Sci-Fi Warrior tutorial
noquiexis
Posts: 32
I am using DAZ Studio 4.8 on a computer running Windows 7 Pro Home (64 bit, cica 2009) and another computer running Windows 10 Home (64 bit, bought in July 2017). The Windows 7 computer is dog-slow compared to the Windows 10 computer. I will be doing all my future work on the new machine.
I ran the "Sci-Fi Warrior tutorial" again to refresh my memories of how things work. The tutorial will not even get past "Set View to Prespective View" on the Hollywood Blvd layout. The tutorial stops at "Set Shadow Type to Raytraced (Software Only)" on all of the other layouts (Full Service [Beta], Self Serve, City Limits, City Limits Lite, and 3D Bridge). This happens on both machines. I clicked on everything that I could see, but the tutorial will not advance.
I re-installed the tutorial from the 18731_SciFiWarriorLessonforDAZStudio45Win_1.0_ds.exe file (from the online Product Library) with the same results. That installer put the files in "D:\Daz 3D\Studio\My Library\DAZ Studio Tutorials\Sci-Fi Warrior". Same problems on both machines.
I then re-installed the tutorial from the IM00018731-01_SciFiWarriorBundle.zip archive that Install Manager downloaded. That archive put the files in "D:\Daz 3D\Studio\My Library\content\DAZ Studio Tutorials\Sci-Fi Warrior". I am not sure where the tutorial looks for these files, but they all have the same file creation dates. Same problems on both machines.
My questions are:
1. Am I clicking in the wrong area to make this tutorial advance?
2. Is there a way to force these tutorials to advance? They seem to act like a video game which will not advance until some trigger is tripped.
Note: If you "Preview Lights" for the "SpotLight 8" that you create during the tutorial, it does nothing until you render an image. I turned all of the other lights off and the "SpotLight 8" did have an effect. The "Rim Light 1" and/or the "Back Light 2" seem to overpower the "SpotLight 8" while you are working on the scene.
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Comments
Was the Render Engine set to Iray? That would hide the Shadow Type control. Try setting the engine to 3Delight, if it isn't, and run the tutorial again - if that then works please bug report the issue.
Most GPUs are limited to 8 lights in preview, one of which is taken by the headlamp. You can use the Render Priority parameter to select which seven lights are previewed.
Richard Haseltine,
I do not use the Iray Render Engine on either computer, although I did try that once. As you mentioned, Shadow Type does not show up at all. I am thinking that something in the DAZ Studio program was changed when they added the Iray Render Engine to the program code.
There are a couple of ways to display the Shadow Type dialog (using 3Delight rendering). I tried them all during the tutorial, pressing the <Enter> key after the third round of attempts. I thought that might kick the tutorial along like it does when you enter camera positioning numbers manually instead of using the sliders.
I did not know that GPUs are limited to 8 lights in preview, or that those lights could be manually selected. Thank you!
Before I send in any bug reports, someone else should try this tutorial to see if they can re-create the error. I still could have missed a step. These tutorials are there to help newbies learn the program. If there is a bug, then it should be addressed to avoid user frustration (especially for newbies). Otherwise I would, if successful, write up a walkthrough so that I could do this manually without using the tutorial.
So you have the Shadow Type normally, just not when the tutorial is running? On a clean install of daz studio iray will be seelcted as it is the default render engine in 4.8 and 4.9.
Richard Haseltine ,
I could run Iray on the new computer, but for now I keep both computers set at 3Delight just for speed. I also want consistency for testing. I might mention that this is a fresh install on the new computer. The tutorial exhibits the same behavior on the older computer, where DAZ Studio was installed years ago.
I did a couple of spot renders (with 3Delight) mostly to see the effect of changing the Render Priority parameter on Spotlight 8.
SFW Spotlight 8 RP Normal.png shows the spot render with Spotlight 8 set to Render Priority Normal. (Hollywood Blvd layout)
SFW Spotlight 8 RP Above Normal.png shows the spot render with Spotlight 8 set to Render Priority Above Normal. (Hollywood Blvd layout)
I also included a screen shot of the tutorial (City Limits layout) SFW stuck at Raytraced (Software Only).png to show where the tutorial hangs. If I close all of the branches back to "Spotlight 8", the tutorial's "Click" arrow moves to that spot. It makes no difference whether I highlight (use the menu for) "Spotlight 8", "Light", or "Shadow"; the tutorial will not advance after setting the Shadow Type to Raytraced (Software Only). As I mentioned before, I could be doing something wrong. If anyone else can replicate this behavior, then I will submit a bug report. I did run through the other tutorials (Inside The Asylum and Slaying the Dragon). I was able to complete them successfully using the City Limits layout.
Render priority is for the lights in the preview/Basic OpenGL mode - it has no bearing on 3Delight (or Iray).
So the Shadow Type parameter is showing. Have you tried setting it to soemthing else and then back again?
Richard Haseltine ,
Within the tutorial, I changed the Shadow Type setting to "None", "Deep Shadow Map", and "Raytraced (Software Only)" under the "Spotlight 8", "Light", and "Shadow" menus about a dozen times between the two computers. I did that again while writing this reply.
