Renamed: I got the broken volumetric cameras
spearcarrier
Posts: 708
Huzzah, new toon system has come out! Boo, it's too complicated for overworked me. I also don't like how it renders. But that's a matter of personal preference.
So log story short. I've been keeping my package files in a separate folder while installing through DIM. A long time ago, this used to work for keeping older copies of DAZStudio in case I need to roll back.
I need to roll back.
Squares all over my renders.
I need to roll back.
The system no longer keeps old copies.
Plead my case with help? Yes. I did it a few months ago, too. No reply, but I wasn't susprised. A few months ago I got a response from them on a ticket I'd submitted a full year prior.
I really really need to roll back.
My comics are damaged. I can't work. Just when things were on a roll. This will be the 2nd time DAZ's upgrades broke things. I never completey recovered from last time. Ugh. This is insane. There needs to be a roll back feature. They're putting my and other people's work flow at risk without that.
I am beside myself.
Example of distress attached.
Using PWtoon and AOA Atmospheric volume camera. No other combination works as well... or used to work as well. Those horrible squares happen no matter how light or heavy I put shadow samples, whether or not I raytrace, and whether or not I use uberlighting. (I usually use a blend.) It started 2 days ago and I'm screaming in frustration. IfI have to paint over every single panel I make,I might as well just hand deraw and stop spending money here. I made 28 cents from Amazon last month. I could probaby stand to spend less money here.
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Comments
There is a fix for AOA's Graphic Art Cameras (no longer sold) available here: AoA Graphic Art Cameras - Page 2 - Daz 3D Forums. All you really need is the last couple of entries.
Oh Ho??? I searched and couldn't find such a glorious thing... I shall check right now. Currently I'm testing a render with shadow samples cranked as high as they'll go. Its verrrry slow goings so I guess I have time.
Wait... looking at thread.... so ALL of the cameras are fubared??
Wait a sec. The Atmospheric Effects Camera is a different product...
The version in the product library still seems to work for me: IM00013926-02_AtmosphericEffectsCamerasforDS34.zip. There used to be another part with "EZ Atmo Cam", but it has been removed. I believe that was the one that did not work.
I've looked at the EZ, but it never does what I want. Fog camera is working great. But volumetric messed up as of 2 days ago and it's only getting worse. I've installed, reinstalled, uninstaled, played with dials, looked for solutions... the only thing I have left is to roll back. But this thread has things I might try when this render is done disappointing me.
I am using DS4.22.1.161, not the latest, but it works for me. I do need to reduce the Volume Density and Light Density a lot, like to 0.00001, otherwise it is a total whiteout.
ETA: Okay, maybe just the Light Density...
3Delight has not changed recently.
I don't understand what you mean about not being able to roll back - if you have the old packages you just need to copy them to the DIM Downloads folder and start DIM without going online - they will hten be available in teh Ready to Install tab, if they differe from the currently installed version (if DIM is online it wil show only the version currently on the servers).
I think they mean rolling back DAZ Studio...
If you still have "EZ Atmo Cam", that was in the DS3 version, I believe, which was part -01 (no longer in library). Uninstall and install part -02. 3Delight might not have changed, but the DS3 stuff does not always work in DS4, particularly special effects.
I mean DAZ entirely. I had upgraded very close to when I reopened the comic to resume work, so currently that's the only thing I've got to go on as to what's happening. Similar to the PWtoon debaucle many ages ago. I don't have time to wait 2 upgrades for them to fix the cameras, and I doubt they will because they no longer sell them. I'm pretty sure I was literally the last person to ever buy them. It's for this reason I send the tech team occasionsal "Hey remember these things please" emails with finalized artwork attached to remind them that even though I am no longer a bestseller, there are these two huge projects that depend on them and please be kind to one of the first people to use DAZ for professional book cover making I beg of you. They probably hate me by now.
I thought I had DIM set to keep the DAZ installation files in a folder, but when I looked I could not find them. I've had to make a request.
I scrolled up in the other thread and found:
Found a temporary fix.
Steps for Windows.
1. Close DAZ Studio 4.7
2. Open Advanced System Settings.
3. Click on Environment Variables.
4. Click New.
5. Name: SHADERDL_OPTIONS
6. Value: -Dtime=0
7. Click Ok.
8. Run DAZ Studio.
9. Open Scene with any Art/Atmospheric Camera.
10. Happy render.
I'm currently at.... "Advanced System Settings... WHAT!??" I WANT to attempt these things. Because these things do not reference drawing dragons I am lost.
My AOA cameras are for Daz 4. I can also tell you that anything for Daz 3 like UberEnvironment that I have, DIM will simply not install.
If you have the Daz Studio, and Daz plug-in , installers then what I said applies - put copies in the DIM downloads foilder, start DIM working offline (or go offline if it auto-connects) and you can install the preferred version from the Ready to Install tab.
Going through the folder where I tell DIM to download andkeep things, this is what I have.
The most recent version of DAZ. I've been running this new comptuer for a fewmonths. I have no idea where the old drive with other stuff is.long story.
Separating core files by date, I've got various different things... that amount to one single version... but different datesas they were updated.
I'm genuinely wondering if DIM now deletes your old version when it puts in the new one so you don't have the install files. Because... best I can figure I need the version from last December (???, the way they do their update numbers long ago got confusing) and even though I was downloading and keeping back then, it's not here.
But for the record I did try what you suggest with the version I have in the folder. DIM refused to see anything there.
Yes, DIM deletes older versions of the same file in the download folder. You can copy it out somewhere safe, and put it back if you need to revert. But, as Richard says, you need to go offline to install an older version, otherwise DIM will only let you install the current online version. If you never backed them up, they are gone forever.
See, I never knew it did that. I honestly thought it was keeping various versions of the files so that I had, for example, different dated versions of... I dunno... Sakura 8. If I knew it did this thing I'd have been putting each new dump into it's own dated folder all along.
NOt lost forever if I can convince the DAZ people to help me roll back or something like that. Best I can figure sku 13176 is my end goal. This is a general guess based on download dates and thinking of my work timeline... and thinking upgrading to premier might've been an honest mistake.
And apaprently now I must do a clean reinstall as DIM has it at -1 bytes and wont' let me remove. GEEZZZZ
The -1 bytes thing is probably just DIM getting a little confused. Close and restart DIM, and the current file should be available.
Attempted. I did a fresh install of the latest just to see if that fixes things. Currently watching a render populate. At about 50% is when the squares (if any) either go away or get worse. It's still on the fence at 45%.
Image finalized by using the cube method that Sickleyield had put out many moons ago.,.. not quite the same effect but it was enough for me to work off of.
(more)
When I came across the 3Delight manual and looked up some of the errors with Pwtoon and the camera, I realized I had no idea how to tell the system to make 2 points. But... long story short, buckets are part of the problem. I put bucket setting as law as it would go (8) and had the rectangles mostly gone. I wasn't able to go to 4 because I dunno.
Same story for pixel whatchamajigger. You want me to remember it NOW? Like... NOW? Pixel samples.
So basically the issue is quality control.
By providence I was reminded of the aCDz cameras. They used to be problematic, but currently what I've done works the way I personally need. So attaching examples and giving the only surviving download link for anyone else in my boat. Be sure and thank the guy even if he appears to have disappeared, because you never know. He might see it.
https://sharecg.com/v/69698/related/7/Material-and-Shader/Shaders-ACartoonDz-+-Effects-for-animation