Hi ... at a web page I happened 2 see a link 2 a file called advanced techniques ... linked 2 a metacreations ftp site. Link didn't work fer me at the time. I dont even remember where the web page was, but ah, I was wondering does this secondary pdf manual still exist, and where is it? Is it useful? Thx.

Attached Link: http://www.curiouslabs.com/

You can get the advanced Technique Manual for Poser 3 at Curious Labs http://www.curiouslabs.com/ Note that this information is already included with Poser 4, so you only need it with Poser 3. Regards- Lemurtek

Oh ok. Thx. I got P4, so that's that. By the way, and I think I got this right, some ppl conform clothes, some ppl replacemerge body parts, which is better? I've been concentrating on the group tool and conforming cuz it seems more complicated, and something of a hurdle 2 overcome, and I figure I can always return 2 replacing parts if I want, but, what do the experts do? Do they conform the clothes, or do they replacemerge body parts with clothing? Thanx. PS Does nebody get the exception class error? Is it infamous or something. I've got it a couple times.

Conforming clothes is quicker. But usually results in the body poking through the clothes if the figure is posed in certain ways. I'd say the "experts" use the other method. Only because that requires knowing how to create a figure from scratch. And that's the hardest thing for most people to learn. Stay away from that grouping tool. If you use it. It will put the geometry of whatever part you use it on. Into the .cr2 file. And will cause ProPack users to get holes in your stuff. Not to mention that geometry imbedded into .cr2 files is something CuriousLabs frowns on. If you want to add custom materials or change groups for your figures and props. Use UVmapper instead. ScottA

The grouping tool works. You have to export the OBJ and write a PHI file instead of saving to the library.

Ok, this is other method I used 2 conform: I load in the prop a piece at a time (slicing it up beforehand), arrange the hierarchy using the editor, and save it as a figure. Then load it in as a figure, and set the joint center and end pts 2 match, and conform. Seems 2 work. Is that ok? (I'm no fan of the grouping tool newayz, I find it painful) Heres an example of very simple kneepad. Two pieces. The pose is rather extreme 2 test it, and there's a slight show through. But I didn't bother matching the ... u know, the falloff zones or whatever. Just the centers on the two pieces, Thigh, Shin and end pt on the Shin.