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.
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
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)
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
Seems to me like this the best of times to get some fun going on in our Carrara Section. A trip back to the good days of exploration and community sharing. So, I’ve decided to whip up a little contest for you guys to play with. In order to spark some interest this time around, I’ve decided to actually include a prize. Which I will now put in the center of the page in big bold letters to catch everyone’s attention…
$15 Gift CertificateÂ
My personal favorite submission to the contest will receive the $15 gift certificate. I will likely pick some honorable mentions or runner ups that get something nice as well, so don’t worry too much about thatÂ
At this point you’re probably wondering what the contest is. Well, let me explain. I’ve created this prop specifically for this contest. What the prop is, I have absolutely no clue. It’s dubious and it’s a doodad, the Dubious Doodad. Here is the doodad in question…
Your goal is to use whatever the heck this thing is in a way that I feel is thought provoking. You won’t be judged on render quality, though it certainly wouldn’t hurt. I’m looking for imagination, and the ability to turn something stupid into something amazing. If you can turn it into something practical and actually useful that’s all the better. I’ll be creating some of my own attempts and saving them until after the contest is over.
The rules are simple. Do whatever you want to or with the thing, but you can only use Carrara. Apply modifiers, rig it, shade it, change domains, stretch it, catch it on fire, add additional props or figures, replicate it, turn it to particles etc etc. Creativity shouldn’t be held back by many restrictions. There are how ever a few points that I would like to ask you to follow.
 If you’re modifying the mesh in the modeling room do not delete anything. Add to, extrude, sweep and sculpt what’s there all you want, but do not remove any of the mesh.
The Dubious Doodad must be the center of attention. Don’t tuck it somewhere in the background of an amazing image and expect to win!
It must be obvious or provable that you actually used the doodad.
I’ll be letting the contest run for two full weeks, so the deadline will be 09-17-2011. If this goes over well with the community I’ll consider making this a regular thing. Feel free to submit as many entries as you like, and most importantly HAVE FUN!!!
More information at DAZ 3D Carrara forum.
Per request by Dimension Theory, please discuss this contest in the DAZ 3D forum
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.
Here is the first image of Genesis figures in Carrara, as you can see all morphs are already there!
But wait, currently this is under alpha development, so this is a small preview of what is coming to Carrara 8.5, which is the new version that DAZ 3D is working on and that will have some more features added.
OK, now you will say: “more dolls to Carrara!?!†Yes, and with them I think we can really expect some innovations in the figure posing system (The weight-map TirAX (TM) system is closer to the Carrara weight-map system so the conversion is much more accurate than before). This new version will include the auto morph generation for clothing and you should expect things like the Meta-Data Content Management System (Smart Content) to better organize content.
DAZ 3D informed us that due to the large code work and added features in this update there will be a small upgrade fee. The complete list of new features, price and date will be announced soon.
Finally the first beta of our gallery is open to all users. The system is still under development, so you need to login using the same data from CarraraCafe site.
We are working to give a better experience to the users here.
Please dont post images that can be agressive, like sex, violence or anything that can offend other people.
So there will be some moderation here. And we will create a gallery to show the best works at Carraracafe, and they will be in the header! Maybe we can get some vouchers for the best images too later…
