Novica & Serene Night’s Renders, Tips, Tutorials & Product Reviews PART 2
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Yeah, re-organizing is kind of sucky, especially if you have 3rd party content that needs to be located and re-filed. =-) Good luck, but a fresh install and redoing it, is probably the best course. Then you can really get organized.
I may have to do it too- someday because daz drops stuff that I've filed in my categories... but I don't have the patience for that sort of thing at the moment.
I challenged myself to re-file and check stuff was filed alphabetically a while back... Like go through the a's one day. That kind of works. But I don't have the time at present.
I think having a neatly organized content folder is essential to finding your stuff and not wasting time trying to locate odd items you may want to use someday.
Well, that was dumb, didn't state my main point. Kharma, don't uninstall- COPY the items over to your external hard drive before you do any deleting. That way you can click and be sure they are there in the external first. I wasn't comfortable MOVING them because if something glitched, they are like Star Trek transported items and have disappeared into space somewhere if there is a malfunction. :)
You need to be aware that when you go to delete them off your C drive (just assuming that's where they are) that sometimes the files are too big for your recycle bin- doing a third at a time from a folder will keep that from giving you the error, file too big message.
I'll add more here in a minute- check back.
Double check to make sure you grab anything that relates to DAZ. From what I can find this was what I did. (In other words, I'm happy to help but not responsible if there are other files. Definitely get these though- and I think this is all I did.) So, if you have the default setup: (not using DIM, I think that is a different setup)
C>Users>YourName>MyDocuments>DAZ 3D> (this will grab Studio>MyLibrary. Double check to make sure it did.)
C>Program Files>DAZ 3d>DAZ Studio 4
C>Program Data>DAZ3d (this is the Content Management Service and Studio 4 files.) I only have those two folders.
NOTE: My C>Program Files (x86) has Bryce and Hexagon, no Daz Studio. You can check yours to be sure there is nothing there.
I've found myself reorganising my content as well. Since I've started tidying up I've starting finding things I could never find thanks to smart content... I've gone the route of creating mutiple runtimes. I use my library exclusively for genesis and shaders. Yesterday I created runtimes for The AntFarm and Carnival. It is so nice just to go in the content library and select the correct folder. Smart content is annoying because their are no standards - one vendor will put poses under poses. Another will put them under presets. Or the latest thing I saw was one vendor used "real-world" rather than "real world" in the smart content category. So annoying to have two categories like that.
From Scratch- If you want a clean slate- and this means taking everything off and that includes the Content Management Service- and using the Content Library to find your products using YOUR setup- (be brave- it's actually quite FUN to take control of your studio. And we're here to help you!)
This is what I did. SEE IMAGE BELOW. First thing I did was the Essentials. You just:
right click on a category (Complete) and choose Create Subcategory and name it. (Essentials)
For instance, Architecture>Complete.... then Essentials is there.
I'm trying to remember this part, I believe this is right. I think the iPreload piece was under "Complete" to begin with.
Now this is cool-
1. Click the Complete section if you have that iPreload piece that shows the slab, LEFT CLICK ON THE PRODUCT IMAGE AND DRAG IT TO THE ESSENTIALS FOLDER. You've put a copy of it in the Essentials folder, but it is still in the Complete section too. Let's get rid of that one.
2. Be sure you do this!!!!!! Click on the Complete and BE SURE ESSENTIALS IS NOT HIGHLIGHTED (otherwise, when we remove this, we're going to delete the Essential one!) So under Complete, right click the product image (iPreload) and choose "Remove Reference." and it goes Poof from Complete.
3. Check Essentials- it will still be there :) You are NOT removing a product when you "Remove Reference." You are just taking it out of that particular category.
