Texture Problems on Exported Objects

LigeiaWestwickDesigns

Hi,

I am having a problem with textures on exported object files that has started since I changed over my system recently.

When I apply a texture to any object, and then export it, everything seems to be in order. The texture shows up in the Maps folder just as it is supposed to do. When I restart DAZ and try to import the object, however, it is gone. In the Diffuse Color panel it shows only as that blurry grey icon - and in the maps folder the icon for the texture has changed to the default generic image icon, showing it as a zero kb file.

If I go back to my texture files and copy them back to the maps folder, then it will load them properly - but this is not something I want to do for every object. It would seem that something is not right when the maps are being copied on export, but I cannot figure out what has changed, as the settings for export seem to be the same as I have always used.

I am using the 64bit version DS 4.6 Pro and my OS is Win 7 (previously I was using the 32bit version and WinXP)

Any help would be appreciated.

Jaderail

When you Upgrade you often need to check that settings stay set. As in Collect Maps not ticked on and may need set in the new version as it is not a default setting.

LigeiaWestwickDesigns

I do have the collect maps checked, as that is the only way it will create the maps folder etc. The problem is that these files that get collected, and placed in the maps folder, seem to get messed up when I restart DS

Jaderail

That is deff not normal. Are these your on hand made props? If you made them only for use in DAZ Studio you are doing much more than you need. If these are for use in other Programs it seems you have done it right as far as I can tell.
Would maybe help to see a item with texture before export and the same item again after import. With the Surfaces and Scene tab open on both shots. If you can.

LigeiaWestwickDesigns

Hi,
I am Still having this problem, and I have tried using TGA image files with the same result. I have not tried to upload an image, but I think most of us know what an object with no texture applied looks like - it is just solid grey. The issue occurs with both objects that I have made myself and some I have gotten from 3D model websites, so the results are the same whether the model has 2 textures or 100.

I am really puzzled by this, since I have been doing the same type of work for several years. Only since I upgraded to Win7 and the 64bit version of DS 4.6 has this started.

It seems that something is going wrong when Daz copies the materials into the maps folder. They show up fine right after export, but when I restart Daz they change into unrecognizable files when I try to import the model. Again, if I copy clean versions of the images to the maps folder, then it will load just fine every time after a restart.

Something has changed but I just can't figure out what, and I get frustrated having copy all the files back to the maps folder for every model I work on.

Jaderail

What do you mean they are changed into unrecognizable files? The files should just be read from the folder the Mesh and textures are imported from. Only the TDLmake function in the 3Delight changes file types at render time for the use of the render engine.
I have always had to Hand apply some textures to a imported Mesh and then save a Material file for later use. Very few items I have ever imported had the proper paths in the File to auto load textures on Import of the mesh into DAZ Studio.
If the Object file has a hard coded path to call the textures and the folder you load from does not match that path 100% the textures will never load on import.
If you hand apply the textures using the Surfaces Tab, and then export the OBJECT file with USE textures and collect Maps does the Item you just export now load back into DAZ Studio properly? It should as that should create the Paths you are using at the time of save/Export.

LigeiaWestwickDesigns

Ok this is what happens.

Say I have a model named "chair," and it has two textures I use - Wood and Cloth. I apply the textures with the surfaces menu and then I export the file, say as "chair1."

In my folder for chair I will have Chair1.obj, Chair1.mtl, and the Maps folder that will have both texture files (Wood &Cloth;). So far all is normal.

If I immediately import the file it will show up fine - with the textures.

If, however, I close Daz and restart it, and then try to import the file, it will load without textures. When I look at files in the maps folder, it will still show Wood & Cloth, but instead of having a preview of the texture, it will just show the icon as that of the standard image file - information will show that the files are 0kb, and the cannot be opened with either windows image programs or GIMP 2.8

Again, if I go to the original image files, make new copies of Wood and Cloth, and place them in the maps folder, the the object will then load again fully textured even after restarting daz.

Since I have not had any problems with any of my image software, and the problem is the same whether I use jpg or tga files, it seems that something is happening when DAZ is collecting and making copies of the images in the maps folder. Why this is happening now, with my newer system is a mystery. I am doing the same thing I have for the past 5 years in creating objects and this never happened before the system upgrade. It is quite frustrating.

Jaderail

Okay yes that is not right. The Files should have copied and Not be zero byte files. That I understand now. I'll run a test on my PC this afternoon but I have to leave right now. It may be a bug that needs reported. Thank you for the full explanation.