Anyone using this and if so is it any better than the previous versions, or are Daz and this guy just getting another $30 off of us?
Cynical? Yeah...a bit.

Well I am using it but it is not much better     The V4 mesh does not import at all as a morph and the texture is barely usable I have to go in to PS And do alot more work to it

Thanks, saved me some money. I wish Daz would stop letting folks sell software that really isn't that good. I used to trust stuff they sold, but lately been getting some real crap and the Daz name is not enough to get me to buy it anymore.

I looked at this new update and there doesn't seem to be much of which to speak.  This type of thing is not easy to do for sure, but $30 to upgrade gives me what exactly?

• 1. MorphBrush
• 2. TextureBrush Work Directly on Your Shapes/Textures, Retouch Freely!
• As a standalone import/export to Poser, Maya, 3D Max and other 3D applications
• New EASY 3-point interface
• Improved Texture mapping
• Improved 'Mirror' feature
• Up to 4098x4098 pixels output
• New 'Profile' features profile matching
• New 'Watch-me' video at your fingertips
• New Manual
• Moveable dialogs, resizable window
• Interactive 'Tooltips'

The final four items are nothing that should indicate a new major version - these should be given for any new major version.  It boils down to two new improved features and two features which don't seem to improve my output much (I can do morphing and texturing in other apps).

In my case, it isn't the photo-texturing that is most important either.  It is the shaping of the geometry to match the head in the photo that is my goal.

C makes it easy to shoot yourself in the foot. C++ makes it harder, but when you do, you blow your whole leg off.

 -- Bjarne Stroustrup

Contact Me | Kuroyume's DevelopmentZone

First of all I purchased it and I have yet to find the new manual or the new watch me video? So as far as the texture brush and the morph brush I do not have a clue?

can someon really explain me this software? i am looking at google and i can not even find the official site.

for example:
you load a side pic of a head. and the software will then change the mesh of the figure so that the head looks like on the pic? can this be used for any figure or just the poser figures? 
i saw a plug in for photoshop. is this only for photoshop or for poser or a seperate software?

there is no site I would not have bought it... If you did get your money back.Daz is the home page for it.. they will gladly refund your money

There is a web site:  www.abalonellc.com

They are very helpful with support, and the program is well worth the price.  All you need to do is avoid using the included template heads if you have your own character.  (Export from poser, process in Faceshop, import morph and apply texture. )  A little post work is a small matter for the quality you get for the price.

sounds interesting.

Quote - There is a web site:  www.abalonellc.com

They are very helpful with support, and the program is well worth the price.

To each his or her own opinion.
I tossed my copy in The Cyber Trash and frankly find their customer suppoty useless.

FS IMHO has pretty much a Customer Pays for Beta testing since the very first release, this is no different.
And to show their appreciation for loyal customers, Zero Discount on Update to FS4.
Between the Original Purchase and this Update, it would amount to about what I paid for Poser 7.

"That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves."
Thomas Jefferson

Okay thanks for the update I will give it a go spod!!!!!!!!!!

Mariner:

I only relate my own experience, and cannot speak for any one else.  My prejudices are that I see them doing something that I (a non-programmer and poser hobbyist) thought should have been done long ago.  For instance, why can a much larger lot like the serial Poser owners not handle face room algorithms for more than their included characters?  I also see no reasonable alternative.  I have used the program to generate faces for Aiko, Steph3, V3, V4, M3, Sydney, James, Posette, Judy, Don and V2, and they come into Poser directly, with results as good as anything I have seen from Facegen, at 10 times the upgrade price.  I do not go in much for 'celebrity' likenesses, but the prices on those are pretty stiff.  Finally, it is possible that I do not get as irritated as easily as I should, since I deal with Government officials on a daily basis.  Now that is maddening. 

I get the impression that they are a very small enterprise (1.  Their adverts are often goofy and contradictory, as though the preparer never asked 'how does this communicate?'  2.  The code is apparently addressed to best work in an XP environment, which suggests the programmers are few, and the operation small.)  

whats facegen? is this a similar software? can we use poser figures for this? 

ice-boy: facegen generates faces from a base mesh. you can also import the v4 head with a LOT of work with facegen customizer.
if you are interested you can find the tutorial here:
http://www.facegen.com/Tyler/CustomizerTutorial.htm

i tried it, the head was there but not the textures so i made a mistake while adjusting the base mesh onto v4's head. very tricky thing... the software also needs a few hours (even on a quad core with 8gig ram) to import v4's head...

coud i import apollo's head or M4 in facegen ? 
looks like faceshop is more made for DAZ and poser right? 

