Novica & Forum Members Tips & Product Reviews Pt 8

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Comments

  • jakibluejakiblue Posts: 7,281

    I"m unsure what batch conversion script you're using, but perhaps they are referring to this? https://www.daz3d.com/victoria-4-for-genesis-2-female ;

    I have a quick question.  I am batch converting v4 skins to Gen2f with the batch conversions script.  It keeps saying I need the v4 uv's to Genesis 2F to use but I can't find it in my library and I can't find it in the store.  And, they are working just fine on Genesis2F, no issues at all with seams, eyes, make up or anything else with the 5 I've done so far.

     

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    genaris said:

    Hello all!  

    Can anyone here that bought that new guy "Jaque" from JavierMicheal tell me if the hairy arms and legs are actually in the product? The promos that JM himself did for the product all show hairy arms and legs, but the product details do NOT mention any hair except "facial hair," so I'm wondering about that.  

    Can someone answer this? I don't have Jaque. 

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited March 2017

    Medina has a building I spotted right away- there's no edging,  it looks out of place to me. Like a flat plane with brick shaders. The other buildings (in the promos) don't have bricks, so they can get away with no gutters/architectural decor around the top. The camera angle will probably solve this, but that row of bricks on the top IMO may still look unfinshed without any trim. Anyone who buys this, would love to see it from a different angle (several.) Where it overlaps with the building next to it, you can see there's very little depth to the facade. (I'd like to see a shot from our left, shooting INTO that little area.)

    Had to laugh- it looks like a piece of toast on the roof of the building on our left. 

     

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    Post edited by Novica on
  • firewardenfirewarden Posts: 1,482
    Novica said:

    Medina has a building I spotted right away- there's no edging,  it looks out of place to me. Like a flat plane with brick shaders. The other buildings (in the promos) don't have bricks, so they can get away with no gutters/architectural decor around the top. The camera angle will probably solve this, but that row of bricks on the top IMO may still look unfinshed without any trim. Anyone who buys this, would love to see it from a different angle (several.) Where it overlaps with the building next to it, you can see there's very little depth to the facade. (I'd like to see a shot from our left, shooting INTO that little area.)

    Had to laugh- it looks like a piece of toast on the roof of the building on our left. 

     

    You should post that as a new thread in Commons, imo, if you haven't. He might have missed something and want to fix it.

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 24,248

    You have sharp eyes! Yum, toast.

  • LlynaraLlynara Posts: 4,770
    edited March 2017

    Why does nearly every figure released by a certain PA look exacty the same, except for maybe 2? I count 21 that look nearly the same. Do people actually buy more than one of these, and if so, why?

    I thought it was supposedly difficult to get products approved by DAZ, but it seems like there's no shortage of brunettes with long bloated shiny torsos. The demand is clearly extremely high. But I still can't buy clothing for males that have movement morphs or that fits right.

    Yes, that drives me crazy too! I have one of that PA's characters and refuse to buy any more. Not because the product is bad. It's because I cannot tell the difference between the models in the promos and refuse to buy the same model over and over again. If they are different, that PA needs to change the promo pics. If you go to his/her store and look at them side by side, they look like clones.

    I just wonder how someone gets that many same-looking models to be accepted by DAZ.

    Post edited by Llynara on
  • firewardenfirewarden Posts: 1,482

    I actually don't own anything of theirs because when I look at them, I cannot tell them apart. I thought it was due to my faceblindness, which makes telling faces apart much harder, so sorta glad to find out I'm not alone. It doesn't help that the promos are so similar.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited March 2017

     

    You should post that as a new thread in Commons, imo, if you haven't. He might have missed something and want to fix it.

    I don't have enough information at the present. There needs to be more views of it. I'd probably just PM the vendor, or perhaps some of the vendors who surf this thread will give them a heads up. The Commons is more visible, which is actually why I like my lil ole' thread here that can explore the possibilities, hidden from the masses... (well, okay, a few people may know about it...but you get what I mean. I'm not SURE there's anything wrong, so I'd rather not generate a huge discussion on it over in the main forum.) But the bricks for the width would have to be..what, one brick? Two? 