I do use DIM to install, but I seem to have a scattering of DAZ files. in libraries/documents I have 2 DAZ3D folders, one contains Bryce/Presets and Install Manager, the other has Bryce, Carrara, Hexagon, Luxrender, and studio folders then there is also My DAZ 3D Library where the clothes I have converted end up. In the studio folder I have studio/my library and studio/render library. I don't know how these folders got to where they are. All of my products are installed to an external harddisk.
So with everything all over it seems a good time to start rearranging before I install the other 400 products I just purchased
Other actions to note-
Create your categories under DEFAULT. Don't put them outside of that- it's what caused my system to go screwy, Jaderail mentioned that too. Create your subcategories (using what I told you above) under Default.
I'm going to show you what to do if you've moved everything to an external. (What to expect- don't freak when you don't have some categories under your C Drive. We're going to move stuff BACK.) See image below.
TIP: And something else to point out- renaming. You can right click and rename your category. Originally, I called this category Ancient but then I I changed it to Temples.
Then I realized what we are going to be working with (Ancient Prophecies) was an INDOOR set. So I moved the subcategory over to Interior.
TIP: You can drag a subcategory under a different category- just left click and hold down. I left clicked on Temples and dragged it over to Interior and released my mouse.
Okay, so take a peek at my directories. C (the newly installed DAZ Studio, no products except essentials which also includes Genesis and Genesis 2) is on the left, my external hard drive, F, is on the left and has all my products that was installed previously, but got totally moved off the C directory so I could start all over.
Read the red print.
Here it is straight from the horses mouth so to speak.........I like the re-naming part no I didn't know that...When I get brave enough I will try that...LOL Trish
I am not intending to be a naysayer, but I'm not convinced that having content outside default really is the complete issue here.
I had my folders organized that way just fine for a long time, without missing stuff like has begun to happen now. It was only after I moved content under default as a precaution that I noticed stuff started to go missing. It was fine before that.
If it truly is an issue then daz needs to prevent people from filing stuff outside default. Simple as that.
I wonder if it matters honestly where stuff is stored to encounter problems with the database filing system. It may simply be a matter of time before the database goes boom.
So you now can see the subcategories (two screenshots) with Exterior now having Essentials, Ocean/Pond/Water, and Temples. (Again, I simply right clicked on Exterior and selected the Create A Subcategory) and Interior now has subcategories Essentials, Opus Magnum, and Temples.
EDIT: Moved images to next post, the forums are putting them out of order again. That won't do for a tutorial!
Thanks Trish- people can also go that route and it's very clearly stated. I just didn't mess with the uninstalling, it was fast to copy/paste then just delete. I don't know which way would be faster. :) Hopefully I won't have to do this again.
Kharma- I don't use DIM and with doing this all my way, am not planning on starting. It's really easy to just check in product library to see if there are any recent updates, and I am not going to be installing stuff until I need it, so that pretty much takes care of it the first go-around when first used.
The categories I did are also outside default, and other than I cannot load any of my Gen 4 people from categories or products, only from the main directory where they are installed, I have had no problems with my categories since deleting the corrupt database and reimporting. I just simply don't like all the extra folders I seem to have acquired with files and want to have everything on external drive, plus want to convert all my gen4 stuff to genesis and gen 2 so \I will do that as I install each product.
The categories I did are also outside default, and other than I cannot load any of my Gen 4 people from categories or products, only from the main directory where they are installed, I have had no problems with my categories since deleting the corrupt database and reimporting. I just simply don't like all the extra folders I seem to have acquired with files and want to have everything on external drive, plus want to convert all my gen4 stuff to genesis and gen 2 so \I will do that as I install each product.
That's a smart Idea. I like the idea of converting stuff to gen and gen 2 as you go along. I wish I had the skills to do that. I've not yet grasped the morph conversion stuff... =-)
Hmm..i think perhaps the cotton candy texture set will round out my tier 1 for this week.
