DAZ Studio 4 Frequently Asked Questions
Richard Haseltine
Posts: 100,732
A new FAQ thread for the new DAZ Studio 4. The old DAZ Studio FAQ is HERE - it is full of ancient issues so it seemed a good time to start afresh.
If you spot an error, or have a suggestion for an alteration or addition, please post here http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/959/
GENERAL DAZ STUDIO 4 QUESTIONS
How do I install DAZ Studio 4 on a Windows computer? click here
How do I install DAZ Studio 4 on a Mac computer? click here
What different versions of DAZ Studio 4 will be released and what is the difference between them? >>>
I have a 64-bit machine, which version supports 64-bit OS? >>>
If I already own DAZ Studio 3 Advanced, will there be an upgrade price for DS4 Advanced? What about for updated plugins or the FST? >>>
Do I have to uninstall previous versions of DAZ Studio before I install DAZ Studio 4? >>>
Will my DAZ Studio 3 plugins, shaders and scripts work in DAZ Studio 4? >>>
Can I use my old content and scenes in DAZ Studio 4? >>>
Do I need to download all of the plugins again for DAZ Studio Pro orAdvanced 4.0.2.55? >>>
Where is the DAZ Studio 4 manual? >>>
WHAT IS GENESIS™?
Overview of the new Genesis series of figures >>>
What is Auto-Fit? or, Can I use my Victoria 4, Michael 4 or Kids 4 stuff on Genesis? >>>
What is the difference between Victoria 5 and Genesis? >>>
Is the Genesis series compatible with Poser? >>>
Some older poses deform the Genesis figure >>>
I keep getting Duplicate Formula errors - what is happening?>>>
Why have some of my morphs and shapes disappeared from the Shaping pane in DAZ Studio 4.5?>>>
GENESIS 2 FEMALE
Using Victoria 4 textures on Genesis 2 Female >>>
CONTENT MANAGEMENT SERVICE (CMS) QUESTIONS
What is the CMS? Why is it always on? >>>
Can I bring my DAZ Studio 3 Content Database into DAZ Studio 4? >>>
How do I add a content directory in DAZ Studio 4? >>>
How do I decide which content directory will hold my "\data" folder? >>>
What is the "Smart Content" tab, and why doesn't most of my content show there? >>>
When I try changing settings I get only a set of content thumbnails! >>>
Is there a way to add extra content to Scene Builder? >>>
D-FORM QUESTIONS
I can't apply D-Forms to the Genesis figure! >>>
My saved D-Form presets aren't working on Genesis >>>
INTERFACE QUESTIONS
Can I make the interface elements smaller? >>>
Where did the View menu go? >>>
How do I stop objects flashing green as I move my cursor? >>>
Where have "Add Level of Detail..." and "Convert to SubD..." gone? >>>
Where are the Copy and Paste buttons for surface settings? >>>
Why aren't the full-body morphs showing up in the Parameters list of fitted clothing? >>>
I can't load more than one Genesis figure!
Why does loading a jacket steal Genesis' shirt? >>>
Why has my interface gone white? How can I get it back? >>>
Where has the command to change the viewport colour gone? >>>
RENDERING QUESTIONS
How do I create a high-resolution image? >>>
Where has the command to load a backdrop image gone? >>>
Why are the blank areas of my image not masked? >>>
How do I get the promised halo-free image? >>>
LIGHTING
How do I use Sun/Sky and scene lights together? >>>
I thought there were meant to be Photometric lights for use in Iray>>>
OTHER
Why does DAZ Studio 4.5 ask me for a file name every time I save? >>>
Why am I prompted to save changes when I try merging a saved Scene into my current scene? >>>
Why do I get this error message: "This action requires an item within the scene to be selected"? >>>
I can't load figures, I just get an error message >>>
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Comments
INTERFACE QUESTIONS
Can I make the interface elements smaller? >>>
Where did the View menu go? >>>
How do I stop objects flashing green as I move my cursor? >>>
Where have "Add Level of Detail..." and "Convert to SubD..." gone? >>>
Where are the Copy and Paste buttons for surface settings? >>>
Why aren't the full-body morphs showing up in the Parameters list of fitted clothing? >>>
I can't load more than one Genesis figure!
Why does loading a jacket steal Genesis' shirt? >>>
OTHER
Why do I get this error message: "This action requires an item within the scene to be selected"? >>>
I can't load figures, I just get an error message >>>
How do I create a high-resolution image? >>>
Do I have to uninstall previous versions of DAZ Studio before I install DAZ Studio 4?
