-============================================================- Product Name: V4 Perfect Hands Authors: Meipe & Xameva Copyright: Jan 2012 by Meipe & Xameva ** If you need help with this product, contact Xameva through Renderosity mail please, as English is not Meipe's first language. Thanks. :) --------------------------------------- Description: V4 Perfect Hands is a morph fix for V4 that automatically re-shapes and smoothens V4's hand/wrists as you bend and move them side to side. This is a less extreme fix than our others, but it is just as essential. The subtle details are what make your artwork amazing, and perfection is something we all strive for. With this fix, V4's hand bend problem will be something you never have to worry about again! Link to video tutorial (It's for Perfect Thighs, but the script process is the same - watch the first minute and 30 seconds, then load the "INJ Perfect Hands"): Poser users - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrEtAFSrcGI DAZ users - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbyvxjWPArA --------------------------------------- Requirements: - Victoria 4.2 - PC and MAC compatible - Poser 5+ - DAZ Studio 2.3+ --------------------------------------- If you have any problems with the script or anything else after reading this ReadMe entirely, please contact either Xameva or Meipe through Renderosity sitemail. We'll do our best to get back to you within a day. We realize it may seem like there are a lot of instructions and you might feel overwhelmed, but it's actually very simple and we've done our best to explain things as thoroughly as possible. Xameva & Meipe would like to thank an anonymous scripting stranger. You know who you are. Thanks so much again, this wouldn't have been possible without you! Also a big thank you to Nerd3D for providing his EMC Fixer. -============================================================- [-How to Install-] Extract the contents of the .zip file into your Poser or DAZ Studio directory and the product contents will be in the Pose library under "XandM Perfect V4". -============================================================- [-The Script-] **Required step! (Unless you've done this already with a previous Perfect fix) Perfect Hands requires you to inject our custom morph channels into your figure's .cr2 file using a script we've provided. This is not the same thing as Morphs++ for example. Our custom channels are special channels that need to be created in order to make the morphs perfect, and so they won't interfere with other products that use the same common community channels. - Your original .cr2 figure is not changed at all. The script creates a copy of it and injects the channels into that. You then use this figure to inject the Perfect Arms fix. - You can use the script on any .cr2, including your custom characters. You DON'T have to start from scratch! Scroll down to the "[-Custom Characters-]" section below for more information. --------------------------------------- To use the script: 1. Your scene can't be empty in Poser, make sure a figure is loaded into the scene. (in DAZ the scene CAN be empty) Double click the "Create Perfect V4" script, which is located in the Poses library under "XandM Perfect V4". 2. Browse to the Runtime\Libraries\Character\DAZ People folder. Select Victoria 4.2.cr2, and then click Open. (It doesn't have to be Victoria 4.2.cr2, it can be any V4.2 figure. But if you want to use the default V4.2, which is the standard, then Victoria 4.2.cr2 is the one to select.) 3. Save the new Perfect V4 .cr2 wherever you want, just make sure it's inside the character directory. If you want to keep things simple, just save it to the same DAZ People folder as the default Victoria 4.2. 3a. In the .zip of this product, located in the Documentation folder, is a thumbnail image "Perfect Victoria 4.2.png" that you can move to wherever you save your new Perfect V4. 4. Browse to your new Perfect V4 figure in the library where you saved it, and then load it. 5. You will not have to repeat this process again. Use this new "Perfect V4.cr2" from now on when you want to use the Perfect Arms morph fix, and for other "Perfect V4" fixes. * Script not working? This may because you are using Poser 7 or earlier, or you have a custom runtime set-up. Scroll down to the section "[-Script Not Working?