NEW! Novica & Invited Guest Contributors Tips & Product Reviews Pt 5

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  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited August 2014

    FYI- I'm currently not doing any renders because I'm getting back to downloading/external driving my files, plus tonight I just installed my Mimic Pro (that they don't sell anymore.) This is what it looks like once you select which figure you want to use. It goes all the way to the generation 4 figures, but not Genesis- but I have a LOT of V4 and M4 so that is fine with me. This is going to be interesting, as you know I am not technical.

    Edit: Here's a link to the DMC files that 3D Universe has made for their characters.
    http://www.3duniverse.co.za/files/mimic/

    mimic1.jpg
    1709 x 1460 - 212K
    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Many of the bundles are 70% off in Fast Grab- guess they're trying to make up for not doing diddly squat with it the past two + weeks. So if there's any bundles (no Gen 6 ones, of course) that you don't have, now is a good time. However, if there's only pieces of the bundles you want, a lot of that is in the V4 M4 sale so it might be cheaper for you to check out each part of the bundles (as in the other sale, it is 80%

  • KhoryKhory Posts: 3,854
    edited December 1969

    You really shouldn't be vexed with DAZ about fastgrab. It was created primarily to give PA's an opportunity to do short sales at a higher discount. Most of them have moved to flash sales. That puts DAZ in a no win situation. If they close out fastgrab due to lack of participation then some of the customer base will call them nasty names for "taking something away". If they stop flash sales to force the PA's back to fast grab (which is less promotion visibility so not as good for the PA's) then they piss off the PA's.

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 24,253
    edited August 2014

    Khory said:
    You really shouldn't be vexed with DAZ about fastgrab. It was created primarily to give PA's an opportunity to do short sales at a higher discount. Most of them have moved to flash sales. That puts DAZ in a no win situation. If they close out fastgrab due to lack of participation then some of the customer base will call them nasty names for "taking something away". If they stop flash sales to force the PA's back to fast grab (which is less promotion visibility so not as good for the PA's) then they piss off the PA's.

    Thanks for that interesting insight.
    Edit: Reading my comment back, it sounds like it could be a snide comment, but I was sincerely thanking you.
    Post edited by barbult on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited August 2014

    Khory- echo the sentiment- appreciate the input- it's not the vendors that have made this situation of non-changing Fast Grab offerings.

    Look at today- a RIDICULOUS amount of products in ONE day. Yet almost the same five to seven products have been there (with only a few exceptions) for almost two weeks. Instead of spreading out these bundles, they slap them all on one day. Marketing, not the vendors, is doing a very questionable job of the product selections. We're all rooting for the vendors! :)

    Bottom line though- DAZ shouldn't advertise new products every day- if there's not going to be.
    ON THAT PAGE:
    Up to 70% OFF - Updates Daily (they go quick)

    Quick? Two weeks? Stingers had been buzzing on that page for a VERY long time. So had Celtic.

    EDIT: I do understand what you're saying about the promotion aspect though- with the rotating banner on the new release page showing the flash sales. I check Fast Grab every day, but don't know if everyone remembers to do that.

    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    I just counted. There are THIRTY SEVEN products on Fast Grab today.

  • KhoryKhory Posts: 3,854
    edited December 1969

    Really it IS the vendors who are not participating that has created the issues with fastgrab. DAZ should have cut it when they went to the new store to be honest but no doubt people would whinge and cry. As I understand it (I've never done fastgrab and doubt I ever would) you use to be able to set up a fast grab as a vendor without having to go through DAZ staff at all. You put in the number of product you were willing to sell and the price you were willing to sell them for. When you sold your 5, 20 or 50 (what ever number you picked) then it was done or if they didn't sell then it timed out at 24 hours. Now it is all manual input with no control over volume to sell and so forth. It really was created for the PAs but nearly the full weight of it has fallen on DAZ rather than the PA's the concept was created for.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Oh man, that isn't fair to the vendors. :(
    I don't blame you- I wouldn't participate either. Good to know.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    For those of you who bought Slosh's wonderful genie outfit, don't miss this contest!
    http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/45329/

  • SloshSlosh Posts: 2,391
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    For those of you who bought Slosh's wonderful genie outfit, don't miss this contest!
    http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/45329/

    Thanks for bringing attention to the contest. I am really excited to see what is submitted :)

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited August 2014

    Me too! :) And I did buy it, btw. I think it's sexy, but also playful. Don't know if I'll have time for your competition, but I'll try.