If you have a previous version of DAZ Studio 4, then we STRONGLY recommend that you uninstall that version prior to installing the latest version of DAZ Studio 4.
If you have a version of DAZ Studio 3 or DAZ Studio 2 installed on your machine, you do NOT have to uninstall it before installing DAZ Studio 4 SO LONG AS YOU INSTALL DAZ STUDIO 4 TO A DIFFERENT FOLDER.
The last version of DAZ Studio that you have installed will be the one that opens when you double-click a .DAZ file or a DAZ Studio specific preset.
Will my DAZ Studio 3 plugins, shaders and scripts work in DAZ Studio 4?
Aside from items loaded into a scene, there are three types of add-on for DAZ Studio:
Plugins are listed in the Help > About Installed Plugins... dialog. They typically have separate installers for Mac and Windows, and for 32 or 64 bit versions. These will need to be updated before they can be used with DAZ Studio 4. DAZ 3D has stated that where a new version of a plugin published by DAZ 3D, that is showing DAZ 3D as the vendor, is functionally the same as the previous version, the update for that plugin will be free, provided it is owned by DAZ 3D.
Shaders are typically responsible for new Lights (i.e. UberSpot) and Materials (i.e. pwSurface 2). Shaders need to be updated to work with the new version of 3Delight. Most of the pw and omniFreaker shadrs have already been updated, adn can be downloaded by resetting the item in your order history. pwSketch will not be upated for contractual reasons. Please check the product page or, failing that, with the creator for the update status of other shaders.
Scripts in general should work, as there have been no global changes to the underlying engine and many of them do not rely on files in the application folder. Some scripts, however, may need to be updated to account for changes to the application that affect the way they work.
Can I use my old content and scenes in DAZ Studio 4?
Yes, simply make sure that all of the content directories you have mapped in DAZ Studio 3 are also mapped in DAZ Studio 4 the same way, and you should not experience any problems using old content.
All Poser-format content should load as it did in DAZ Studio 3.
Several plugins are not yet updated for use with DAZ Studio 4. Any items that require plugins that have not been updated will not load nor save properly within DAZ Studio 4. For example, Heightfield Primitive objects and ParticleFX objects. It is advisable to keep the original versions of scene files containing these items. In DAZ Studio 4, you should save out new scenes using File > Save As... to assign a new name to the DAZ Studio 4 version, so that your old scenes are not over-written. As soon as these plugins are updated and released, then these items from your old scenes will load in and save back out properly.
Any lights created with add-on shaders that have not been updated, will be lost. Any surfaces that use add-on shaders that have not been updated, will render incorrectly, unless you have been able to copy/move the shader support files to DAZ Studio 4.
How do I add a content directory in DAZ Studio 4?
How do I decide which content directory will hold my \data folder?
To add a content directory the simplest method is to open the Content Library palette (Window>Tabs>Content Library) and to right-click on the top-level folder you wish to add a directory to (DAZ Studio Formats, Poser Formats, Other Import Formats). Next, choose "Add Base Directory/Add Runtime Directory" from the menu. If you want to add multiple directories, or if you want to choose which DAZ Studio format directory is at the top of the list and so will be used for the \data folder with the DAZ Studio 4 geometry files, open the Content Library option menu by clicking the button at the top-right corner (top-inner for a docked palette) or right-clicking on the palette's tab label and click on "Content Directory Manager".
Can I bring my DAZ Studio 3 Content Database into DAZ Studio 4?
By fixmypcmike
The default for DS3 is to use the Content Manager database (Category view), rather than the Folder view which shows the files and folders as they are on the hard drive. If you click the little triangle at the upper right of the Content tab in DS3 you can see which option is checked.
When you first run DS4 it should ask you if you want to "Import Mapped Folders" and if you want to "Migrate the Content Database". You can access these options by right clicking on the tab that says "Content Library" in DS4.
First "Import Mapped Folders". If you then look at the Content Library tab you can click on "DAZ Studio Content Folders" or "Poser Content Folders" and see the folders as they are on disk. This is the equivalent to the Folder view in DS3.
"Migrate the Content Database" currently suffers a bug which results in only partial import of the DAZ Studio 3 database: rerunning the command will fill out the import. After you do this, clicking on "Categories" in the Content Library tab in DS4 will give you the equivalent of the Category view in DS3.
