Getting started
nintendo1889
Posts: 17
Hi! So I'm new to DAZ 3D studio (have the most recent version) and I'm wanting to learn how to import custom-made models, in this case, Krystal from Star Fox Adventures, import it and eventually pose and animate and make short little movies with it. The problem is, the UI seems a little intimidating to me, as while I managed to import the model, the program kept telling me the jpeg texture files were not recognized and I couldn't drop the textures directly on the model.
Not only that but my noobishness (if you will), is leaving me discouraged and well, I don't know where to begin as I have no idea what the heck I'm doing or why I'm even bothering. I've tried looking for tutorials, but they too seem like they're frying my brain. I guess what I'm trying to ask is, what is the best way to start learning, so I can properly import Krystal, add the texture files that came with the model (created by user Little_dragon for anyone to use).. Navigation, loading up the custom models, their textures properly, etc are kinda overwhelming me.
I kinda feel embarrassed that I'm having such a hard time lol. Thanks in advance!
Edit: And I just realized this is the wrong section....crap! Sorry!! I think this needs to be moved to the new users section...my bad
Daz 3D is part of 
Connect
DAZ Productions, Inc.
7533 S Center View Ct #4664
West Jordan, UT 84084
Licensing Agreement | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | EULA
© 2025 Daz Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Comments
HI
There is a New User guide http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/32246/
Also we do have a New User Help Forum, with people there who are used to getting people like you up and running.
http://www.daz3d.com/forums/categories/97/
We can transfer your query over to that forum if you would like us to
Also, within DAZ Studio, click on Help in the menu bar, then select 'Home', and you will find links to all sorts of useful information
Ah, makes sense to me, again I apologize for placing this in the wrong section (go fig lol), thank again for your guys help! So I did manage to get the model imported and textures working and all that, but I can't seem to rotate the arms, hand, etc like I've seen in videos; it's forcing me to select objects like hair and clothes, but none of the arms or joints. Not sure why. I should probably look at the new user guides though, huh? ;) Thanks again!
Imported mesh object files do not come into DAZ Studio as Rigged mesh items. It is the Bones in the Figure and how those bones are Rigged that makes the Object pose able. There are many ways to add bones and rig them in DAZ Studio. Here is the first version I ever looked at...
http://docs.daz3d.com/doku.php/public/software/dazstudio/4/userguide/creating_content/rigging/start
Right, makes more sense now, so obviously I need to have bones in order to move the Krystal model around (I believe they are called pz2 files). Oddly enough, this model (the one that the author has freely for people to use) did in fact come with these files already, the problem is that they don't actually show up in DAZ and can't be imported, giving me an error about I need to have the right scene in order to import the pz2 files.
The model was custom made for use in DAZ and comes with all the proper UV maps, textures, materials, even bone files, but I can't for the life of me figure out why I can't import these bones into the mesh. It's good that there are bones that came with it, just won't let me import them.
If you could Link me to the Item I'm pretty sure the issue is just how the content was installed to your DAZ Studio and possible needed settings not set yet. I go back years and know almost every method to install content properly.
Little Dragon's Krystal should already be a rigged figure. It is Poser legacy rigging and the .cr2 file can only be found through the Content Library tab under Poser Formats.
That's just it, it is supposed to be rigged already, but for one reason or another, the bones don't show up, I can't select them when I'm in the pose/animation mode, it either moves the entire model or it doesn't, it's very infuriating :( Like, I do remember seeing that and applying that under the pose>starfox folder, but it didn't do anything. Would it help if I showed a video of what it was I was doing? And what layout are you using? I'm using the Hollywood Blvd layout. I'm convinced I did the installation wrong and I jacked something else.
What should be the actual process of importing Krystal, along with her clothing items, and being being able to properly animate her? I guess that's what I'm trying to figure out. Ugh, my whole being a noob is the bane of my existence. I wish to apologize for having screwed this up so badly. I know I did something wrong. Where do I install newly downloaded models? Do I need to tell the program to point to the download?
