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I'm New, Please Whip Me Gently - DAZ Studio Props To Poser-friendly OBJ+MTL
Nik [ Friday, 26 November 2021, 09:03 PM ]
Post subject: DAZ Studio Props To Poser-friendly OBJ+MTL
I prefer to use stand-alone ($$) DSF Tools, but that is slow, really struggles with hi-poly meshes. And, sadly, the package is now unsupported following death of its author.
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Plan_B is to use DS. Although its UI gives me a prompt migraine, I've put together a sorta 'strip map' for the work-flow.
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Essentially, you add link to an 'external library', do the biz, then remove link. IMHO, DS makes it harder than necessary...
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For example, I'll use a neat 'stone wall with front floor' DS freebie by kalhh, which I found on DA.
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<a class="post-url" href="https://www.deviantart.com/kalhh/art/Stonewall-Freebie-Kalhh-893739747" target="_blank">https://www.deviantart.com/kalhh/ar...Kalhh-893739747</a>
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If you've not visited DA recently, be aware that pages may 'time out' after too-few minutes, such that [V] download button under piccy fetches HTML page, <b><i>not </i></b>the file you want. Just refresh page to resolve...
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Download zip, shortcut and piccy to convenient folder location, eg WIP_10
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Open folder, 'un-zip to current directory', gather zip, shortcut and piccy into this new folder, which has DS model's data, props, runtime sub-folders etc. Make folder.jpg to taste. I prefer 350x350, YMMV.
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I'll assume is 'Prop' rather than 'Hair', 'Character' or whatever.
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Open DS
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x the 'Welcome' pop-up
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Right click on DAZ Studio formats, left-click on 'Add Base Directory'
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Browse to your new folder holding those DS sub-folders. (NOT to any DS sub-folder within.)
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Select it.
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Nothing much seems to happen, but DS has now 'acquired' it.
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Left Click on teeny-tiny > beside DAZ Studio formats
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Last in that list should be an [S] with the new folder's name.
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Left click on teeny-tiny > and work down DS' Props folder tree until you reach the file, when a thumb-nail pops up in next column.
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Drag / Drop thumbnail into main view-port as sanity check. Materials / textures should auto-load.
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Go up and across to the DS _File options list
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Left click it.
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Go down to Export.
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Enter file name, eg TEST1
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'Save as Type', select Wavefront Object (*.OBJ)
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Enter.
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A busy page of OBJ export options pops up.
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YMMV, I usually go with...
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'To: Poser (1 Unit = 8ft)' which auto-scales to 0.410105%
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Ignore 'axis conversion' and 'invert positive direction' options.
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Then there are two columns.
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LHS defaults seem to be...
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Ignore Invisible Nodes, Use Bone Welds, Write UV coordinates.
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RHS defaults seem to be...
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Write Groups, 'Use Node Names', which I change to 'Use Existing Groups'
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Write Surfaces
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Write Material Library ( The 'MTL', I think ?)
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Original maps.
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Accept.
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OBJ+MTL created promptly.
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Note MTL may only call 'Diffuse' texture, the Kd, which DS knows as 'Albedo'. You'll need to manually load others via Poser's Material Room.
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If you move OBJ+MTL, you'll have to edit call-paths with eg Wordpad.
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If you want to remove DS' link, left-click teeny-weeny > beside Daz Studio Formats.
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Go down to [S] with new folder's name
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Right-click folder.
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Left click 'Remove Base Directory', and is gone from DS.
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Care: There is <b><i>NO</i></b> 'Are You Sure ?'
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But, the model's DS files, textures, OBJ+MTL etc are still in your convenient folder...
rico [ Saturday, 27 November 2021, 09:38 PM ]
Post subject: Re: DAZ Studio Props To Poser-friendly OBJ+MTL
<img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/eusa_clap.gif" alt="" /> Thank you very much Nik! Much appreciated Sir <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/thumb.gif" alt="" /> !
ahjah [ Saturday, 27 November 2021, 10:16 PM ]
Post subject: Re: DAZ Studio Props To Poser-friendly OBJ+MTL
I still don't have D|S, and I'm on Poser 7, so I can't import Daz files, either. But I have to admit, I don't miss this option much. There are lots of props around in native Poser or obj since years. More than I'll ever need, but that's me <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/wink.gif" alt="" />
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Interesting workflow thou, thanks <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
Nik [ Sunday, 28 November 2021, 01:10 AM ]
Post subject: Re: DAZ Studio Props To Poser-friendly OBJ+MTL
I'm sorry DAZ figures since V4 series do not 'work' in Poser without a near-complete re-rig, likewise their outfits. My limit seems to be rigging the rudimentary 'Box Man', and even that sometimes fails for reasons I don't understand...'
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As with XPS, SFM and PMX, the DAZ Studio (DS) 'world' is a useful source of props. The trick is getting their 'mesh' from 'native' format to OBJ, then matching them to their textures for MTL.
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I have exported several <b><i>amusing </i></b> DS outfits to OBJ+MTL, 'hung' them as props. 'Every-day' items are very useful, while furniture, vehicles and rooms fill out scenes.
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From time to time, I've managed to load DAZ files into DS and export them. Too often, it became an exercise in screaming frustration, spawned a prompt migraine. I much preferred the stand-alone ($$) DSF Tools. Down-side was that only converted <i>mesh</i>, did not 'do the biz' for textures.
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When there are only a few materials, supplied with <b><i>usefully </i></b>named textures, okay. I can pair them in ($$) 3DOC or directly in Poser's 'Material Room'. Gets harder if more than a few textures, especially when too many do not seem to match. And how do you translate procedural equivalent of Poser's MC5 / MC6 ? <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/eusa_think.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/eusa_think.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/eusa_think.gif" alt="" />
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With the death of ($$) DSF Tools' author, and the package now unsupported, I felt I should figure how to use DS' own export tools.
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It's not the best work-flow, but it will reliably 'rip' hi-poly models, and <i>should </i>be able to handle complex 'Environments', that DS' equivalent of a PZ3 which loads multiple items...
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They're on my growing 'To-Do' list of fun things to investigate after kitchen woes resolved. Speaking of which, the wood-glue in 'main' and 'shutter' parts of thru-wall waste pipe's 'shield' still has not set. I've checked date, glue is only 6 months old, manufactured April 2021. Perhaps just cold, so I've snuggled them atop the central heating unit...