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DAZ Studio 4.6 QuickStart Guide - Barefoot Dancer2

DAZ Studio 4.6 QuickStart Guide - Barefoot DancerQuickStart GuideIntroductionThank you for downloading and installing DAZ Studio. This QuickStart Guide is designedto provide step by step instructions for recreating the Barefoot Dancer scene. The hope is that thesteps presented in this tutorial will provide you with foundational knowledge that can be built uponlater. As the name indicates this is a QuickStart Guide that serves as a launching point for your exploration into DAZ Studio. It will not provide an in depth explanation for the processes involved. Forthis, you can consult the DAZ Studio User Guide.RequirementsIn order to follow along with this QuickStart Guide you will need to make sure that you havethe following installed: DAZ Studio 4.6 or higher Genesis 2 Female Starter Essentials Default Lights and Shaders for DAZ StudioPlease see the online article “Downloading with Install Manager” for information on how to downloadand install these products using the DAZ Install Manager.Setting Up Your InterfaceStep 1 – Use the Hollywood BlvdInterface LayoutDAZ Studio comes with several “InterfaceLayouts.” We will be using the “Hollywood Blvd”layout. Hollywood Blvd is the default layout forDAZ Studio. If this is your first time launchingDAZ Studio, or you have never changed yourlayout then no further action is needed.If you have previously changed yourinterface layout then you will need to changeit to Hollywood Blvd. To do this, go to Window Workspace Select Layout The ‘Select Layout ’ action will launchthe Select a Layout dialog. Choose ‘Hollywood Blvd’ from the drop down menu andclick ‘Accept.’3

DAZ Studio 4.6 QuickStart Guide - Barefoot Dancer4Step 2 – Open the Actors, Wardrobe & Props ActivityThe Hollywood Blvd layout is separated into several “Activities.” You can switch between activities by clicking one of the “Activity Tabs”, near the top of the “Main Window.” Start by entering theActors, Wardrobe & Props activity. To do this click the Actors, Wardrobe & Props activity tab.Loading Your ContentStep 1 – Open the Smart Content PaneTo open the Smart Content “Pane” click on the tablabeled ‘Smart Content‘ on the left hand side of the interface.We will be using the ‘Files’ “Page” of the Smart Content pane,so make sure that ‘Files’ at the top of the pane is highlighted.Step 2 – Load an ActorThe first thing we will load into our scene is our “Actor.”Expand the ‘Figures’ category by clicking the arrow to the leftof the “Category.” You will find the categories in the Smart Content pane in the left hand column ofthe pane. Expanding the ‘Figures’ category will reveal subcategories. Expand the ‘People’ subcategory. Within the ‘People’ category is a ‘Female’ subcategory. Click on this category to select it.If you’ve followed along properly youshould see icons appear in the right columnof the Smart Content pane. Each of theseicons represents a content file. Double-clickthe icon named ‘FIGURE – Barefoot Dancer.’This will load the figure into the scene andyou should see her appear in the “Viewport.”Note that the “Bounding Box” around thefigure indicates that she is currently selected.

DAZ Studio 4.6 QuickStart Guide - Barefoot Dancer5Step 3 – Load ClothingClothing can be found in the ‘Wardrobe’ category of the Smart Content pane.Just like you expanded the ‘Figures’ category, expand the ‘Wardrobe’ categoryby clicking the arrow to the left. Click onthe ‘Full-Body’ category to select it. Onceagain you will see icons appear in the rightcolumn of the Smart Content pane. Youcan double-click the icon named ‘CLOTHING – Barefoot Dancer’ to load the clothingin the scene. You can also drag and dropthe icon onto the Barefoot Dancer figure inthe scene.Step 4 – Load HairLoading hair is just like loading clothing. Hair is found inthe ‘Hair’ category of the Smart Content pane. Expandthe ‘Hair’ category and select the ‘Short’ subcategory byclicking on it. Load the ‘HAIR – Toulouse Hair’ by eitherdouble clicking the icon or dragging and dropping thehair onto the Barefoot Dancer figure.Step 5 – Load an EnvironmentUp until this point we’ve had theBarefoot Dancer figure selected in thescene. However, we will need to deselecther before we load an environment. Todeselect, click anywhere within the viewportthat isn’t on the figure or her clothing.Once you have deselected expandthe ‘Ready to Render’ category and selectthe ‘Architecture’ subcategory. Double-clickthe ‘ENVIRONMENT – Barefoot Dancer’icon to load the environment into the scene.

DAZ Studio 4.6 QuickStart Guide - Barefoot DancerShaping the HairStep 1 – Select the HairYour current scene selection in DAZStudio is very important. Whenever you wantto modify an object you must select it first. Toselect the hair right click on the hair in theviewport and choose the ‘Select ‘ToulouseHR’’action from the “Context Menu.” When thehair is selected you will see the bounding boxaround the hair.Step 2 – Open the Shaping PanePresets PageTo open the Shaping pane click the tablabeled ‘Shaping’ on the left side of the interface. The Shaping pane should be dockednext to the Smart Content pane. Once thepane is open click ‘Presets’ at the top of thepage to open the Presets page.Step 3 – Load a Shaping PresetThe Presets page of the Shaping pane is similar to the Smart Content pane. Click on the‘Apply’ category on the left. On the right you will see an icon called ‘HAIR SHAPE - Toulouse Hair.’Double-click the icon to load it.6