    Now on to Lilith. The outfits in the Lilith Pro Bundle are so well made that artists using sexy ware are obviously delighted with the sets, and the figure really supports those. I can get the price down to about $48 for the Pro Bundle (buying items that lower it) but I can only see one outfit that I would use anytime soon.

    I like Olympia and Gia for my voluptuous ladies- they do just fine for me. Lilith is different, but Olympia is enough in the ballpark for me so far as curvaceous and she's more muscular so she meets my needs. Olympia's eyebrows have a few more of those individual hairs that make the eyebrows a bit more natural. It's a bit hard to tell from Lilith's promo camera angles but they seem to have fewer. But for me, I just don't need Lilith when Olympia and Cassia are already in my gene pool. It's all personal preference.

    http://www.daz3d.com/olympia-for-genesis-2-female
    http://www.daz3d.com/lilith-6
    http://www.daz3d.com/cassia-for-olympia

    All the vendors did a very nice job (as usual) and the hair and the poses look quite nice. Another thing influencing my decision was putting that $48 to Lilith (with no immediate need) or getting stuff from vendors that I will use on many characters, or that I've wishlisted.

    So in case anyone is interested, Here's my final cart- (and you won't get these prices unless you get the new releases. Two trigger a different discount, if I recall)

    These two are my choices of new releases and they got the additional discount as I got 2 new releases:
    http://www.daz3d.com/light-up-the-dark-daz-studio-lights $8.97 (can use on multiple renders)
    http://www.daz3d.com/i13-squish-soft-body-effect-morphs $11.38 (great for when people are sitting)

    Nikisatez (one of the featured discount vendors)
    http://www.daz3d.com/diesel-outfit-genesis-2-male-s $8.47- my main goal- GREAT casual clothes for Genesis 2 Male
    http://www.daz3d.com/danah-braid-for-genesis-2-female-s $7.98 GORGEOUS. May take awhile to render, but OMGosh.

    Oskarsson (another featured vendor)
    http://www.daz3d.com/sleeping-late-for-victoria-6 $9.47 TWENTY poses and the sheets follow her body- COOL!
    http://www.daz3d.com/sleeping-late-beds $4.97 A bed and a dais for the poses to expand the possibilities. Think Fabricator too.

    Diane (another featured vendor)
    http://www.daz3d.com/pretty-hands-poses-and-nail-colors-for-genesis-2-female-s $6.48 Always need hand poses for G2F

    Total $108.65-$50.93=$57.72
    So for about $10 more than Lilith Pro Bundle (it was $48 plus change) I opted for two new releases (squish and lights) that can be used in many scenes, a hand pose set for G2F, clothes for G2M, a hair I'd wishlisted, and sleeping poses with sheet morphs plus additional beds.

    Again, kudos to the beautiful work by the vendors, it just all came down to what I would actually use. Any of the IGC's who bought Lilith, feel free to share your renders :)

    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited August 2014

    BTW, I loaded up on all the PC items that came out new today and any I didn't have, then switched to PC+ as I only had until the end of this month on the regular PC. Did that so I could use the $6 off coupon for PA items that weren't new- and most of my cart items weren't- so the prices ended up being:

    http://www.daz3d.com/light-up-the-dark-daz-studio-lights $8.97 SAME, new release
    http://www.daz3d.com/i13-squish-soft-body-effect-morphs $11.38 SAME, new release

    Nikisatez (one of the featured discount vendors)
    http://www.daz3d.com/diesel-outfit-genesis-2-male-s $8.47 $7.11
    http://www.daz3d.com/danah-braid-for-genesis-2-female-s $7.98 $6.70

    Oskarsson (another featured vendor)
    http://www.daz3d.com/sleeping-late-for-victoria-6 $9.47 $7.95
    http://www.daz3d.com/sleeping-late-beds $4.97 $4.18

    Diane (another featured vendor)
    http://www.daz3d.com/pretty-hands-poses-and-nail-colors-for-genesis-2-female-s $6.48 $5.44

    What have you all bought? What products from those featured vendors' stores do you like?

