What do I need to buy to get started?
Be gentle for I'm sure this is all covered somewhere, but can't find it. I need to be able to create cover artwork but I want to avoid any costly mistakes.
I am a writer and I need to be able to create covers for my eBooks. Everything I have published so far is only in eBook form so just a jpeg is all I need to be able to generate. Most of my stories are erotic (but not all) so my covers will sometimes have a certain amount of nudity, though I make a point of not having anything explicit on a cover. I've been using Amazon's cover creator, but it leaves a lot to be desired, I really mean a LOT. Then I heard about DAZ 3D and it sounded perfect for what I need to do. All I need is create the image, I can add the title and author later.
I need to be able to generate a cover with people on it, most of the time fully clothed but sometimes nude, in various scenes, sometimes indoors, sometimes outside. Sometimes the characters on the cover will be interacting, again NOTHING EXPLICIT though they may be nude. Realistic looking people is a plus and photo-realistic people is a plus+plus.
But I can't figure out what packages I need. At a minimum I need a female character that is anatomically correct, but the various characters all seem to be missing those very important physical details, details which are very important to an erotica writer. What these packages cost is very important, since it has to be paid for out of my book sales which is pretty low since I've only been doing it for a year. Keeping cost in mind I was thinking of getting the Victoria 4.2 base, but it is missing those important details, what do I need to add to get nipples and genitals? Sometimes I need to be able to clothe my ladies, sometimes in a suit, sometimes in a sarong, sometimes in half a bikini (can be either half). What clothing package would be appropriate, or would whatever Victoria 4.2 comes with do? And how about scenes? Rooms? Furniture? I know this is a lot to dump on you but I haven't been able to figure out what packages I can't do without, and which ones are superfluous.
I have to stress that I must keep the cost low, if I can't then it's not going to happen...
Thanks...
NicolaS
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Comments
Likely your going to need the pro bundle of what ever characters you get in order to get the "bits and bobs". Before you fling out or commit to any character there are some things to look at and consider. When you start studio your going to find it loads with a character already there. The base figures for genesis are free. If you have downloaded the starter essentials etc then you will have a couple of pieces of clothing to play around with as well. Get a general idea of how it all works before you start spending. It will save you stress later.
Also before you commit to a figure you may want think about some stuff. Victoria 4 is a much older character. That is good and bad. Good because there is loads of free stuff out there for her and also scores of available products. Bad because many of those products will not be optimized to look good in studio. Either because they are old and capabilities have been added/enhanced or because the content creator didn't know how to use studio properly. Genesis 1 and genesis 2 can use some of the stuff created for V4 M4 but not all and to use some of it you need to buy extra things. The genesis figures don't have the massive quantity of stuff that the older figures do because they are newer. On the other hand here at DAZ the volume of stuff for them is being added to regularly so that is growing. Most products will take less fiddling with surface settings to get good results in studio.
What I need is to keep cost low, and right now, Voctoria 4.2 seems like it may be the best choice. I'm not looking for the ultimate, latest, bleeding edge technology, just something that can produce a good, realistic looking image. Do you know if the Victoria 4.2 starter bundle includes the genitals? Or is that something that has to be added? If so, exactly what has to be added?
I see that many of the packages mention needing Genisis 2, is that available separately somewhere? I can't find it, other than mentions of it...
I have been messing around with the figure and accessories included with the basic download, I think including the starter essentials, and I'm slowly coming to grips with it. I think I'm at the point where I need to get what I need to create a cover illustration. And with the sale ending today, I best hurry, if I can make an informed decision, that is...
NicolaS
I would recommend before you buy anything, you spend some time learning to use DAZ Studio with the free characters and content that comes with it. There is a learning curve with DAZ Studio to get good, professional looking results. Before you spend a lot of money, you need to find out if you are willing to invest the time. You need to learn how to pose characters, add lighting, and compose a scene.
DAZ Studio comes with the free Genesis and Genesis 2 base character. Genesis 1 can be morphed to both adult male or female characters as well as children. There now are Genesis 2 male and female base characters included free. They are somewhat limited in that they are missing some bits. As I recall the Genesis 2 Female comes with a skin set that has a nipple On option, although it does not load by default. There are free V4 skins available that have nipples and other bits on the textures that can be used on Genesis 1 out of the box and on Genesis 2 if you buy some conversion products.
The female and male genital props are only included in the Pro bundles for V5, M5, V6 and M6. If you are doing tasteful nudity and not hard core porn, you probably don't need the female genital prop, although it might enhance the detail a bit. Using just the free characters and other free content you can find at sites like ShareCG, you should be able to find out if this is something you really want to do, before you spend any money.
When searching for free content, Google is your friend. The search on ShareCG is not very good. I always use Google advanced search limited to the ShareCG site.
For me it isn't about cutting edge so much as what works best and easiest. When I used V4 I had several 3rd party products to improve the look when she bent and so forth. If you have been looking at the included figure then you have been looking at the newer figure with the newer style bends than V4 has. I also don't bother with much of the old stuff because I don't want to invest time into fixing all the surface settings so that the product renders properly in studio. Just be aware that you may have to hunt up and apply bump maps and so forth so that the character does not look plastic.