That's a smart Idea. I like the idea of converting stuff to gen and gen 2 as you go along. I wish I had the skills to do that. I've not yet grasped the morph conversion stuff... =-)
I haven't figured out the details of conversion but I've had some success with a few items, it's always fun when you finally have that "AHA...I get it" moment lol
Well, I've transferred the files from my external, had to leave a lot of them as I haven't a clue why they are there or what they do.
One thing I did want to point out to anyone reorganizing, consider right clicking the product and selecting "Create A Product" which will then list the product in Products alphabetically. I am doing that, in addition to "categorize" to every single product installed. Also am renaming all the items so I am not guessing as what initials mean. I hope that doesn't screw up how the system recognizes what does what.
One other tip- a BIG one- it's faster to move files by just doing it in your directories. Drag and drop doesn't work in the Daz Studio Formats>My Library> setup- I couldn't drag folders from within Architecture. SO I did it in Computer> C directory setup on my computer.
I'm working in Environments>Architecture and I created a folder under Architecture called "Curious Series." I then clicked Architecture so all the other folders in Architecture would be showing on the right side of my screen and ALSO in the drop down on the left. I dragged all my Curious products over from the right and plopped them in the Curious Series folder. So now in Architecture they are all in Curious Series.
For newbies, don't stress about something that won't drag and drop, you can go in and shuffle the products in the hierarchy. I'm not changing WHERE they are at, aka, within a certain section such as geometry, textures- I'm changing how they are organized within the same section.
EDIT: Added an image to assist non-tech folks (like me.) It was funny- getting the screenshot of the second part required me putting a pen in my mouth and tapping the PRT SC key because I had to have both hands on the keyboard to hold down other keys and I couldn't reach it!
I always COPY when I transfer, that way if something goes wrong during a move, I don't lose the files. Then I delete.
SEE NEXT PAGE FOR THE RESULTS.
And this is what happens. Magic!
(And no I am not leaving them this way, it was just a simple way to show you what happens as Architecture and Environments were close together and I could show you screen shots.
Hope this helps and encourages those of you who haven't tried to organize, to just putz a little with it. Doing this type of organizing is easy within the Daz Studio Formats>My Library section. To add a folder, you'd just go back to where you saw "Architecture" or "Environments" and make a folder, then add the products under them. You could have Environments: Water for example. Or right click Environments and "Create A Subfolder" then do Water, and it will be the next submenu over.
Edit:
FIRST IMAGE: AS you saw when we started over in the directory files, With The Fishes, Opus Magnum, Ancient Prophecies are under ARCHITECTURE.
SECOND IMAGE: They got moved to Environments.
Tea House Spirit
Gia (My Seychelle)
Aisha Moon Hair V4
http://www.daz3d.com/tea-house-spirit
http://www.daz3d.com/gia-6
http://www.daz3d.com/aisha-moon-hair-v4
Tea House Spirit: This little cutie is a must have right now. Normally $7.95, grab him for $3.98 and he even comes in assorted colors. He makes a GREAT costume because he's plump and tall, so you don't have to scale or do anything! I bet he'd look really cool using one of those special effects cameras or with a glow. Comes in purple, gray, green, blue, and red. I'll post a full length of just the Tea House Spirit after this render. I can see him bubbling up from a cauldron or someone's drink! Think out of the box and have some fun with this cutie.
Gia: My Seychelle has a different idea on how to dress for Halloween, because after all, she is Seychelle. She's headed to a different party than her young neighbor, but she's lending a helping hand to help guide that bulky getup. I am impressed with the toned muscles on Gia (she was touted often as a warrior) but look at how glamorous she can be!
Aisha Moon Hair V4 Well, what a nice surprise. This didn't auto fit or anything, just cruised right onto Genesis! It's for Victoria 4 but don't tell the hair that- it thinks it's for Genesis. I just literally Y translated it on, brought it forward, and done. The ribbons and flowers (not shown, on the other side of the head) all have separate material zones. (which I made red. They come blue.) The fan is a separate zone too- anything in the hair can be changed.
