Daz Studio Pro 4.15 - Highlights

rbtwhiz · January 2021

Each new build of Daz Studio comes with its own set of bug fixes, new features, adjustments to existing features, etc. Since near the beginning of Daz Studio 4.x development (4.0.4.19 - according to the posted logs), a list of changes have been made available via the Change Log on the Documentation Center. In addition to the Change Log, we have also typically provided a forum thread wherein the first post highlights some of the changes in a given release (typically things that have the greatest potential to impact large cross-sections of the userbase). Periodically, as new builds have been made available and/or as time has allowed, the first post of the latest thread would be updated to provide more/new information on a given build. Unfortunately, these updates seemed to go unnoticed by many who didn't revisit the first post of the thread. This same information would also then be reposted when a Public Build was eventually promoted to General Release.

To address some of these issues and bring more visibility to the highlights for a given build, we now split these highlights off into their own thread. A separate discussion thread will remain available (linked below), but the highlights thread itself will be closed for comment so as to avoid the information being buried by the discussion and to provide notification through regular features of the forum software.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Public Build (Beta) Threads:

4.15.0.30 (September 2, 2021)
- 4.15.0.29 (August 31, 2021)
- 4.15.0.28 (August 27, 2021)
- 4.15.0.26 (August 19, 2021)
- 4.15.0.25 (August 17, 2021)
- 4.15.0.14 (March 18, 2021)
- 4.15.0.13 (February 24, 2021)
- 4.15.0.12 (February 19, 2021)
- 4.15.0.9 (February 11, 2021)
- 4.15.0.2 (January 7, 2021)
- 4.14.1.38 (December 23, 2020)
- 4.14.1.28 (December 15, 2020)
- 4.14.1.22 (December 4, 2020)
- 4.14.0.10 (November 24, 2020)
- 4.14.0.8 (November 10, 2020)

General Release Thread:

4.15.0.30 (September 2, 2021)
- 4.15.0.2 (January 7, 2021)

Previous Thread:

Daz Studio Pro 4.14 - Highlights

rbtwhiz · January 2021

4.15.0.2 (January 7, 2021)

NVIDIA Iray
- Integrated Iray 2020.1.3 (334300.6349); see this thread for more detail
  - REQUIRES: NVIDIA Driver 451.48 (or newer) on Windows; see NVIDIA Driver Downloads
    - NVIDIA recommends installing Studio Drivers
- Added support for tinting environment light
  - Control color via Environment > Dome > Environment Tint
- Added support for controlling ground reflectivity/glossiness
  - Control color via Environment > Ground > Ground Reflectivity
  - Control glossiness via Environment > Ground > Ground Glossiness
- Added support for controlling whether or not the environment ground can be seen through
  - Control via Environment > Ground > Ground Visible from Below
- Added support for visualizing an Iray Section Plane node in the viewport
  - Control color via Display > Scene View > Plane > Plane Color
  - Control opacity via Display > Scene View > Plane > Plane Opacity
  - Does not influence Render Settings (NVIDIA Iray) > Section Objects > Section Caps Color, only what is drawn in the viewport
- ...
Real-Time Rendering
- Filament (PBR) DrawStyle
  - Shader/Material Support
    - Automatic translation of specifically named properties in the PBRSkin (MDL) shader:
      - Translated property names:
        