According to this bug report, fixing the Migrate Content Database has immediate priority and has been assigned:
https://bugs.daz3d.com/view.php?id=42106
In the interim, I've found that running "Migrate Content Database" twice will get a lot of the stuff it missed the first time. I actually tried it 5 times. There were still a few items missing, but a small enough number that it was easy to recategorize them.
And, BTW, migrating doesn't change your DS3 database at all -- it's perfectly safe and nothing will be lost.
What is the CMS? Why is it always on?
The Content Management Service or "CMS" is a new way of tracking information about your content. This service replaces the Content Manager introduced in DAZ Studio 2, providing better performance and greatly enhanced functionality. The Content Management Service relies on a system of metadata that helps DAZ Studio interact more intelligently with content. This is referred to as "Smart Content". Smart content knows which other assets it is compatible with. This information is managed by the Content Management Service and then shared with DAZ Studio so that relevant content items are presented to the end-user.
The CMS also allows content to be categorized, just as the Content Manager in DS3 did, without moving the files themselves. This allows the same content to appear in multiple categories, e.g. a pair of shoes might be categorized under "Shoes," "Goth," and the artist's name, allowing multiple ways to locate the content. Finally, the CMS allows you to search for content by name, regardless of its location in your file system, as long as the Content directory is configured and scanned.
The Content Management Service is a stand-alone tool that will be resourced from within other DAZ 3D applications, like Carrara.
In order to be available to more than one application, the CMS runs as a service on the end-user's machine. And because there is no way for a standard application to turn a service on or off, it runs continuously. There are shortcuts in the Start\DAZ3D\DAZ Content Management Service\ folder for Windows users to turn the service on and off, and similar options for MAC users are available in /Library/DAZ 3D/Content Management Service/utilities.
The CMS uses 'port' functions similar to network functions to communicate with programs like DAZ Studio, but only within the local computer. Because of the way operating systems handle these port communications, you may need to adjust your firewall software to allow the CMS to connect to DAZ Studio. Not all firewalls will require any user action, as some are able to distinguish between local and external traffic.
The Content Management Service does NOT connect to the internet and does NOT transfer any information from your local computer.
We do not recommend using DAZ Studio without the CMS running as it may cause instability in the application, and will limit the user experience where Smart Content is displayed. If you turn the CMS off, and then wish to run DAZ Studio and take advantage of this tool, you will have to restart the CMS, as "Administrator", before launching DAZ Studio or DAZ Studio will not function properly.
As long as the CMS hasn't been blocked by a firewall, and DAZ Studio is not launched, the CMS uses no CPU cycles. Further, regardless of what Task Manager is reporting, the CMS uses only about 40K of RAM. Your Task Manager may report a higher number though, as Windows may initially reserve a larger amount for the service, but will recover that RAM when the computer needs it. The CMS will also move to Virtual RAM and get out of the way in the same way as any other well behaved service when resources are needed so there is little need to turn it off, except for personal preference.
I can't apply D-Forms to the Genesis figure!
In order to apply a D-Form to a Genesis figure, you must have the root of the figure selected, not a body-part. This is because the Genesis series of figures relies on a new, single-skin mesh. This means that the entire mesh is a single piece, whereas past generations of figures have had their mesh broken up into groups.
A D-Form will affect the whole Genesis figure without needing to add additional nodes as is the case with older generation figures.
A quick way to position a DForm around a body part is to select that part, create the DForm, which will not have any effect. To fix that select the root of the Genesis figure and, in the D-Form pane (Window>Tabs>D-Form), click the "Add node(s)" button. Finally, select the D-Form in the dialogue which opens and click "Accept".
Can I make the interface elements smaller?
There is an alternate style included with DAZ Studio 4 which uses smaller fonts and is generally more compact. To apply it go to Window > Style > Select Style... and choose Highway from the Style pop-up menu at top-right, then click Accept.
Another style, Darkside, is available with DAZ Studio 4 Advanced and DAZ Studo 4 Pro. It is even more compact and reminiscent of DAZ Studio 3's popular "Nouveau Dark" style.
Where did the View menu go?
The View menu has become the Window menu, to match the naming of the equivalent menu in other applications.
How do I stop objects flashing green as I move my cursor?
