Where is the geometry for genesis figures?

Sertorial

You know how the old figures like Vicky and Mike have their OBJ file in runtime > geometries. Does anyone know where the OBJ file is for the Genesis and G2 figures?

I ask because I want to modify the OBJ of a Genesis 2 figure in zbrush, so I need to make the Genesis2.duf point to the modified OBJ file somehow. Although now I think of it, DUF files are binary, so how do I do that?

IceCrMn

DUF files are text files.You can open them in wordpad.If you have one that you can't open, then install 7zip so you can decompress it , then you should be able to open it in wordpad.

7zip is free and can handle just about any form of compression.

Sertorial

icecrmn said:

DUF files are text files.You can open them in wordpad.If you have one that you can't open, then install 7zip so you can decompress it , then you should be able to open it in wordpad.

7zip is free and can handle just about any form of compression.

You mean to say it's just a zipped file? I had no idea.

So once unzipped, can I edit it and then re-zip it and rename it back to DUF?

IceCrMn

I don't think it's a windows zip file because Studio does this when you save something.There is a check box to mark if you want to compress the files.I'm not certian what compression format is used, I just know that 7zip does work oon them.

Yes, you can edit the files.I would make a copy of the original and put it somewhere safe in the event the changes don't work as intended.

Sertorial

cool, thanks. I just uncompressed one with 7zip and it's just text, as you say. 

But I searched it for the string OBJ and found nothing... so where do they keep the geometry file for the figure?

mjc1016

Sertorial said:

You know how the old figures like Vicky and Mike have their OBJ file in runtime > geometries. Does anyone know where the OBJ file is for the Genesis and G2 figures?

I ask because I want to modify the OBJ of a Genesis 2 figure in zbrush, so I need to make the Genesis2.duf point to the modified OBJ file somehow. Although now I think of it, DUF files are binary, so how do I do that?

Unfortunately...that is NOT going to work, because Genesis2 does not have an obj geometry file! (Unless you make one for use in Poser with the DSON importer.)  The geometry is contained in a dsf file in the data folder.

larsmidnatt

the proper way to do it would be to export genesis as something like OBJ, modify that in zbrush and import the morph back into daz studio with Morph loader pro. Or i guess use GoZ?

I wouldn't modify the default figure data files. sounds like all sorts of trouble in the long haul.

jestmart

DSON format products don't have an object file, they have .dsf file in the "data" folder.  You will need to either export as an object or use the GoZ bridge.  What it is that you want to change?

Sertorial

mjc1016 said:

Sertorial said:

You know how the old figures like Vicky and Mike have their OBJ file in runtime > geometries. Does anyone know where the OBJ file is for the Genesis and G2 figures?

I ask because I want to modify the OBJ of a Genesis 2 figure in zbrush, so I need to make the Genesis2.duf point to the modified OBJ file somehow. Although now I think of it, DUF files are binary, so how do I do that?

Unfortunately...that is NOT going to work, because Genesis2 does not have an obj geometry file! (Unless you make one for use in Poser with the DSON importer.)  The geometry is contained in a dsf file in the data folder.

Really? And can you not load DSF files into zbrush to edit them?

Chohole

http://www.daz3d.com/dsf-toolbox    It's older,  but I am hoping it is still going to work, as I need OBJs for Bryce

IceCrMn

I don't have zBrush, but Studio comes with a free plugin that exports directly to zBrush.It's called GoZ , it should be on your Products download page, or in DIM (if you use DIM)

Sertorial

interesting... thanks. I shall explore GoZ

mjc1016

GoZ feeds the geometry data directly from Studio to Zbrush.

The other way is to export G2F from studio as an obj...then it will be anywhere you put it.  Then load that into Zbrush, do your changes and export it out of Zbrush as an obj to import back into Studio using MorphLoader, all while making sure no new vertices are added.  To start the process, the export needs to be at base resolution...no subdivision and the export from Zbrush can't have any subdivision, either.

Kharma

You may find some answers in this thread

http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/60721/modeling-for-daz#latest

Some very helpful people answered several questions I had :)

Sertorial

mjc1016 said:

GoZ feeds the geometry data directly from Studio to Zbrush.