    Post edited by Novica on
  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,651
    edited December 1969

    Don't forget V6 is still free:
    (Although I doubt there is anyone here who doesn't have her yet)
    http://www.daz3d.com/victoria-6?cjref=1

    Also Dryden:
    http://www.daz3d.com/dryden-for-hiro-5?cjref=1

    As far as what I bought:

    Spookframes
    Ljosalfar
    Corvidae
    Lilith 6
    Beach Pod
    Light Up the Dark

    Also picked up fantasy Camp II which is a freebie I didn't have for some reason.

  • AJ2112AJ2112 Posts: 1,416
    edited December 1969

    Hi Khory, I think fast grab sales are awesome ! but products I desire are never on sale, or if I do desire to purchase something, another product is required for use, so it's really not beneficial to me.

    Example: EJ Drago HD for Gianni 6 is $4.79, but Gianni 6 is required which cost $39.99, or Genesis 2 body morphs $19.99 etc.....

    I believe DS and vendors would benefit by selling products along with additional required products together in a package at a sale price.

    Another example, BioLight is free, but Jellyfish is $14.95. DS store seriously needs to put a sale system in operation that makes sense.

    Just my thoughts, sorry for hijacking your thread Cathie :)

    Khory said:
    You really shouldn't be vexed with DAZ about fastgrab. It was created primarily to give PA's an opportunity to do short sales at a higher discount. Most of them have moved to flash sales. That puts DAZ in a no win situation. If they close out fastgrab due to lack of participation then some of the customer base will call them nasty names for "taking something away". If they stop flash sales to force the PA's back to fast grab (which is less promotion visibility so not as good for the PA's) then they piss off the PA's.
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    awesomefb said:
    Hi Khory, I think fast grab sales are awesome ! but products I desire are n ever on sale, or if I do desire to purchase something, another product is required for use, so it's really not beneficial to me.

    You didn't hijack the thread, topics are open to discussion for all my thread surfers. Enjoy your company :)

    What I do is pick up the textures on sale, if there is a product I want, because that product will go on sale eventually. I also noticed during the holidays that they do a product one day, the textures the next- or vice versa- and if you didn't grab the first one you were berating yourself the next day. The jellyfish have gone on sale three times I think since Sept 2012 when I joined. SereneNight did a gorgeous render with them.

    Speaking of which, sounds like a nice haul SereneNight! I didn't buy anything from Day 2..because I didn't need anything. And sadly, the our beloved Himalayan cat had two seizures or strokes this morning (Thursday the 21st) so I incurred at $150.00 vet visit to have bloodwork/full panel done. Didn't have that in my budget! The good news is no further episodes the rest of today/tonight, and it's going on 2am in the morning. She's old, somewhere between 16 and 18 years, named Charlotte for the spider in Charlotte's Web "because she's so nice." (A quote from my son when he was in 2nd grade and named her.) We'll get the results back today (since it's already Friday.)

    But then the bad news...my mom fell and just got back from the emergency room..thought she broke her elbow (she's in her 80's) but the good news...she didn't. What a day.

    So SereneNight- if you do a render with any of those items on your thread, feel free to post a link here to give us a heads up. I'm sure your Lilith will look good! And yes, isn't it amazing how we can STILL find items we've missed so far as freebies! I didn't have one a couple days ago and I was thinking, "For pete's sake, how'd I miss it?"

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    I just checked out the new releases and want to say Rhia looks very interesting- nice to see a different complexion and coloring. Good job ForbiddenWhispers! Some really interesting makeup combinations too- two or three (or four?) eye shadows blended together. I really like that the eyebrows have a few strays hairs below the eyebrows (toward the outer edge of the face.) Very realistic- not everyone's perfect at plucking!
    http://www.daz3d.com/rhia-for-lilith-6

    And of course, the infamous shrink-wrap boob solution is here for G2. Sickleyield to the rescue!
    http://www.daz3d.com/clothing-smoothers-for-daz-genesis-2-female-s

    And it's nice to see some Carrara shaders.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Mark128 was nice enough to do a Gia/Olympia/Lilith comparison for me. What do you think?
    http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/45377/P15/#665975

  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,651
    edited December 1969

    I like Lilith. I do have to dial the chest down, but she has a nice curve to her, and a more mature look which I like. Her base skin is nice too, although the eyes so far don't appeal to me, her eye makeup is quite interesting.