    The reason I take a closer look at sets from this vendor is because of all the work-around I had to do to get the Greek Houses edge fixed for the ground plane (the edge facing the water, remember?) And re-tiling the main ground plane. I am happy with the products, but I'm getting less and less likely to start fixing things (whether they need fixing, or it's just to get it to where I like it. The edging I fixed needed it IMO) 

    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887

    To refresh your memories, take a look at the original and then my tweaks and see the difference in the edge.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887

    Reminder: use your PC+ coupons as it's getting near the end of the month. I put two of the new releases in my cart (The Secluded Island and Ancient Egypt Exhibit) and then the War Dog Remastered HD for Genesis 3 Male, and that 29.97 War Dog outfit is now only $4.78 (it was $10.78)  You get a LOT with that outfit.

    If you want more than two of the new releases, and think you may want more in the next day or two, they keep their Newly Mad status a few days so you will still get 40% off, still be a bonus buyer- and I THINK MM will continue a few more days. It is a slight risk that it might not, but I am only putting new 2 New Releases in the cart so I can put ONE item in with it and get 100% of that $6 applied to IT. Tomorrow I'll put the other items in and shop the stores, then use the DO code if one is a DO. That way my $12 of PC+ coupons is really working for me. 

    So don't forget to use your coupons for PC+! 

  • firewardenfirewarden Posts: 1,482

    Thank you for the reminder! Having to tweak that much would keep me from buying it. Hope the vendor fixes the sets. But it's rather like the auditorium set that a vendor made where the seating was out of proportion - differently on all planes, so not easily fixed - so that DAZ people couldn't sit at the desks. I thought of buying it and substituting desks from another set, but decided it wasn't worth the trouble. You'd think QA would catch these things if the vendor doesn't.

  • firewardenfirewarden Posts: 1,482

    Speaking of clone characters from vendors, I LOVE that Saiyaness has fantastically unique characters. There are a few vendors that consistently have characters that don't look like clones of each other or simply a touch-up of a too-recognizable base character. Saiyaness, Darwins Mishap(s), and RawArt are ones that I think of off the bat. (My brain is stuttering trying to think of others; need more coffee.)

    What favorite vendors do y'all have for unique characters?

  • IceDragonArtIceDragonArt Posts: 12,548

    Ice Dragon... 

    In your surfaces tab for the G2F character, go to UV, and see if it says Base of Victoria 4. 

    If it says base it *shouldn't* be working. 

    I just bought the M4 to G2M UV because I didn't have that, yet. 

    https://www.daz3d.com/michael-4-for-genesis-2-male
     

    I will have to check when I get home.  But I was not having any issues lol.  I have the Michael 4 for Genesis 2 Male but I can't find the V4 to Genesis 2.  Its not in the Daz store that I can see.  I guess I will have to check the other place.

  • IceDragonArtIceDragonArt Posts: 12,548
    jakiblue said:

    I"m unsure what batch conversion script you're using, but perhaps they are referring to this? https://www.daz3d.com/victoria-4-for-genesis-2-female ;

    I have a quick question.  I am batch converting v4 skins to Gen2f with the batch conversions script.  It keeps saying I need the v4 uv's to Genesis 2F to use but I can't find it in my library and I can't find it in the store.  And, they are working just fine on Genesis2F, no issues at all with seams, eyes, make up or anything else with the 5 I've done so far.

     

    That link isn't working.  I tried doing a search and couldn't find it.  It doesn't seem to be in his store here either.

  • jakibluejakiblue Posts: 7,281

    Ice Dragon, it is definitely in the store. Unless you've already purchased it, in which case it won't show when you go to his store.

    I don't know what that link isn't working. Maybe this: here 

    jakiblue said:

    I"m unsure what batch conversion script you're using, but perhaps they are referring to this? https://www.daz3d.com/victoria-4-for-genesis-2-female ;

    I have a quick question.  I am batch converting v4 skins to Gen2f with the batch conversions script.  It keeps saying I need the v4 uv's to Genesis 2F to use but I can't find it in my library and I can't find it in the store.  And, they are working just fine on Genesis2F, no issues at all with seams, eyes, make up or anything else with the 5 I've done so far.

     

    That link isn't working.  I tried doing a search and couldn't find it.  It doesn't seem to be in his store here either.

