Amazing Skins for Gen2

super_joel

This product in the description says it is compatible with Gen2 but then looking further into the details of the description it also says you need to own advanced figures to apply the different skins. So which is it? Do you need advanved figures before you can use these or can you apply them to Gen 2? And if it is not good to use on Gen 2 what do they mean by "Gen 2 figures" ???

SickleYield

Genesis 2 Male and/or Female are the advanced figures that you need to have.

V3Digitimes

Hi,
thanks for the summary SickleYield!
I'm gonna be more detailed :
I'm the creator of Amazing Skins. I guess you're speaking of the "Amazing Skins for Genesis 2 Male", or "Female" or "Bundle" version. If not let me know, because there are plenty of other amazing skins dedicated for each DAZ figure.

Well, you have tons of things in the products "for Males" and "for Females", this is why it may be confusing.

Here is the summary (there is much more to say) :

75% of the product consist in materials and materials sub-presets (influencing only base Color, SSS properties, specular - gloss -...) which can be applied on ANY Genesis 2 Figure that you own, independently of it's morph, of the initial material it has, of the initial UV, of the texture.. it will work. What it does is set up new calculations when rendering to reach realistic, flexible, adjustable, fast rendering skin properties, avoiding the freeze when rendering.
You also have a basic outfit, a prop as background, a set of poses, and several sets of high quality lights sets for very fast global scene set up. This is also compatible with any figure.

Finally, I included already several nice various presets of skins tones variations for each the main DAZ figures (except Giselle) which had been released when I made the Amazing Skins. This is the 25% remaining of the product, and this of course, requires to own the corresponding base figure to work, because it requires the texture images of the figure, which are provided when you buy them (M6, M6HD, V6, Lee6, Gianni 6, Steph 6, Olympia, and many more).
And Better : even this presets are exploitable on any G2 figure you own. You just have to press CRTL when loading them, choose the "Images : Ignore" option. This way you will apply the skin properties (color SSS specular properties), keeping your own initial maps of the figure you work on.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have any other question!

super_joel

That answered a lot of my questions, thank you.
I was nervous because the only figure I use is Gen2 (and rarely Genesis). Gen2 Plain, not Gen2 With-Name.
But making different skin tones is really hard and I was hoping to find something to speed up the process and/or make it easier.

V3Digitimes

super_joel said:

That answered a lot of my questions, thank you.
I was nervous because the only figure I use is Gen2 (and rarely Genesis). Gen2 Plain, not Gen2 With-Name.
But making different skin tones is really hard and I was hoping to find something to speed up the process and/or make it easier.

No problem, this is made for skin tones management and much more.
It is pretty easy to use, and you have plenty of videos on the subject depending on what you want to do, I give you the list here :
All the Amazing Skins presentations/demonstrations are gathered in a same playlist :
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhMqfqgUaaeygUXocKh-PSx5Q7zWRobgB

3 Ways to start with Amazing Skins. Around 8 minutes.
The three way you can start to have an amazing skin base on your figure :
- use the main applier from the main folder (useful for instance on new or not included G2 Figures)
- use a full material preset for one of the main included G2 figure
- Load a full ready to render scene with one of the main included G2 Figure
Link : http://youtu.be/OGENxwE7MQw

Manual skin set-up in amazing skins :
this presentation is dedicated to the people who you not like to use only the included presets and sub-properties presets, but would like to go for a personal and manual customisation of the skin.

You will discover, what are the 4 important groups of dials to adjust the properties of the skin, the way to access them fast and what the individual dials can do for you.

Globally you will find out how to make the multiple surface selection of the surfaces and access for all these surfaces together only the group of parameters you want to customise, for each of the four main properties (color change, main SSS, deep SSS, specular).
More in detail The Influence and tips :
- about Hue Saturation and Value PreProcess
- about Hue Saturation and Value PostProcess
- about how to define properties (effects repartition, total amount, individual colours) and your first level of Subsurface scattering.
- about how to define properties (effects repartition, total amount, individual colours) and your second level of Subsurface scattering.
- about how to drive shapes, colour, vertical and horizontal sizes and strength of the highlights in order to go for more wet or more dry skins, or for special effects of gloss (highlights).
- a Rapid presentation of the sub-properties presets (base colours, Main SSS properties, Deep SSS properties, Gloss Properties, and other tools) already included.
- Rapid randomised skins.
Link : http://youtu.be/pYBD4Pm28Qg

Aux viewport and Amazing skins (NEW! with Daz Studio 4.7) :
http://youtu.be/LE9C2lEsBos
Around 8 minutes. See how to :
Open the Aux viewport
Tweak skins tones and glossiness
Tweak Cloths colors (required amazing skins for genesis 2 males or females to get the shader version of the material).

How to Apply and customise Amazing skins on Genesis (Genesis 1 Generation, but works for any V4, M4 figure…). Around 15 minutes. You do NOT need this one if you are using it on Genesis. It just shows how to apply then tweak them for other figures, older generations. Yet it can be interesting to see how to do a full manual adjustment.
- Load a figure
- Multiple select the surfaces and apply the different shaders
- Change color tone, SubSurface Scattering and Specular (Gloss) Properties
- Summary of the 4 important families of properties to reach your set-up
Link : http://youtu.be/HGERXseV63E

How to set up a sci-fi Skin and save. Around 12 Minutes
- change the base colors
- change the skin properties (SSS Sheen For instance)
- Save as material preset
- Use the skin Randomiser and customise the randomised skins
Link : http://youtu.be/Jw6zERDkd5s

Demo : Figures color matching.
The principle concerning how to match in a few steps 2 different figures skin colors (example based on the very bright Aiko and very dark Gianni). Duration 9 minutes
Included :
- Load, pose and add lights
- Pick up the right color in the shader mixer using external software (shown on photoshop, but can be on the free Gimp, or with standalone color picker tools)
- Adjust saturation and Value of Aiko to match Saturation and Value of Gianni skin. And this is done.
Please note : When changing Hue preprocess, not shown here, you may have to slightly readjust Saturation and Value after that, but the principle is exactly the same as shown in the demo. Good luck, have fun and be creative.
Link
http://youtu.be/sSAc0c5c9kI

For Advanced users only : How to swap for another BRDF model and save. Around 10 Minutes.
http://youtu.be/duiY_a6J1to

Promo Video Link Showing in 2 Minutes the principle : http://youtu.be/ns9ET7Qt8OU

And if you prefer pdf documentation, you can download it on the ReadMe page.

I hope you'll have a lot of fun, and I'm here for any questions, remarks, feedback - well right now I'm going to bed, but tomorrow I'll be here!

super_joel

Oh, lots of info here. Thanks mightily!