NEW! Novica & Invited Guest Contributors Tips & Product Reviews Pt 5
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There does seem to have been a creep upwards. I've had to be so much more picky about what I buy and tend to fall back on the same few trusted vendors now, though a couple of new names have impressed me too.
On the plus side, with the Belle releases I noticed what looked like an improvement in realistic fitting/draping, even with the skimpier stuff.
It would be interesting to go back a year or so and compare what you got for a certain price and what you get now. I haven't done that and of course would have to compare things of equal quality (as much as possible.) I did screenshots recently, but not when I started because the cart showed the prices in two columns. What it was, what each product ended up being.
Guess what- they have made ALL orders in the same format so all your early orders have erased the individual pricing. Should have realized it would do that, but ticks me off. Erasing my history like that isn't okay with me. I got some great deals. I'm going to go see if I have screenshotted any early orders.
An example: greeble city blocks 3 base price increase seems to be about 5 dollars from previous versions. Offering a slightly higher discount initially but the set costs more than previous versions. I didn't buy it this time.
I picked a random order, and it was some Lyoness characters. They were for Waverly and Locklyn, at $11.95 and I got them for $4.36
They are as follows:
Waverly is V4 and Genesis, dual use.
3 base mats, 7 eye colors. 8 makesup, 16 lipsticks (combos of matte/glossy, nude)
http://www.daz3d.com/ly-waverly
http://www.daz3d.com/ly-locklyn
Is for G2F and V6
9 eyeshadows, 9 lip colors (combo matte/glossy) nine eye colors
So why the $16.95 for Sloane? Well, because it's Genesis and G2F I assume?
I don't know anything about the modeling differences for doing V4 and Genesis vs Genesis and G2F- because Waverly has V4/Genesis and was only 11.95- so I am assuming doing the G2F with Genesis is harder.
http://www.daz3d.com/ly-sloan
She has 9 eye, 10 makeup, 10 lipsticks (same combos) There's an Aiko 6 dollie version, but hopefully the price wasn't raised to give someone a doll.
And all the latest releases are now $15.95 and $16.95. Since I don't know modeling and what it takes, I don't know what is causing the price increase. Whether the textures are much better, etc. But yes, going through a couple of vendors I see the difference. Not picking on Lyoness, it was the first order I looked at.
I wait for Aave's stuff :) Wow, it's always worth the wait.
Just wanted to say that the general price increases do seem high, but Daz has held prices low for a long time, compared to other businesses. With the rate of inflation, I'm not surprised by the price increases, really.
I'm trying to get used to putting more stuff I want in the w/l, and wait until items go on 50-60% Flash Sales or into the Fast-Grab.
But being patient is hhhaaarrrddd... :lol:
I'm not sure. I've seen more detailed stuff with better value sold elsewhere. I'm not saying there isn't awesome stuff sold here, but I do think there is a fair amount of consumer-grade content sold here which is only average.
When outfits and figures start costing 20+ dollars, I'm going to expect more quality and will become more choosy about what I'm buying-because I have to be. I get that everyone needs to make a living and the rising cost of inflation (of which sadly most people's wages have not kept abreast of either) but at the same time, I'm not paying a higher cost for the same ol' same ol or an outfit for which there are similar items at lesser cost already. I'm going to have to be wowed, or really in serious need of an item to buy at some of the prices being asked.
Sale's are good, but I dislike the model that things are only affordable when they are on sale.
Too bad, but I guess I really have enough stuff to keep me rendering for years to come. =-)
Speaking of quality, have you seen the thread from Dogz about the upcoming update to Superdress? Dogz is adding full body morphs for new characters, fixing bugs and adding a second dress with JCMs for alternate posing methods. That is a quality vendor!!!!! When do we ever see something like that from PAs? Don't you wish more PAs would do like Dogz? Wouldn't you really be inclined to buy from vendors who did that kind of update to their product? Especially when the product is as high quality as Dogz products are from the beginning.
I own two of DOGZ items. The total aggression pack, which I think is excellent and his shattered glass product which really nice.
