v4.5 [May 16, 2012]
DAZ Scene Object Notation (DSON) File Format
The DSON file format is a lightweight format that facilitates the efficient sharing of scenes and their assets
Scene File Sharing
The new DSON file format in DAZ Studio 4.5 enables the legal sharing of scenes by providing an asset referencing scheme rather than providing the actual elements of a scene.
Selective Scene Saving
DAZ Studio 4.5 now allows you to select ONLY those assets within your scene that you want to save. This may be a subset of your scene assets that you wish to merge with another scene at a later time, or your figure's entire ensemble - with or without hair and accessories - saved as an outfit to be loaded later from a single file in your library. Selectively saving ONLY those items that you select allows you do this and more.
Updated 3Delight Render Engine
The 3Delight render engine included with DAZ Studio 4.5 has been updated to version 10.0.50 which includes numerous bug fixes and feature enhancements over the previous version.
FBX Import
FBX files generated by DAZ Studio 4.5 can now be re-imported in FBX format, allowing you to export a figure to certain 3rd party applications for texturing or animation purposes and then import that figure back into DAZ Studio.
Instancing
DAZ Studio 4.5 now includes the ability to create multiple instances of a specific model in a scene. Changes such as morphs or materials are automatically propagated to all instances of that model within the scene.
Geometry Shells
DAZ Studio 4.5 introduces the ability to create a “Geometry Shell” for specific models or figures in your scene. These shells can be controlled and manipulated separately from the original object in the scene, each with their own materials and transforms, without the extra “weight” of additional rigging and morphs of the original model.
Group Nodes
DAZ Studio 4.5 lets you create hierarchical group nodes which allow you to control many objects as a single group, or 3D layer, saving you time and giving you the ability to manipulate multiple objects in your scene quickly and efficiently.
v4.0 [May 14, 2011]
-TriAx™ Weight-Map System
DAZ Studio 4 relies on hand-painted weight-maps to control the bending of a figure. Using painted weight maps provides content creators flexibility and precision over how their figures' mesh deforms around any type of joint. Adding in the ability to paint a separate map for each axis of rotation takes that level of control and moves it ahead of anything else commonly achieved in the past.
-Auto-Rigging
With improved joints comes the need for improved diversity in a figures mesh. Now DAZ Studio has the ability for content creators to automatically rig their custom figures. No longer do content creators need to worry about respecting a base figure's proportions and joint center placement. So long as the mesh is left intact, the artist will then be able to have the TriAx joint system automatically update to fit their new shape.
-Smart Content
DAZ Studio can filter suggested content to just what's relevant to what you're working on. For example, if you had the new Genesis figure loaded and wanted to find clothing and accessories that will work with it, all you have to do is load the Genesis figure, and DAZ Studio can automatically filter out anything that is not compatible.
-Smart UV Presets
You no longer need to worry about out which skin texture works with which character. All you need to do is load up the Genesis shape you like, browse to the associated skin texture preset, and DAZ Studio will automatically load the correct UV set and corresponding texture.
-Updated User Interface
We've given the user interface an overhaul with a focus on ease of use. Specifically, we've re-arranged tools, widgets, panes, and menus into context-relative groupings that allow you to get things done without having to dig around to find what you need.
-Content Management Service
Relying on a simple meta-data structure, the this service allows you to search for assets in multiple ways, such as by keyword, category, and compatibility.
