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Where to start

cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
edited December 1969 in New Users

Hi everyone, I would like to ask anyone who is willing to help, where should I get started with daz. I mean I have no experience and have been wanting to learn this for a long time. Daz tutorials, the free ones are pretty basic and I want to dive in and learn as much as possible. So if anyone is willing to give some ideas and links I would appreciate that very much!

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Comments

  • frank0314frank0314 Posts: 14,064
    edited December 1969

    What exactly are you wanting to learn so we can better direct you to those types of things.

  • cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    I want to take characters and build a scene for them for now. I'm trying to use genesis and make an action scene or I should say picture. Pose them for a shot. You have to forgive my ignorance of any terms like I said I'm trying to learn. But where do I start off. Is there a full teaching tutorial from start to finish, creating characters, dressing them, posing them and having them in a scene?

  • ChoholeChohole Posts: 33,604
    edited December 1969

    Pop over and have a read through this thread. One New User has been doing a chronicle of how she is learning the program. Is very good the way she is listing how she is progressing, and good to learn from.

    http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/19756/

  • jestmartjestmart Posts: 4,449
    edited December 1969

    IMO the first thing to do is change the interface layout, click Window/Workspace/Select Layout, change it to either Self Serve or City Limits. You can also change the appearance by Window/Style/Select Style.

  • cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Lol, thanks for posting. That's what I did last night for 6 hours. When I couldn't figure out what to do. I loaded an image and pushed every button to see what it did. There is definitely a lot of options in there.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Thank you for mentioning the thread Chohole :)

    Also of note is that my Art Studio goes way past where I actually am- I'm consolidating / spotlighting threads where people post tutorials on intermediate and advanced topics :) So you get the whole ball of wax in one spot. There is HOURS of good information there.

    Of note is Scott-Livingston's hair tutorial http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/17656/ (try the geometry shell to get thicker hair, really cool.) and Szark's Uber Area Lighting http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/14536/

    If you're at the very start, this has the basics- my beginner videos. Would save a lot of poking around when you FIRST start. All new videos will get added there (and again, mentioned in the Art Studio thread.)
    http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/22094/

    Cathie

  • cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Thanks for the post Novica, I have taken a look at the thread and there is alot of good tips and answeres to my questions. I'll be using it quite a bit!

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    You're so VERY welcome.
    And a few minutes ago I started a thread on using those Iconic Shapes for Genesis so you can use the generation 4 with Genesis, and as soon as my questions get answered, I'll post a link to that thread in the Art Studio.

  • cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    This is what i started. its not alot of detail yet, as im trying to figure out how to get the right hand to grip the sword properly and figure out how to get her to open her mouth without her teeth falling out LOL!!! but im am having a blast just tinkering with the settings. what do you think Novica??

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  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited May 2013

    I like the way she is gripping the sword up by the hilt (hope I am using the right term here) as it gives it a very secure feeling- like she has it well in hand. Now, my question is- are you going for relaxed? My first impression is she is not on a mission, she's just chillin' so to speak- and the feet reinforce that. One thing I would move is her left hand with the blue fingernail- you can't see it. That or change the color of the nails to a lighter blue or different color.

    Do you know how to slightly shut the eyes? They seem a bit staring, but that's just my opinion (and I'm seriously flattered you asked me, but you should be asking Chohole, Jaderail, Scott-Livingston, Totte, fixmypcmike...the list goes on!) I'd slightly shut the eyes and just see what you think?

    I love the outfit and the overall feel of it- you've done quite well! Have you practiced with lighting yet? (Meaning trying different ones?)

    Post edited by Novica on
  • cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    The standing position was the last position she was rendered in. It was late and I didn't want to reposition her for a battle stance. Yes you are right her eyes do need to be shut, looks like she is having a starring contest and hasn't blinked in a long while. But like I said its just the start, and little things like you mentioned are great. Thanks and hopefully I can make it better.

  • cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Is there a way to set the image so when she moves her right hand or arm the sword stays positioned in her hand, moves with her

  • scorpioscorpio Posts: 8,420
    edited December 1969

    Parent the sword to her hand.

    In the scene tab drag the sword to the right hand.

  • cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Oh, that makes sense. Thanks for posting, that will make things a lot easier. Now I can poke more buttons when I get home!! Lol

  • jestmartjestmart Posts: 4,449
    edited December 1969

    Two ways, right-click on the katana, in the pop-up click on Change "whatever" Parent...". In the new pop-up find the hand of the figure you want to hold the prop, with just one figure in the scene this isn't that difficult. If there are multiple figures in the scene (and remember a figure is any model that has rigging and this includes(most of the time) the clothing another figure is wearing) it can be easier to use the drag and drop in the Scene tab. Have the Scene tab open, in the viewport select the hand to hold the prop, this will cause the figure's node/bone hierarchy to expand to the hand. Find the prop in the Scene tab, click and hold the mouse button so you can drag it then drop it on to the hand by releasing the mouse button.

  • cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Thanks for the explanation, today is only day 3 for learning how to use daz, but so far it is a lot of fun. Anyway you could tell me how to adjust mouth so that it opens without removing her top or bottom jaw bones?

  • Scott LivingstonScott Livingston Posts: 4,340
    edited December 1969

    Select Genesis's head and go to the Parameters pane. You should find some sliders under "Pose Controls."

    If you select her hand instead of her head, you should find different pose controls there, which you can use to improve the grip on the sword.

  • Scott LivingstonScott Livingston Posts: 4,340
    edited December 1969

    Since it's day three, here's how to select the head (forgive me if you already know this). Go to the Scene tab, click on "Genesis," click on the little triangle to expand the list of nodes and keep doing that until the "Head" node appears, then click that to select it. You can also expand the list all at once (I believe the method is right-click and choose "Expand All Nodes").

    Another way is, with Genesis already selected, click directly on the head (in the viewport).

  • cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Thanks Scott, I've done that but the options in the parameter tab allows me to change the mouth but not open it, and under scene when I select top or bottom jaw, that's when her teeth come out of her face, don't want dentures!! Lol

  • Scott LivingstonScott Livingston Posts: 4,340
    edited December 1969

    I'm away from my rendering computer at the moment, but here's a link to a tutorial that may help you out (it seems to have been written more for intermediate users, but at minimum the screenshot should show you where to find the Mouth Open slider and other relevant ones: http://my3dtips.blogspot.com/2012/02/making-and-saving-facial-expressions-on.html

    I'm going to include a link to this tutorial also: http://greywulf.net/2012/05/07/tutorial-press-the-make-fantasy-art-button-part-one/ in part because it (briefly) describes how to open the mouth, and in part because that site has several tutorials that are great for new users (they really helped me out when I was just starting).

  • cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Thanks Scott I really appreciate the help, Novica and her posts have helped a lot too. Once I get things adjusted tonight I'll post another image for where I'm at. Once again thank you !!

  • cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    If anyone who has a look at the image and can see any problems or issues please post them with any ideas. Like I said before I am just learning and any criticism is welcome. I really like what Novica is doing posting her progress, so maybe I'll post a bit and people can see what I'm doing and hopefully point me in the right direction!! Thanks everyone,

    John

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Hi John, just got back online.
    Scott-L is always a big help :)
    Yes, do keep an eye on the Parameters/Actor section for the sliders to change things. Here's another tip:

    ZOOM.
    When posing hands, zip in there and you'll be amazed at how your precision increases. You can select every joint in that finger without the use of sliders! I haven't done that much with expressions other than use sliders, but for hands, zooming is the key if you want to move the digits yourself.

    And start an art studio thread, you'll enjoy it!
    Cathie

  • JaderailJaderail Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Here is how to pose the mouth, with JUST the head selected go to Parameters and follow the arrows. All the pose controls will list. You will not have all mine lists as I have some bought expressions installed.

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  • cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Thanks Jaderail, i found them before i looked at the postings. I have altered the mouth the way i wanted. And added the last few things to start the image. She is a Vampire-Angel Hybrid. No Name for her yet. Im going to use her for a character in a novel im toying around with. Thought it might be easier if i could see the characters outside my own mind. And Cathie thanks for saying something about the eyes, i think they look a bit better now. Instead of looking hungrily at the guy with the cheese burger, she's going to eat the guy holding the cheese burger!! LOL

  • cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    OOP'S forgot the rendered Image!!!

    angel-Vampire_Hybrid,render#4.png
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  • cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
    edited May 2013

    And the whole image

    angel-Vampire_Hybrid,render#3.png
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    Post edited by cj9831 on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Oh yes, quite the difference!
    Next, do you know how to do the diffuse/glossiness to get the lips and the tongue moist? It's the opposite of what you might think- increasing the glossy number actually makes it less glossy. Don't know what you know, so I'll baby step it. Click on the surface selection tool (looks like three black sheets of paper) then click on the surface (tongue or lips) Go into Surfaces tab and experiment with the diffuse and glossy. I have some settings in my studio thread, but no time at the moment to go find them. I also suggested using orange for (I think) ambient to get a glow (very subtle)

    Really nice job dude!
    Cathie

  • cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    So I rendered my hybrid last night with a three light set up, in a setting that looks kind of futuristic and spacey! I wanted to go for the futuristic look and I think i captured it. Not sure if the lighting is right but I would love to hear any ideas you all might have.
    I will post that render later as I am posting from my phone right now, away from my computer. Also I would like to post a render from Cryinghorn, the image is called "open green". This image and his others which is posted on deviant art are what inspired me to try 3d art. But Cryinghorn created them from scratch, figures, clothes, jewelry, I mean everything.

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  • cj9831cj9831 Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    This image from Cryinghorn made me want to do this! I really hope that in time I can render something this good. Love the detail!

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