NOTE: DUE TO THE LACK OF TIME- IT"S GOING ON MIDNIGHT AND I DONT KNOW WHEN TEA HOUSE SPIRIT IS GOING OFF 50%, I AM POSTING WITHOUT THE IMAGE AS IT IS STILL RENDERING (it will be at least forty minutes.) Take a look at Tea House Spirit and if you want a cute Halloween Costume or a little monster (or a big one, it comes in the size of Genesis) then pick this up for $3.98 before it goes off sale at 50%. It's been on sale several days now. The two arms bend and it can even have wings.
http://www.daz3d.com/xdress
http://www.daz3d.com/pure-hair-catwalk
http://www.daz3d.com/tea-house-spirit
http://www.daz3d.com/aisha-moon-hair-v4
Here you go- Tea House Spirit as a costume. You can hide the arms of Genesis too, but I wanted the character to manipulate the Spirit's arms for practicality sake- like she was going to a party. Happy Halloween in advance, lol.
EDIT:
It's a very large render. Click to enlarge then click again. :)
Note: I just used the Surfaces tab to select her parts of the body and change the gray of Genesis to red and black. There is no bodysuit, just the plain Genesis that loads upon startup of the studio. I just love those fingernails.
EDIT: Hair is Pure Hair Catwalk with some small postworked areas. Dress is XDress
Full length. Am doing one now from the side, will add that in about fifteen minutes so check back if you're interested. It really is different!
EDIT: There's your side shot. Curvy little Spirit, isn't he? (Or she.)
Wacky inflatable arm waving tubeman? I'm sorry, that just popped into my head. Great use for a prop though, I would have never thought of it.
LOL- I love driving by and seeing those things, one business here has a black cat one for Halloween.
One of these days, I want to do a render out in the woods with a lot of teeny tiny Spirits, all different colors, in different poses. I guess they would terrorize the forest folks though.
Oh my! look at those feet! I've not seen this one before! Funny! =-)
I'm sad to report that DAZ has killed my hard drive! LOL. No, just kidding was trying to load my nifty render of Thunder Drone vs. Colo set in Winter Terrain's by Stonemason and my Hard drive made a death squeak. Rebooted several times, and ran the diagnostic. Imminent hard drive failure.
Bah, so looks like I may be reorganizing my runtime again- sooner rather than later. =-)
I have those renders backed up, so I'll show you what I have, but it is going to be some time before my hard drive resembles normal... At least assuming I get my replacement drive installed and working by the weekend. =-)
I am now thinking of investing in a second drive- perhaps a solid state one.
OUCH. I do hope the custom content was backed up. But you posted on how to do backups because you are smart about it. Just jump back in when you can. I'm taking it easy too as working on my files- prioritizing what I need to do for me- but am rendering some stuff once I get it working. Going to do something in a few minutes on some dinosaurs and some basic tips.
Hang in there, and good luck with the hard drive.
I have all content and content management service backed up. But there are no guarantees. =-)
To get the old files to work, I must restore my content management service the same way it was before, including user data which is something I'm debating. To be honest, it wasn't working all that well before the hard drive failure... So we'll see. I'm thinking about it. Probably try it and see what happens. TG it is all backed up. ...
Going vanilla would be optimal. Making new characters and starting fresh, but I'd lose my custom creations like Klyd so probably no.
I'll probably try restoring the content manager first... I don't want to redo major projects if I don't have to.
Gigantoraptor
Zuniceratops
http://www.daz3d.com/gigantoraptor
http://www.daz3d.com/zuniceratops
I always have fun with dinosaurs, and found a couple renders I had done for a lighting tutorial that I forgot to post a couple months ago, so am using those.
