CafeGuru | Carrara Cafe

CARRARA 8.5.0.107 is the latest Beta Build!

by CafeGuru | Mar 8, 2012 | News

If you own Carrara 8, we will add this new build to your account. You can run the production build of Carrara 8.1 side by side with this Beta build. Just don’t uninstall 8.1 version when you install this beta release.
The purpose of providing this build is for you to see the progress we are making, see how Genesis looks in Carrara, see the new features we’ve added and provide input on the changes. You can also see the list of bug fixes below. This list identifies issues that were logged in the bug tracker and highlights many of the other fixes in this build.

New in Carrara 8.5:
1. Support for imported Genesis .dsf files (best used with DAZ Studio 4.0.3.19 or newer installed).
2. Character presets can be applied. Go to the Instance Tab, select the 2nd Genesis listed in the tree or the Actor line, and double click the character from the list. If the one of these items is not selected, an additional figure will be loaded with that character applied.
3. New Parameters Pane and user experience
4. Carrara 8.5 Parameter Pane. If you are familiar with the Parameters Tab (with the Genesis figure) in DAZ Studio 4, the equivalent to Carrara 8.5 is the Parameter Pane which is accessed by selecting the second Genesis from the list.
5. Shaping in Parameters Pane. If you are familiar with the Shaping Tab in DAZ Studio 4, the equivalent for Carrara 8.5 can be accessed by selecting the Actor line from the tree in the Instance Pane.
6. Content Management System or CMS connection to utilize the DAZ Studio database (requires DAZ Studio 4.0.3.19 or newer recommended to be installed). We are looking into a project to install the CMS for Carrara without the need of DAZ Studio. So for the Carrara customers not using DAZ Studio they can still take advantage of the new system. More information will be coming.
7. AutoFit is included in Carrara 8.5
8. Fit To (auto generates Genesis morphs) for Genesis designed clothing
9. Restore Figure tools
10. Memorize tools
11. Zero Figure tools
12. Smart Content Tab (shows all the content with meta data organized similarly to DAZ Studio’s Smart Content Tab)
13. New SubD / Smoothing tool (display the smoothing slider of smoothed vertex object in the assemble room)
14. Improved Bullet Physics for soft body simulation
15. aniBlock importer has been updated and fixed for Carrara 8.5
16. Mac OSX Lion support has been implemented
17. Geo grafting has been implemented and we continue to work on this feature
18. New Light Icons to better represent the lights, the controls have also been improved.
If you are seeing issues please log the bugs in the bug tracker: DAZ BUG Tracker

Changes since the last beta build include:
Carrara : fixed #0039241 : Changed DAZ menu icon size
Carrara : Fixed #0039240 : Polished interface font settings
Carrara : Fixed #0038958 : Fixed cancel cmd+. shortcut
Carrara: Fixed #0037678 : Fixed remaining Expose problems
Carrara : Fixed #0044306 : Fixed IK tracker issue
Carrara : Fixed : Fixed improved morph target display refresh issue
Carrara : Fixed #0043843 : Improved tile icon to display more than 8 threads
Carrara : Fixed #0038870 : Fixed a problem with the Inset view happening when the OpenGL context is reinitialized
Carrara : Fixed #0028940 : Fixed light leaking through objects
Carrara : Fixed #0040017 : Fixed application unresponsiveness while rendering
Carrara : Fixed #0044633 : Fixed problems with floating toolbars in immediate mode
OBJ : Fixed #0039720 : Fixed uv wrapping issue for both import and export
Biovision Format : Fixed #0044561 : Fixed problems related to tree element name matching when importing BVH
CR2Importer : Fixed #0044835 : Fixed crash on preset undo/redo
CR2Importer : Fixed #0045092 : Fixed issue with hidden body part on import
CR2Importer : Fixed #0039045 : Fixed gravity settings when creating a new scene
Collada : Fixed : Fixed some problems with smooth skinned objects related to Second Life
Collada : Fixed : Fixed a skeleton problem when exporting Genesis into Collada format using the DAZ Collada profile
DSF : Fixed : Improvements related to materials to more closely match Studio results. Fixed missing displacement map
DSF : Implemented : Minor improvements related to displacement shaders
DSF : Implemented : Fixed crash when an error occurred when loading a file
DSF : Fixed #0045746 : Fixed smart browser missing file issue
FBX Import : Fixed : Fixed problems with transparent materials in Genesis
FBX, Collada : Fixed : Did some improvements related to exporting deformed objects with skinning and displacement shaders
VertexModeler : Implemented : Fixed tag map color display issue
VertexModeler : Implemented : Improved facet mesh creation to strip out the hidden vertices
VertexPrimitive : Implemented : Fixed group and vertex map issue in vertex modeler
VertexPrimitive : Implemented : Fixed grafting issue with undo in vertex modeler
VertexPrimitive : Implemented : Added information message to let the user know about the protected topology when entering the vertex modeler
VertexModeler : Fixed #0045731 : Fixed undo crash om vertex modeler
Mimic : Fixed : Fixed compatibility issue with Genesis content
Mimic : Fixed : Fixed possible issue if the newer Mimic plugin is installed on an older application version
What you need to know about this build:
Note: We continue to work on Genesis compatibility. In the coming releases we are planning on adding presets for materials, poses and UV’s.
1. The new V5 products will be reset in your account to allow these items to work properly in Carrara 8.5.
2. There is no current way to apply a preset texture to Genesis (Genesis will not accept a PZ2).
3. DAZ Studio 4.0.3.19 must be installed prior to running Carrara 8.5 in order to use Genesis or the Smart Content Tab.
4. If new content with meta data is installed, DAZ Studio will need to be started in order to get the smart content into the CMS database.
5. V4/M4/K4 shaders will not work on Genesis and will have to be manually built.
6. Posing Genesis must be done manually, for now there is no way to apply a pose preset to Genesis.
7. Order of morphs listed in the Carrara Parameters Tab is not consistent with the way it’s displayed in DAZ Studio.
8. Our development team is working on the tools to transfer data from DAZ Studio 4 to Carrara using our new file format.
9. Included Tree presets may not look the same as they did in Carrara 7, we are looking into this currently.
10. IK is having some issues with posing the Genesis figure.
11. Mimic fixes have been implemented for Gen 4 and earlier.
12. Mimic for Genesis is still broken, but will be fixed in a coming release.
This build will be added to your account by the DAZ 3D Customer Support Team. It will take time for all the updates to happen, so please be patient.