Facegen is about 300.00 bucks isnt it yikes.............pretty expensive id say

holly s.... thats expensive

Attached Link: http://www.abalonellc.com/faceshop-pro.html

> Quote - coud i import apollo's head or M4 in facegen ?  > looks like faceshop is more made for DAZ and poser right? 

Yes, you can import Apollo and most every character as OBJ.
There are many users who use FaceShop with Autodesk 3D Studio Max and Maya.
Videos and manuals are at http://www.abalonellc.com/faceshop-pro.html
As far as tech support, pls. email to info@abalonellc.com

Laslo

Ps. Since yesterday Renderosity also sells the upgrade from FaceShop 3.1, 3.5 and 3.7 Pro to FS4 for $29.99

i meant: can i import apollo in facegen ...make a face...go back in poser?

You export Apollo's head, no neck or stuff. Import to FS, make your morph and export as OBJ. Then import to Poser as morph target. :) Does that help?

Let me introduce you to my multiple personalities. :)
     BluEcho...Faery_Light...Faery_Souls.

Ooops, you want to import to FaceGen, not FS? Hmmm, don't know as I only used a demo version of that and had no export options with it.

Let me introduce you to my multiple personalities. :)
     BluEcho...Faery_Light...Faery_Souls.

I am using FaceShop Pro 3.7... is there a way to mirror or flip the resulting morph in Poser? I have been trying to save .obj mirrored one way then the other and then splitting those in Poser to try to make them mixable. Is there a better way? Is there a way to get slightly less asymetrical morphs in FSP without mirroring? I want the asymetry but just not as extreme... I want to blend the two sides onto each other but maybe the degree of asymetry I am getting is due to my technique... any advise? I feel like I got good results from FSP when I started but as time goes on my results are getting more and more asymetrical and lumpy.

Quote - I am using FaceShop Pro 3.7... is there a way to mirror or flip the resulting morph in Poser? I have been trying to save .obj mirrored one way then the other and then splitting those in Poser to try to make them mixable. Is there a better way? Is there a way to get slightly less asymetrical morphs in FSP without mirroring? I want the asymetry but just not as extreme... I want to blend the two sides onto each other but maybe the degree of asymetry I am getting is due to my technique... any advise? I feel like I got good results from FSP when I started but as time goes on my results are getting more and more asymetrical and lumpy.

Momodot,

As you know, you can dial degrees of morphs in both Poser and D/S.
I agree that sometimes FS does give you a rough morph. I suggest you don't apply 100% of the morph but dial it down to 60-70%.
(Incidentally, this is also the default setup for FaceShop DAZ Studio plugin - 70%).

Laslo

Thanks. Still though... since my results are getting lumpier and more asymetrical over time I think I must be falling into some error in usage or technique but I can't isolate what I am doing wrong.

Also where have moved the user tip tutorial for 3.7 about prepping the obj or using the standard V4 obj with Poser. I have just migrated to a new machine and when I used the default FSP V4 the morph obj would not load as a morph... I certainly prefer the work flow with the default V4 and M3 in FSP to using imported geometry and I used to be able to use the default by importing the default .obj into Poser at 12.5% or something and exporting it again before re-importing it as a morph. I also tend to get better smoother results using the built-in V4 or M3 but I don't want to have to transition to DS over this one tool.

I've found that when my morphs start getting lumpy it's due to me not placing the dots or lines correctly.
If I get tired and my eyes get tired, I make errors.
but when I'm having a good day and get the placements right, I get a really good morph.

This program is like any other, it takes patience, practice and depends on the user.
some are comfortable with it, others aren't.

I so want the latest version but with Christmas close, all my spare cash goes to buying my grand-babies some gifts.
And it will still be a lean Christmas for them...sigh.

Let me introduce you to my multiple personalities. :)
     BluEcho...Faery_Light...Faery_Souls.

Blue,

I am trying to launch the upgrade here at Rendo.
Normally it is $29.95 but I hope to launch it at $21.95 (30% off).
I do understand what the current economic situation is - it is probably even worse here in California with the gas still $2,50:-(
Laslo

Gas prices were so bad for a while I had to help my daughter out so she could get back and forth to work.
Almost depleted my account and just squeaked by to pay bills.
Now she is off work for at least 6 months, doctor's orders due to heart problems as well as NFM and she is two months pregnant.
Her hubby has mitral-valve damage to his heart and has fainting spells so he can't work either.
the government cut his SSI down to just over 200.00 a month and they lost the food stamps when she went to work.
Now they'll have to re-apply...sigh.
I'm trying to do what I can to see that her and the little ones don't do without food.
And I see here on the boards that this money crisis is not going on just in America, but all over the world.

