Forum: Poser - OFFICIAL


Subject: how to generate better looking library icons?

rolfi opened this issue on Feb 09, 2000 ยท 11 posts


rolfi posted Wed, 09 February 2000 at 3:20 AM

while saving to Library, i always get as Icon, what i see in Poser window. Specially, when working with Transmaps, i see those dot-meshes in Poser window, and also get those in the Icons. Is there a way to influence the outlook of the Icons, like making them like the original Poser ones, or maybe get the Rendered Result into the Icon?


PhilC posted Wed, 09 February 2000 at 5:58 AM

Poser will only take what it sees unrendered in the Document window. Tip #1 For a coloured icon background place a coloured cube prop, ground plane or background picture behind the item to be saved. Tip #2 I like to save my figures in a default setting but this can result in a drab library icon. I hence follow this procedure:- Using an example of saving a figure "Posette" (a) save the figure in a default pose with a name "Posette" (b) compose document window and as per tip #1 (c) resave the figure with the name "Posette Icon" (d) in windows explorer:- delete Posette.RSR delete Posette Icon.CR2 rename Posette Icon.RSR to Posette.RSR (e) back in poser refresh/re-open library window (f) open the, now good looking, icon named Posette" (g) stand back in amazement :) You may be wise to save a copy of the files before deleting.


Delrino posted Wed, 09 February 2000 at 8:55 AM

hmmmm...i am not at home, so i cant try it, but.... i think poser puts into the gallery what it sees in the window even if its rendered..so just render the desired position, lighting etc. and add it to the gallery.. maybe i am wrong, but thats what i think at the moment... have fun! Karsten


Freakachu posted Wed, 09 February 2000 at 9:59 AM

Del--It doesn't. The rsr icons in the library are unrendered, which means if you're using transparancies, you get the odd dotted effect. There is no "rendered" icon. I use the same technique as Phil (tip #2) with one exception. Since I use a Mac I have to use MacConverter to convert the files to PC versions, make the swaps and then reconvert them into Mac format. I usually give everything the same name and save into subcategory folders like "export" and "export rsr". Then I open the two directories and mix & match.


Delrino posted Wed, 09 February 2000 at 10:07 AM

hi freakachu, oh, thanks for letting me know...i thought it might work.. i always use the highest preview-quality for the icons.. uhoh, there you have a lot of work with your mac,hm? Karsten


DEL posted Wed, 09 February 2000 at 8:08 PM

I have a Pc and the way I like to do it is to set the document style to Textured That's about as close as you can get to a rendered Icon without the hassle.


illusions posted Wed, 09 February 2000 at 8:25 PM

Here's a trick supplied to me by Codeman 3D...Hope it helps. Save the figure to the library. This will give you file1.cr2 and file1.rsr Then render an image, export the image to a .jpg file. Import the image as a background...move the camera off the figure. Save to the library under a new name which will give you newname.cr2 and newname.rst. Delete the newname.cr2 and the file1.rsr from the directory under Libraries. Rename newname.rsr to file1.rsr and voila, when you reopen the library...the rendered image for the figure will be there instead of the usual drab image created by Poser.


rolfi posted Thu, 10 February 2000 at 1:30 AM

thx for all your replies, think that helps a lot. your tricks will make me able to generate icons like i want them. only a last question, which parameters do i have to set to get rid of the dotted effects in preview window and make it nearly looking like the rendered picture?


Freakachu posted Thu, 10 February 2000 at 1:46 AM

Illusion--I've tried that and the background image seems to be lighter than the items in the foreground. Rolfi--I'd crank down the transparency settings for the .rsr thumbnails, and use Phil's solution. Transmapped hair does not have the same detail at thumbnail size. So I'd make it a little more solid (set transparency to zero) so the figure doesn't appear bald with a halo of gnats for the library images.


rolfi posted Thu, 10 February 2000 at 6:32 AM

Just tried that Illusion's trick, works really well, getting exactly that in Icon, what i see in rendered image. fortune of that trick is, that you see the real result of transmaps in icon. thx again for all your help.


wal posted Fri, 11 February 2000 at 4:33 AM

On a Mac it's really simple to get better looking library icons! See my own message from today (02/11) at this forum where I give a step-by-step instruction.