To register the Carrara 8.5 Beta you will need to use the serial code listed here: CDZCPRO-085-0031099-CWK-001-EBTQFCL (Expires May 8th 2012)
If you would like to get to know Carrara 8 without purchasing right now, you can obtain a download for a 30 trial version at this site: Download Carrara 8 Trial Version

Follow discussion at DAZ 3D forum here:Â http://forum.daz3d.com/viewtopic.php?p=3319588&flatnum=1#3319588

What are we working on for the 8.5 release? What are we working on for the 8.5 release?

by CafeGuru | Dec 16, 2011 | News

What are we working on for the 8.5 release?

better exchange of files with DAZ Studio 4 via a new file format to support genesis and other figures etc.
we will have a separate CMS system for those who don’t use DAZ Studio 4. This will include the genesis default content in the system. So if you don’t have DAZ Studio 4, you can still have access to Genesis and the smart content.
We are working on the Carrara system to read multiple presets; (Poses, materials, light, camera etc.)
We know that not all data from Carrara will be able to be pushed to DAZ Studio, but we should have a much better way of saving information to exchange data. An example is the Howie Farks scenes won’t pass fully to DAZ Studio 4, but most figures and basic scenes will be transferable both ways.
We are also working on making the list of morphs be similar with how they are displayed in DAZ Studio 4. We want the parameters tabs to look almost the same.

These are the main features we are working on. We anticipate that this will be finished 1st quarter of 2012. It will as we’ve stated be 8.5 and will require a small upgrade fee (amount TBD).

Blaine Furner Marketing Manager, Product Evangelist DAZ 3D, Inc.

Carrara 8.5 Light Shapes

by CafeGuru | Nov 9, 2011 | Tutorials

See the new light shapes/icons now available in Carrara. This video shows how to access the new light representations.

Applying Grunge/Blood textures in Carrara

by CafeGuru | Sep 23, 2011 | Tutorials

This 2-part shader tutorial shows how to add dirt, grunge, and blood textures to your shaders in Carrara’s Texture Room using the Multiply Operator. The texture maps from Hybrid Grunge Bundle from DAZ 3D are shown, but the method can be used for any grunge textures.

The second video expands on the idea, using 3D Paint to control where the grunge shaders will be applied. (silent)

CARRARA 8.5.0.21 is now the latest beta build!

by CafeGuru | Sep 22, 2011 | News

That purpose of getting this build out is to see the progress we are making, provide input on the changes, see how Genesis looks in Carrara and see the new features we’ve added.

