So it was the mouse, not Blender, that has problem

It started when I tried to use scroll wheel button to scroll and pan the 3D view on Blender, and found that it didn't work.  At first I found it was the Blender software that had problem.  And then I thought maybe it's the system mouse setting.  

Finally I found out that it's the mouse itself that had problem.  After some serious slamming, it seemed to work ok now, but it may die again.  Luckily there's replacement 3rd button simulation in Blender, or maybe I should just buy another mouse.

How to create a color poster using Adobe Illustrator CS5

- Create a new document with the dimension of your final poster, but take overlap area as consideration.  for instance, if you want to print out on 2 Ledger Paper (17 inch x 11 inch), and you want .75 inch overlap, then your dimension should be:
Width: 22 inch - 1.5 inch = 20.5 inch
Height 17 inch - 1.5 inch = 15.5 inch
- Put your image on the art-board, enlarge it to fill up all the space
- Select [File][Print...] to bring up print dialogue.
- In Media, select your paper size. I chose Ledger.
- In Options:
- Choose tile
- In Overlap, enter 0.75 inch.
- Look at the preview to make sure everything look good.
- Click Print to print the page out.
- Use Scotch tape to put together together.

Fitting older clothing with Genesis models

I was pretty excited when I realized that Genesis models (like Aiko 5) can take clothing from older Daz Studio model format and still fits reasonably well.  Nothing is perfect though:

• It only works for Victoria/Akio 4 and later, meaning my clothing for Aiko and Victoria 3 won't work.
• Something specifying clothing type works, sometimes it doesn't.  Like when I tried to fit Maiden 4 Glove to Akio 5, the glove had some spikes generated.  If I don't specified the clothing as glove, the spikes disappeared.

Make sure I use customize Installation when installing Genesis content

I realized that I have my own directory to story all my Daz content, so when I install Genesis content, instead using the "Use Default Settings", I need to use "customize Installation", and then I need to choose "Choose from a pre-defined list of mapped DAZ Studio Directories".  From there I can choose my "C:/Users/Public/Documents/.." directory, and keep everything in a centralized place.

Continue journey with Daz Studio 4.6

After making sure that Daz Studio 4.6 being installed and working properly on the new machine that I received 2 weeks ago, I kind of ignored Daz Studio until today.  And then I realized that there's no new Genesis model that I could play with.

Turns out I have to install the Install Manager in order to download Genesis Starter and Genesis 2 Female Starter Essentials.

I was also surprised that there's already Aiko 5, Victoria 5 and Victoria 6 exist.  Man so much stuff to catch up.

New machine, new set up battle

I haven't been using DazStudio for a while since my desktop (MacMini late 2009) is simply underpower for such activity.  But then recently I finally made up my mind to buy more powerful machine to do 3D animation.  So I spent US$820 getting a Dell XPS 8500 with Core i7 4th gen with NVidia GeForce GTX 645.  I only have it setup for less than a day, but so far I am cool with the performance.

So now it come to the time to set up Daz Studio again.  The version I am using now is Daz Studio 4.6.0.18 Pro Edition 64 bit.  I was trying to follow my "Finally have DazStudio 4.5 properly running on my MacMini" blog post, and found that the one of the SyncToy directory changed.  So here's my new setting:

(new setting)
- Set up SyncToy sync folder to sync between "\\192.168.2.10\z\_ Frequently Install Software\Ultimate Poser Vault\content" and "C:\Users\Public\Documents\My DAZ 3D Library"  (for syncing my 19Gb+ Daz content)
(old setting, still works)
-  Set up SyncToy sync folder to sync between "C:\Users\d****\Documents\DAZ 3D\Studio" and "\\192.168.2.10\z\_ To Save\My Daz Studio Setting"

OMG, found out what ruin Daz Studio ... it's Office 2013

While I continue to set up my Windows 8 Pro environment on my MacMini, I had DazStudio 4.5 (in fact, all DazStudio version including the older 3.x) problem, which the file dialog lost the folder navigation and network access capability.   I "resolved" the problem by re-install the whole operating system.  