    I bought the base figure and am looking forward to using her with other skins.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Is everyone picking up the AntFarm Fast Grabs? $3.29 and less than $3 for sets- appreciate that AntFarm :)

    OT:
    Sometimes it's hard to see computer models of invests because television/most websites wait until it forms a depression to post the models. In case you are interested in Invest 96L, the GFDL (a good performing model) and a couple other models that had it going up the east coast but staying away from land, are now trending to a turn to the east and maybe a Carolina hit. This is days out, but thought I'd mention it because one of the fronts is breaking apart like they said may happen, which WOULD turn it eastwards the middle of next week. Time will tell. This is a good page to bookmark if you want to see the models a bit further out than what you see on T.V. or even the websites. (and it's noaa.gov, so a good site. nhc.noaa.gov is the one a lot of us Floridians monitor.)

    http://data1.gfdl.noaa.gov/hurricane/gfdl_ensemble/

    Hope everyone stays cool this weekend- 113 heat index tomorrow for us. Bring your pets indoors!!!!

  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,651
    edited December 1969

    Aww cool. I have all those except citizen x. and I just picked that one up.

    I'm going to try to have Sarge do the ice bucket challenge. I realize I have no ice. Fortunately doesn't appear hard to make a primitive and turn it opaque. That would be a crazy and somewhat easy Platinum club freebee. Ice bucket challenge and poses! HAH

  • AJ2112AJ2112 Posts: 1,416
    edited December 1969

    Hi Cathie, thanx for feedback on sales, problem is I'm not on daily and sometimes can disappear for extended time. So I miss alot of sale events.

    Sorry to read of your mom's accident, wishing her comfort, with swift recovery.

    Novica said:
    awesomefb said:
    Hi Khory, I think fast grab sales are awesome ! but products I desire are n ever on sale, or if I do desire to purchase something, another product is required for use, so it's really not beneficial to me.

    You didn't hijack the thread, topics are open to discussion for all my thread surfers. Enjoy your company :)

    What I do is pick up the textures on sale, if there is a product I want, because that product will go on sale eventually. I also noticed during the holidays that they do a product one day, the textures the next- or vice versa- and if you didn't grab the first one you were berating yourself the next day. The jellyfish have gone on sale three times I think since Sept 2012 when I joined. SereneNight did a gorgeous render with them.

    But then the bad news...my mom fell and just got back from the emergency room..thought she broke her elbow (she's in her 80's) but the good news...she didn't. What a day.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Thanks- I went to see her tonight and she has at least 6" of sheer black and blue. But what a sense of humor! I was trying to get a better idea of where she fell..
    I said, "So, you were standing here?"
    "Yes."
    Then I said, "And you turned?"
    "Yes."
    "Then you walked this way?"
    "Nope. Didn't get that far." (GIGGLE.)

    Gotta love seniors who keep their sense of humor about their declining abilities. :)

    Hope you catch some of the sales- Fast Grab has picked back up with some wonderful offerings. I can't think of what I'll use the AntFarm stuff for, but I'll find a way some day- with those prices, can't pass them up.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Aww cool. I have all those except citizen x. and I just picked that one up.

    I'm going to try to have Sarge do the ice bucket challenge. I realize I have no ice. Fortunately doesn't appear hard to make a primitive and turn it opaque. That would be a crazy and somewhat easy Platinum club freebee. Ice bucket challenge and poses! HAH

    Did you see Jeannie Moos (CNN) on all the failed ice bucket challenges? Are you referring to the ALS (Lou Gehrigs Disease) activity for charity? I hope those firefighters are doing okay that got electrocuted (they were in a bucket and had just sprayed water on students to raise funds for ALS) and got too close to an electric line and an arc of electricity got the two in the bucket and the two firefighters trying to lower it. Last time I heard one was in critical condition and one fair condition.