You can change the Selection highlighting mode in the Draw Settings pane (DS 4.8, Window>Panes(Tabs)>Draw Settings) or Tool Settings pane (before DS 4.8, Window>Tabs>Tool settings) to Bounding box only,
What is the Auto-Fit plugin?
or
Can I use my Victoria 4, Michael 4, and/or Kids 4 stuff with the Genesis series?
The Auto-Fit plugin is a stand-alone tool that allows you to use non-Genesis specific content with the Genesis series of figures. Specifically, the Auto-Fit tool will up-convert clothing, hair, and other add-ons designed for the fourth generation of DAZ 3D figures (ie, Victoria 4, Michael 4, the Kids 4, etc). This conversion process will provide basic compatibility with all current, and forthcoming Genesis body shapes.
The exactness of the fit will vary from item to item. Footwear is extremely difficult to match well using an automated solution, and there are some known issues with how well Auto-Fit handles rigid props/accessories such as scabbards, etc. These will be addressed in a future version of the Auto-Fit tool and will be a free update to those who already have purchased the tool.
Clothes for the fourth generation figures can be used if you have the Auto-Fit plugin Auto-Fit Plugin (sold separately) and will work reasonably well depending on how drastic a difference there is between the original 4th generation figure the item was originally designed for and the specific Genesis shape you apply it to. For instance, an item created for Michael 4 and then up-converted using the Auto-Fit tool for use with the default male body shape in the Genesis series should work fairly well the majority of times. However, an item created originally for the Girl 4 and converted using Auto-Fit to work on the Troll Genesis body shape, may not look as "good" when converted.
Hair for the fourth generation figures can be used if you have the Auto-Fit plugin Auto-Fit Plugin (sold separately). Hairstyles will convert rather well using Auto-Fit, however, style and movement morphs from the original hair will not be carried across. This will be addressed in a future version of the Auto-Fit tool and will be a free update to those who already have purchased the tool.
Textures for the fourth generation figures can be used on the Genesis series. By default the figure is mapped to use Victoria 4 textures, to use the Kids 4 or Michael 4 textures you must select the Genesis figure, open the Surfaces palette (Window>Tabs>Surfaces), click on the "Genesis" entry on the left to select all surfaces and under "UV Set" select "Michael 4" or "Kids 4" as required. See screenshot attached below.
Applying a DS/DSA preset to Genesis will reset it to the Victoria 4 UV set, regardless of which UV set is currently chosen or which UV set the preset would apply to a fourth generation figure, for all presets currently in the store (future content utilizing "Smart UV" presets will choose the correct UV set automatically).
Applying a DS/DSA Preset that uses a non-standard shader, like the EHSS shaders in the Elite texture sets, may move the UV set selection pull-down's position in the Surfaces palette. It is usually near the bottom of the list but will be at the top of the list after applying an EHSS Shader. Presets that use other specialized shaders may also do this. The UV set selector does not go away, it just moves.
The Surfaces palette option menu also has a "Select UV Set" function but this does not work for this purpose with Genesis as it requires an OBJ file with a different UV mapping and Genesis is not supplied with additional object files to do this. You must use the "UV Set" selector within the surfaces tab to change mapping on the Genesis figure.
Morphs for the fourth generation figures cannot be used on the Genesis series of figures as the Genesis series uses a new mesh that is not compatible with prior generations. The GenX utility allows morphs to be converted, but their effect will not be identical on Genesis and the original figure unless you also apply the appropriate legacy shape.There will be many new morph sets released in the DAZ 3D store created to work with the Genesis series specifically.
Where have "Add Level of Detail..." and "Convert to SubD..." gone?
Several commands from the Edit menu in DAZ Studio 4 have been moved to the Scene palette's option menu (Window>Tabs>Scene, click the button at top-right, or top-inner if docked, corner or right click the palette's label) in a sub-menu named Edit. In the default layouts the commands are also available in the Edit menu.
Why do I get this error message: "This action requires an item within the scene to be selected"?
or
I can't load figures, I just get an error message...
If you double-click on something in the Content tab and get the error message "This action requires an item within the scene to be selected", or if a dialogue box pops up asking you what you want to apply the file to, then the file you were double-clicking is a preset that is meant to modify something selected in your scene.
Presets are intended to modify an item, and in order to do so, you must have an appropriate item loaded into your scene and selected. In general, actual items, as opposed to presets, will be in the "Figure", "Hair" or "Props" libraries, if you are looking at a Poser content directory (most content is in Poser format), or if you look at the file information tooltip they will be in files with names ending .cr2, .hr2, .pp2 or .daz. If you can't see anything like that, check the readme or product page for the thing you want to use and make sure it isn't an add-on that needs another product (on DAZ 3D product pages there should be a "Required Products" listing on the product page).
