In this episode I'll show you how to permanently delete polygons from your objects with the Geometry Editor in DAZ Studio. I'll explain where to find the tools for the job, how to make a selection, how to save it non-destructively with a Selection Set, and how to permanently delete your selection.
This comes in handy for all kinds of quick fixes.
2021-08-02 15:46:16 +0000 UTC View Post
I've converted one of Daniel's corsets from Marvelous Designer and brought it into DAZ Studio. It's about 1M polygons by default, which is too much for a conforming clothing object. This version is about 50% of that, but I'll see how much more I can improve to make it lower.
2021-07-29 01:14:16 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode I'll take a look at the Face Controls product. It was originally developed by Faux2D and is available as a DAZ Original. It contains a TON of functionality, but I'll focus on how to get the expressions working on Genesis 8 and 8.1. I'll also show you where to find the documentation and how to blend between different expressions.
You can buy the product 2021-07-25 18:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
In this quick tip I spontaneously find out how to lock off cameras and parameters on any object, by the magic of the Lock Icon! This is a game changer for me, and believe it or not, I've never tried this out. It'll certainly come in handy - thanks to Brian's eagle eyes 😁
2021-07-24 17:00:04 +0000 UTC View Post
On today's stream I've explained the basic principles of rigging using the Figure Setup Tab. I'll see if I can turn this into a stand-alone clip next week. I thought it might be handy to have the scene files if you want to follow along the steps, so here they are.
Written instructions are also in the works, just in case we forget how to do this.
Enjoy!
In this episode I'll explain how you can enable/disable automatic keyframing on the DAZ Studio timeline. I'll also show you how to set manual keyframes.
2021-07-23 17:00:06 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode I'll show you how I've crafted my User Interface in DAZ Studio. I've had this question a few times and thought I'll explain why it looks like it does, and the exact steps I take to re-create it. I'll also touch on where to find the options to change the menu bars and where/how to add shortcut keys.
Customising a user interface is a very personal experience. Don't be a afraid to change this up and try out new ways of working. As long as you save a layout that's dear to yo...
2021-07-22 11:00:05 +0000 UTC View Post
I made this compilation for a video in which I'm briefly going through a new hair product by Biscuits: Aggie Hair, available for Genesis 8 Female on the DAZ Store. Like all of Biscuit's hair, one product gives you a ton of options. I wanted the thumbnail to at least show a few of ...
2021-07-21 16:54:44 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode I'll show you how to apply a Subdivision Surface Modifier to your Avatar in CLO/Marvelous Designer. This will help your clothing fit more accurately to your character, if the target application uses the same modifier. A super helpful yet slightly hidden feature.
2021-07-21 13:40:58 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's a quick animation I rendered to demonstrate the animation features of the Face Controls product. I thought it would be fun to see the original actor and the animation side by side. Mehaun's video was used to capture the facial 3D movements, which are included with Face Controls. I applied them to Dwayne 8 and rendered it in Filament.
I did this as a demo for a more elaborate video about Face Controls, which is coming soon.
Meshaun's original video is here:2021-07-19 18:22:46 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode I'll show you how to rotate/orbit your camera around an object in the centre of your scene. This is an alternate way of creating turntable animations. We'll use a Null helper object to which we parent the camera, then rotate it. Anything you want to remain stationary in your scene needs to be parented to this null.
I've described a somewhat easier approach to getting the same effect in this video....
2021-07-16 17:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
This Saturday I'm doing another live stream on the official DAZ YouTube Channel and Facebook Page!
The previous stream was so well received that we've decided to make this a regular occurrence, at least until the end of the year. It's wonderful to connect with such a large audience of like-minded 3D enthusiasts. I'd love to see you there!
YouTube will show you the local start time in your area more accurately, but as a guide the stream starts this Saturday 17th...
2021-07-15 17:41:28 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode I'll take some time to tell you everything there is to know about the Subdivision Surface Modifier (SubD). I'll tell you what it is and what it does, where to find its settings and how to apply it to your own objects if you need to. I'll also elaborate on the implications for exporting your objects from DAZ Studio and how to avoid it kicking in when you move your objects around in the scene.
For Commander Cody.
2021-07-15 16:12:54 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode I'll show you how to split your scene into several layers, so that you can dress up your character post-render. This can be useful if you're developing a game and you'd like to let your players change outfits while they play. We'll use Iray Canvases to make it happen.
You can play around with the Photoshop file and individual layers I'm using in this video.
...
2021-07-14 13:00:01 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode I'm showing how all my favourite 3D apps are currently working fine in the Developer Preview Release of Microsoft's upcoming Windows 11 operating system. I have DAZ Studio and Blender already installed, I'm showing how Windows 11 looks and I'm installing Marvelous Designer during the process.
I'm always wary when such changes happen and I like to use a test system to see what works and what does not. I'll talk a bit about Windows 11 &...
2021-07-13 12:40:50 +0000 UTC View Post
On Saturday I'll explain how to render a DAZ Character and multiple outfits separately as layers. We'll use the Iray Canvas feature for this, grouping together outfits and props as necessary. This was a special request by Mick, and I've been meaning to do this on Twitch one afternoon but never found the time - so I thought I'd move it the Saturday stream on YouTube.