    I am surprised some people didn't break their necks in the Moos clip- the people holding the containers of ice sometimes couldn't hold them and the entire thing fell on people's heads from way above. I cringed on some of those!

    And hey, that's not a bad idea for a Platinum Club item.

    I wonder if I still have the settings for that window jacuzzi scene- remember when I created a primitive and did water and put Ariadne in the window sill of Tangien Portico/Corner?

    Hmm, does Poolside have ice cubes? I'll have to go look.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited August 2014

    http://www.daz3d.com/poolside

    I think those glasses have ice in them. Remember when I did Castillo with the cart/drinks, with the little girl/dog by the pool and the hot looking dude? Funny I remember the ice cubes....(goes and checks temperature to see if I am ill...)

    EDIT: I am calling it up now. If I can isolate the ice cubes, I'll let you know.

    Post edited by Novica on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Well, yes, it has ice cubes. But for some reason my studio is saying I am missing some files and it won't render right. I can't get sidetracked with that- sorry! am in the middle of another render- but it DOES have ice cubes in the pitcher and the drinks.

  • SasjeSasje Posts: 835
    edited December 1969

    Invited Guest Contributor

    Some older products:
    - Genesis 1
    - Bio Squad Dragonfly http://www.daz3d.com/clothing-accessories/bio-squad-dragonfly
    - The Arc Sci-Fi Corridor http://www.daz3d.com/the-arc-sci-fi-corridor
    - Ron's Fog http://www.daz3d.com/rons-fog

    Set up in Daz Studio, renderd with luxus/Luxrender
    One light source from InaneGlory's Photo Studio - Point and Shoot
    http://www.daz3d.com/inaneglory-s-photo-studio-point-and-shoot
    Photo shop for the brushes and some sort of a color filter

    The_last_one.jpg
    1366 x 768 - 183K
  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,651
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    Well, yes, it has ice cubes. But for some reason my studio is saying I am missing some files and it won't render right. I can't get sidetracked with that- sorry! am in the middle of another render- but it DOES have ice cubes in the pitcher and the drinks.

    I'll have to check it out. Thank you! I kind of was fudging the ice cubes by making a square primitive and setting the opacity down. However the challenging thing is doing the pose for the person holding the bucket. I haven't found anything that looks really good to start as a base for the pouring motion. May have to have a robot do it. Most of the poses are hard to get a really natural looking over the head bucket pour. I am not the master of making poses from scratch, but clearly I'll have to learn. Moving the arms just bugs the jeeters out of me.

    Nevertheless we have progress in that Sarge is sitting their grimacing, waiting for me to figure out the rest. LOL.

  • Serene NightSerene Night Posts: 17,651
    edited August 2014

    Sasje said:
    Invited Guest Contributor

    com/the-arc-sci-fi-corridor
    - Ron's Fog http://www.daz3d.com/rons-fog

    Set up in Daz Studio, renderd with luxus/Luxrender

    Nice job on that Sasje! I like the smoke ant he forlorn pose.

    Post edited by Serene Night on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    ... However the challenging thing is doing the pose for the person holding the bucket. I haven't found anything that looks really good to start as a base for the pouring motion...

    Dang it, my studio is loading really slowly. However, last night I was just messing with some poses- do you have the Genesis Agony poses? They have quite a variation and I don't remember what generation you're using, but some of the Genesis poses do work on Genesis2.

    And for the rest of you, if you don't have those poses, they come in handy for a LOT of situations, not just agony. They are good starting points for sitting, reaching, etc. Take a peek.
    http://www.daz3d.com/agony-poses-and-expressions-for-genesis

    Saskia, very emotional piece- I feel sad with the character. Beautifully lit. You got just the right balance with the fog brushes too. :)

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Are you using Genesis 2? If so, there's quite a variety in this, with arms up and they could be holding the bucket.
    http://www.daz3d.com/everyday/concert-crowd-poses-for-genesis-2

    http://www.daz3d.com/everyday/exuberance-poses-for-m6-and-v6
    This has several poses with possibilities.

This discussion has been closed.