DAZ Studio Modeling question
WillowRaven
Posts: 3,787
Does anyone know if the package includes how to package the models one makes for sale, like the prefered formats or processes?
Also, the product page says it can all be done in DS, but the added info says "Special Videos Covering How To Create Your Own Morphs In Lightwave (Or Any 3D Software)". Does that mean I'll still need an outside software at some point?
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Comments
What package?
If your asking about Daz Studio you have the option of using pre-made morphs or adding a d-form to a model to make a new morph target, otherwise the figure modeling abilities in Studio can be limited. In order to get more versatile with modeling for a figure you would need to look into an actual modeling program.
Daz Studio does offer the ability to export your figure or modifications in Daz or Poser formats with the poser exporter script, but that exporter has not been updated in a while and it appears to have inherited some behavior problems in Studio 4.6, the preferred format would be something both can use if your not violating any usage agreements with the content. Poser can not read Daz Studio formats at this time, Daz Studio can read most of Posers formats with limits.
What package?
If your asking about Daz Studio you have the option of using pre-made morphs or adding a d-form to a model to make a new morph target, otherwise the figure modeling abilities in Studio can be limited. In order to get more versatile with modeling for a figure you would need to look into an actual modeling program.
Daz Studio does offer the ability to export your figure or modifications in Daz or Poser formats with the poser exporter script, but that exporter has not been updated in a while and it appears to have inherited some behavior problems in Studio 4.6, the preferred format would be something both can use if your not violating any usage agreements with the content. Poser can not read Daz Studio formats at this time, Daz Studio can read most of Posers formats with limits.
I mean the product DAZ Studio Modeling (http://www.daz3d.com/daz-studio-modeling).
It looks like they're teaching modeling using primitives and d-formers. You technically CAN do that entirely in DAZ Studio as long as you realize it's mainly useful for architecture and other props, not clothing or truly organic shapes (they show organic shapes in their pics, but it is not going to be quick or easy to do that with d-formers).
Your morphing capabilities are pretty limited there because of the method, which is probably why they talk about creating morphs in an external program. If you want to use it to make just architecture, you may not even need morphs, which is what makes it a valid method for that. You shouldn't be trying to use this method for clothing or organics to begin with, so morphs for those shouldn't be an issue anyway.
I only use dynamic clothing, anyway. And I have absolutely no desire to try to build people or animals ... lol.
I'm thinking, since it's on sale, that rather than trying to find modelers to make me props for book covers, that maybe I can just do it myself. But I can't wrap my head around bender and have no time to try to learn how. Or Hex, for that matter. I barely know the basics of DS4.6, lol.
Still uncertain ... but thanks for the help :D
Give Wings3D a try first, I think you will drive yourself insane trying to model with the limited tools in Studio.
Free is the best way to try something new. That's how Daz stole my attention from my pencils ... lol. Thanks for the tip :D
Is it hard to learn? Keep in mind, I open poser and stare blankly at the screen, then close it. Same went with Blender, Bryce, and Hex ... lol. Anything I can figure out in 20 minutes I have little patience for ... lol.
Free is the best way to try something new. That's how Daz stole my attention from my pencils ... lol. Thanks for the tip :D
Is it hard to learn? Keep in mind, I open poser and stare blankly at the screen, then close it. Same went with Blender, Bryce, and Hex ... lol. Anything I can figure out in 20 minutes I have little patience for ... lol.
Uh... it may be difficult to find any modeling method you can learn in 20 minutes.
Uh... it may be difficult to find any modeling method you can learn in 20 minutes.
I don't mean learn everything ... I am still a newb at Daz, and I've been using it professionally for two years+.
I just mean, if it's going to take me a month to make a simple prop, like a sword or necklace or talisman, I don't have that kind of time. I'm better off what I've been doing. Letting someone else build it for money, barter or practice. Deadlines are too tight with little to no free time to dedicate to learning complicated software.
My first Day with Daz, I had a scene. Not a well lighter scene, but a scene and could see the potential. I can't do that in Blender or Poser or Hex or Bryce.
You know what I mean?.
But it's free, with no 'trial period' I need to figure it out in, so I can take my time. So that's a plus.
Uh... it may be difficult to find any modeling method you can learn in 20 minutes.
I don't mean learn everything ... I am still a newb at Daz, and I've been using it professionally for two years+.