-]" for further instructions. -============================================================- [-How to Use Fix-] 1. Load your new Perfect V4 character from the library. (Poser users - delete the other figure from your scene that you loaded before using the script.) 2. Make sure "Inverse Kinematics" is turned off on your Perfect V4 character. 3. Make sure "Use Limits" is turned off on your Perfect V4 character. 4. Load the "INJ Perfect Hands" pose onto your Perfect V4 character. 5. Load the provided bonus partial poses, your own saved poses, or pose V4 manually as you normally would. 6. On the "BODY" actor of your Perfect V4, you can decrease the strength of the fix at any time by turning up the "LowerFix" dials. --------------------------------------- [-Finger Bulge Fixes-] These bonus fixes are designed to be used when V4's fingers are bent backward, solving the ugly, unnatural bulges where the fingers connect to the hand. Each fix loads in at a value of 1. If V4's fingers are bent back as far as possible, the bulge remove fixes will match the shape and look great. However if you don't have V4's fingers bent back all the way, you will want to lower the bulge fix morphs until you are satisfied with how it looks. The control dials can be found on each hand under Injection Channels - Community. For example, the praying partial pose (Partial #2) looks much better with a "BulgeRemove_Pinky" of about 0.6 on each hand. Your best bet is to experiment, looking at your own hand in the same pose to see how much of a bulge there is. These bulge fix morphs load on the community channels instead of our special custom channels - we needed all those channels for the main fix. -============================================================- [-Custom Characters-] If you want to use the Perfect fixes on a custom character, you can! It will take a couple of extra steps, but it's not complicated at all. The process is different for Poser and DAZ users. Poser users: 1. Save your custom character to the figure/character library as an individual (ungrouped). This is important - you don't want to save your character grouped with clothing, hair, props, etc. Otherwise our script will inject hundreds of empty morph channels into those items. 2. Run the "Create Perfect V4" script as usual. 3. This time, instead of locating the default Victoria 4.2.cr2, locate your custom character .cr2 that you saved to the Poser library. Once you find it, click Open (Don't worry, it won't change this file, it creates a copy). Now save your new "Perfect *Your character's name*.cr2" in the same place as the original. 4. Load the new Perfect version of your custom character. Inject the fix(es) as usual. You're all set! --------------------------------------- DAZ Users: The basic version of DS3 does not allow you to export your character as a .cr2, which is a problem, because our "Create Perfect V4" script only works on a .cr2, and it's an essential step. However there are still a couple possible solutions, some better than others. (If you own the Figure Set-up Tools for DS3 and can export as .cr2, skip to "DAZ4:" instructions below). DAZ3: Solution 1. If you haven't already, download DAZ Studio 4 and use it to export your custom characters for use in DS3. The basic version of DS4 is currently free and it allows you to export your custom character as a .cr2. See "DAZ4" steps below if you have DAZ4. Even you don't plan to use DS4, this is still the best method to create "Perfect" versions of your custom characters. You can create them in DS4, then load them in DS3 and they'll work fine. Solution 2. This solution will transfer over morph dial settings only. It won't transfer over texture/shader settings, and you'll need to manually load Morphs++, Elite morphs, etc. onto the Perfect V4 still. A. Get this and install it (it's free): http://www.daz3d.com/i/3d-models/-/poser-format-exporter?item=8040 B. Load up your custom character. Select the body from the scene tab. C. Open the Poser Format Exporter. Use these settings (Uncheck transforms, my screenshot didn't seem to want to show it