Is it possible to save a "set-up" for later use?
HabitualGypsy
Posts: 87
I'm wondering if there's any way to take a specific "character" set-up and save it so that I can use it in other scenes. For example, say I had a set-up for V4 (including character morphs and textures) with a specific outfit (also including specific textures) that I wanted to use in various scenes. Is it possible to save that combo as a "preset" for later use?
I've tried several different options, including Saving a Scene Subset - not what I thought it was, but nothing seems to work. It seems to me that this would be immensely useful and yet I can't figure it out. I've tried looking in the documentation... but I've found it to be generally lacking. D|S is a very useful tool, but figuring out how to specifically do a lot of things doesn't seem to be as easy one might think it should be. But then, maybe that's just me...
Anyway, thanks in advance for any help!
-Damon
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Comments
What problem did you have saving as scene subset -- that would be the way to do it.
Save As Scene Subset saves it as a .duf file. But .duf files are not an option when Importing. I can Open the .duf file but that just opens a new scene. Maybe I'm missing something, but the Scene Subset feature doesn't seem especially useful. As far as I can tell, you're just saving part of your current scene as a new scene. Once you've saved it, what's the difference between a Scene and a Scene Subset?
And just to clarify why I would want it as an Import (as opposed to Open) option, I have several "characters" that I'd like to routinely mix and match in various scenes. Of course, I can save each one of them as a base Scene but then adding the others into the scene becomes a manual process again. Well, at least with my current D|S skills...
-Damon
I don't know if this will help but I save the character, morphs, clothes, etc. as usual then when I need them I merge them with what I am working on and immediately rename the new work so I don't lose my character set-up. Can't tell you how many times that's happened :P
As I create a lot of specific characters and looks I find Merging useful.
Thanks! Merge is definitely the answer. Ironically, I had just figured that out and was coming back to update the thread when I saw your post.
So, apparently, Scene Subset is TREMENDOUSLY useful - now that I've figured out how to use it properly. It's exactly what I hoped it would be.
Thanks to both of you, fixmypcmike and banditcameraman, for your help!
-Damon
You're very welcome,Damon. I'm Jaime :cheese:
Looking forward to seeing your renders when you want to share them :)
Save As Scene Subset saves it as a .duf file. But .duf files are not an option when Importing. I can Open the .duf file but that just opens a new scene. Maybe I'm missing something, but the Scene Subset feature doesn't seem especially useful. As far as I can tell, you're just saving part of your current scene as a new scene. Once you've saved it, what's the difference between a Scene and a Scene Subset?
And just to clarify why I would want it as an Import (as opposed to Open) option, I have several "characters" that I'd like to routinely mix and match in various scenes. Of course, I can save each one of them as a base Scene but then adding the others into the scene becomes a manual process again. Well, at least with my current D|S skills...
-Damon
Tip For Multiple Characters: When you go to SAVE as Scene already have the Scene Folder Open in the DS Content Browser so your other Saved files show, yes like you wish to load one. Now in the upper Folder View RIGHT Click and Create a SUB Folder, Name it What you like but mine is named My Characters. Open that folder and your Browser view (the Icons) Should be Clear. This is the time to get Tricky. Minimize Daz Studio. File browse to your Content Folder (My Library, My DAZ 3D Library or whatever your MAIN Content folder is named) and Open the Scene Folder in the Content folder. Now Add a new Folder named EXACTLY the same as the Sub folder you created in the Daz Content Browser. Maximize DS again and go back to the Default My Library folder in the Content Browser. Now go to the Scene Folder and OPEN the My Characters Folder, It should be Empty and List the Full path to to NEW Real folder when you Save As Scene.
You now Have a Full REAL folder that only holds your Characters ready to be Merged to Any Scene at any time. You can Add Sub folders like this as often as you like.
Tip 2. Always delete EVERYTHING in the Scene tab except the Character and the Items Fit to or Parented to it you wish to save. Delete all Lights (unless part of the clothing or another part) and even Delete the Default Camera or any Camera's if you have any in the Scene at the time you wish to save.
I use this method and it Works 100% for me.
What is the fiddling with the OS browser for? If you are in the Content Library, under DAZ Studio Formats, you can create a real folder there. Also there's no need to delete anything when saving as a scene subset, which you want to do as that won't close the old scene when you double-click it in the Content Library pane.
I'm Old School. I like doing things by hand just to be safe. Just my way of doing things. I did not say it was the only way to do it.
Thanks, Jaime! I've just started posting some of my stuff from my "special" project. You can see it here:
http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/19120/
Enjoy!
-Damon
That makes sense. But honestly, I'm just saving my Scene Subset files to the... default Scene Subset folder. I know - crazy, right? It's nice to have options on where to put things; but for me, if there's a place that exists already and it works? Well, that's good enough.
Anyway, thanks for clarifying! I appreciate the feedback!
-Damon
AGREED!!!!!!!! Tedious sometimes, but always worth it!
That makes sense. But honestly, I'm just saving my Scene Subset files to the... default Scene Subset folder. I know - crazy, right? It's nice to have options on where to put things; but for me, if there's a place that exists already and it works? Well, that's good enough.
Anyway, thanks for clarifying! I appreciate the feedback!
-Damon
I use Scene Subsets a LOT! And I'm always creating new folders to keep them in for various projects and manage everything from the content library tab. All my characters and all of my sets are saved as scene subsets. I'm kinda hoping the next version of DS has the file menu be: Save, Save As, and Save Scene Subset.
Anyway, check this out:
Go to your Content Library Tab, and click on My Library. Right click on it and select Browse to Folder Location. This will bring up Windows Explorer. IF you create a new folder, I created Projects under My Library and have project folders under that (which I create this way) go back to DS, and right click on that same folder and select "Refresh" and your new folder will show up...
Here's a tip: go to Edit > Preferences and on the tab that opens, enter "Authorship" information. In order to prevent accidentally overwriting product files, DS by default prevents you from overwriting a scene by a different author. If you leave the Author information blank, DS won't merge Scene Subsets when you double-click them.
oh wow! Do all files save with that info?
As far as I know, yes.
OK, maybe I'm missing something (quite likely) but why would you have to worry about overwriting product data when saving a Scene or Scene Subset?
Also, speaking of Scene Subsets, why wouldn't you (assuming you have your Scene Subset saved somewhere already) start with a blank scene then Merge your Subset into that? I thought that was the whole idea of the Subset.
Just curious...
-Damon
If you loaded, for example, a Stonemason scene, added people to it and so forth, and forgot to change the name, this would prevent you from overwriting it.
You might have scene subsets for each of your characters, and merge them into a scene when you need them. You might start with a blank scene, or you might already have something in it.
Ah, OK.. That makes more sense. I thought you guys were saying the geometry could be overwritten somehow and I couldn't for the life of me imagine how that could be possible. Yeah, I've mistakenly overwritten 'preset' Scenes before and had to restore from an installer or .zip file.
It seems to me, though, that preset scenes included in a product should be set to 'read-only' by the content creator. That would solve the problem of overwriting in that case. That also takes the burden off the consumer to take an extra step to protect their content.
Ultimately, it comes down to disciplined habits and procedures. For instance, you benefit tremendously if you just make it part of your process to save-as and re-name any 'preset' file as soon as you open it. Of course, no one's perfect - I've screwed it up myself as noted above - but developing good habits when working with files also keeps your mind focused which in turn is good for creativity.
-Damon