New in Carrara 8.5:

1. Genesis Support import .dsf files (requires DAZ Studio 4.0.2.55 installed)
2. Content Management System or CMS connection to utilize the DAZ Studio database (requires DAZ Studio 4.0.2.55 installed)
3. AutoFit
4. Fit To (auto generates Genesis morphs) for Genesis designed clothing
5. New Parameters Tab and user experience
6. Restore figure tools
7. Memorize tools
8. Zero Figure tools
9. Smart Content Tab (shows all the content with meta data organized similarly to DAZ Studio’s Smart Content Tab)
10. New SubD / Smoothing tool (display the smoothing slider of smoothed vertex object in the assemble room)
11. Improved Bullet Physics for soft body simulation

If you are seeing issues please log the bugs in the bug tracker. https://bugs.daz3d.com/

Changes since the last production build include:

GoZ : Fixed : Fixed issue with the Poser skinning
GoZ : Fixed : Improved GoZ update for new object (to allow remapping to existing object)
Carrara : Fixed #0042387 : Soft body simulation clear should clear the animation method data
Carrara : Fixed #0041810 : Fixed point at and track behavior target
Carrara : Fixed #0035902 : Fixed ik track target id issue
FBX : Fixed #0042878 : Fixed transform conversion
Carrara : Fixed : Fixed memory corruption
Carrara : Fixed : Improve error message reporting (especially when a memory error occurred during rendering)
Carrara : Fixed #0024546 : Fixed memory leaks
Carrara : Fixed #0037789 : Report error when AVI movie cannot be decoded
Carrara : Fixed #0015955 : Improved universal manipulator to avoid problems with locked axises
3DPaint : Fixed #0037104 : Fixed crash with internal texture
Hierarchy : Fixed #0035206 : Fixed merge time line invalidation issue
DSF : Implemented : Added parameters tab
Carrara, Shaders : Implemented : Implemented a better way of saving displacement maps by the shader library.
Carrara : Updated : Code improvements and cleaning up related to displacement map export/generation
Carrara : Fixed #0041548 : Fixed problem with NLA clips snapping to each other on same track (Mac x64)
Bullet : Fixed #0036864 : Improved collision handling for soft bodies
Bullet : Implemented : Recompiled Bullet librairies for the Mac
Bullet : Implemented : Fixed Bullet libraries compilation
DSF : Fixed #0043231 : Fixed smoothing sliders in the assembly room
CMS : Fixed #0043266 : Fixed crash on the Mac when the CMS is not installed
DSF : Implemented : Autofit implementation
Carrara : Implemented : Filtering for Parameters tab page.
DSF : Implemented : New tree-style “Select Group” popup.
DSF, CR2 : Fixed : Fixed a problem with Zero Figure Pose action with some Poser content
DSF : Implemented : Autofit projection improvements
Rendering : Fixed #0042879 : Fixed a crash related to Anything Glows
Carrara : Fixed #0043377 : Fixed browser drag/drop issue
DSF : Implemented : Improved parameters and groups order to match Studio better
Rendering : Updated : Added comment related to the fix for bug #0042879

What you need to know about this build:

Note: We continue to work on the compatibility with Genesis. In the coming releases we are planning on adding presets for materials, poses and UV’s. We are also seeing work on the aniBlock importer to get it to work on Genesis in Carrara.
1. Mac OS 10.7 (Lion) is still being investigated and may have issues.
2. There is no current way to apply a preset texture to Genesis. (Genesis will not accept a PZ2)
3. Currently Genesis will only work with V4’s UV’s.
4. DAZ Studio 4.0.2.55 must be installed prior to running Carrara 8.5 in order to use Genesis or the Smart Content Tab.
5. V4/M4/K4 shaders will not work on Genesis and will have to be manually built.
6. Posing Genesis must be done manually, for now there is no way to apply a pose preset to Genesis.
7. The Aniblock importer does not work with Genesis.
8. Issues still remain with the Parameters tab.

This build will be added to your account by the DAZ 3D Customer Support Team. It will take a bit of time for all the updates to happen. So please be patient.

You will need to use this Serial Number for Carrara 8 Pro. If you don’t own Pro, you can use it till the serial number times out at the date listed here: CDZCPRO-085-0000003-QNZ-001-EBTNXBR (Expires 27-Oct-2011)

Follow the discussion at DAZ3D forum:

http://forum.daz3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=173246

If you would like to get to know Carrara 8 without purchasing right now, you can obtain a download for a 30 trial version at this site: Carrara 8 Trial Version

Save BIG on Carrara When You Buy the NEW GoZ for Carrara!

by CafeGuru | Aug 3, 2011 | News

Now there is a way to transfer models and textures seamlessly between ZBrush and Carrara with GoZ for Carrara. For a limited time, when you order GoZ for Carrara you will receive a coupon to save *50% Off Carrara 8, Carrara 8 Pro and all Carrara version upgrades. In addition, all Platinum Club Members will receive 10% Off their GoZ for Carrara purchase.

*Offer expires Aug. 15, 2011