DAZ Studio- Program that’s fun, and easy to use

As many of you know, I do not write many product reviews.  So this is very different for me; the last time I did one of these was for Lummi Photo Printing Kit. As with this review before, I want to state I do not get any financial reward or compensation for doing this review,  I like this product and wanted to introduce my readers to it.

I recently bought a DELL Inspiron i7559-2512BLK 15.6 InchFHD Laptop, I purchased this specific laptop so I could create illustrations and   promotional videos for my novel “Legend of the Mystic Knights”.

With a good computer, must come good software, so I went out to find some good programs. I wanted a program to make a realistic photo, or illustration of scenes in my novel.  This would include knights fighting, castles and even dragons. The answer to my requirements is software called, Daz 3D Studio.

Daz Studio is a program for creating 3D art and animation creation by using a rendering software. Rendering means the formulating, adding color, shading, and texturing of an image. In this instance the rendering will turn your creation into a life like 3d image.

I had tried to use a 3D rendering software before; this one product consisted of being given a virtual clump of clay. You would then need to model it into what you wanted.  I found this previous product cumbersome, and very hard to learn how to use.

I then discovered Daz Studio.  As many of my readers know, I am a former card carrying Luddite, so the ease of this software was what interested me in this particular program.  Instead of simple building and modeling a person for example, they give you a completed model. Using simple adjustments you can then alter and modify the size and shape of this model. They also have a selection of pre-created clothing, backgrounds and accessories to add to your creation.

If you have advanced skill in modeling and rendering, this program lets you also create your own designs.  As for me, this is still beyond my skill level, so I will merely adjust existing designs. You will also find some great groups on the internet (including Facebook) consisting of members who use this product.  I have found these people to be more than helpful, and will lend a hand if you ask.

The program also has items and add-ons for sale (some are free) from them, and other designers. These add-ons include things such as a pre-made dragon, specific clothes or buildings and vehicles. For a new comer this is a wonderful way to begin to create wonderful and exciting 3D graphics.

After you have completed your products, you can illuminate them to intensify your creation or to set a specific tone of atmosphere.  Still being new to this product, I am still discovering all of its capabilities and will share with you later once I have some completed projects.

One thing which is disappointing, which has less to do with Daz Studio, is it current ability to work with Photoshop. It comes with a Photoshop Bridge (a bridge is a type of computer software that provides interconnection with other bridge networks that use the same protocol), this means you can easily move your creations into Photoshop to make adjustments such as color, and then back into Daz Stuido. This worked for previous versions of Photoshop, but I just rented (this is how Adobe is selling or “renting” there products now) Photoshop CC.  The Daz Studio Bridge seems not to work with the new version of Photoshop, and unfortunately it is the only version you can get.  You can still use Photoshop CC with Daz Studio; it is just a bit clumsier than in previous versions (now consisting of exporting or savings files etc).

Once you have completed your models, and scenery you will need to render it through this program. As I mentioned rendering is the formulating, adding color, shading, and texturing of an image, this is the final process which will give your creation a lifelike look to it.

Another thing you can do with your creation is to animate it.  Remember I said it is like a virtual lump of clay, using this concept you can use a virtual type of stop start motion technique to make your object move.  Actually, this process is much simpler than the old stop start motion, and there are even features in the program to assist you, or you can use a preset motion to create movement.

There are so many features in this product that I am unable to get into them here. I am also certainly not using the proper terminology in describing it, I just wanted to introduce you to this wonder product. When I finalized my projects in Daz Studio, I will share them with you.

My first attempt at using Daz Studio,  A ghostly knight stands over his squire.

Daz Studio is a wonderful product, and it is FREE for you to download.  After playing with this for a while, and watching tutorials; I think anyone can be able to create wonderful 3D art with it.  I will eventually even try creating my book covers and scenes from the novels with this software, something than many other authors do currently. WARNING:  once you start using this software, you will now be addicted to a wonderful new hobby and pastime.

W.A. Rusho is a writer, amateur historian, and professional wrestler. You may contact him via his website, or by email.