unchecked...): http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x181/Lionheartmg/PFESettings.jpg The only checkbox you want checked is "Morphs". That is the morph dial information. D. Load up your "Perfect Victoria 4.2.cr2". Load Morphs++, Elite, and any other morph packages. Then apply that custom body .pz2 that you saved with the Poser Format Exporter. Then inject the Perfect fix(es). -=====- DAZ4: A. With your custom V4 character selected, click File - Export at the top left. B. Make sure "Save as type" is set to Poser .cr2. Name it whatever you wish and save it anywhere - though it'd be a good idea to save it somewhere under the "Character" folder in your content/runtime folder or the script will give you a warning later. Make sure the "Poser Version Tag:" is set to 9. Otherwise keep the default settings and click Accept. C. Run the "Create Perfect V4" script. Locate the .cr2 you just exported and open it. Save the new "Perfect" custom character. This may take awhile, the custom .cr2 with morphs++ loaded brings the file size to about 45mb compared to the default 1-2 mb. D. Load the new "Perfect" character from the library. The Morphs++ and their dial settings, character texture, should all be there. E. Inject the Perfect Fix(es) as normal. Good to go! :) -============================================================- [-Important Notes-] 1. Clothing: As with other custom morphs, clothing can be tricky (especially tight fitting items) and will probably need adjustments. There are a few possible solutions: A. Postwork your rendered image in a 2D program such as Photoshop/Gimp. My personal technique is to render V4 in the current pose, then render her with the clothing visible (fit it the best you can with the clothing's built in morphs), and finally render just the clothing with V4 invisible. Then in Photoshop you blend all 3 layers together, erasing the parts that are clipping. It takes some practice, but it definitely beats having to postwork V4's default ugly joints. -=====- B. There is a tool called Morphing Clothes for sale at Renderosity: http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/morphing-clothes/64629 When you are happy with the way you have V4 posed, you use a free script by Dimension3D to create a FBM (Full Body Morph). Link to script: http://d3d.sesseler.de/index.php?software=poserpython&product=spawn_fbm Then you use Morphing clothes to transfer the FBM to the clothing item. Note that we have not tested this method but it was suggested by several people on Poser/DAZ discussion forums. We will be investigating this further and hoping to reveal the information to you via email and the DAZ Studio discussion forums. --------------------------------------- 2. The poses and morphs were designed for the default V4. Most full body morphs will still look great, but at extreme values your results will vary. If necessary, use the "LowerFix" dials on the BODY to blend the fix better with your extreme morph. 3. The DAZ script only works in DAZ Studio 3 or later. Sorry DAZ 2 users! If you have Poser, you can create your morphed character .cr2 with the Poser script, and then use that figure in DAZ. Or you can use the same method under "[-Script Not Working?-]?" below. 4. For those who have bought either Meipe or Xameva/Meipe's morphed poses before, you will need to use the script in this product to inject the channels again and create the new .cr2. This new script is upgraded and injects new channels. 5. REM bug solution (Poser): If you use the REM pose to remove the fix, change your mind, and then re-inject it on the same figure - the fix may become bugged, depending on your Poser version. There is a possible solution to this bug in some Poser versions: A. Use the "REM BOTH" pose. B. Add the figure to the library. C. Delete the current figure from scene and then re-load the figure you just added to the library. D. Inject the fix. If the fix is bugged, do step E. E. Delete figure from the scene. Then un-do the delete. It should be fixed. It might not be, it depends on your version of Poser. 