        Metallicity Enable, diffuse_enable, Diffuse Enable, Dual Lobe Specular Enable, Dual Lobe Specular Roughness Mult, Specular Lobe 2 Roughness Mult, bump_enable, Bump Enable, Makeup Enable, Makeup Weight, Makeup Base Color, Makeup Roughness Mult, Detail Enable, Detail Weight, Top Coat Enable, Top Coat Bump Weight
Shader Mixer
- Texture Instance brick
  - Added a "Image Polarity (MDL)" setting
  - Added a "Is Polarity Flipped (MDL)" output parameter
  - Added a "Has Mapped Value" output parameter
- Comparison Operator bricks
  - Fixed RSL version of comparison operator bricks (<, <=, >, >=, ==, etc)
  - Bricks (Default) > Functions > Mathematical > Operators
- Dynamically Hidden Parameters brick
  - Bricks (Default) > Functions > Utility
- Is User Parameter Mapped brick
  - Bricks (Default) > Functions > Utility
- Drag and drop events between brick inputs/outputs in order to establish connections are now validated by both sides of the connection
- Added tooltips to brick input connectors
  - Provides the brick title and output parameter label for a connected input parameter
Preparations toward migration to a considerably newer version of the application framework (i.e., Qt)
- Changes made should have no discernible impact on use of the application
Scripting API
- Made additions in various areas; see the Change Log for more detail
Fixed bugs and/or made improvements in various areas; see the Change Log for details

rbtwhiz · February 2021

4.15.0.9 (February 11, 2021)

NVIDIA Iray
- Integrated Iray 2020.1.4 (334300.6885); see this thread for more detail
  - REQUIRES: NVIDIA Driver 451.48 (or newer) on Windows; see NVIDIA Driver Downloads
    - NVIDIA recommends installing Studio Drivers
- ...
Universal (Rotate, Translate, Scale) Tool
- Fixed an issue where the configuration of a figure that resulted in no possible IK solution (due to disabled transform properties) would crash if IK was enabled and a user dragged a node in the viewport - e.g., Genesis 8.1 (Female/Male) Face Controls
- Improved IK compute performance
Pose Tool
- Now considers the locked state of properties when determining whether or not a transform property is inactive
  - Only hidden properties were considered previously
- No longer attempts to set the value of inactive rotation properties
- Updated drawing of manipulators to reflect rotation property active state
Face Transfer
- Added support for selected Genesis 8.1 (Female/Male) figures in the scene
  - Makes use of the Base (8.0) UV Set
  - Makes use of the "Genesis 8 Legacy" Surface Selection Set
  - Requires recent Genesis 8 (Female/Male) Starter Essentials update
Morph Loader Pro
- Fixed or improved feedback/logging when saving/applying configuration files
- Preset selector
  - Added a "Manage Presets..." option
    - Launches an OS file browser to the path that preset files are stored and applied from
  - Added a "Refresh" option
    - Causes the contents of the Preset selector to be rebuilt and reflect the current contents of the path that preset files are stored and applied from
- Source List context menu
  - The "Save a Preset" dialog now validates the (file)name being entered
  - The "Save a Preset" dialog now provides options for existing preset names (e.g., to aide in updating, or derivative names)
  - Added an "Apply Preset" submenu to the morph item context menu
    - Allows a preset to be applied individually to a listed morph after being added to the list - rather than only when a loading preset is selected from the Preset selector above the Source List
- Now provides feedback when accepting the dialog and no morphs to load have been added
- Fixed sizing issues with simple dialogs
- ...
Hexagon Bridge
- Advanced View
  - Fixed or improved feedback/logging when saving/applying configuration files
  - Added a Preset selector
    - Enabled when the chosen operation includes morph creation, disabled otherwise
    - "None" is displayed when no preset is available
    - "Choose..." is displayed when one or more preset is available
    - Selecting a preset applies it immediately
      - This behavior differs from the similarly placed feature in Morph Loader Pro
    - Provides a "Manage Presets..." option
      - Launches an OS file browser to the (common) path that preset files are stored and applied from
    - Provides a "Refresh" option
      - Causes the contents of the Preset selector to be rebuilt and reflect the current contents of the (common) path that preset files are stored and applied from
  - Source List context menu
    - The "Save a Preset" dialog now validates the (file)name being entered
    - The "Save a Preset" dialog now provides options for existing preset names (e.g., to aide in updating, or derivative names)
  - ...
- Fixed inconsistencies between Basic and Advanced views
- The surfaces of new objects now use the default material type for the active renderer - e.g., Iray Uber material is applied if the active renderer is NVIDIA Iray
GoZ
- Update dialog
  - Advanced View
    - Fixed or improved feedback/logging when saving/applying configuration files
    - Added a Preset selector
      - Enabled when the chosen operation includes morph creation, disabled otherwise
      - "None" is displayed when no preset is available
      - "Choose..." is displayed when one or more preset is available
      - Selecting a preset applies it immediately
        
