Are gender-specific assets required?

gepetersiii

In the Daz Store most items (i.e. poses, expressions, etc.) have a gender attached to them. Do I need to get, for example, female expressions and male expressions? Or can I get one and use them without problems with either gender?

Thank you!

Hylas

Expressions are gender specific. As are shapes and geografts ("extra bodyparts", eg wings, horns, tails...)

Poses can be used on either gender.

Hair and clothes can be used on the other gender with autofit, which can be hit or miss.

Eye materials can be used on either gender. Skin materials can only be used on the other gender if you have the UV-Swap product.

I think that's the long and short of it...

gepetersiii

Thank you, Hylas! I appreciate your thorough response.

When it comes to expressions, do you prefer a particular tool or artist? How do you handle emotional expression?

I ask this because I want to focus my effort and choose a good overall tool versus buying individual or sets of expressions (like the Moody Collection for Genesis 8 and 8.1 Females) when an expression tool (like Emotion Wheel Expressions for Genesis 8 Female)? Both seem to generate quality expressions. With the former, I would have to purchase far more items with the added ease of one-click expressions. Just looking for a way to lessen the learning curve when it comes to purchasing items.

Thank you!

Hylas

There's less of a difference between Moody Collection and Emotion Wheel Expressions than you think (as far as I can tell; I don't have either product). Both are just collections of expressions. The latter has a kind of high-concept presentation but at the end of the day, it's still just a collection of expressions.

So just look at the promo pictures, pick the product(s) that you like best... and cross your heart and hope for the best! Because every character takes expressions differently and what works for one character will look ridiculous on another. Not much one can do about that, either.

 

The two most important aspects re expressions, in my opinion:

- Make sure to only ever buy expression packs that come with dials and aren't just one-click. Often expressions look ghoulish at 100% but look good at 70%, 50%, 20%, etc.
Dials also allow you to mix various expressions.

- Expressions for 8.1 do not work on 8.0 and vice versa.
However you can very easily enable 8.0 expressions for your 8.1 character. That's what I did, I think it gives you the best of both worlds.

 

The expressions packs I personally use the most, but this is very subjective:

https://www.daz3d.com/soft-expressions-collection-2-for-genesis-8-females

https://www.daz3d.com/my-rules--expressions-for-genesis-8-male-and-christian-8

https://www.daz3d.com/z-runway-model-dialable-and-one-click-expressions-for-genesis-3-8

 

ETA: This is free today if you're member of the discord channel: https://www.daz3d.com/anfisa-expressions-for-genesis-8-female
The promos look a little unhinged to me, but 1) free, and 2) that's what I mean, there's a decent chance that those expressions look pretty good if dialled in at 50% or so.

gepetersiii

Once again, I thank you tremendously for the advice! Notes taken!