And then a while ago, I found that the problem CAME BACK AGAIN.  But then something suddenly clicked in my head: maybe some application caused this problem.  And I suddenly thought, hell, it could be Office 2013, because my M6600 with Windows 8 has almost the same stuff as my MacMini Windows 8 EXCEPT the Office 2013.  So I uninstalled Office 2013, and SURE ENOUGH the problem was GONE!

The odd thing is that I COULD NOT find any report on Internet that says the same Daz Studio conflict with Office 2013.  I guess I am one of those rare person who happens to use both of them on the same machine.

Daz Studio and Windows 8 ... fustration continues

Since I really want to make sure that whatever scene I made on one machine, the changes really got saved and really can be replicated on another machine, I continued my journey on trying to install and run Daz Studio on machine other than my Dell laptop M6600.  The result wasn't as smooth as I would hope it to be.

First I continue having problem running Daz Studio on my MacMini, even for Daz Studio 3.  I even successfully got Daz Studio 3 Pro installation going on by first mark the installation file as in Windows 7 compatibility and then run it in administrator mode.  Yet when I opened the application and tries the save something, I got the same problem: folder list didn't show up on "Save File" dialog.  I pretty much concluded that I have no choice by reinstall the whole operating system.  And this time, of course, I will try to do a TrueImage before I move on to something bold.

And then I tried installing and running Daz Studio 4.5 on my closet Dell home server machine.  Installation was ok, but when I tried to run the application I got prompt saying that the app requires OpenGL 1.3 support and my ATI Radeon 4000 only gets OpenGL 1.1 driver.  I tried installing the latest driver but it was no use.  Sigh, one down.

So, yes, I am about to reinstall Windows 8 again, and I can see that my last day of Christmas holiday (tomorrow) will be totally spent on this fun fun activity.

Daz Studio again, and this time with Windows 8

I haven't been using Daz Studio for a long while, and after I reinstalled Windows 8 on my Mac Mini, I was thinking of using it again, but only to find out that almost all my older version of Daz Studio installation was failed to start.  The latest ones will probably work, but I also want to make sure that I have a working older version to roll back to in case the latest one creates more problem than it tried to solve.

So I finally found that DAZ.Studio.PRO.4.0.2.35.x64 works.  Thus I did the installation with the following setting:

Destination Folder: C:\Program Files\DAZ 3D\DAZStudio4
Content Directory: C:\Users\dkwan\Documents\DAZ 3D\Studio\My Library

And for content management service, I once again use the default:
Install Location: C:\Program Files\DAZ 3D\Content Management Service
Database Location: C:\ProgramData\DAZ 3D\Content Management Service\databases

Then I set up my SyncToy to Sync between "C:\Users\dkwan\Documents\DAZ 3D\Studio\My Library" and "\\Deecaypc\z\_ Frequently Install Software\Ultimate Poser Vault\content".

All seemed working fine .... except that when I tried to save file, the File Dialog just totally screwed up, rendered the application unusable.

So I have no choice but fire up the DAZStudio_4.5.1.6_Win64.exe and installed DazStudio 4.5 on my Windows 8 Pro environment (on my Mac Mini, late 2009 edition).

And that DID NOT help.  And I was puzzled about whether it's the installation application's problem.  So I tried installing the same Daz Studio 4.5 on Dell Precision M6600.  Guess what, it has ZERO problem.

Since I tried unintalled a few times on MacMini and I still go the same messed up File Dialogue, I gave up.  After all, the performance of using Daz Studio on that MacMini late 2009 is horrible anyway.  May as well just use the Dell M6600 for a while.

To make sure all my setting are preserved after I returned the M6600, I add a SyncToy schronization pair with "\\192.168.2.10\z\_ Frequently Install Software\Ultimate Poser Vault\content" and "C:\ProgramData\DAZ 3D\My DAZ Library".  Let me see how things work out later.