     

  • IceDragonArtIceDragonArt Posts: 12,548

    Ah that worked.  And I do apparently own it but when I searched for it in my library I was searching for victoria or v4 uv because that's what it is lol.  Thanks for the help!  that would be why they are working lol.

  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,651
    edited March 2017
    Novica said:
    genaris said:

    Hello all!  

    Can anyone here that bought that new guy "Jaque" from JavierMicheal tell me if the hairy arms and legs are actually in the product? The promos that JM himself did for the product all show hairy arms and legs, but the product details do NOT mention any hair except "facial hair," so I'm wondering about that.  

    Can someone answer this? I don't have Jaque. 

    Nope. Jaque's options include only eye color changes, a tat, and facial hair options. He is hairless and skin looks like kinds of similar to Donnie's, except pinker.

    Post edited by Serene Night on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited March 2017
    Yes, that drives me crazy too! I have one of that PA's characters and refuse to buy any more. Not because the product is bad. It's because I cannot tell the difference between the models in the promos and refuse to buy the same model over and over again. If they are different, that PA needs to change the promo pics. If you go to his/her store and look at them side by side, they look like clones.

    Although that is excessive by that one particular vendor, there are several other vendors who keep using the same materials and slightly tweak them, or slightly tweak the morphs. You know, when you can look at a figure and know immediately who the vendor is because it's a new release, and you think, "Don't I already HAVE that one?" With morph sliders, if I can create a similar look with one I already have, I only buy the character if I get it for $3.50 or so, because I showcase them. 

    Let's chat a minute. Genesis 4 may be due out this summer. I'm chocked full of Genesis 3 and Genesis 2, so I'm going to try to hold firm on not buying into Genesis 4. I can't justify buying more just to showcase it, I've got more to show you than I have time to render. I thought it would be fun to see what generation you own the most of. If you want to figure percents (in case it's a close call, and if you're curious) here's how to do that:

    CHECK HIDE WHAT I OWN. Go to the main store page and under "figure" select everything that's applicable (Example, from Victoria 4 down, grab Michael 4, Aiko 4, etc. Be sure you scroll down the dropdown menu.)  That shows a number- of what you do NOT own. (B)
    Subtract what you don't own from the total. A-B=C, what you own. I"ve provided the (A) totals for each generation, below.

    Want a percent?  C (what you own) divided by A (yes, divide the smaller number by the larger) =D, the percent of that generation that you own.

    Here's the TOTAL number for each generation- make sure this is showing for you- (and double check me.)
    Generation 4: 5106      Genesis 1773    Genesis 2  3328         Genesis 3   3492

    Wow, Genesis got the shaft. Some neat materials there- and the characters were not clone after clone. 

    So using my example: let's do Generation 4. Making something up.

    Just use this:

    Total (A) is 5106 (Total products)  (B) is what is left (check Hide What I Own)  so pretend it's 4976
    So 5106-4976= (C) 130 products owned of Generation 4.
    So then (C) 130 divided by (A) 5106 is 0.02 which means they would own 2% of all those products.

    Give it a try. Then you'll know which generation you need to concentrate on GenXing. Use what you own! 

    I can eyeball mine and see the glaring results. While I won't give total percents, I'll be back with the differences in percents from one generation to the next. I'm interested in what generation you've favored. 

    Post edited by Novica on
  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,651
    edited March 2017

    Merchants reusing the same merchant resource is a common problem with male figures particularly. Some vendors add some new eyebrows, diffuse out the skin with a different shade of tan/brown and voila, a new character. I think too because so few male characters have real life details like body hair, or anything else added this must be a strong temptation. Donnie and Jaque for example have the exact same hand texture. Comparing the knockles and texture will show you. Obviously, I know there are only so may hand and skin resources which can be used. But I'm almost at this point, where I wish they would sell a skin tone pack for various skin resources, and call it a day as I don't want to buy the same skin thinking it is a new character, only to see it is mostly something I already own.

    Post edited by Serene Night on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited March 2017

    Oh heavens. I'm really rocking it with Genesis and Genesis 2. The Genesis surprised me. You really do need to do the percents, not the number owned, to get a real feel of it.