That's why I'm pinching my pennies so darn hard lately but a few more sales and I'll have the amount for it. :)

Let me introduce you to my multiple personalities. :)
     BluEcho...Faery_Light...Faery_Souls.

This year is sure a bad year for most everybody :(

If I can get on my soapbox for two seconds:

Things are bad because of the "business as usual" mentality, both in government and private sector. Now that gas prices are down for a few weeks/months, GM is probably already planning a H4 (Hummer 4).
I would not give them any money, period, unless they retool and start to make solar panels and wind generators. Just like in WWII, when they were ordered to stop making cars and build airplanes and tanks instead.

OK, I am down of my soapbox, already feeling better...
Laslo

"I would not give them any money, period, unless they retool and start to make solar panels and wind generators."

GM doesn't make power products, they make cars.  Solar panels won't work on cars, nor will wind generators.

The problem isn't their cars.  Toyota had to cut production and jobs too.  The problem is paying union workers $75 an hour to operate a lever in an automated plant.

I once saw an interview where the president of GM said that the cost of labor as reflected in the sticker price of a car is "negligible"... the figure he gave was on the order of 3.7% IRC. I wish I could get legitimate actual figures.

I do know that while pharmaseutical companies like to blame the cost of drugs on R&D in fact that is a far lesser cost then marketing or administration and in fact is nearly matched dollar by dollar by direct and in-direct Federal supports.

Interesting stuff you find when you look at literature from things stockholders publications rather than the media. Companies like to keep two sets of books, one for the mass media and one to try to encourage investors. My research on insurance fraud led to the interesting figure of 97% of insurance fraud being fraud perpetrated on consumers not by consumers according to publications for an audience within the industry and for investors.

But we live in a culture where a player who is the big draw for a team deriving 10% of the gross revenue offends us in a way the owner getting 50% of it does not.

An econmy fails when its workers can not afford the products they are producing. Wealth derives from markets more than production now.

All too OT for me. My comment was intendended to express e a personal sympathy to BluEcho.

Can somebody make me an M3 face please?
Anybody? Help
More info here.

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2756270

BTW
Ibought FS4 upgrade yesterday 1) i couldn't download it after paying for it. 2) The FS4 PAGE HAS NOW GONE "This product is not currently available for viewing." Is the only thing on the product page.

After reading this forum I'm starting to think it was a bad move buying it :-(

Thanks Abalone but F.Y.I the link you sent is for the full version. I'm talking about the upgrade, I just checked the link for that and it is still down...
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/index.php?ViewProduct=67752
I think I'll have to send you an email re my purchase but StaceyG is dealing with my download problem but nearly 24hours and no reply...
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2756220

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/index.php?ViewProduct=67752

I can't help you with the M3 but a trick I did when I first got FSP and had better technique was giving P4 Nude Man a M3 shaped face. Fun.

Thanks for replying momodot

I don't think i've got the hang of 3.7 at all. I'm an owner of FS and can't make the head I want. Plus I'm asking other users if they can do it but no positve replies as yet :-(

Quote - Thanks Abalone but F.Y.I the link you sent is for the full version. I'm talking about the upgrade, I just checked the link for that and it is still down...
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/index.php?ViewProduct=67752
I think I'll have to send you an email re my purchase but StaceyG is dealing with my download problem but nearly 24hours and no reply...
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2756220

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/index.php?ViewProduct=67752

There's no difference between the full version and the upgrade - go ahead and download.
The difference is in the activation key.

As for activation key, pls. always write to info@abalonellc.com.
Laslo

I received emails from both StaceyG and AbaloneLLC

so I've now got my serial number ;-) Thanks

In the meantime I was playing around with the classic 3.5 version with much improved results and helped me to understand the program a little better

I wish there would been, at least some kind of support, for Faceshop Pro 3.
I could only find a thread in the forum and not much help there. To me it looked like most of the other users was "lost" too.

I was expecting they would make an upgrade to Pro 3 before trying to sell people Pro 4. I felt Pro 3 to be a rip off.

Quote - I wish there would been, at least some kind of support, for Faceshop Pro 3.
I could only find a thread in the forum and not much help there. To me it looked like most of the other users was "lost" too.

I was expecting they would make an upgrade to Pro 3 before trying to sell people Pro 4. I felt Pro 3 to be a rip off.

Tons of threads going on at DAZ about FaceShop. The reason? DAZ was a lot more supportive of FaceShop than Rendo. There was even a free FaceShop plugin for DAZ Studio.