Update: Oh my gosh, I think I figured it out!! So, I changed it to Hollywood Blvd, clicked on Poser Formats, Starfox_Krystal_base_v13, then to figures>star fox and chose the !Krystal model and when I loaded her base model, I can see the bones now. Wow. Freaking unbelievable, I actually have bones I can manipulate now. Okay, so I just applied the other pieces of her armor, clothes, how do I get those to follow the model?
It is a Rigged Figure, you do not IMPORT rigged figures, it is just like the V4 Cr2 figure. Once installed to the DAZ Studio Content folder in the DAZ Studio>Runtime folder it and all of its content will load from the Icons, now that it is installed to the DAZ Studio POSER Formats section of the Content Library TAB.
On a Win7 and Win8 PC you UnZIP the files to a temp folder Open it, do COPY of the Runtime folder in the Zip file. Then Browse to the MAIN DAZ Studio Content folder so all folders under it List. Now do PASTE and tell it to Merge folders. Its just that easy to install properly for Poser Only content. You need the Main DAZ Studio Path set in the Content Directory Manager as BOTH a DAZ Studio Format Content path and as a Poser Format Content path. Then open DAZ Studio and use the Content Library Tab to load it all from the Poser Format section.
Alright, managed to get it imported with all the bones intact by navigating the directory under the geometries and it does let me manipulate the model, I even added the rest of the obj files for her clothes, armor, bikini and the like and they too show up properly (also done through the folder navigation. So as far as importation, it was done how it should have been done, properly. Now, the issue I have now is when I rotate like say, her shoulder, arm, hand, the armor on her arm does not follow it, do I need to somehow bind the other pieces to her arms, legs, body, etc so they can follow the movements?
And what is the best way to star learning to actually make animations with the universal tool? Sorry for the many questions and for being so green about this :(
Er, what I meant is I loaded the models as normally under Krystal Base v1.3> Figures> Starfox and loaded her body and other objects that go on her base model. For some reason though, the parts don't follow her body.
All POSER type files should be Installed to the Very same paths in the POSER Zip file until you learn content management much better. But if the Clothing is Loading but NOT fitting to the Figure, in the Scene Tab do a Right click on the Clothing item and do Parent to the MAIN figure by Name it should change in Parameters to Fit To (Figure name) Or you can just use the Parameters FIT TO option once the item is selected.
Animation is a HUGE topic and much more than JUST using the Universal Tool is involved.
Yep, okay, now they're all bound to the model and I can move it around as I should, so definitely a huge step for me to actually have gotten this far (I think), now I need to learn the rudiments of animation in general, frames, keyframes, I just need to know what tool would be recommended more for someone as new to animation as I. With that being said, I'll peruse and study and user guide to find out more, and thank you once again guys, for being patient with me, even though I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
With freebies like this I recommend installing them to their own content library, something like c:/Users/Public/Documents/DS Libraries/Little Dragon (note that depending on the program "Documents" may be shown as "Public Documents"). Little Dragon's zip files are set up for direct extracting so point the zip utility to the "Little Dragon" folder then point DAZ Studio (hereafter referred to as DS) to that folder for Poser Format (there are no DS specific files so no need to add library under DAZ Studio Formats).
Alright, everything's shipshape in the program, got the model loaded up and everything, all objects are bound to the model and follow the movements. So let's say I want Krystal to interact with another person in the scene, like shake hands or hug or something, how would I import another model. In this case, another Krystal (like her double or something)? Does that make sense? Also, with animation, on the Timeline, I hit "star key frame" or whatever it is and drag it to the end (30 frames) and when I want to make another animation to go on top of that, what do I do (like if I want the total animation to last 10 seconds)?
Its all math for number of frames... so for a standard 24 frames per second animation this is known as FPS (24) it will be 240 frames total counting frame zero, it is really there.
To Use 2 Crystals you just load it twice...and then Pose or Animate both.
I strongly Suggest that AniMate2 be explored as a starting place as It uses pre-built AniBlocks and there are a few Free samples in the store to try before you decide to jump in with both feet. AniMate 2 will become the AniMate Lite version after 30 days so test it before the Trial period expires.