DAZ Studio 4.6 QuickStart Guide - Barefoot DancerPosing the Barefoot DancerStep 1 – Open the Pose & Animate ActivityOur actor, wardrobe, hair, and environment are all loaded. It is now time to move to a newactivity. To pose the Barefoot Dancer we will use the ‘Pose & Animate’ activity. Open this activity byclicking the activity tab labeled ‘Pose & Animate’, near the top of the DAZ Studio interface.Step 2 – Select the Barefoot DancerSince we are going to pose the BarefootDancer we need to make sure she is selected. Todo this move your cursor over the Barefoot Danceruntil at least part of her is highlighted and double-click. You can also right click on the BarefootDancer and choose ‘Select ‘Genesis 2 Female’ –Dbl Click’ from the context menu.Step 3 – Open the Posing Pane Presets PageIf the Posing pane isn’t open you can open it by clicking the tab labeled ‘Posing’ on the lefthand side of the interface. Once the Posing pane is open click the ‘Presets’ label at the top of thepane to open the Presets page.Step 4 – Load a Pose PresetExpand the ‘By Function’ category onthe left hand side of the Presets page, inthe Posing pane. Select the ‘Running’subcategory. Double click the ‘Pose –Genesis 2 Barefoot Dancer’ icon to loadthe Pose Preset. If the Barefoot Danceris selected you should see her move to anew pose.7

DAZ Studio 4.6 QuickStart Guide - Barefoot Dancer8Lighting Your SceneStep 1 – Open the Lights & Cameras ActivityNow that the Barefoot Dancer is posed we can move on to a new activity. Open the ‘Lights &Cameras’ activity by clicking on the ‘Lights & Cameras’ activity tab, in the activity bar near the top ofthe DAZ Studio interface.Step 2 – Open the Lights PanePresets PageTo open the Lights pane click on thetab labeled ‘Lights’ on the left hand side ofthe DAZ Studio interface. Once the Lightspane is open, click the ‘Presets’ label at thetop of the pane. This will open the Presetspage of the Lights pane.Step 3 – Load a Light(s) PresetExpand the ‘Lights’ category in theleft hand column of the Lights pane Presetspage and select the ‘Other’ subcategory.Look for the icon named ‘LIGHTS – BarefootDancer’ in the right hand column. Doubleclick this icon to load the Light(s) Preset.

DAZ Studio 4.6 QuickStart Guide - Barefoot DancerSetting up CamerasStep 1 – Open the Cameras Pane Presets PageThe Cameras pane is docked with the Lights pane, on the left hand side of the DAZ Studiointerface. To open the Cameras pane click the tab labeled ‘Cameras’. Once the pane is open clickthe ‘Presets’ label at the top of the pane to open the Cameras pane Presets page.Step 2 – Load a Camera(s) PresetOnce the Presets page of the Cameras pane is open, click the ‘Barefoot Dancer’ category inthe left column. You will see two icons each representing a Camera(s) Preset. Double-click ‘CAMERA 1 – Barefoot Dancer’ to load the camera into the scene.When the camera loads you will notice that your view changes. The Camera(s) Preset loaded a camera into your scene and you are now viewing through this camera.9

DAZ Studio 4.6 QuickStart Guide - Barefoot Dancer10Loading a Backdrop ImageStep 1 – Launch the Backdrop Options DialogThe final piece to your scene will be a “Backdrop Image.” Thisimage will fill in any blank space in the background that may have beenleft by your environment. (You may notice some blue in the top left corner of the interface). To launch the ‘Backdrop Options’ dialog go to Edit Backdrop Step 2 – Browse for a Backdrop ImageIn the ‘Backdrop Options’ dialog click the button next to the ‘Image:’ label to open the Image dropdown menu. Inside the drop down menu choose the‘Browse.’ action. This will launch the ‘Open Image’dialog where you will be prompted to select an imagefile.Browse to where you’ve installed the Genesis 2 Female Starter Essentials product to. Bydefault this should be C:/Users/Public/Documents/My DAZ 3D Library on Windows, or /Users/ Public/Documents/My DAZ 3D Library on a Mac. Open the ‘Runtime’ folder, then the ‘Textures’ folder. Inside the ‘Textures’ folder you will see a folder labeled ‘DAZ’ open this folder and then the ‘Backdrops’folder. In the ‘Backdrops’ folder you will see the ‘dusk sky’ file. Double click this file.Step 3 – Accept the Backdrop OptionsOnce you’ve selected an image for a backdrop click ‘Accept’ to close the ‘Backdrop Options’dialog and load the backdrop image.

DAZ Studio 4.6 QuickStart Guide - Barefoot Dancer11Render your ImageStep 1 – Open the Render ActivityNow that the scene is set up with lights and cameras, you are ready to render your scene.Rendering is done in the Render activity. To open the Render activity click on the Render activity tab.Step 2 – Load a Render Settings PresetTo load the Render SettingsPreset we will introduce a new locationto load your content. Open the ContentLibrary pane on the right hand side of theinterface by clicking on the tab labeled‘Content Library’. Any content you seein the Smart Content pane can also beloaded from the Content Library pane.You can learn more about this pane in theDAZ Studio User Guide.In the “Container View” at the topof the Content Library pane go to DAZStudio Formats My DAZ 3D Library DAZ Studio Tutorials Genesis 2 Barefoot Dancer. You will see several icons below the containers. Many of these icons may look familiaras we’ve loaded them from the Smart Content pane, Shaping pane, Posing pane, Lights pane andCameras pane. You should see three render settings icons. Double click the ‘Render Settings Low– barefoot Dancer’ icon to load the lower render settings. You can also use the medium or the highpresets but the render time will increase.