Why aren't full-body morphs showing up in the Parameters list of fitted clothing?
Morphs contained within clothing that are set to auto-follow a morph contained on the underlying figure are hidden by default from the clothing items parameter list. These parameters are hidden so as to avoid confusion by the end-user. You may still access these sliders by selecting "Show Hidden Parameters" from the Parameter tab's option menu (the button at top-right corner, or top-inner corner for docked tab), however any values adjusted on these sliders will essentially create an offset value from what is being driven by the underlying figures parameter setting.
How do I create a high-resolution image?
If you wish to create a print-quality rendered image, then you need to calculate out the appropriate width and height by pixel dimension. For example, if you wanted to create an image that was 5x6 inches @300 dpi (widthxheight), then you would need to render an image that was 1500x1800 pixels (widthxheight).
Then in your image editor, adjust the dpi from the default 72 to match the dpi you desired. Be sure not to change the pixels dimensions from the 1500x1800. Make sure "Resample Image" is unchecked. Then change your image dpi setting to 300.
This is the basic formula to follow:
width in inches x desired resolution in pixels per inch = width in pixels
height in inches x desired resolution in pixels per inch = height in pixels
What different versions of DAZ Studio 4 will be released and what is the difference between them?
Currently, there are four versions of DAZ Studio being worked on:
DAZ Studio 4 Express: a free version with a workflow assistant and very specific user interface and controlled user experience. This was called "Project X" that some users saw during early development. This version is still in development, though you can see some of the design by switching DAZ Studio 4 to the "Full Service" (beta) layout via Window>Workspace>Select layout, and switching to the "Main Street" style.
DAZ Studio 4: This is the standard version of DAZ Studio 4 that is currently available on the store. It will remain free until DAZ Studio Express is finished and released.
DAZ Studio 4 Advanced: equivalent to DAZ Studio 3 Advanced with some other small tweaks and refinements. Among other things, the Shader Mixer feature will be completed and included in this release with an updated UI and documentation so that users can be productive with this tool.
DAZ Studio 4 Pro: All the features of DAZ Studio 4 Advanced, plus the Content Creator Toolkit, GoZ Bridge For DAZ Studio 4, 3D Bridge for Adobe® Photoshop®, Autodesk® FBX Exporter, and Texture Atlas.
If I already own DAZ Studio 3 Advanced, will there be an upgrade price for DS4 Advanced? What about for updated plugins or the Figure Setup Tools?
Yes, there will be upgrade paths. In the case of plugins, those owned by DAZ 3D that are simply updated to work with DAZ Studio 4, but have no new functionality, will be made available as free updates. Any plugins that have been developed further and include new functionality will have upgrade prices.
Specifically, the Figure Setup Tools (both versions) are being replaced with the Content Creation Tools (CCT). The CCT plugin will only exist as one full product, there will not be "basic" and "advanced" versions. Those who have purchased any version of the Figure Setup Tools (including those who purchased the DAZ Studio 3 Advanced Bundle) will be offered upgrade paths to the new Content Creation Tools when they are made available.
DAZ Studio 4 Advanced will be released with an upgrade path for all those who have purchased DAZ Studio 3 Advanced (including those who purchased the DAZ Studio 3 Advanced Bundle).
Pricing details are available in this thread http://forum.daz3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=169386
Where have the Copy and Paste buttons gone in the Surfaces palette?
The buttons have been removed from the Surfaces palette. Instead there are options to copy and paste surface settings in the Edit>Copy and Edit>Paste sub-menus, and the commands are also in the Surfaces palette option menu - available by clicking the button at the top-right, or top-inner for a docked palette, corner or by right-clicking on the palette's label tab.
When I try changing settings I get only a set of content thumbnails!
Several of the settings palettes (Surfaces, Shaping, Cameras, Lights, Posing and Shaping) have two tabs. The Editor tab allows you to change individual settings, as you have always been able to do in the Surfaces and Parameters palettes, while the new Presets tab gives you access to relevant presets as determined by the CMS. Click the tabs at the top of the palette to switch between modes.
What is the "My Stuff"/"Smart Content" tab, and why doesn't most of my content show there?
