and 3D Studio Max 6 (with Body Studio for Poser).

What I want to do is make 3D animated movies to post on my website, but Im having trouble figuring out which work-flow I should use. I know to use Poser for the intial character setup/ clothing/ posing and animation. Then I use Bryce for to build the scenes I want to use. I can import the Poser figure directly into Bryce using Daz Studio so thats not a problem. I can use 3DSM for any props or extra items I wanna build. But I`m having problems figuring out when to use Cinema 4D and Body Paint...

I want to create custom paints materials and textures for my characters so that I can use them in animation (I don`t wanna have to paint frame by frame on a 300 frame animation!) So how should I do that to where I can only paint the character once, then not have to worry about losing materials across applications when I import?

For example, If I pose and animate the character in Poser first , then I notice that Body Paint doesnt really seem to have an option for importing animated character files. So that means Id have to create character ans clothes in Poser, export as OBJ, paint in Body Paint, Re-import into Poser and re-rig/ add bones to everything again right? Than after I do that, I can animate the Body Painted character and import the animation into Daz Studio for megring with the animated Bryce Scnene and rendering? Is that how it should work or is there a better/ easier method that you guys use? I notice that when I import my Poser files into Bryce 6 via Daz studio, a lot of times my textures go out the window! So if I use Body Paint before I do the import, will I lose everything I just did?

I hope you guys understand what I`m trying to get at., Basically, I want to use Body paint to add more realistic materials and details to my characters so that I can use them in animated movies and I looking for the easiest, less painful way to do it. (^_~)

Any suggestions? Im only trying to bring these togethe in Bryce 6 because it seems to be the application that is best able to handle direct import and merging between different applications/ file types. Im I going about this the wrong way? Would 3DS nam or Cinema 4D be better for arranging all the scenes, objects, and character files for animation and rendering?

Help Please!

 

Thanks again for always savin my bacon!

-WF