I love the creativity displayed by this vendor.
I have:
Shattered
Europe for Genesis 2 Female(s)
East Asia for Genesis 2 Females
Super Dress and Leggings for Genesis 2 Female(s)
Mall Girl for Genesis
Steel Frame Specs
Frivolous Forties
3 in 1 Skinny Outfit
I noticed that when filtering the store for Dogz, not all of these show up. It looks like the filter doesn't work right.
Well if we are going to name names, you can add me to the Dogz fan club! :) Dogz was one of the select few I was thinking of when I wrote the above. I've bought:
Mall Girl for Genesis
Steel Frame Specs
Frivolous Forties
Europe for G2F
Smile!
Ballerina Assembly Kit
It seems I buy a lot less content than the average customer, but even so I find Dogz products hard to resist. There's plenty more in that store that I'd love to get.
Other favourites are AprilYSH for hair and Merlin and Faveral for buildings/environments.
I agree with Novica that Aave's clothing products are also something special, I would be tempted to buy them all if I had a larger budget and so was able to use Genesis 2 more.
Sadly there's plenty of that too. It would be nice to think we could vote with our dollars, but someone out there is buying the lesser-quality stuff in big enough quantities for the store to keep on making space for it.
You know you buy too much when it's easier to list what you DON'T have. Only 4 out of 23. And this is why when I seriously started working on my book a couple weeks ago, knew I had too much stuff that I would never use, or not anytime in the near future.
The ones I don't own:
The last two new ones and Europe for Genesis 2 Fs, Town Girl For Genesis.
BTW, I haven't used the new studio yet with the new features. There was a new render pane or something? How does that work, does it pop up automatically, do you have to dock it somewhere?
I haven't used that feature yet Novica. I like Studio 4.7, but I'm not liking a few things like the render settings revamp and the redone background/backdrop panel.
@Novica, it's there as part of the default layout. I did a screenshot but made the IPR pane larger (leaving it as the smaller default is better, as it's quicker that way) so you could see what it is and where to find it.
If you don't mind a non-technical explanation, then basically it lets you see how your finished render will look, useful for example with lights like these that need to be rendered before you get the full effect, and for shaders where this is also the case.
If you change the camera angle, adjust a light or change something else, the IPR preview window will update. You can turn it off to save on the processing power it uses each time it updates.
Non-technical is required, lol. Hmmm, so how exactly does that work? If I am doing a scene, and add lights, does that other pane start showing what it looks like right away, or is that the spot render pane? And likewise with shaders- You apply them, and that lil pane starts getting busy right away? Or...when I render, is that lil pane just ahead of the render?
I'm duh.
http://docs.daz3d.com/doku.php/public/software/dazstudio/4/new_features/4_7/start
This might help some folks.
I'm watching zBrush videos and trying to videotape puppy and keep all that straight, trying to read up on the new studio...and I had done the DIM install with a few problems so everything is hitting all at once. I'm going to try and do a render today.
Is it me or do the forums seem rather slow the past week?
For products, the only ones that have caught my eye are the collective 3d home (today, I have the series), the Galactic clothing, and LOVE Cave Waters One. However, puppy knocked out my budget for the end of November and pretty much all of December. If I had to buy one, it would be the cave for practical reasons/what I would use first.
The cave might be good for the mermaids... er... That came and went pretty quickly in the store.
I think the site is pretty slow, but the black Friday sale was pretty lackluster.
Okay, I'm going to use the new studio. I've put it off long enough. So I'm doing Dogz. Anyone else want to play? And don't laugh if I get catastrophic results.
I'm starting with this one.
http://www.daz3d.com/east-asia-for-genesis-2-Females
I'm going to start posting where you can quickly find the product:
You can find new icons for loading this product in the following DAZ Studio Folders:
“People:Genesis 2 Female:Shapes:East Asia”
See the 3 icons at the top of the pane? The second one is a stop button, the third is a play button. If you have the play one selected, then yes it will start showing the changes as soon as you make a change.