The "Smart Content" palette (formerly "My Stuff") is a new feature in DAZ Studio 4 that displays "smart content"-- content which uses a metadata file to link it to other related content selected in the scene. For example, if a shirt is selected, the "Smart Content" tab will automatically display texture presets for that shirt. It is possible to manually create the necessary metadata ( http://forumarchive.daz3d.com/viewtopic.php?p=2913353#2913353 ). All Genesis specific, and "DS 4 Certified" content and add-ons will come with this metadata included as part of the product.
I have a 64-bit machine, which version supports 64-bit OS?
While all versions of DAZ Studio 4 will run perfectly well on a 64-bit machine, only DAZ Studio 4 Advanced includes full 64-bit support. In order to take advantage of your machine's 64-bit processor and extra memory, you'll want to use DAZ Studio 4 Advanced.
An Overview of the Genesis™ series
Genesis is an entirely new figure from DAZ 3D that relies on new technology included within DAZ Studio 4. This technology enables a single figure mesh (Genesis), with a single joint system, to encompass a wider range of full-body & head shapes and proportions than any single figure has ever been able to handle before.
The Genesis base figure is extremely versatile. It can be turned into almost any other humanoid form. For example, the Genesis base figure can be morphed into a giant troll, or down to a small child. It can be morphed into a voluptuous woman, or a muscular man. It can be turned into an anubis with digitigrade legs, or a petite faerie. The Genesis base can be morphed into almost anything imagineable. And that's not all, every one of the different shapes that Genesis can turn into can ALL BE COMBINED.
You will be able to mix the troll shape with the child to create a troll-child. You will be able to mix the Anubis shape with an anime female shape to create a feminine-stylized Anubis character. You'll be able to create dwarves, hobbits, incredible hulks, amazonian princesses, your own version of the Na'vi, and more.
Here's one way of envisioning this:
Think of Genesis as a shapeshifting character from your favorite mystical/sci-fi show.
This unassuming genderless creature can change into any shape he/she can imagine and any hybrid in between. It can change into a troll or a kid... or a half-kid/half-troll or a troll/kid/woman.
This being has a series of great adventures. Along the way, it learns new things and discovers the ability to assume more forms. This figure has a mystical forcefield around its body that not only protects it, but also transforms its clothing as well. No shredded hulk pants when it transforms into a massive freak... and the clothes don't fall off when it shrinks to the form of a small child.
How many forms will Genesis™ learn? Only time will tell. Even now there is a tale told in the far east of a mystical amulet from the 5th Victorian era that contains the magic to transform this creature into an Icon of feminine beauty. Stay tuned!
DAZ 3D is currently working on many new shapes for Genesis both internally, and through the help of the great Published Artists within our community. Any content creator can add to the Genesis "Gene-Pool" of figure shapes and thereby increase the variety of the Genesis figure.
The amazing technology behind Genesis allows for all of these shapes to easily be blended together AND allows for clothing created for one Genesis shape to be automatically fitted to another. For example, suppose a Published Artist created a dress for a new faerie morph created from Genesis. The dress would not only fit the Genesis faerie shape, but also automatically fit any other Genesis shape, from the Genesis child, to the Genesis Freak. While there are some limitations to just how extreme of morphs the clothing can be automatically fitted to, the versatility is quite impressive.
What is the difference between Victoria 5 and Genesis™?
Victoria 5 is currently being developed by DAZ 3D. Victoria 5 is an original full body and head shape built from the Genesis base figure. While the Genesis base figure is a wholly original, stand-alone figure; Victoria 5 is a new shape built from the Genesis base figure.
In the 4th generation of figures from DAZ 3D, Victoria 4 was a stand-alone base figure that other female figures were built from, such as Aiko 4 and Reby Sky. In this latest generation of figures, the base figure is the Genesis base figure, and ALL other figures will be built from this common Genesis base figure. For example, Victoria 5, Michael 5, and the FREAK 5 will all be built from the Genesis base figure.
This only possible due to the new technology developed by DAZ 3D over the past 2+ years. DAZ 3D has worked tirelessly to create a new figure platform that incorporates multiple new technologies, that when used together, allow for something as advanced as the Genesis series. Specifically, DAZ Studio 4 now has a new file format (.DSF) that supports a new joint system, as well as additional technologies that allow for mesh smoothing, collision correction of clothing, automatic translation and scaling of joints, and automatic UV-swapping. You can read more about this new technology here: DAZ Studio 4 New Features.