6. The bonus partial bonuses affect only the upper body. 7. The Twist movement of the hand is not fixed by this product. A human hand in reality cannot twist, it's physically impossible. As evidence of this, V4's default limits have the hand twist set at 0 in both directions. It is actually the forearm which twists. If you load a pose which contains a lot of twist on the hand, the mesh may be torn. Twisting the forearm will not tear the mesh. 8. The fix was designed within DAZ's bend and side-side limits of the hand. Meaning if you push the hand a lot further than the DAZ limits (more than 10 degrees), the mesh will begin to break. 9. Enough technical gibberish, start enjoying your new purchase! :) --------------------------------------- [-Known Bugs-] Poser: - A bug where you have two V4's loaded with the fix, and moving the first V4's hands affects the morphs of the second V4. This is called morph cross-talk. We have included a tool called "EMC Fixer" by Nerd3D that fixes this problem. In your content library, browse to the Poses tab under XandM Perfect V4 - Perfect Hands and there will be a folder called "2Figures". On the thumbnail images there are instructions on what to do. - If you're are experiencing crashes when trying to save your scene, make sure to uncheck the "Use external binary morph targets" option in the Poser preferences under the "Misc." tab. This option has been known to cause instability issues in Poser and is not usually necessary unless you are creating .PMD full body morphs for distribution. - The REM pose for the fixes do not completely remove all the data. The ERC tree remains. This happens with all ERC based pz2's, we've researched it heavily. This is what causes the bug where you REM the fix from a figure, then re-inject it on the same figure, and it's not working properly. See Important notes for how to solve it. - If you delete your figure with the fix injected, and then change your mind and undo the delete, the morph fix may become bugged, even after re-loading the fix morph injection. You'll need to delete the figure, then re-load it from the library. --------------------------------------- DAZ: - If you use the option "Zero Figure" or "Restore Figure" on your figure while it has the fix injected, this may bug the fix and cause it not to work. Use the provided REM poses and re-inject the fix. - The m-valueParm dials on BODY are for future Perfect fix releases. If we hid them with the script, there would be a crash in DAZ for some reason. So we left them visible - they don't do anything and won't slow DAZ down, so you can ignore them. Sorry about that. -============================================================- [-Script Not Working?-] The script may not be loading because you are using Poser 7 or earlier, or you have a custom runtime set-up. See below. --------------------------------------- Poser 8 or higher? Using Poser 8+ and the script won't run? It may be because you have a custom runtime set-up. You'll have to run the script manually by clicking "File" at the top right, then "Run Python Script". Then locate and open the script "XandM-CreatePerfectV4.py" under Runtime\Python\poserScripts\XandM. --------------------------------------- Poser 7 or Lower? Don't panic, you have two options: 1. Use DAZ script in DAZ Studio to create the Perfect V4 .cr2. You can then use the new .cr2 in Poser. 2. This option is a bit of a hassle, and more of a last resort. We've included a stand-alone Python script that runs outside of Poser, but requires you to install the Python software. (http://www.python.org/download/) - After installing Python, in a file browser (Windows Explorer or whatever), find your Victoria 4.2.cr2 in the DAZ People folder, and copy it. Then paste it into the Poser Runtime folder where you installed our product under Runtime\Libraries\Character\XandM Perfect V4\OlderPoser. Then, double click XandM-PerfectV4OldPoser.py. It should create a new Perfect .cr2 file instantly in the same folder. You then browse to that folder from within Poser and load it. ** Note that when you double click XandM-PerfectV4OldPoser.py, if it opens up Poser and doesn't create a Perfect V4 .cr2, you must do one extra step. Right click XandM-PerfectV4OldPoser.py in your file browser, then click "Open With". Then click "Choose default program." Then browse to where you installed Python, select the Python .exe and click OK. This associates the .PY extension with Python