How to import a Rigged Daz model into Blender when none of the tools work?

docbadwrench

I have this model which I have retextured in Substance Painter. I've decided I'd rather work in Blender for main composition, but there is a problem: None of the tools I have at my disposal will work.

• I imported using the Daz Converter Addon but the model's pose controls are hosed.
• I also tried using the Diffeomorphic Addon but those pose controls don't work right either.
• I also tried importing the source FBX and OBJ, but those are only useful if you want a statue of your model in the default position. No rigging.

I have poured through the Diffeomorphic addon's documentation, but so far no luck.

Thanks.

Padone

That's a poser model and it's quite "robotic". May be it uses the old poser envelopes for rigging that are not directly supported by diffeo. If this is the case you may try to convert it to weight map before exporting. That's edit > figure > rigging > convert to weight map. This should work.

You will meet this issue with most old poser content.

TheMysteryIsThePoint

It looks like it's a mechanical object. You could import it via OBJ or Alembic and rig it yourself in Blender. It looks like it'd be a lot of repetitive work, but when you've got IK set up, you might look back and think it was all worth it...

docbadwrench

I had assumed that the rigging would still carry over. I guess this is my opportunity to learn about non-deformation IK rigging. It's been on my list to learn but man, that's a long list...

Good to know what limitations I'm likely to encounter in older models. Excellent feedback. Thanks a bunch! Both of you!

Update: On a break, I messed with Diffeomorphic some more. I think I might just need to do added prep work because when I 'merged rigs' I was able to see the proper IK range shown in Daz - unfortunately not causing the model to move - but still, that was progress. It suggests that data is sitting there, but I just need to figure out how to select the right options to merge them. I will update this thread as I learn more.

j cade

I'll second what padone said. I've exported old stuff and you have to convert it to weight mapped first. Like they said edit > figure > rigging > convert to weight mapped and then pick general weights.

I have done this before to get very old products working with diffeomorphic

 

 

docbadwrench

I got a solution from tech support and it worked:

There have been some compatibility issues reported between the "Daz to.." bridges and Central, and I would recommend that you uninstall this bridge via Daz Central and attempt this install process through DIM after you first ensure that path file is properly mapped to 2.92 under your Applications path within DIM. To do this:

1. Open DIM

2. Click on the gear icon in the top right-hand corner of the window

3. Locate the path for Blender and ensure that it is similar to C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\2.92

4. If no path is defined for this application, I would recommend using DIM to define this path

If you are not familiar with this process in DIM:

a) Go to the Daz Install Manager Settings (gear icon in the top right corner.)

b) Now, go to the Applications tab.

c) Here, click the '+' icon in the bottom left-hand corner.

d) Select Blender

e) Choose your Version number (2.8 is the highest available)

f) Click '...' next to Path and browse to the respective path (listed above)

g) Click Accept Folder > Accept > Accept. Once you click that second green Accept, you will be taken out of the Install Manager Settings. 

Anyway, if anyone else has a problem like this, then this is definitely a thing to check. Solved my problem outright. 

j cade

docbadwrench said:

But see, "Compatible with Blender" takes on a completely new meaning when I have to do that much follow-up work on a model when all that work was supposed to have been done.

I continue to muddle through with Diffeomorphic. But that plugin has failed 100% of the time. All my rigs are disconnected from my models. It's not just this one. So I either fix that or give up on Daz models outside of DS because the official plugin has also failed 100% of the time. I get that I can do all this crap in Blender; I'm just not going to. I'll go find some other model and retexture it. I'm basically annoyed that I'm having an impossible time of moving assets when that was ostensibly the point of using Bridge content in the first place.

What's killing me is that I'm sure it's something I'm doing wrong, but the Bridge's documentation isn't what I'd call complete and concise...

Padone and I are literally suggesting you click a thing in the menu . thats it. click convert and save.

docbadwrench

Oh wow. Posted at the same time I edited. The problem I was having was that the plugin was actually hosed. The bridge works perfectly now since I followed the instructions in the (now revised) prior post.