Incidentally, we had free upgrades from FaceShop 3.1 to FaceShop 3.5, free upgrade to FaceShop 3.7 and lots of tutorials, how-to videos. Fact is, since FaceShop 3.5 the program has built-in!!! videos (see video button).
For How-to videos, tutorials or reviews pls. visit www.abalonellc.com

Laslo

After much trial and error I've managed to complete the task of making a head in FS4. The program is quite good once you get used to it. (However I didn't use any of the new features for this task)

One problem though !!
The instructions I've got seem to be for Daz studio. I have the FS4 standalone version. How do I get my new head into Poser?

Quote - After much trial and error I've managed to complete the task of making a head in FS4. The program is quite good once you get used to it. (However I didn't use any of the new features for this task)

One problem though !!
The instructions I've got seem to be for Daz studio. I have the FS4 standalone version. How do I get my new head into Poser?

Clipps,

Go to http://www.abalonellc.com/watchdemovideo.html
Watch the video called Import FaceShop Faces in Poser

Laslo

hmmm, herein lies the problem...

If I use the FS M3 head and import to poser I get "Target geometry has wrong number of vertices"

If I use Daz M3 head the programs is visibly sluggish but I cannot enter the first dot on the forehead. It does nothing, just sits there and looks at me :-(

I notice that the daz head is approx 6Mb and FS head is just under a meg but I've got a reasonably powered computer so I dont think comp performance is the issue. Running Vista 64bit.

What next Lasio?
Thanks

Quote - hmmm, herein lies the problem...

If I use the FS M3 head and import to poser I get "Target geometry has wrong number of vertices"

If I use Daz M3 head the programs is visibly sluggish but I cannot enter the first dot on the forehead. It does nothing, just sits there and looks at me :-(

I notice that the daz head is approx 6Mb and FS head is just under a meg but I've got a reasonably powered computer so I dont think comp performance is the issue. Running Vista 64bit.

What next Lasio?
Thanks

Not Lasio, Laslo:-)
The point is this: you HAVE to export first a head OBJ from Poser (no eyes, follow instructions in video or manual). Then when import OBJ in FaceShop. When don, export OBJ again and import it back to Poser as a "morph target" basically applying it back to the head your started with.

Good Luck,
Laslo

I checked on my DAZ account and had some Daz bucks and my member discount so I bought it, yay!!! Now I hope to get some free time to play with it but I've been busy getting the house ready for Thursday. Been here six months and still a lot to unpack and boxes to shift out of the way...sigh. Hard to get much done when you're the only one and not well a good part of the time. I'll be posting some of my work when I get time to do some morphs. :)

Let me introduce you to my multiple personalities. :)
     BluEcho...Faery_Light...Faery_Souls.

Good deal. Turkey has priority:-) I look forward to seeing your art. Laslo

BTW: in the meantime, here's another one of my renderings.

Now that is good!

Let me introduce you to my multiple personalities. :)
     BluEcho...Faery_Light...Faery_Souls.

Draw fine 1 pt guidelines on your source image in Photoshop before you import it into Faceshop. Put a line exactly down the center of  forehead down to the middle of lips and chin, make sure you go perfectly through center of nose.(Laslo does state that it is best to get a perfectly posed straight on head shot for best results, he is right - you can find a perfectly positioned shot of almost any major celebrity). Use these guidlines to help place your dots on your image perfectly when you have it imported into FS.( You can go back and remove the fine guidelines from the resulting texture map image later.)
You can actually get PERFECT results  if you have a subject image whose face is relatively symmetrical ( similar eyeshap, similar ears, proportional lips) and you do the following:
After placing guidelines in PS, actually draw dots around the eyeholes and nose  that will act as the actual guide points for where you will place the dots in FS. But do this only for ONE eye and ONE side of the nose. Make sure you draw these dots on  a NEW transparent layer on top of the image, then you duplicate this layer and horizontal flip it, position it so the dots are in the same place on opposing side of the face. Now you have prefectly matched symmetrical eyes, nose,  plus guidelines to get your face lined up right, etc. If you do not like the fact that you are creating a completely symmetrical face, tweak it later in Poser or whatever.

The point if this excersize is that with the guidelines and guide dots, you can get the dots placed in FS excatly where you intend with no mistake. Doing it without guides with that FS arrow  is aggravting- (i used to go BACK  or REMOVE  about 100 times  in one session.)

I do have a criticism of FS version 4.0  and that is that the Vicky morph target that comes ready in FS does not actually map to V 4.2 in Poser, so it is worthless. - I KNOW you can import your own OBJ of V4.2 head,  But it  would be so much easier if the one that is preloaded worked, because the lines are already drawn perfectly for you on the preloaded morph target! 

______________________

"When you have to shoot ...

SHOOT.