The other way is to export G2F from studio as an obj...then it will be anywhere you put it.  Then load that into Zbrush, do your changes and export it out of Zbrush as an obj to import back into Studio using MorphLoader, all while making sure no new vertices are added.  To start the process, the export needs to be at base resolution...no subdivision and the export from Zbrush can't have any subdivision, either.

so when you put the zbrushed figure back into studio can the joints all still be moved? Also, what is the need for this morph loader thing? Surely you can just import a OBJ file direct into DAZ Studio anyway?

 

Kharma said:

You may find some answers in this thread

http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/60721/modeling-for-daz#latest

Some very helpful people answered several questions I had :)

Thanks. But that thread seems to be about something called Silo, not zbrush

fixmypcmike

Sertorial said:

so when you put the zbrushed figure back into studio can the joints all still be moved? Also, what is the need for this morph loader thing? Surely you can just import a OBJ file direct into DAZ Studio anyway?

You can import an OBJ, Morph Loader lets you use that OBJ as a morph target on the original figure.

larsmidnatt

Sertorial said:

Thanks. But that thread seems to be about something called Silo, not zbrush

The ideas are the same for all of them, assuming you aren't using the GoZ bridge. Morph Loader pro works the same regardless of the tool used to make the morph. 

Sertorial

Kharma said:

You can import an OBJ, Morph Loader lets you use that OBJ as a morph target on the original figure.

I don't get what you mean. I thought an OBJ file was the geometry for a figure? Isn't a morph a deformation of a figure?

mjc1016

Sertorial said:

Kharma said:

You can import an OBJ, Morph Loader lets you use that OBJ as a morph target on the original figure.

I don't get what you mean. I thought an OBJ file was the geometry for a figure? Isn't a morph a deformation of a figure?

Yes...but what morph loader does, and this is why it requires matching geometry, is manipulate the original geometry to match the changes made.  It sort of creates and applies a difference file.

Sertorial

sorry, but i am not really getting all this.

let's say I want to make a lump in genesis's belly. So I open genesis in zbrush (presumably by using GoZ), then when I have made the lump, I export as an OBJ back into DAZ Studio.

Where does a morph come in? If I there was already a morph dial for the lump, I wouldn't need zbrush!

larsmidnatt

mjc1016 said:

Sertorial said:

Kharma said:

You can import an OBJ, Morph Loader lets you use that OBJ as a morph target on the original figure.

I don't get what you mean. I thought an OBJ file was the geometry for a figure? Isn't a morph a deformation of a figure?

Yes...but what morph loader does, and this is why it requires matching geometry, is manipulate the original geometry to match the changes made.  It sort of creates and applies a difference file.

This. One way to look at it is the morph file is actually the full figure with differences.

Morph loader expects the same verts in the same order, but with positional differences. It figures out the deltas (or differences) and once loaded you dial between the original and the morph. 

Can't do that if you add verts. And if verts are in the wrong order, chaos happens.

mjc1016

larsmidnatt said:

This. One way to look at it is the morph file is actually the full figure with differences.

Morph loader expects the same verts in the same order, but with positional differences. It figures out the deltas (or differences) and once loaded you dial between the original and the morph. 

Can't do that if you add verts. And if verts are in the wrong order, chaos happens.

One of the advantages of GoZ is that it does the MorphLoader part automatically...because you don't export the changes as an obj...it sends the data BACK to Studio, too.  Yes, it still launches MorphLoader, but you don't need to initiate the process.

Sertorial

larsmidnatt said:

This. One way to look at it is the morph file is actually the full figure with differences.

Morph loader expects the same verts in the same order, but with positional differences. It figures out the deltas (or differences) and once loaded you dial between the original and the morph. 

Can't do that if you add verts. And if verts are in the wrong order, chaos happens.

This is the beginners forum remember. You need to use really simple words. No jargon!

but how do I make a morph? Can't I just sculpt the figure in zbrush and use that?

Sertorial

Damn this new forum!! What's with the dotted red lines and stuff. It's so complicated to just quote a post now! And you can't even multi quote.  