Not a good idea to install both Daz Studio 3 and Daz Studio 4 on the same machine (or use more than 1 enviornment)

Now that I know the "Data" folder is "Content" is important, I start setting up SyncToy infrastructure to back it up, and that's when I realize one thing: having more than one DazStudio working enviornment in my network is probably a bad idea, because data in "Data" folder will step over each other.  I realized that by opening the same file one time in Daz Studio 3 and one time in Daz Studio 4 on the same M6600, and then tried to sync "Data" folder to the centralized server "Ultimate Content Folder".  Until I sort of the conflict, I think I'll just stick with one enviornment.  For now, it's Daz Studio 4 Pro on Dell Precision M6600 laptop.

Daz Studio 4 Pro ...

I enjoy using Daz Studio, but seems like everytime when I need to, I spent more time on setting things up or figure out why previously saved Daz Studio scene wasn't showing up properly.

The pain mostly came from several things:

• I don't use the application frequently. So I rely on the blogs I wrote to remind myself how to set things work.
• I used differnt content reference among my Daz Studio environment and thus I almost never open a Daz Studio file without some error on the screen.
• There are various version of Daz Studio, from 3, 3 Pro to 4 and now 4 Pro, and older application can't open newer files.

Recently I started to establish this following pattern so that I will have less pain on forward.

• Always install Daz Studio 3 Pro, and try to work the simply scene using it.  That way, since this app is old, I kind of know for sure that more latest version of Daz Studio call always read the file.
• set up the content folder in a consistent way.  I have a standard "Ultimate Poser Vault" folder on my server, and everytime I set up a new Daz Studio environment, I will always copy that whole 19Gb of content form \\My Server\Ultimate Poser Vault\content to my local enviornment.  For Daz Studio 3, it will be "C:\Users\{my account}\Documents\DAZ 3D\Studio3\content".  For Daz Studio 4 Pro, it will be "C:\Users\{my account}\Documents\DAZ 3D\Studio\My Library".  That way I know that loading my files will work WITHOUT making any specific setting at all.

Still there are stuff that can't be opened.  And then I found out of one importnat thing:  I need to make sure that the fiiles in "C:\Users\{user name}\Documents\DAZ 3D\Studio\My Library\data"  got copy over.  In fact each version will create a newer folder.  For instance, in this Daz Studio 4.0.2, a folder "C:\Users\{user name}\Documents\DAZ 3D\Studio\My Library\data\4_0_2" is created, and in order to open the saved file, this folder has to be exist.  So, sigh, that means all my old stuff won't open properly without backing up this folder.

To provent this nightmare from happening, I am need to set up a SyncToy to make sure that everytime I save something from the Daz Studio 3 Pro and Daz Studio 4 Pro, I also use SyncToy to sync these content to the server, and I also need to remind myself to BACKUP the content on the "Ultimate Poser Content" folder on the server.  Damn you Daz Studio.

Daz Studio 4 Pro introduce a new challneg because it seems to move things around.  Like, I can't find any of my items under "Actors, Wardrobe & Props".  Turns out that area is for new contents.  For my old stuff, I should look at the right side of the screen, select Content Library, choose "Search" and the bottom, enter item that I want to serach, click the manify glass.  Boom, ny content shows up.
  Not the end of the world.  And good enough for my way of simple us of the application.

Choosing between Manga Studio 4 EX and Sketchbook Pro 2010

It's my dilemma of running Manga Studio 4 EX and Sketchbook Pro 2010 on my Windows 8 RC installed devices:  I have to choose one app or the other.  The situation happened because Sketchbook Pro 2010 runs properly on the default tablet driver, but Manga Studio 4 EX requires me to install the WAcom driver.  Once I installed the Wacom driver, Manga Studio 4 EX will work great, but Sketchbook Pro 2010 will fail to have any pressure sensitivity.  So that means I have to choose, either use the native tablet driver, or the Wacom driver.

Damn you ... whoever caused the problem.

Manga Studio 4 on Lenovo X60T

I started using my X60T as creative device, and found that by default, Manga Studio EX4 does not recognitize the Tablet PC digitizer.  So I went to Wacom web site, download the driver (ISD_DualTouch_701-8.exe).  Once I was done, I tried Manga Studio EX4, found that same problem still existed.  But after I brought up the "ISD Tablet Properties", the problem went away, and continue to work properly with touch sensitivity even after I closed the property window.  I have to do the same trick everytime I start Manga Studio EX4 from scrtach, but I am good as long as I found the pattern.