Just to be clear, here are the steps that the tutorial took:
*Preparation*:
1. Confirm that the City Limits layout is selected for the Workspace.
2. Confirm that 3Delight is selected as the rendering engine.
Start the Tutorial
Opening screen: Click "Continue"
Clear the Scene by clicking on "New" icon
Click on "Content Library" -> "Environments" -> "Level 19"
Double click on "Level 19.duf"
*Loading a character*
Deselect Level 19: Clear Scene Selection by clicking on an empty space on the Scene pane.
Click on "Content Library" -> "People" -> "Genesis 2 Female"
Double click on "Genesis 2 Base Female.duf"
*Loading Wearables*
Click on "Content Library" -> "Sci-Fi Warrior"
Double click on "Sci-Fi Warrior Clothing and Hair.duf"
*Loading a weapon*
Click on "Content Library" -> "Props" -> "Sci-Fi Meelee"
Double click on "ElectroBlade.duf"
*Loading a Pose preset*
Click on "Content Library" -> "Sci-Fi Warrior"
Double click on "Sci-Fi Warrior Pose.duf"
*Selecting your Blade*
In the Scene pane, click on "Genesis 2 Female"
Work your way down to the "Right Hand" and click on "valsFWElectroBlade"
*Framing our Selection*
In the Viewport pane, (Left) Click on "View: Frame Control" (square box with a Plus sign) to center the ElectroBlade
*Adjusting the Sword*
Click on "Content Library" -> "Sci-Fi Warrior Blade Pose.duf"
*Setting Ambient Color*
Click on "Surfaces" tab -> "valsFWElectroBlade" -> "electroAura" -> "Ambient Color"
Adjust RBG values by left-click-and-hold on the numbers until they read "255", "123", and "0". (You may have to release the mouse button to reposition the cursor.)
*Clearing your Scene Selection*
Clear Scene Selection by clicking on an empty space on the Scene pane. (This may require that you contract "Genesis 2 Female")
*Loading a Light(s) Preset*
Click on "Content Library"
Double click on "Sci-Fi Warrior Lights.duf"
*Create a new Spotlight*
Click on the "Spotlight" icon up near the Menu bar. It does not matter if you choose "Appl Default Settings" or "Apply Active Viewport Transforms <Perspective View>", since we will be moving the camera later.
Click on "Accept" to close the dialog box.
*Framing our Selection*
Right Click on "View: Frame Control" (square box with a Plus sign) to point your view at "Spotlight 8" without zooming in on it.
*Positioning the Light*
Click on "Parameters" tab -> "General -> "Transforms" -> "Translation" -> "X Translate", set to 694
Click on "Y Translate", set to 335
Click on "Z Translate", set to 175
Note: Typing these numbers in is faster and more accurate.
*Framing our Selection*
Either Left- or Right- Click on "View: Frame Control" (square box with a Plus sign) to bring "Spotlight 8" into view.
Click on "Parameters" -> Rotation" -> "X Rotate", set to 150 (Typing these numbers is faster and more accurate.)
Click on "Y Rotate", set to 80
Click on "Z Rotate", set to -180 (Note: "180" and "-180" are the same, but the tutorial insists on "-180" to advance.)
*Adjusting the Light*
Click on "Light" -> "Spread Angle", set to 35
*Set the Shadow Type*
Click on "Light" -> "Shadow" -> "Shadow Type", set to "Raytraced (Software Only)"
**********************************************************************************************
The tutorial will not advance from here. The attached file "Sci-Fi Warrior tutorial jam.png" (on the Windows 7 computer) shows where the tutorial stops. As you can see, some of the "View" controls are hidden by the right-hand panes. The tutorial did find the "Frame" control when I needed it.
Am I doing something wrong, or is there a bug in the code?
Has anyone else tried this tutorial since I posted this? If this is only a local problem (just on my computers), then sending in a bug report will only cause confusion for the tech department. If someone can complete the tutorial, please send me the finishing steps, so that I can complete this tutorial manually.
You are obviously using an older version of the tutorial - the first thing the version I have does iss et the render engine to Iray. That makes it hard to say what the issue is, it may well be a version conflict between your older DS and your older tutorial.
Richard Haseltine ,
"Right now I'd spit on a sparkplug if I thought it could help!"
I have been starting the Sci-Fi Warrior lesson from the Lesson Strip and gong to "Interactive Lessons" -> "Sci-Fi Warrior". Apparently the file that starts this tutorial is located at "C:\Program Files\DAZ 3D\DAZStudio4\resources\Lesson Strips\Interactive\Interactive Lessons\Sci-Fi Warrior\0.dsa". There are also Guided Tours that can be started from the Lesson Strip and going to "Guided Tours" -> "Sample Scenes" -> "Sci-Fi Warrior" and selecting either "I - Pose Preset" or "II - Camera and Lights" (if you have already built the scene from "I - Pose Preset"). If I use these, I can succesfully complete the lessons.