I can't figure it out at all

mjc1016

Sertorial said:

larsmidnatt said:

This. One way to look at it is the morph file is actually the full figure with differences.

Morph loader expects the same verts in the same order, but with positional differences. It figures out the deltas (or differences) and once loaded you dial between the original and the morph. 

Can't do that if you add verts. And if verts are in the wrong order, chaos happens.

This is the beginners forum remember. You need to use really simple words. No jargon!

but how do I make a morph? Can't I just sculpt the figure in zbrush and use that?

 

Sertorial said:

Damn this new forum!! What's with the dotted red lines and stuff. It's so complicated to just quote a post now! And you can't even multi quote.  

I can't figure it out at all

Just click the quote button in each post you want to quote.

fixmypcmike

Let's say you export the figure as on OBJ, modify it, and import the OBJ.  Now you have a statue in DS - a single shape, no riogging, no morphs, no connection to the original figure.  WHat morph loader does is compare that shape you imported to the original figure, calculate how all the vertices have moved, and save those differences as a morph dial for the original figure.  Morph loader is what converts that single shape you made into a morph of the original figure.

mjc1016

GoZ sends the geometry data TO Zbrush.  You then create your morph.  Using the bridge (GoZ) you RETURN the morph data to Studio.  It launches MorphLoader, generates/applies the differences and makes a slider for the morph....usually in Parameters > Morphs > Zbrush (or something like that).

No need to export anything.  The bridge (GoZ) handles all of that.

larsmidnatt

Sertorial said:

larsmidnatt said:

This. One way to look at it is the morph file is actually the full figure with differences.

Morph loader expects the same verts in the same order, but with positional differences. It figures out the deltas (or differences) and once loaded you dial between the original and the morph. 

Can't do that if you add verts. And if verts are in the wrong order, chaos happens.

This is the beginners forum remember. You need to use really simple words. No jargon!

but how do I make a morph? Can't I just sculpt the figure in zbrush and use that?

I think we are all using pretty basic terms you'll need to be familiar with to be comfortable this.

In geometry, a vertex (plural vertices) is a special kind of point that describes the corners or intersections of geometric shape. (point was you can not add or remove verts when making morphs. But you can move them around.)

Deltas are just the proper word for differences between those verts when you compare the original shape and the morphed one. You will likely see software (especially Daz) refer to Deltas when you work with morphs.

Also check Fixmypcmike and mjc1016 responses.

Kharma

Sertorial said:

mjc1016 said:

 

Kharma said:

You may find some answers in this thread

http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/60721/modeling-for-daz#latest

Some very helpful people answered several questions I had :)

Thanks. But that thread seems to be about something called Silo, not zbrush

Yes I wanted to use Silo as my modelling program and wanted to know how to export a bare bones genesis figure so I would have the obj file, which is what I thought you wanted to do also, but i guess if you are using Zbrush ( which I don't have) you can just use the goZ bridge, but if you want a basic genesis obj you could follow those steps and use in any modeller if you so choose I believe :)

Sertorial

Fixmypcmike said:

Let's say you export the figure as on OBJ, modify it, and import the OBJ.  Now you have a statue in DS - a single shape, no riogging, no morphs, no connection to the original figure.  WHat morph loader does is compare that shape you imported to the original figure, calculate how all the vertices have moved, and save those differences as a morph dial for the original figure.  Morph loader is what converts that single shape you made into a morph of the original figure.

mjc1016 said:

GoZ sends the geometry data TO Zbrush.  You then create your morph.  Using the bridge (GoZ) you RETURN the morph data to Studio.  It launches MorphLoader, generates/applies the differences and makes a slider for the morph....usually in Parameters > Morphs > Zbrush (or something like that).

No need to export anything.  The bridge (GoZ) handles all of that.

 

 

BRILLIANT! Finally I understand. Thanks.

And thank you all for bothering to reply. I am sorry about being grouchy. I was having a frustrating day. Please don't think I don't appreciate your help. I do.

mjc1016

Kharma said:

 but if you want a basic genesis obj you could follow those steps and use in any modeller if you so choose I believe :)

Yes, Kharma, that works for any modeller...but for Zbrush and Hexagon, things are much simpler, using their respective bridges.