What is a "zero prop"?

DigitalSteam

I feel like an idiot, and it seems like it's almost safe to just assume it's a preset that returns the prop to some default state, but you know what they say about assumption. 

So, to avoid making an ass out of some guy named Umption, I go to look it up.  Google, the forums, the documentation, so far I've found nothing that actually says "A 'zero prop' is _____."

So... Feel free to point and laugh and tell me I'm - well, choose your epithet - but if you could either tell me, or, better, tell me where I should have looked it up, or even both... I'd very much appreciate it. :(

frankrblow

A zero prop means it loads at the zero position ((x=0, y=0, z=0) in the scene.

JD_Mortal

Yes, as opposed to loading it at a specific "scene-position", like a planter against a wall of a prefab set, or loading it into a "pose position", like a sword in someones hands. Thus, you can find the item, where you expect it, if not using one of those pre-posed positions. Because many objects that come with some poses, bundles, scenes, can also be used outside of a scene or pose.

Honeslty, I wish all scenes were made like that and items just gave you an option to load posed or unposed, without more icon clutter. :)

I have a few scenes with furniture I like. But the rest is not great. The trick is... Set everything you don't want, the materials, to 100% transparent. Since you can't hide the individual objects or move them around, in some scenes. Sure, it's a killer on rendering, but it's worth it, for that great coffee-table in a cluttered room of junk that you don't want!

Enchanted April

JD_Mortal said:

 

I have a few scenes with furniture I like. But the rest is not great. The trick is... Set everything you don't want, the materials, to 100% transparent. Since you can't hide the individual objects or move them around, in some scenes. Sure, it's a killer on rendering, but it's worth it, for that great coffee-table in a cluttered room of junk that you don't want!

Sometimes it helps to use the Geometry Tool. Select all you don't like, then first hide the selection and control if you did it right and then delete the hidden geometry. But be careful, if you do it with hairs or clothes or anything what is rigged you will destroy the rig. But for simple props it is a good idea to minimize the polycount.

JD_Mortal

Enchanted April said:

Sometimes it helps to use the Geometry Tool. Select all you don't like, then first hide the selection and control if you did it right and then delete the hidden geometry. But be careful, if you do it with hairs or clothes or anything what is rigged you will destroy the rig. But for simple props it is a good idea to minimize the polycount.

Nice tip... I have not played with the geometry tool much. I have a bad habbit of accidentally selecting and deleting things I want, and not knowing until too many UNDOs later... that they are gone. (Normally in other programs.)

I only have this issue when people have literally just exported whole scenes as a whole object, or Daz just imports everything as one giant object, despite the objects being individual groupings or entire individual objects. Some do it on purpose, I am sure. :)

DigitalSteam

Thank you.

frankrblow

 Remember: the only dumb questions are the ones that never get asked.