    I have SEVENTY TWO PERCENT of Genesis! Yikes.  (1,288 of 1773)  
    Genesis 2 was second (not giving that total, but there was a drop in percentage.)  So I need to concentrate on using more of that clothing and getting those folks GenX'd up to Genesis 3. The Generation 4 and Genesis 3 then dropped down from Genesis 2 by 20 and 22% respectively.

    For Genesis 3, it's due to changes in styles, repeating of materials, and lots of clones. Less variety in my opinion. But I was surprised to see my V4, M4 etc was more the current generation! And waaaaaay below Genesis, and 22% less than Genesis 2. 

    So mine went:
    1. MOST: Genesis 72%
    2. Genesis 2  (dropped down quite a bit from Genesis) 
    3. Generation 4 (dropped 20% from Genesis 2)
    4. LEAST: Genesis 3  (dropped 22% from Genesis 2) 

     

    Post edited by Novica on
  • isidornisidorn Posts: 1,601
    Novica said:

    Reminder: use your PC+ coupons as it's getting near the end of the month. I put two of the new releases in my cart (The Secluded Island and Ancient Egypt Exhibit) and then the War Dog Remastered HD for Genesis 3 Male, and that 29.97 War Dog outfit is now only $4.78 (it was $10.78)  You get a LOT with that outfit.

    If you want more than two of the new releases, and think you may want more in the next day or two, they keep their Newly Mad status a few days so you will still get 40% off, still be a bonus buyer- and I THINK MM will continue a few more days. It is a slight risk that it might not, but I am only putting new 2 New Releases in the cart so I can put ONE item in with it and get 100% of that $6 applied to IT. Tomorrow I'll put the other items in and shop the stores, then use the DO code if one is a DO. That way my $12 of PC+ coupons is really working for me. 

    So don't forget to use your coupons for PC+! 

    So far, "newly mad" has only been the day of relase. After that they become "still mad" (I think that's what they call it) for 3 days, and while still "new" and "mad" they've no longer been "newly mad".

  • donovancolbertdonovancolbert Posts: 1,421

    Here is my outlook on vendors like that... 

    People have their "thing," and some people are more hung up on their thing, whatever it is, than other people. So you get artists that just do all furries, or all hair, or whatever... 

    If you ask me a number of vendors... SF-Design, AliveSheCried, Out of Touch, Ironman 13, Zev0, Stonemason, Fisty, Fred Winkler... I can tell you immediately what their "thing" is. I can tell SOME things about some of them as actual people, despite not knowing them, based just on what I see from their stores - and I bet my guesses would be right. 

    So, some vendors, I go into their store and I go... "They really have a thing for women who look... Just... Like... That... One..." 

    There are a few vendors like this. And if you like women like that as much as they do... you probably LOVE their content... and that is probably enough to make DAZ host it because there is a certian kind of person who can't get ENOUGH of that look... every tiny variation of it is a new purchase. 

    But I could be wrong... :) 

     

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887

    I would like clarification on the word "custom" morphs. If a vendor is using sliders we have, there's nothing custom about it. Custom to me implies Zbrush or another modeling program that the typical person doesn't use. Using morphs sliders we have and doing a lengthen the nose, moving peak distance for the upper lip, widening nostrils- that isn't custom. So when I see custom, I am thinking "not available to the typical buyer." 

  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,651
    edited March 2017

    I would love to use zbrush to make custom morphs for Genesis 3. Unfortunately the tools which allow for us to do this easily are restricted to pa's. It seems a shame that daz studio is restricted in this fashion. I have created some excellent morphs in zbrush. Making normal maps and displacement just isn't the same. 

    Post edited by Serene Night on
  • isidornisidorn Posts: 1,601
    edited March 2017
    Novica said:

    Medina has a building I spotted right away- there's no edging,  it looks out of place to me. Like a flat plane with brick shaders. The other buildings (in the promos) don't have bricks, so they can get away with no gutters/architectural decor around the top. The camera angle will probably solve this, but that row of bricks on the top IMO may still look unfinshed without any trim. Anyone who buys this, would love to see it from a different angle (several.) Where it overlaps with the building next to it, you can see there's very little depth to the facade. (I'd like to see a shot from our left, shooting INTO that little area.)

    Had to laugh- it looks like a piece of toast on the roof of the building on our left. 