Don't talk "

 

   - Tuco

 

Santicor's Gallery:

 http://www.renderosity.com/homepage.php?page=3&userid=580115

 

Quote - Draw fine 1 pt guidelines on your source image in Photoshop before you import it into Faceshop. Put a line exactly down the center of  forehead down to the middle of lips and chin, make sure you go perfectly through center of nose.(Laslo does state that it is best to get a perfectly posed straight on head shot for best results, he is right - you can find a perfectly positioned shot of almost any major celebrity). Use these guidlines to help place your dots on your image perfectly when you have it imported into FS.( You can go back and remove the fine guidelines from the resulting texture map image later.)
You can actually get PERFECT results  if you have a subject image whose face is relatively symmetrical ( similar eyeshap, similar ears, proportional lips) and you do the following:
After placing guidelines in PS, actually draw dots around the eyeholes and nose  that will act as the actual guide points for where you will place the dots in FS. But do this only for ONE eye and ONE side of the nose. Make sure you draw these dots on  a NEW transparent layer on top of the image, then you duplicate this layer and horizontal flip it, position it so the dots are in the same place on opposing side of the face. Now you have prefectly matched symmetrical eyes, nose,  plus guidelines to get your face lined up right, etc. If you do not like the fact that you are creating a completely symmetrical face, tweak it later in Poser or whatever.

The point if this excersize is that with the guidelines and guide dots, you can get the dots placed in FS excatly where you intend with no mistake. Doing it without guides with that FS arrow  is aggravting- (i used to go BACK  or REMOVE  about 100 times  in one session.)

I do have a criticism of FS version 4.0  and that is that the Vicky morph target that comes ready in FS does not actually map to V 4.2 in Poser, so it is worthless. - I KNOW you can import your own OBJ of V4.2 head,  But it  would be so much easier if the one that is preloaded worked, because the lines are already drawn perfectly for you on the preloaded morph target! 

Santino,

I agree with almost everything you said above - thanks for the time to help others to get good results. The only one remark regards V4.2 - the reason why we choose to work closer with the DAZ Studio as default and not Poser, because FS is sold by DAZ and not by Contempt Paradise. But, as you stated, there's a workaround:-)
Laslo

Is there an evaluation/trial version of FSP 4 available?

Quote - Is there an evaluation/trial version of FSP 4 available?

Not yet, sorry.
Laslo

Had to take today off from working around the house except for meal preparation. My sister came over yesterday and we moved a lot of stuff around to make some room here. It hurt me...ugh!

so play time!!!
Here is an image of M3 using FS4, no tweaks yet.
Did make the texture because I prefer to do them differently than FS.

Tomorrow it's back to the sweat shop...sigh.

Let me introduce you to my multiple personalities. :)
     BluEcho...Faery_Light...Faery_Souls.

Quote - Had to take today off from working around the house except for meal preparation.
My sister came over yesterday and we moved a lot of stuff around to make some room here.
It hurt me...ugh!

so play time!!!
Here is an image of M3 using FS4, no tweaks yet.
Did make the texture because I prefer to do them differently than FS.

Tomorrow it's back to the sweat shop...sigh.

Well done, Miss Moneypenny. Now my martini, please - shaken not stirred!
Laslo

Hi; I did say that I'd post an image or so of my next morph with FS, latest version. Here she is with a comparison photo.

This is still a work in progress and lots to do on a texture for her.

Let me introduce you to my multiple personalities. :)
     BluEcho...Faery_Light...Faery_Souls.

Quote - Hi;
I did say that I'd post an image or so of my next morph with FS, latest version.
Here she is with a comparison photo.

This is still a work in progress and lots to do on a texture for her.

Wow, this is good stuff! I really like the composition with the hand in front of her. Also the softness of the render - very nice. One question" Poser or DAZ Studio?

Laslo

Poser. :)

Let me introduce you to my multiple personalities. :)
     BluEcho...Faery_Light...Faery_Souls.

I've been experimenting with FaceShop4 (standalone with Poser) for a good few days now. I've tried a number of different approaches with reference photos but have really been somewhat disappointed with the results thus far.
This experience is best typified with the approach suggested by santinocorleone, where the reference photo is manipulated to be exactly symmetrical . I took a straight on headshot photo into an image editor where I positioned a carefully planned out set of tiny points on one side of the face, then mirrored it to give a perfectly symmetrical image. The image was perfectly square and the center line exactly in the middle. I imported the resulting Jpeg and my cosen head obj into FaceShop and (very meticulously - I took a great deal of time over this) positioned the first set of dots.
Now...this is where I realised there were going to be problems, because although my reference image was a very good guide for dot placement in the reference display, the head obj display has no such guides. I don't know if you can display a mapped head (with the relevant dot locations). Anyway, although the head obj starts off directly face on in the display, even with very very careful placement  (trying for the same symmetrical placement as in the reference) after the first set of dots were placed FaceShop still rotated the obj head prior to the next  stage. So this makes further accurate placement of dots and curves very difficult.
Ok, so I went on to complete all the dot and curve guides (including placing curves on a profile shot), and the resulting morph was predictably asymmetrical (by miles). I'm kind of assuming that the mirror function doesn't actually mirror the morph in FaceShop, at least it hasn't done so on any of mine so far. It's very frustrating because one side of the morph actually looks frighteningly accurate (it's a self portrait BTW).