While I haven't got a scene file to share yet, I thought I'd let you have the individual layers to play around with, as we...
2021-07-07 16:14:49 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode I'll show you how to turn your images into Voxel Shapes, a popular effect that makes edges appear all blocky like Lego. This can be done with the Remesh Modifier and a nifty setting that Brian showed me the other day. I was intrigued by the effect and thought I'd share it with you.
2021-07-07 11:01:02 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode I'll show you how to use the Spring Dynamics script by 3D Universe. It allows us to add a bounce effect to keyframe animations on selected nodes. I'll use it on the Toon Mouse, but it will work on any moveable rigged object in the scene hierarchy.
You can buy the script here.
2021-07-06 12:00:05 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode I'll show you how to automatically ban those pesky bots that post messages to spam services on Twitch. They seem to come in regularly on every stream, with varying catch phrases, prompting users to click a link. This method will block certain catch phrases that you can define. While there are many other ways of reducing spam interactions in Twitch chat, I found this method to be most reliable. Repeat for every new spam catch phrase you see.<...
2021-07-05 14:33:06 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode I'll explain how to create a turntable animation in DAZ Studio. It's a technique that lets you show off characters and clothing, or literally anything you've made in 3D from all angles. It'll help viewers (and buyers) understand what your object looks like. I've shown how to do this in an older version of DAZ Studio a few years ago, before they've integrated Graphmate and Keymaye in version 4.12.
Enjoy!
2021-07-02 17:49:14 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's an ad-free version of the video about DAZ content licensing I uploaded last week, I forgot to post this here. I'll explain my take on the Daz3D license agreement that applies when you buy content from the DAZ Shop. I'll go over 2D renders, animations as well as interactive content.
This was a viewer/reader question has come up several times, it hope it answers some burning questions. Please note that I'm not a lawyer, nor do I work for Daz3D, a...
2021-06-28 17:41:28 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's what happens when you apply a Blocky Remesh Modifier to an object in Blender. Thanks to Brian for this tip! He's currently working on an animation with this effect, check out his Patreon Feed for details.
I've explained how to make this happen here.
2021-06-25 18:41:17 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode I'll show you how to use setup Selection Sets with the Geometry Editor. Those are groups of polygons that you can create so that you can hide them when necessary, which is a neat way to fix poke through very quickly without changing the shape of your objects. In my example I'll create a Selection Set for a shirt that's poking through the overcoat my character is wearing.
Note that Selection Sets are saved with your scene, but their state is not. So if you've made them in...
2021-06-24 23:02:50 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode I'll show you how to create Keyed Properties in DAZ Studio. This is a super handy way to turn multiple poses and/or expressions onto a single custom slider. In essence, it'll condense whatever is set on the keyframe timeline into a morph dial.
Have fun experimenting with this nugget! I have some written instructions here: https://www.versluis.com/2021/06/keyed-properties/
2021-06-23 14:41:51 +0000 UTC View Post
If you need multiple characters sitting on the same object, this video is for you. I'll show you how to create a single collider object from multiple figures, so that a single proxy object can deform a Smoothing Modifier.
This is a follow-up to my previous video in which I'm explaining this process in detail for a single figure: https://youtu.be/VfabXx6kqXE, which attracted a few questions (mul...
2021-06-22 22:52:43 +0000 UTC View Post
Well hello everyone! I have a special treat for you today: a whole series about animation in DAZ Studio. I've been meaning to take a stab at animating my friend the 3D Universe Toon Crab for a while, finally took the plunge and it all worked out really well.
I'm covering everything from animating the legs, expression, eyes, I'm even creating my own controllers to move the claws. I'll also add various lights, convert materials to Iray and render the little guy out as image sequence...
2021-06-21 17:40:35 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode I'll show you how to snap objects while positioning them in the viewport. It's an invaluable tool for scene building, where precise increments can be an important time server. This can be set on a per-tool basis and can easily be switched on and off as you need it.
Enjoy!
2021-06-16 16:28:09 +0000 UTC View Post
I had this crazy idea to animate my friend the Toon Crab by 3D Universe. I'd like him to move all his legs, looking shifty from left to right, snapping his claws and walk through my stream overlay from right to left.
It'll be a complex project that will take several days to complete, things might not eve...
2021-06-15 20:12:39 +0000 UTC View Post
I've been researching Controllers in DAZ Studio today. They're a bit like what Blender calls Drivers. The principle is that one slider can control another, or various others. That's how Expressions work, as well as Joint Control/Correction Morphs and Morph Controlled Morphs.
While I was doodling around, I came across something else: Keyed Properties. It's a way to add multiple properties onto a single slider, almost like shrinking down the regular keyframe timelin...
2021-06-14 23:48:49 +0000 UTC View Post
In this stream I'll show you how I've built my own grass stalks in Blender, then replicated them across a landscape in DAZ Studio using HowieFarke's UltraScatter. It's a wonderful replicator script that's perfect for the task.
This is an excerpt from Saturday's stream and was inspired by a little discussion we had about grass in Discord. I thought I'd split it out and add a bit at the end that I forgot during the demo. Enjoy this special ad-free version.
Th...
2021-06-14 16:26:26 +0000 UTC View Post