Setting up Daz Studio ... again ..

My system screwed, and so it's time to reinstall OS again.  And for Daz Studio, I have to remind myself to put the Studio and Studio3 files back to the "C:\Users\xxxxx\Documents\DAZ 3D" folder, and yes I am still stuck in Daz Studio 3 Pro.

Toon Boom Studio: no pressure sensitive stylus on dual screen

Found something very odd about both Toon Boom Studio 4 and 6:  when I run the application while Windows is in dual monitor mode, I DO NOT get pressure sensitive on my Wacom stylus.  Turned screen mode to single monitor, and pressure sensitive comes back.  Not the end of the world to me since I can live with one screen, while I run other application on another PC.  But it's still kind of odd.

Corel Painter 11 and animation = crash

This morning I suddenly got interest in doing animation.  And since Painter 11 for Windows supports frame by frame animation, so I tried the animation feature.  However, everything I played my animation, stopped and then played again, the application crash.  It was getting so annoying that the animation feature becomes basically useless.

So I then tried Painter 12 (with 12.1 update), and there was no problem so far.  Granted, the first time I used it, the brush was ultra slow, but then I read this and follow the instruction.  Interesting enough, the slowness problem does not exist after I logged out and logged in again.

BTW, Painter 12 (same as 11) can't be made portable.  (some experiment I did).

At the end, though, because of the lack of hotkey and such, I still think it's better to do animation in ToonBoom Studio instead.

Find a workflow of using Daz Studio that make sense to me

I still don't like using Daz Studio 4 mostly because of the fact that it doesn't intergrate with my pre-DazStudio4 content well.  So eventually I continue using Daz Studio 3 Pro 3.1.2.24 to create the scenes, set contents and so on.  And if I really needed, I can open that scene on Daz Studio 4 anyway.  That works nice in my case.

Daz Studio 4: how to make all your files successfully open anywhere

Once again I have Daz Studio (this time it is Daz Studio 4 Pro 64 bit) installed on a new machine, and once again the file did NOT open properly, claiming that some files are missing.

I already tried to mimic the file structure to match perfectly even down to physical location and still didn't work.  Finally I found out, by reading the log file (which is in C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Roaming\DAZ 3D\Studio4\log.txt) that a whole directory tree "C:\Users\xxxx\Documents\DAZ 3D\Studio\My Library\data\4_0" is missing, and so I copied the whole directory and now it's working relatively OK.

Now my next step is to set up SyncToy to make sure that the following 2 directories are perfectly match among my installations:

C:\Users\xxxx\Documents\DAZ 3D\Studio\My Library\data
C:\Users\xxxx\Documents\DAZ 3D\Studio3\content

Daz Studio 3 64bit vs Daz Studio 4 32 bit ... OF COURSE Daz Studio 4

Tried to compare the performance between Daz Studio 4 32 bit and Daz Studio 3 64 bit, and found that performance-wise it's pretty much the same, but Daz Studio 4 has SO MUCH BETTER a user interface.  Once I get used to 4, it becomes too hard to go back to 3.

How to make move your files among differnt Daz Studio 4 enviornment

At first I thought the scene are not showing up properly because the Daz Studio 3 content didn't map properly. But turns out it was because some meta data is missing.

On my M6500, it stores in : D:\Documents\DAZ 3D\Studio\My Library\data\4_0\...
(Notice that it's NOT C:\Users\dkwan\AppData\Roaming\DAZ 3D\Studio3\DAZ Built-in Content\data\4_0)

On Mac: \Users\[your name]\Documents\DAZ 3D\Studio\My Library\data\4_0\...

Once I got the metadata copy over, the files got show up properly. But then this also means that I need to back up the content of this "data\4_0" folder if I want to make sure that scenes show up properly in my future installation of Daz Studio 4 in another environment.

BTW, To see the log file, go to [Help]->[Troubleshooting]->[View Log File]