I so wish there was a way to 1. display a map on the head obj in Faceshop, 2. Fix the display angles to orthographic projections of the head obj in FaceShop so I can accurately place the dots to achieve symmetry.

If I've missed a Faceshop feature that enables me to do these things I apologise and will experiment further, but for now I think FaceShop lacks a certain functionality to construct the quality of morphs I'm looking for. It's full of potential, but needs further development before it becomes truly useful for me.  

 

PoserPro2014(Sr4), Win7 x64, display units set to inches.

                                      www.danielroseartnew.weebly.com

Also, I've had a number of FaceShop saved files that have corrupted, especially after using a profile image in addition to the front view to add curves. They sometimes load with black mangled shapes in the head obj display and cannot be reworked.
I've had head objects export from FaceShop with missing polys (corresponding to material groups.
I too found the documentation somewhat lacking for standalone use.

Also when using as a standalone, you can't just load FaceShop and then load a FaceShop File, you have to load a reference photo and head obj every time.

I'm guessing that this app is a little more dedicated to working with D/S than as a standalone.

 

PoserPro2014(Sr4), Win7 x64, display units set to inches.

                                      www.danielroseartnew.weebly.com

Quote - I've been experimenting with FaceShop4 (standalone with Poser) for a good few days now. I've tried a number of different approaches with reference photos but have really been somewhat disappointed with the results thus far.
This experience is best typified with the approach suggested by santinocorleone, where the reference photo is manipulated to be exactly symmetrical . I took a straight on headshot photo into an image editor where I positioned a carefully planned out set of tiny points on one side of the face, then mirrored it to give a perfectly symmetrical image. The image was perfectly square and the center line exactly in the middle. I imported the resulting Jpeg and my cosen head obj into FaceShop and (very meticulously - I took a great deal of time over this) positioned the first set of dots.
Now...this is where I realised there were going to be problems, because although my reference image was a very good guide for dot placement in the reference display, the head obj display has no such guides. I don't know if you can display a mapped head (with the relevant dot locations). Anyway, although the head obj starts off directly face on in the display, even with very very careful placement  (trying for the same symmetrical placement as in the reference) after the first set of dots were placed FaceShop still rotated the obj head prior to the next  stage. So this makes further accurate placement of dots and curves very difficult.
Ok, so I went on to complete all the dot and curve guides (including placing curves on a profile shot), and the resulting morph was predictably asymmetrical (by miles). I'm kind of assuming that the mirror function doesn't actually mirror the morph in FaceShop, at least it hasn't done so on any of mine so far. It's very frustrating because one side of the morph actually looks frighteningly accurate (it's a self portrait BTW).

I so wish there was a way to 1. display a map on the head obj in Faceshop, 2. Fix the display angles to orthographic projections of the head obj in FaceShop so I can accurately place the dots to achieve symmetry.

If I've missed a Faceshop feature that enables me to do these things I apologise and will experiment further, but for now I think FaceShop lacks a certain functionality to construct the quality of morphs I'm looking for. It's full of potential, but needs further development before it becomes truly useful for me.  

OK, it seems that you have a hard time aligning the photo and the 3D mesh (that's what dots do). There are little tricks here (see the enclosed video via the video/arrow button).
One trick is this: if you don't see an ear, try to guess its location.
If you have a straight head-on shot, just bypass the whole dot system, the default is also straigh on.
For version FS 4.5 we do plan a manual way to rotate heads in order to align to photos (similar to how it is now working with the profile image). For now, I agree that this is a weak point.
As far as saving .FAC files - I never do those. I usually just save heads as OBJ.
I hope this helps.
BTW: don't just give up - there are thousands of users who learned and using FS.
One more thing: using it as a DAZ plugin (and without turning on Classic 3.5) many people get instant good results (this is the method where you pick 3 points and let the computer do the rest:-).

Laslo

Thanks for the reply Laslo.

How does one bypass the dots system (in standalone mode)? As soon as I load my straight on ref and head obj a dialogue pops up with the dot system. I can't proceed until I've placed 15 dots initially (which don't include locating the curves for the brows, nose, mouth and face contours)? Surely I won't get an accurate morph if these arn't placed. I've tried this with and without ticking the 'Classic 3.5' box.
Btw, I'm importing Apollo's head into Faceshop (which probably means the bypass thing isn't possible - in any case, I think I'd still need to push some points around).