     

    I agree that looks odd. But apparently there's something behind that brick wall, as seen on the overview promos.

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    Post edited by isidorn on
  • MelanieLMelanieL Posts: 7,396
    edited March 2017
    Novica said:

    Medina has a building I spotted right away- there's no edging,  it looks out of place to me. Like a flat plane with brick shaders. The other buildings (in the promos) don't have bricks, so they can get away with no gutters/architectural decor around the top. The camera angle will probably solve this, but that row of bricks on the top IMO may still look unfinshed without any trim. Anyone who buys this, would love to see it from a different angle (several.) Where it overlaps with the building next to it, you can see there's very little depth to the facade. (I'd like to see a shot from our left, shooting INTO that little area.)

    Had to laugh- it looks like a piece of toast on the roof of the building on our left.

    I think this promo shows that same building in clay mode - it appears to be a cube-ish shape, not just a plane, and the "toast" has a pair at the far end - they are some sort of decorative plaster bits I think. I didn't buy the set (at least not yet) so I can't say for sure.

    ETA: Anyway, don't a lot of people complain about the lack of "toast" on products? Perhaps Ansiko took it literally? wink

    Post edited by MelanieL on
  • MelanieLMelanieL Posts: 7,396
    Novica said:

    Oh heavens. I'm really rocking it with Genesis and Genesis 2. The Genesis surprised me. You really do need to do the percents, not the number owned, to get a real feel of it.

    I have SEVENTY TWO PERCENT of Genesis! Yikes.  (1,288 of 1773)  
    Genesis 2 was second (not giving that total, but there was a significant drop in percentage.)  So I need to concentrate on using more of that clothing and getting those folks GenX'd up to Genesis 3. The Generation 4 and Genesis 3 then dropped down from Genesis 2 by 20 and 22% respectively.

    For Genesis 3, it's due to changes in styles, repeating of materials, and lots of clones. Less variety in my opinion. But I was surprised to see my V4, M4 etc was more the current generation! And waaaaaay below Genesis, and 22% less than Genesis 2.

    So mine went:
    1. MOST: Genesis 72%
    2. Genesis 2  (dropped down quite a bit from Genesis) 
    3. Generation 4 (dropped 20% from Genesis 2)
    4. LEAST: Genesis 3  (dropped 22% from Genesis 2)

    Interesting exercise, Novica. I was surprised to find that my sequence worked out just the same as yours, although I reckon the percentages are quite different. I don't mind showing mine, so here they are:
    1) MOST: Genesis = 30.3%
    2) Genesis 2 = 25.1%
    3) Generation 4 = 13.5%
    4) LEAST: Genesis 3 = 13.1%

  • FerretmaniaFerretmania Posts: 883

    I agree with MelanieL, interesting exercise and makes me wonder how much I have from other sites lol

    Mine are : 

    1. MOST : Genesis 3 = 12.9% 

    2. Genesis 2 = 8.3% 

    3. Genesis = 7.7% 

    4. Generation 4 = 6.6% 

  • firewardenfirewarden Posts: 1,482
    edited March 2017

    1. MOST: Genesis - 27%
    2. Genesis 2 - 20%
    3. Genesis 3 - 10.5 %
    4. LEAST: Generation 4 - 8.6%

    This surprised me, as I would have thought my highest would have been Genesis 2, but I did start buying with Genesis and went crazy with the March Madness right before Genesis 2, I believe, because I recall being quite irritated at putting together a decent collection of characters, hair, and clothing just to have it be outdated immediately.

    I really like the improvements of detail in Genesis 2. I was trying to avoid Genesis 3, but was swayed by low prices the latter part of last year. The details on the characters were so realistic, especially compared to Genesis, and I decided that I would use Genesis 3 for non-animated projects and jump into learning Iray..

    Ironically, I just started buying Genesis 3 for the most part last September, I think. I'd have to go back and look to be sure, but I think that's correct. Of course, Murphy requires that Genesis 4 be in the wings.

    That said, I won't buy Genesis 4 if it is unable to take standard animations since that's also a huge shortcoming of Genesis 3 that irritates me. I keep thinking I'll spend some time converting stuff to Genesis 2... maybe I'll have time this summer.

    Post edited by firewarden on
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