        This behavior differs from the similarly placed feature in Morph Loader Pro
      - Provides a "Manage Presets..." option
        
        Launches an OS file browser to the (common) path that preset files are stored and applied from
      - Provides a "Refresh" option
        
        Causes the contents of the Preset selector to be rebuilt and reflect the current contents of the (common) path that preset files are stored and applied from
    - Source List context menu
      - The "Save a Preset" dialog now validates the (file)name being entered
      - The "Save a Preset" dialog now provides options for existing preset names (e.g., to aide in updating, or derivative names)
  - Fixed syncing issues between the Basic/Advanced views
  - Now validates required fields
    - Disallows empty Morph Name when creating a morph
    - Disallows empty UV Set name when creating a new UV Set
- Fixed issues with unsupported characters in root node labels (e.g., space, hyphen, period)
  - Characters that are not supported by the GoZ SDK are now encoded in file/subtool names
  - This affected compatibility with Genesis 8.1 (Female/Male) figures
- Fixed an issue that caused a subtool other than the base figure to be selected initially within ZBrush
- Added a (Edit > Preferences... > Bridges : GoZ : Update Path) for controlling whether or not the application path is updated when sending to ZBrush
  - Default "No" (off) - preserves previous behavior
  - When "Yes" (on), each execution of the "Send to ZBrush" action causes the application path known to ZBrush to be updated to that which initiated the operation - so that when the object is sent back, it is sent to the (running) application that initiated the operation instead of potentially launching another application at a different path
    - Note: does not currently account for multiple running application instances
- Fixed sizing issues with simple dialogs
- Fixed object/shape/geometry/material naming when importing as a new object
- The surfaces of new objects now use the default material type for the active renderer - e.g., Iray Uber material is applied if the active renderer is NVIDIA Iray
Preparations toward migration to a considerably newer version of the application framework (i.e., Qt)
- Changes made should have no discernible impact on use of the application
Scripting API
- Made additions in various areas; see the Change Log for more detail
Fixed bugs and/or made improvements in various areas; see the Change Log for details

Failed apply/save actions now provide feedback

rbtwhiz · February 2021

4.15.0.12 (February 19, 2021)

NVIDIA Iray
- Explicitly enabled a (non-user-facing) option that causes (the renderer's perception of) the scene to be automatically shifted in space to account for camera position in order to improve the precision/accuracy of rendering computations and reduce precision artifacts when the Render Settings > Optimization > Instancing Optimization property is set to Auto ("auto") or Memory ("on")
  - The option is not applicable when the property is set to Speed ("off")
  - The option is enabled by default, but is also now discretely set
  - Setting the option (to the same value as the default) does not make an improvement to precision errors between close surfaces (e.g., eyes, geometry shells, etc) on objects positioned far from the world origin
- A scene shift update is now forced for each frame of a render
  - Discretely marks the scene shift as needing an update
    - Unnecessary step because of when/how each frame is created
  - This change does not make an improvement to precision errors between close surfaces (e.g., eyes, geometry shells, etc) on objects positioned far from the world origin
- A scene shift update is now forced if the camera is changed (moved, switched, dimensions, etc) for the DrawStyle
  - This change does not make a discernable improvement to precision errors between close surfaces (e.g., eyes, geometry shells, etc) on objects positioned far from the world origin (causes a fatal error - refer to next post)
Morph Loader Pro
- Extended/Fixed scripting API support for loading morphs from another mesh
- Fixed memory leaks
FBX Exporter
- Fixed API support for text actions in morph rule settings
  - "Bake" is equivalent to 0
  - "Export" is equivalent to 1
  - "Ignore" is equivalent to 2
Preparations toward migration to a considerably newer version of the application framework (i.e., Qt)
- Changes made should have no discernible impact on use of the application
Scripting API
- Made additions or fixed issues in various areas; see the Change Log for more detail
Fixed bugs and/or made improvements in various areas; see the Change Log for details

rbtwhiz · February 2021

4.15.0.13 (February 24, 2021)