I just mean, if it's going to take me a month to make a simple prop, like a sword or necklace or talisman, I don't have that kind of time. I'm better off what I've been doing. Letting someone else build it for money, barter or practice. Deadlines are too tight with little to no free time to dedicate to learning complicated software.
My first Day with Daz, I had a scene. Not a well lighter scene, but a scene and could see the potential. I can't do that in Blender or Poser or Hex or Bryce.
You know what I mean?.
But it's free, with no 'trial period' I need to figure it out in, so I can take my time. So that's a plus.
Sure. Well, at least give Wings a try, then. I don't use it (I use Blender), but I've heard good things about its interface.
I don't mean learn everything ... I am still a newb at Daz, and I've been using it professionally for two years+.
I just mean, if it's going to take me a month to make a simple prop, like a sword or necklace or talisman, I don't have that kind of time. I'm better off what I've been doing. Letting someone else build it for money, barter or practice. Deadlines are too tight with little to no free time to dedicate to learning complicated software.
My first Day with Daz, I had a scene. Not a well lighter scene, but a scene and could see the potential. I can't do that in Blender or Poser or Hex or Bryce.
You know what I mean?.
But it's free, with no 'trial period' I need to figure it out in, so I can take my time. So that's a plus.
Sure. Well, at least give Wings a try, then. I don't use it (Blender), but I've heard good things about its interface.
Thanks :D Just saved me $50 ... lol.
my breakthrough moment in carrara vertex room came when I found out how to draw with poylines join them and fill the polygon
I only modeled in Google sketchup before, and that was very easy
I would strongly suggest sketchup for you
http://www.sketchup.com/ there is a pricey pro version and a free version, I use the free one!
there is lots of tutorials and google warehouse you can pick through for models by others
getting them out the hard bit
I got a free wavefront obj export plugin available by joining sketchucation (free too) and much searching through their plugins, no way I can link it not signed in I am afraid, (you or me will just go to main page) is here but the native one is only in the pricey pro version.
the collada .dae export is seriously flawed.
my advantage was starting 3D with iClone and its 3Dxchange companion program that supports direct google warehouse import and skp import, I only found Daz studio and first Carrara at least a month later.
I started with Wings long time ago and have moved on to Blender. If you can get your head around Studio you shouldn't have any problems with Wings and there is a dedicated forum for it at Renderosity.
Awesome :D Thanks, guys :D
It's expensive now, so I'd recommend waiting for a sale, but have you checked into Artform's Curvy 3D? It's sold here in the store, and it's pretty neat. It's sketch based modeling, so if you can draw, you can model. It does take some getting used to though, especially if you get used to traditional modeling.
Here's the product page: http://www.daz3d.com/aartform-curvy-3d-3-0
Here's their main website: http://www.curvy3d.com/index.html
A note on Blender also, it loses it's scaryness once you start learning hotkeys, then you can just avoid the interface altogether. If you do decide at some point to give Blender a go, I highly recommend Blender Cookie, a lot of good tutorials there. A lot of them require a paid citizen membership, but they do have a lot of good free ones as well.
http://cgcookie.com/blender/
Cool :D Thanks :D
You commented that you lack the time to learn modeling. Considering that there is more involved then just building the model itself and you're already on a tight timeline, you may just want to drop the idea all together. Not to discourage you or anything but aside from modeling the item there is also UV mapping, making the textures, converting it to a usable format for DS (I know DS will handle OBJ but the purpose of using the Poser format and it's own format is to have an item load with the required rigging and textures) and of corse, the item may need to be rigged too. That is a very tall order. Having made models already, I cannot see why anyone would want to build EVERYTHING in the scene themselves.
Now in case you want to give modeling a try, from my own experiance, I would recommend Silo from Nevercenter. No, its not free. No, it has not been updated in a few years. However, I can tell you that the program is a very good modeling program and is very straight forward. If you can make the time, look up "Glenn Southern" on youtube and you can see his modeling in Silo videos. And there are a lot of other good videos showing how straight forward Silo is. Like anyhting else, there will be a learning curve but it can be worth it.
Oh, I have intention of building everything in my scenes ... lol. Definity no time for that on my schedule.Like when an author describes the MCs magic sword, it has to look like the description on the cover.
So far, I've been lucky to have ppl here in the forums willing to build what I need, or they find it for me, most of the time. But I have had to refund monies to clients when no one has time or finds the project interesting or cost effective. Those are times when being able to model would be beneficial to my business.
Trust me, I'd prefer just to hire someone.