Is the Genesis™ series compatible with Poser?
The Genesis series of figures relies on powerful new technologies that are currently exclusive to DAZ Studio 4. However, the new file format that the Genesis series utilizes is an open, ASCII format that can be interpreted easily. DAZ 3D is ready to help all those who are interested in adding support for this new platform within their own tools and applications, such as Poser by Smith Micro. A SDK is currently in development, and DAZ 3D has already reached out to several partners with hopes that they will be able to add support for the Genesis series within their own applications.
For users of Poser 9/PoserPro 2012 it is possible to use the CR2 exporter in DAZ Studio to send Genesis to those versions of Poser, though there are feature limitations compared to the way Genesis performs in DAZ Studio 4
If you have a favorite application or tool that you would like to see support this new figure and the underlying technologies, please contact the developers and let them know of your desire to have them support this next generation figure platform in their application.
Some older poses deform the Genesis™ figure
by DAZ_Rand
You can fix deformation of legacy poses by clicking on the deformed bodypart and then the little man icon at the top left of the universal manipulator then select "Restore Selected Item(s) Pose"
Works like a charm
Adamr001 has prepared a pose preset that will reset the hand and foot translations without changing the other settings on the hands and feet http://forumarchive.daz3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=170864
Note added 26/Jan/2013: in recent versions of DS Genesis has been updated to lock the translations of the feet, as a result of which this issue should no longer occur.
I keep getting Duplicate Formula errors - what is happening?
im
This is happening because of an update for DAZ Studio Advanced which is catching and reporting a problem with the original releases of several morph sets. The solution is to uninstall* the old version of the product, then reset your order (here https://www.daz3d.com/i/account/orderitem_hist? ), redownload, and reinstall the items. The affected products are:
Fantasy Shapes for Genesis
Evolution Head Morphs for Genesis
Evolution Body Morphs for Genesis
Legacy Shapes M4 and V4 for Genesis
Legacy Shapes Sp4 for Genesis
Evolution Expressions for Genesis
NOTE: at the time of posting the update for Evolution Expressions for Genesis is not made available by resetting the Evolution Morphs bundle - please open a support ticket with Sales to request a reset for this item if it is not yet listed in your order history in its own right or included in a reset of the bundle. We are told that the issue is being worked on and that people should soon have direct access to the Evolution Expression morphs if they were purchased in the bundle.
If you have the updates for all of the morph sets and continue to get the warning, please make sure you don't have two installations of the Genesis figure (or whatever other items is triggering the warning) on your system.
Thanks to adamr001 for this answer.
----------------
* If you didn't create an uninstaller and no longer have the older installer for the expressions, manually delete the \data\DAZ 3D\Genesis\Base\Morphs\DAZ 3D\Expressions folder in your Genesis content directory - \DAZ 3d\Studio\MyLibrary in your documents folder by default.
I can't load a second Genesis!
Loading a jacket steals Genesis' shirt!
By default DAZ Studio 4 will replace a similar item if it is selected when you load a new item of that type - so a new Genesis will replace the old, a jacket will replace a shirt (but not a pair of trousers) etc. There are two ways around this if you don't want it to happen - one is to make sure you don't have anything selected when loading the new item, the other is to go to Edit>Preferences>Content Library and change the setting for Replacement Management to either Never replace or Ask to replace.
Do I need to download all of the plugins again for DAZ Studio Pro orAdvanced 4.0.2.55?
The following plugins are now being installed by the main DAZ Studio 4 installer instead of being deployed via their own installers:
Multi Layered Image Editor (Advanced)
Morph Loader Advanced (Advanced)
Morph Follower (Advanced)
FBX Exporter (Pro)
Texture Atlas (Pro/GDK)
Figure Setup (Pro/CCT)
Joint Editor (Pro/CCT)
Property Editor (Pro/CCT)
Weight Map Brush (Pro/CCT)
Asset IO Filter (Pro/CCT)
Morph Loader Pro (Pro/CCT)
ExP Exporter (Pro/CCT)
Polygon Group Editor (Pro/CCT)
If you have DAZ Studio Pro you will need the updated installers for GoZ and the 3D Bridge. In general plugins should have the same final number (.55 in this case) as the main application.
Where is the documentation for DAZ Studio 4?
The documentation is an ongoing project at the time of posting. You can view its current state here http://docs.daz3d.com/doku.php/public/software/dazstudio/4/start .