NVIDIA Iray
- Fixed an Iray DrawStyle crash when attempting to manipulate the camera
Application Update Notifications
- Fixed support for the General : Daz Studio Updates : Check preference (Edit > Preferences... or F2) "Daily", "Weekly", and "Monthly" options
  - The "Check for Updates Now..." and "Never" options were the only ones that functioned correctly
  - The "Daily", "Weekly", and "Monthly" options were relying solely on an undeployed update system
  - If the "Daily", "Weekly", or "Monthly" option is chosen, the same version check performed by the "Check for Updates Now..." option is performed automatically during application startup in accordance with the chosen option
Preparations toward migration to a considerably newer version of the application framework (i.e., Qt)
- Changes made should have no discernible impact on use of the application
Fixed bugs and/or made improvements in various areas; see the Change Log for details

rbtwhiz · March 2021

4.15.0.14 (March 18, 2021)

NVIDIA Iray
- Integrated Iray 2020.1.5 (334300.8936); see this thread for more detail
  - REQUIRES: NVIDIA Driver 451.48 (or newer) on Windows; see NVIDIA Driver Downloads
    - NVIDIA recommends installing Studio Drivers
Preparations toward migration to a considerably newer version of the application framework (i.e., Qt)
- Changes made should have no discernible impact on use of the application
Fixed bugs and/or made improvements in various areas; see the Change Log for details

rbtwhiz · August 2021

4.15.0.25 (August 17, 2021)

macOS
- Extended detection of newer operating systems; macOS 11 (Big Sur), macOS 12 (Monterey)
- Now runs on macOS 11 (Big Sur) - see Known Issues
- Now runs on Apple sillicon (M1) - See Known Issues
Windows
- Extended detection of newer operating systems; Windows 11
- Updated SSL support
  - Addresses issues with compatibility on newer hardware and newer operating system versions
NVIDIA Iray
- Integrated Iray 2020.1.6 (334300.9558); see this thread for more detail
  - REQUIRES: NVIDIA Driver 451.48 (or newer) on Windows; see NVIDIA Driver Downloads
    - NVIDIA recommends installing Studio Drivers
Content Library pane
- The "Create Custom Action..." action has been extended
  - Accessible via context menu (right click) of assets, and now containers (i.e., virtual folders, folders, products, categories, search)
  - A new "Text" field in the dialog allows viewing/editing of the label assigned to the custom action, pre-creation
  - Custom actions can now be easily created for navigating to containers (of all types)
    - Virtual Folders (content installed via Daz Connect - requires metadata)
      - Daz Studio Formats
      - Poser Formats
    - Folders (content installed via Install Manager, DazCentral, or manually)
      - Daz Studio Formats
      - Poser Formats
      - Other Import Formats
    - Products (requires metadata)
    - Categories (requires metadata)
    - Search
      - File
      - Database (requires metadata)
- The "Create Sub-Category..." (for Categories) and "Create Sub-Folder..." (for Folders) dialogs now support slash ("/") delimited paths for faster/easier creation of hierarchical structures
  - Accessible via context menu (right click) of category/folder containers
- ...
Metadata Creation/Inspection
- Refactored asset drag-n-drop between the Content Library pane and the Smart Content pane (and Presets pages of specialized property based panes - e.g., Posing, Shaping, Render Settings, Simulation Settings, etc)
  - Allows Content Type, Category, and Compatibilities to be established per asset
  - Provides context menu options for copying checked state and value of Content Type, Category, and Compatibilities
  - Considers asset type for suggesting (base) Content Type
  - Considers scene node selection for populating Compatibility options
- Added a "Selected nodes only" option to the "Set Default Compatibility Base(s)..." action dialog
  - Invoked from the Scene pane Option Menu > Edit > Set Default Compatibility Base(s)... action
  - Enabled only if nodes are selected in the scene
  - When enabled/active, limits the scope of the operation to selected nodes in the scene
- Categorize dialog
  - ...
- Create Category Path dialog
  - ...
- Scene Identification dialog
  - Extracted an "Auto-Fit Base" option from the "Compatibility Base" option
    - "Compatibility Base" is used to view/establish the relationship between an object in the scene and assets in context aware views - managed via metadata
    - "Auto-Fit Base" is used to control the behavior of Auto-Fit - embedded in the asset
    - Selecting a "Compatibility Base" when "Auto-Fit Base" is not set (i.e., "<None>") will cause "Auto-Fit Base" to be set in kind
- Content DB Editor
  - "Compatibility Base" declaration and "Compatibility" management have been split into discrete sub-pages of the "Assets" page
  - ...
Scene pane
- Refactored the "Change Parent(s)..." action
  - No longer displays a skeleton's bones when that skeleton is a node that is to have its parent changed
  - Now supports simultaneously affecting multiple nodes
...
Preparations toward migration to a considerably newer version of the application framework (i.e., Qt)
- Changes made for this purpose should have no discernible impact on use of the application
Scripting API
- Made additions or fixed issues in various areas; see the Change Log for more detail
Fixed bugs and/or made improvements in various areas; see the Change Log for details

