Hello all,

I'm trying to do something that makes sense to me, but I can't find a utility to do it.

I have set up the materials for a character for V4, and I like the way it renders very much.  Now I'd like to use that same setup, but using a different set of texture maps.  The whole thing, bump/spec/color.  Is there a quick way of doing that?  I know I can edit the MC6 file and just do a search and replace, but I was wondering if someone has put together a quick way of doing it?

Thanks in advance

Indi.

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2696615

Yes, there is one. It's called VSS (Versatile Shader System) and it's a beta freebie from bagginsbill. It takes a little learning how to set up and use, but once you understand how it works it's easy peasy.

I suggest you do a Forum search on Poser / VSS / bagginsbill and you'll see the thread about it, and the link to his download site.

You'll just need to set up the templates the way you want them yourself, and resave the customised prop for your future use. But you should really try, at least once, the skin shader templates that bagginsbill provides built into the prop as downloaded. They are terrific.

There are other utilities that can do this, I think, but I have not used any other so can't comment on them.

Thank you both.  I actually already did get the VSS download, but I haven't used it.  So I will definitely get into that and see what it does.

Thank you!!

There is a small learning curve to understanding VSS and I highly recommend it.  It will change your perspective on texture mapping entirely.  Search the gallery for VSS images, you will be amazed.

Whoo!  Ok, you weren't kidding about the learning curve.  I've read a bunch, and used the newer prop on my character and it seemed to puff her out of her clothing.  I understand this can happen with "smoothing" on, but it was on before and I'm not sure what happened within the shader to make her puff up.  Even her nose was swollen!  She was a bit too red too.  I see how to tweak that in the shader templates, so that's an easy fix.  But I guess I need to get a bit more experience with it.  I agree, what I've seen is much more what I want to achieve, so I think we're on the right track.  I'd love to know what I did wrong here, but I have bigger issues... read on?

So I did a little more reading and I see how you can set up your own templates.  From what I can tell, you need to have a base first with the maps applied to the figure, then "synchronize" to your VSS prop.  While I can see and will probably use the VSS to do this, it still doesn't do exactly what I was looking for. 

I've been using Texture Converter 2 to convert maps from one figure to another.  So basically, I have a set of maps.  Nothing more.  No pose whatsoever to get the maps onto a character.   THAT's what I really am looking for right now.  AFTER I get them on a character, however crappy a material setup I have, I can use the VSS to make it really work well.

I hope that makes sense... So thanks for re-directing me to the VSS, I definitely want to master that.  But a quick question, are there more than the "generic" and "VSSPR2Test" props around?  Is there a pro version?

Thanks again!

I don't think bb has had time to produce the pro version (i would add the word "yet", but that might be wishful thinking). Various people have made their own prop templates and copy rules, but as far as I know these are not available anywhere.

The puffing up is due to a known problem which causes VSS to think that there should be a displacement map called NO_MAP, when what it actually means is that there is no displacement map at all. All you need do is disconnect the displacement node in the skin templates and re-synchronise.

bb provided a new material for the skin template, also downloadable from his site, with various improvements to the shader. But it had a slight error when I downloaded it. The colour map needs to be plugged back into Diffuse Color, otherwise the Preview shows up black, as I recall.

One more thing if you switch over to using file compression. If there is a temp.mc6 material file in the VSS folder, delete it. Otherwise VSS will write a new temp.mcz temporary material file, but read the old temp.mc6 file and most likely use the wrong texture set.

Ahhh!  Detaching the displacement nodes worked great, and I reduced the redness easily enough.

I do love that system. 

and slightly OT, I think I need a Poser buddy.   ;->   I feel so silly just broadcasting newbie questions.

Indi

To be honest, this is the best place to post any questions, newbie or not. Everyone does it.

I have seen some posts that almost cry out "I don't know where to start with Poser"! There are very few, if any, in the community who would just tell them to go away and "rtfm". (Read The Fine Manual).

Izi