Is there any point to the FaceShop save files if they don't really work?

The manual head rotation will be a huge advantage. I'd also suggest a true orthographic system as well specifically for use with straight on and profile photos? This is a tried and tested means of establishing points accurately between a reference and a 3d mesh. TBH I kind of thought FaceShop would be more solidly based around this concept.

 

PoserPro2014(Sr4), Win7 x64, display units set to inches.

                                      www.danielroseartnew.weebly.com

The ability to mirror the morph in FaceShop would also be a huge step forward.

 

PoserPro2014(Sr4), Win7 x64, display units set to inches.

                                      www.danielroseartnew.weebly.com

But you can, Carodan, you certainly can ....mirror morphs galore!
Pls. watch the demo video included with FaceShop.
Also the manual.
Laslo

Why can I not import the default FSP 3.7 as a morph on V4.2 in Poser 7?

If I download d/s to use FSP can I export an .obj from d/s to use as my morph in P7?

Momodot,

Somehow D/S and Poser use different coordinates.
Hence, if you export/import between these two, you get the jumpy long neck and jumpy eyes:-)
So, the best is to follow the export first, FS, import back rule.
It is all nicely illustrated on the "How-to" videos.
Pls private message me and I'll give you the URL  to the videos (otherwise I'll be kicked out of Rendo).
Laslo

Laslo - this must be something to do with using a head other than V4 or M4 in standalone mode, but the mirror function definitely does not mirror the morph for me, only the texture. I've been through the entire process dozens of times now (I revisited this today) and not once has the mirror function mirrored the geometry - whichever direction.
I've watched  the demo video quite a few times, even written down the process so I can follow it step by step. I really am very methodical.
The one thing I haven't as yet done is to try this as a D/S plugin, but to be honest I really don't want to have to install it on my system at present.

I think I also mentioned in an email about resulting morph targets seeming to have some rotation/twisting as I apply them. I've been noticing this more and more. The whole face appears to twist and contort as I apply the morph from FaceShop. It's almost as if it inherits an aspect of the rotation of the preview of the head obj in FaceShop. Sounds crazy, I know.

I'll post some images tomorrow to illustrate.

 

PoserPro2014(Sr4), Win7 x64, display units set to inches.

                                      www.danielroseartnew.weebly.com

Look, pls. save the files as .FAC and send them to me to info@abalonellc.com along with the original photos. I am here to help:-)
Laslo

Laslo - I've sent you an email detailing one of my Standalone FaceShop/Poser experiences with an attached zip containing all the relevant files and illustrations of that process.

 

PoserPro2014(Sr4), Win7 x64, display units set to inches.

                                      www.danielroseartnew.weebly.com

Great explanation. Unfortunately, the enclosed zip has a virus, so my computer refused to download it.
Can you send me single jpg files instead?
Thanks so much for all this work!!!
Laslo

I sent them again as single files. Apologies for that - my visus scanner detects no virus in either the outgoing mail or zip. I know sometimes firewalls interpret zips as potential threats.

 

PoserPro2014(Sr4), Win7 x64, display units set to inches.

                                      www.danielroseartnew.weebly.com

Just wanted to show, although there seem to be aspects of FaceShop that arn't working for me, I have managed to get at least one head morph out that I've been able to tweak in Poser that I'm pretty happy with. Unfortunately there are still a few details that are out of place on one side of the face as the mirror function still didn't work. This is just the morph for a self-portrait test, using Apollo's head.

 

PoserPro2014(Sr4), Win7 x64, display units set to inches.

                                      www.danielroseartnew.weebly.com

Wow! That is a very good result!

Carodan,

This is great!
Could you also post an image complete with texture?
I am curious to see how it turned out...
Laslo

Carodan,

Hate to nag, but did you do a full render of this item?
I'd love to see it posted here...

Laslo

Laslo - sorry for not responding sooner.

Unfortunately I never developed this particular morph to a full textured render. I never did really manage to mirror it properly in FaceShop and although it isn't explicit in the untextured render, the depth (z) aspect from my profile reference in FaceShop ended up twisting the whole face and then failed to export properly (missing polys corresponding to Apollos beard material group).

My final self portrait  (my current profile) was created the old fashioned way using a mixture of Apollos head morphs, magnets and the P7 morph brush.

I do hope FaceShop continues to develop - for now I've had to put it away but I'd like to pick it up again (probably when there are a few more features and the stability issues are fixed).

 

PoserPro2014(Sr4), Win7 x64, display units set to inches.