I think by default it will be 'off' when you start so you'll have to click play and leave it on for the instant updates.
Clear as mud? It will make more sense once you've played with it.
Oh and a 'Render the Vendor' with Dogz? You bet I'm in! Will go figure out what to render.
I'm going to post the "where'd it go" and "this is different" to assist other folks who haven't used 4.7 yet. I'll be adding to this post instead of doing separate ones.
Immediately-
Q: Where's the change background color?
A: In the docs: The color of the Backdrop for a scene has been decoupled from the color of a Viewport. Viewport colors can be modified in “Window > Style > Customize Colors…”
It's the last option. I HATE this. It's so much work to go up and get into the Window>Style> Customize colors than to go to the top of the viewport and click.
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Q: Where's the Backdrops? It used to be under Create.
A: In Window>Panes>Environment>Active Type Dropdown. You can now do a lot with backdrops, including tinting them, if you want them visible, etc.
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Q: Where is the IPR pane? (Interactive Progressive Rendering (IPR))
A: You'll note in the docs that it says the Aux Viewport Pane has the IPR capability, so you'll want to load that up. It's in Window>Panes.
Cypherfox explains how to use it:
http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/48862/P255/#719297
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I'm going through the 25 pages of this thread: http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/48862
Navigating with mouse through scene:
http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/48862/P165/#718133
I'm using Gogo For Mei Lin 6 as the base for the Dogz product. I am using UE2 lighting so I clicked on the square and the mats changed. Got that. But there's a second choice (Which I am not using as I am doing UE2 lighting) What the heck does this option mean?
"Info- Hold CTRL Key Click Altshader in options: Surfaces-All Images- Ignore."
http://www.daz3d.com/gogo-for-mei-lin-6
Well, I found the Aux Viewport, have it on the sidebar and my character is in it, but I don't have the three buttons. Nothing is there.
Aha. Read Cypherfox's post. I had to turn on the toolbar. One you have the Aux Viewport open, click on the triangle with lines submenu that will be right above Smart Content (if you haven't changed your layout) and it will be in there.
Well, I found the Aux Viewport, have it on the sidebar and my character is in it, but I don't have the three buttons. Nothing is there.
Click on the properties button for the viewport and select 'show IPR toolbar'.
namffuak- thank you so much :) I found it right before you posted/as you were posting. Appreciate the help.
I have a backdrop that is not lighting up very well- I don't know yet if it is my lighting or due to the new version. This is the same lighting that I used for the hot tub render a few pages back, and even with extra lighting (we're talking a linear point light, a new distant light, AND two spotlights) it is coming out dark. Hmmm.
Glad you got the toolbar thing sorted, Novica (I don't remember enabling it but suppose I must have done...). I'll be back tomorrow with my Dogz products render. It's done but I'm sleepy. Time for bed.
Nite nite! :)
Right now I am rendering Gogo to show the base model, then I will apply the Dogz East Asia faces. Taking a long time to render Gogo (doing .20 rate) so we'll meet up tomorrow and do a Dogz. :)
OK, see you and Gogo tomorrow. :) I have a 3-in-1 of ballerina assembly kit, steel frame glasses and Smile! expressions. There's only so much will fit in a single render though, so if anyone else stops by and wants to join in the fun it's fine to cover any or all of these.
Gogo For Mei Lin 6 (DAZ 3D / Countess / Silver)
East Asia For Genesis 2 Females (Dogz)
Hikari Hair (DAZ3D / Valea)
Cherry Blossum Dress (DAZ3D / Sarsa / Xena)
http://www.daz3d.com/gogo-for-mei-lin-6
http://www.daz3d.com/east-asia-for-genesis-2-Females
http://www.daz3d.com/hikari-hair
http://www.daz3d.com/cherry-blossom-dress-for-genesis-2-female-s
I did Gogo to test the materials and to show you the pure Gogo, then her materials are used for the East Asia characters. I put them on G2F, didn't load them onto Gogo. I didn't do body morphs, only faces. These are taking almost two hours apiece to render, so not doing all of them obviously. This is a good sample.