The DAZ Product Library Page lists "Sci-Fi Warrior Interactive Lesson for DAZ Studio 4.5+ (Win)" which links to "18731_SciFiWarriorLessonforDAZStudio45Win_1.0_ds.exe". DAZ Install Manager looks for "IM00018731-20_SciFiWarriorLessonforDAZStudio48.zip". Apparently the .exe file is the older version. I will send in a report asking to get this changed.
**********************************************
On my Windows 7 computer, my Content is located at "F:\DAZ Studio 4\Studio\My Library". (I bought the new computer {with Windows 10, better a graphics card, and faster memory} primarily to run DAZ.) The Guided Tours lead to files named "0.dsa" in some funky directories listed below:
F:\DAZ Studio 4\Studio\My Library\DAZ Studio_4.5;4.x Public Build;4.x Publishing Build;4.x Private Build\resources\Lesson Strips\Interactive\Guided Tours\II - Sample Scenes\Sci-Fi Warrior\I - Pose Preset\0.dsa
F:\DAZ Studio 4\Studio\My Library\DAZ Studio_4.5;4.x Public Build;4.x Publishing Build;4.x Private Build\resources\Lesson Strips\Interactive\Guided Tours\II - Sample Scenes\Sci-Fi Warrior\II - Camera and Lights\0.dsa
F:\DAZ Studio 4\Studio\My Library\DAZ Studio_4.5;4;3 Adv;3\resources\Lesson Strips\Guided Tours\II - Sample Scenes\Sci-Fi Warrior\I - PosePreset\0.dsa
F:\DAZ Studio 4\Studio\My Library\DAZ Studio_4.5;4;3 Adv;3\resources\Lesson Strips\Guided Tours\II - Sample Scenes\Sci-Fi Warrior\II -Camera and Lights\0.dsa
F:\DAZ Studio 4\Studio\My Library\DAZ Studio_4.5;4;3 Adv;3\resources\Lesson Strips\Guided Tours\II - Sample Scenes\Sci-Fi Warrior\I - PosePreset\0.dsa
F:\DAZ Studio 4\Studio\My Library\DAZ Studio_4.5;4;3 Adv;3\resources\Lesson Strips\Guided Tours\II - Sample Scenes\Sci-Fi Warrior\II -Camera and Lights\0.dsa
On top of that, there is another funky directory at:
F:\DAZ Studio 4\Studio\My Library\DAZ Studio_4.5;4.x Public Build;4.x Private Build\resources\Lesson Strips\Interactive\Interactive Lessons which has "Slaying the Dragon", "Using Auto-Fit - Genesis to Genesis 2 Female", "Using Auto-Fit - Genesis to Genesis 2 Male", "Using Auto-Fit - M4 to G2M", and "Using Auto-Fit - V4 to G2F".
Are those paths on disc, or are they the paths listed in the Installed Files list in Install Manager? The first part is the application path, then DAZ Studio_4.5;4.x Public Build;4.x Private Build is a list of the Daz Studiio versions to be given the files that go in the application folder, finally the \Resources starts the path within the application folder that the files are to be placed in. The installation is designed to cope with release, public build (beta) and private build (beta) versions.
I've just installed daz 4.11. And the sci-fi warrior. It fouls up at the same point. So this is a fault with the tutorial!! It needs fixing soon!! An expert Daz Studio type needs to run through this tutorial and see if it does the same for her/him. Outdated Tutorials can ruin the best software's reputation. If things don't work for the programmers haow can we ordinary users expect to cope. I don't often use Daz Studio I much prefer Poser 11 pro, this comment is the reason why.
Further to my last. I wanted to follow a tutorial about DForce. However Daz says it can't find the file. The screen shot shows the file in (Apparently) the right place. What on Earth is happening here? I would like a definitive answer as to where Daz keeps its files.
If you find the Genesis Starter Essentials in the products tab of the Smart Content pane what icon does it have at top-right of the thumbnail?
As you can see from the screen shot it says "Prop".
No, I meant the product in the products tab - not the individual file in the Files tab (which is what your screen shot shows).
Sorry about that! But it is not showing in the products tab!
You are looking for Genesis Starter Essentials, not the Cavern?
Sorry for the time lag, had to restore from a crash (computer not traffic). OK I've attached another screenshot as you can see the product is Genesis starter essentials. This included the Alchemy cavern set, I first acquired from Daz way back in December 2013. That whole thing still works (see 2nd attachment) Now I did notice the update button but the first time I tried to update a prop, that was this morning, Daz Studio crashed! I also noted taht the location of the unavailable file is, apparently, in the props directory. What is going on? Thanks for your forebearance.
Treereaver
The fact that you have the update icon (which is the answer to thwe question I was asking) means that the product has, at least according to the database, been installed through Connect and therefore the DIM install, which is what your browser images show, is not being used. If you right-click on one of the files inside the product and select Browse to File Location what happens?
OK, OK! Updating worked, and solved the problem! Thank you so much for your patience. Now all I have to do is find the Interactive Tutorial for the Sci-fi Warrior.
Thanks again
Treereaver