so that the scripts opens in Python and not Poser. ** If you're running the script on a .cr2 file other than Victoria 4.2.cr2 or Michael 4.cr2 (custom character), you will need to open the XandM-PerfectV4OldPoser.py script in a text editor. You need to change the "iname = "Victoria 4.2.cr2" field to the name of your custom figure's name. For example, if your .cr2 is named "BobsCustomV4.cr2", you'd changed that line to "iname = "BobsCustomV4.cr2" Then save the script and double-click the script while your custom character .cr2 is in the same folder. As you can see that method is clunky and we apologize if you have no choice but to use that method. You can uninstall Python after you've created your Perfect V4 figure. -============================================================- Thank you again, enjoy your purchase! :) -============================================================- [-File List-] ..\Documentation\ License0409.txt Perfect Victoria 4.2.png XandM_V4PerfectHands_ReadMe.txt ..\Runtime\Libraries\Character\XandM Perfect V4\2Figures\ !!!!Info.cr2 !!!!Info.png !!!EMC Fixer.cr2 !!!EMC Fixer.png !!Instructions1.cr2 !!Instructions1.png !!Instructions2.cr2 !!Instructions2.png !!Instructions3.cr2 !!Instructions3.png !!Instructions4.cr2 !!Instructions4.png !!Instructions5.cr2 !!Instructions5.png ..\Runtime\Libraries\Character\XandM Perfect V4\OlderPoser\ !!Instructions1.cr2 !!Instructions1.png XandM-PerfectV4OldPoser.py ..\Runtime\Libraries\Pose\XandM Perfect V4\Perfect Hands\2Figures\ !!Instructions1.png !!Instructions1.pz2 !!Instructions2.png !!Instructions2.pz2 !!Instructions3.png !!Instructions3.pz2 !!Instructions4.png !!Instructions4.pz2 PermissionCreditNerd3D.png PermissionCreditNerd3D.pz2 ..\Runtime\Libraries\Pose\XandM Perfect V4\Perfect Hands\DAZ\ !INJ Perfect Hands DAZ.png !INJ Perfect Hands DAZ.pz2 !REM Perfect Hands Both.png !REM Perfect Hands Both.pz2 !REM Perfect Hands Left.png !REM Perfect Hands Left.pz2 !REM Perfect Hands Right.png !REM Perfect Hands Right.pz2 Info1.png Info1.pz2 Info2.png Info2.pz2 ..\Runtime\Libraries\Pose\XandM Perfect V4\Perfect Hands\Finger Bulge Fix\Individual\ INJ_BulgeRemove_IndexL.png INJ_BulgeRemove_IndexL.pz2 INJ_BulgeRemove_IndexR.png INJ_BulgeRemove_IndexR.pz2 INJ_BulgeRemove_PinkyL.png INJ_BulgeRemove_PinkyL.pz2 INJ_BulgeRemove_PinkyR.png INJ_BulgeRemove_PinkyR.pz2 REM_BulgeRemove_IndexL.png REM_BulgeRemove_IndexL.pz2 REM_BulgeRemove_IndexR.png REM_BulgeRemove_IndexR.pz2 REM_BulgeRemove_PinkyL.png REM_BulgeRemove_PinkyL.pz2 REM_BulgeRemove_PinkyR.png REM_BulgeRemove_PinkyR.pz2 ..\Runtime\Libraries\Pose\XandM Perfect V4\Perfect Hands\Finger Bulge Fix\ !INJ All Bulge Fixes.png !INJ All Bulge Fixes.pz2 !REM All Bulge Fixes.png !REM All Bulge Fixes.pz2 Info1.png Info1.pz2 Info2.png Info2.pz2 ..\Runtime\Libraries\Pose\XandM Perfect V4\Perfect Hands\Partial Poses\ !Zero V4 Partial Pose.png !Zero V4 Partial Pose.pz2 V4-Partial01.png V4-Partial01.pz2 V4-Partial01M.png V4-Partial01M.pz2 V4-Partial02.png V4-Partial02.pz2 V4-Partial02M.png V4-Partial02M.pz2 V4-Partial03.png V4-Partial03.pz2 V4-Partial03M.png V4-Partial03M.pz2 V4-Partial04.png V4-Partial04.pz2 V4-Partial04M.png V4-Partial04M.pz2 V4-Partial05.png V4-Partial05.pz2 V4-Partial05M.png V4-Partial05M.pz2 ..\Runtime\Libraries\Pose\XandM Perfect V4\Perfect Hands\ !INJ Perfect Hands.png !INJ Perfect Hands.pz2 !REM Perfect Hands Both.png !REM Perfect Hands Both.pz2 !REM Perfect Hands Left.png !REM Perfect Hands Left.pz2 !REM Perfect Hands Right.png !REM Perfect Hands Right.pz2 Info1.png Info1.pz2 Info1a.png Info1a.pz2 Info1b.png Info1b.pz2 Info2.png Info2.pz2 Info3.png Info3.pz2 Info4.png Info4.pz2 ..\Runtime\Libraries\Pose\XandM Perfect V4\ !!Instructions1.png !!Instructions1.pz2 !!Instructions2.png !!Instructions2.pz2 !!Instructions2b.png !!Instructions2b.pz2 !!Instructions3.png !!Instructions3.pz2 !!Instructions4.png !!Instructions4.pz2 !!Instructions5.png !!Instructions5.pz2 !!Instructions6.png !!Instructions6.pz2 !!Instructions7.png !!Instructions7.pz2 !!Instructions8.png !!Instructions8.pz2 !Create Perfect V4.dsa !Create Perfect V4.png !Create Perfect V4.pz2 !Extra Note1.png !Extra Note1.pz2 !Extra Note2.png !Extra Note2.pz2 ..\Runtime\Python\poserScripts\XandM\ mx-CreatePerfectV4.py