                                      www.danielroseartnew.weebly.com

Hey Carodan, now that I've spotted your real picture - While I love your portraits, you didn't quite do yourself justice with the self portrait.  You're much more handsome IRL !!!!!!!!!

Hi, my namez: "NO, Bad Kitteh, NO!"  Whaz yurs?
BadKittehCo Store  BadKittehCo Freebies and product support

Quote - I've found that when my morphs start getting lumpy it's due to me not placing the dots or lines correctly.
If I get tired and my eyes get tired, I make errors.
but when I'm having a good day and get the placements right, I get a really good morph.

This program is like any other, it takes patience, practice and depends on the user.
some are comfortable with it, others aren't.

I so want the latest version but with Christmas close, all my spare cash goes to buying my grand-babies some gifts.
And it will still be a lean Christmas for them...sigh.

I looked at the 3.5 version many moons ago, but decided against purchasing it primarly because a very small change in where those dots are placed results in a very large change in the resultant mesh.  I never could quite get the hang of placing dots so that the mesh would come out looking reasonably human, much less recognizable as a particular individual's face.

Sent an email about this to their "customer support" and never did get any response, apparently since I hadn't yet paid for the program I wasn't worth responding too, nothing I could find in the instructional video seemed to address this problem, and I simply didn't have several months of "play with it" time to work out dot placement on my own. 

So I decided against purchasing it and have generally recommend that others do the same, at least until they either fix the ultra picky dot placement problem or at the very least give you some idea on how to place dots properly.  The videos make it look falling off a log easy - it isn't, not by a long shot.  A minor varation one way or the other and you get a huge variation in the resultant mesh. 

Ok, I give these folks credit where credit is due, they certainly are one of the "better" applications available for doing this sort of thing and that is an accomplishment.  But from my experience their customer service wasn't just below par, it was practically non-existant, so that in and of itself made me decide to what until some other company came out with a similar product.    Still waiting, granted, but I'm not in a hurry to be anywhere. 

Quote - > Quote - I've found that when my morphs start getting lumpy it's due to me not placing the dots or lines correctly.

If I get tired and my eyes get tired, I make errors.
but when I'm having a good day and get the placements right, I get a really good morph.

This program is like any other, it takes patience, practice and depends on the user.
some are comfortable with it, others aren't.

I so want the latest version but with Christmas close, all my spare cash goes to buying my grand-babies some gifts.
And it will still be a lean Christmas for them...sigh.

I looked at the 3.5 version many moons ago, but decided against purchasing it primarly because a very small change in where those dots are placed results in a very large change in the resultant mesh.  I never could quite get the hang of placing dots so that the mesh would come out looking reasonably human, much less recognizable as a particular individual's face.

Sent an email about this to their "customer support" and never did get any response, apparently since I hadn't yet paid for the program I wasn't worth responding too, nothing I could find in the instructional video seemed to address this problem, and I simply didn't have several months of "play with it" time to work out dot placement on my own. 

So I decided against purchasing it and have generally recommend that others do the same, at least until they either fix the ultra picky dot placement problem or at the very least give you some idea on how to place dots properly.  The videos make it look falling off a log easy - it isn't, not by a long shot.  A minor varation one way or the other and you get a huge variation in the resultant mesh. 

Ok, I give these folks credit where credit is due, they certainly are one of the "better" applications available for doing this sort of thing and that is an accomplishment.  But from my experience their customer service wasn't just below par, it was practically non-existant, so that in and of itself made me decide to what until some other company came out with a similar product.    Still waiting, granted, but I'm not in a hurry to be anywhere. 

Hi,

Not sure where you get your customer service experience - I am at info@abalonellc.com and I answer EVERY email within 24 hrs latest.
In regard to make FS4 easier, we know have an easy option (default for V4 and M3, unless you activate "3.5 Classic" button. In this, you can't really go wrong, it is as simple as placing 3 dots.
I agree that the classic 3.5 option does require precise dot placing and some experimenting to getting it right.
Hope to come up with a better solution for FS 4.5.
Best,
Laslo

Some people who experienced problems (and even crashes) with FaceShop 4 were able to get it working properly by updating their video drivers.
It is now known that some nVidea drivers don't work:
Here is one:
"After updating the driver to 6.14.11.7798 version (the last

one) (Nvidia 9600Gt), the result is disastrous"

But:
"GOOD NEWS, with the last version of Nvidia driver (181.20), all seems to
be good.Stand alone and plug-in."

Also: I"I have GeForce 8600 GT, vs. 167.63. Works like a charm..."

There seem to be issues with nVidea, not ATI or others.
If you have problems, pls. consider changing drivers.
Laslo