I think so but I won't swear to it. I know the Victoria 5 and 6 pro bundles do and that those are the only way to get them.
Victoria 4 never had genitals, no one ever saw any need for them.
Whereas in any form of artistic nude render it is necessary for the male figures to be entire, the need for the female figures to need anything more than was supplied just never arose. I personally still cannot understand all the HooHah about this item, as the only use for it that I can see is for those that are doing the sort of renders which will never be allowed to see the light of day anywhere but on a site that caters for digital pornography. Artistic nude renders just don't need such detail
M4 had genitals included in the morphs++ package
In my defense, it really has been a long time since I used her. I think its morphs rather than "bits". With additional purchases from other places to get better morphs or more ahhh..fitted piece.
As I stated in my original post, I'm a writer, I write both erotica and non-erotica. I need to be able to generate cover images for erotica which may show more than a cover image for a non-erotic story. I do not want any of my publications to have explicit content on the cover, however, that dosen't preclude a nicely shaped breast covered with some filmy material, a hint of a nipple visible. I may cover up the lady's vulva, but I want it there, in her knickers, as I'm sure the character does.
I need to be able to create characters and poses that look real, and that means complete, not like some slimmed down Michelin tire (wo)man. I am asking for help because I don't know what bits come in what packages, and I was hoping someone here could give me some advice.
Thanks...
NicolaS
The nipples on all characters are built into the skin texture. Almost all skin textures include nipples on the skin, except for the default (free) Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 Female skins. The default V4 skin has panties and bra painted on the skin so it also does not have bits. Almost all other V4 skins will have nipples and a little something built into the skin texture in the genital region. This is good enough for tasteful nudity.
I think the Genesis 2 Female loads with a skin that has no nipples on the texture, but has an preset someplace to add the nipples. As far as I remember for Genesis 1, the default skin did not include nipples on the texture. Almost all other skins will have nipples.
Genesis 1 and 2 have a female genital add on that adds more 3d shape to the genital region (ie a crease). It can make the genital region look more real in a nude render. The skin textures for this genital region add on are just the normal skin textures for the character. DAZ only sells these as part of the V5 or V6 Pro packages. Apparently the Genesis 1 genital prop is a pretty detailed model, but it includes no movement morphs, so you would never know. There are 3rd party movement morphs for it that you can buy. The Genesis 2 genital prop is not quite as detailed a model but there are 3rd party morphs for it. I have both of the genital props, but I have not bought any of the 3rd party morphs.
From your description above, I don't think you really need the female genital add ons.
By the way the male genital add ons are completely different than the female. The DAZ male genitals do include some morphs, although I think you can add 3rd party ones too. The big differences is the male genital prop has to have special textures, while the female just uses the regular skin texture. Not all male skin textures include a texture for the genital prop. You have to read the product description very carefully. If the description doesn't mention a genital texture, the product probably does not include one. Also, while you can use M4 textures on Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 male (with some additional products), any M4 genital textures you have will not work with the M5 or M6 genital prop. Same is probably true between M5 and M6. There are threads about ways to work around this (convert the textures, use M4 genital prop on Genesis or something).
And it sounds like I'd get V5 if I decided to go that way.
Yes, you're right, but I would like to have a little coloring and possibly the 'crease' in that area. And hair, do they have pubic hair? I've seen DAZ3D images that do.
Thanks for your help Mark, all of this must sound a little strange, but if it's not life like, it's not life like...
NicolaS
Yes, you're right, but I would like to have a little coloring and possibly the 'crease' in that area. And hair, do they have pubic hair? I've seen DAZ3D images that do.
Thanks for your help Mark, all of this must sound a little strange, but if it's not life like, it's not life like...
NicolaS
Some skin textures have pubic hair on the texture. It will look good from some angles, but it will not look 3D. Which skin textures have pubic hair is very hard to figure out, since DAZ does not show you or tell you.
You can buy 3rd party pubic hair props at some other site, but frankly, I have never seen one that I would describe as tasteful or be tempted to buy.
I have used Garibaldi Express to create custom pubic hair that I could style to my preferences, but that tool has a learning curve and it is probably too expensive for just pubic hair. By the way, pubic hair is much simpler to create and style than hair for the head.
As far as nipples go, they are often part of the morph set as far as shaping, size, and just simply sticking out.
If you wish to use V4 to her best for Female erotic renders, I strongly suggest the V4 Morphs++ set. That and a few nice texture sets, some hair and, well not much more but flimsy clothing should set you on the right track. I believe.
Ok, thanks Mark, Khory, and Jaderail, I think I'm going to get V4 plus a few additions.
Now all I have to do is learn it.
Thanks everyone...
NicolaS
Do not overlook the free area area (http://www.daz3d.com/forums/categories/41/). There are a lot of links to free stuff including people.