Known Issues:

Windows
- Executables are unsigned
  - UAC prompt is yellow with unknown publisher instead of blue with publisher name
macOS
- Big Sur
  - Styling issues on (horizontal) tabbars, (horizontal) tabs, buttons, frames
  - Interactive Lessons draw opaque over the UI, obstructing it
  - ...
- Apple Silicon (M1)
  - Fixed in 4.15.0.26: Assets that make use of RSL-based shaders, applied via script through the use of DzRSLShader (i.e., DzShaderMaterial, DzShaderLight, DzShaderCamera), cause a crash when the asset is loaded
    - e.g., from the Default Resources product::
      - dzGlossyPlastic (DAZ Studio Glossy Plastic)
      - dzGlossyMetal (DAZ Studio Glossy Metal)
      - dzMatte (DAZ Studio Matte)
      - dzMetal (DAZ Studio Metal)
      - dzPlastic (DAZ Studio Plastic)
      - dzSkin (DAZ Studio Skin)
      - dzToonGlossyPlastic (DAZ Studio Toon Glossy Plastic)
      - dzToonGlossyMetal (DAZ Studio Toon Glossy Metal)
      - dzToonMatte (DAZ Studio Toon Matte)
      - dzToonMetal (DAZ Studio Toon Metal)
      - dzToonPlastic (DAZ Studio Toon Plastic)
      - dzToonSkin (DAZ Studio Toon Skin)
      - SimpleSurface (omSimpleSurface)
      - UberSurface (omUberSurface)
      - HumanSurface (omHumanSurface)
      - UberEnvironment (omUberEnvironment)
      - UberVolume (omUberVolume)
      - dzDistantLight
      - dzSpotLight
      - dzPointLight
      - UberAreaLight
    - Shader Presets produced using Shader Builder
    - ...
  - ...

rbtwhiz · August 2021

4.15.0.28 (August 27, 2021)

Asset Loading
- Added logging to assit in isolating bottlenecks/impediments in the asset loading process
Morph Projection
- Refactored projection mapping to address issues with initialization, timing, and the potential for threading deadlocks
- Added logging to assit in isolating bottlenecks/impediments in the morph projection process
Fixed bugs and/or made improvements in various areas; see the Change Log for details

Notifications