TIP: Day or night? Unless you have a scene that HAS to be one or the other, test both. Look at the difference in having the juvenile dinosaurs exploring their surroundings in the late daytime (WHAT IS THAT THING????? Answer: rock) vs late evening / night (WHAT IS THAT THING????? Answer: shadow)
It can bring totally different aspects to your scene. Instead of viewing a rock (even though the dumb-dumb had just passed one, which was part of the humor) the Gigantoraptor is seeing his shadow. Shocking!
Second, it can be so much more dramatic and artistic doing late evening settings if you have rock outcroppings and really textured props or scenery. The first scene is bland. There's more to that than just the lighting though. The main emphasis of this tutorial is...
TIP: Use your shadows, not just your lights, to create your emphasis. The Gigantoraptor's tail is not well lit- it fades into the darker part of the scene- because it really adds nothing to the action. You could light it more to emphasize this huge creature is startled by a rock, but the size is already established. It's just a matter of personal preference.
I used spotlights to create the light and dark areas of the rock wall behind the dinosaurs, you'll notice how the Zuniceratops horns are easily seen, etc. There are no "happy accidents" with this lighting setup.
The next post will detail composition considerations- what I was specifically doing so far as dinosaur placement. It will use the second image and point out what I was specifically checking as I did the camera placement.
SCROLL DOWN ONLY FAR ENOUGH TO SEE THE FIRST IMAGE. THEN SCROLL TO SEE THE SECOND. And FYI- no, it is not default lighting on the first image. THE EXACT SAME LIGHTS ARE USED FOR BOTH RENDERS. There are over 12 lights in action..
Click to enlarge then click again, big renders.
These considerations match the numbers in the image below.
1. As mentioned often, check your horizontal lines to ensure they don't line up with other items, and can be used for "interest." The line goes through the Gigantoraptor's mouth, lending depth to the scene. For the shorter Zunicertatops, it doesn't run through there because it would hardly be seen, so it wasn't a consideration.
2. The Zuniceratops does not rest on that rock ANYWHERE. You don't want the stomach or the long tail looking like it is using the rock as a table. The leg coming down behind it gives it depth.
3. The Gigantoraptor's front claw does not touch the rock or Zuniceratop's tail.
4. The Gigantoraptor's leg and claw do not touch.
5. The Gigantoraptor's leg and rock do not touch.
6. The Gigantoraptor's tail does not line up with the horizontal line between the ground plane and the rocks.
7. There is black between the curve of the Gigantoraptor's neck and the background. The neck curve follows the curve of the darkness but the bend in the neck is accentuated by that tiny sliver of black.
So far as lighting, I chose gray and gray so you could see how neat it is to separate the characters from the background just by using different tones. BTW, if you want to go nuts, read this forum about the difference in the terms tone and value: http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=543997
If you have any renders showing your use of shadows to make a point / make a difference, feel free to share. :)
Learning About Files
fixmypcmike is such a good sport- taking a LOT of time to answer my questions on "what the heck this means" as I blunder into looking into the file setup of the studio. If you haven't looked into it (I just manually installed and hoped it worked out) then this thread is for you- if something goes wrong, you might be able to spot it- and you can also eliminate some files (reduce those bytes!) if you know what MAC stuff is buried in there. :)
I'll be asking questions a LOT every product I am checking seems to have a different problem. My studio is still a mess as I had to bring back all the Runtime stuff one by one- no way could I redownload all that- and files are screwed up big time. As I find the ones that aren't working, I am reinstalling into a separate folder under MyLibrary (I named it 111Install so it is at the top) and I open it and compare it to what is already there in MyLibrary. Wow, are things screwed up (and I had not moved a single file.)
Feel free to ask questions on the thread if you don't know what sections do or why things are a certain way.
http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/31055/
Back in 2001 or so, first computer. I was trying to put some sorta thing into my Sims stuff. Long story short.. I managed to change some really important file extension name to something else.. and changed ALL of them. It killed the OS, and my Husband wanted to kill me.
Oh, nearly forgot why I popped in. http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/31058/
Oooh, good find! *rubs hands*
Now where is that rogue...