**Autosave Plugin Suite**
Learn how to efficiently manage, archive, and back up your scene and scene subset files with the Autosave Suite plugin. Mike D will guide you through:
– The user interface of the Autosave plugin.
– Demonstrations on grouping files and organizing your assets.
– Using the Auto-select feature for easy backups and archiving.
– Setting appropriate autosave intervals to balance performance and data protection.
– File compression options to optimize file management.
**Icon Creator Pro**
Elevate the presentation of your assets with professional-looking icons using Icon Creator Pro. Mike D will cover:
– Both the “Simple Icon Creation” and “Advanced Icon Creation” tabs.
– Tips on using presets, setting up renders, and batch processing icons.
– Creating high-resolution and non-square icons.
– Adding layers such as backgrounds, frames, and banners to your icons.
– Enriching the Icon Creator Pro library with custom assets created in Photoshop.
**Pins for Libraries**
Simplify your workflow with quick access to your favorite assets using Pins for Libraries. Learn how to:
– Use keyboard shortcuts for storing items and assigning icons to your pins.
– Leverage the Product Data included script to keep your library organized and easily accessible.
– Store lists of products used in scenes for efficient future access.
– Integrate Pins for Libraries with other scripts for enhanced functionality.
You'll Learn To…
– Enhance your DAZ Studio workflow with expert tips and tricks from Mike D.
– Create and manage professional-quality icons for your assets.
– Efficiently back up, archive, and organize your scene files and presets.
– Use advanced techniques for creating custom library images and updating existing ones.
This is for You If…
– You want to streamline your workflow: Discover how to save time and effort by automating file management, icon creation, and library organization.
– You aim to enhance the visual appeal of your assets: Learn to create professional-quality icons that make your products stand out in the DAZ marketplace.
– You seek to optimize your asset management: Gain tips and techniques for efficiently backing up, archiving, and accessing your scene files and presets.
Join Mike D in this tutorial to transform your DAZ Studio experience and jump your asset management to a new level!
Tutorial Format and Running Time
– 1 hour 32 minutes
– MP4 video at 1920 x 1080
– Searchable version of video with optional captions. Search on any keyword or phrase.
Video 1 : 1 hour 32 minutes (.MP4)
00:01 Introduction: Highlights of how Mike D’s scripts provide advantages, emphasizing asset management and scene file organization to simplify workflows.
00:03 Mike D’s Background: Brief overview of Mike D’s academic background, teaching career, and his website.
00:05 Autosave Plugin Overview: Introduction to the Autosave plugin, its UI, and how it automatically saves scene files at specific intervals, ensuring work is not lost due to crashes or power outages.
00:07 How to Manage Scene Files: Demonstrates how to manage multiple scene files saved by the Autosave plugin, including grouping files and how to use icons to identify and organize assets.
00:09 New Script for Product Usage: Introduction to a new script that lists all products used in a scene, aiding in asset management and reuse.
00:11 Icon Creator Pro Introduction: Showcases Icon Creator Pro’s capability to create professional icons for assets, with tips on making high-resolution and non-square icons.
00:13 Pins for Libraries: Demonstrates the Pins for Libraries script, allowing for quick access to favorite folders or assets, enhancing workflow efficiency.
00:15 Autosave Panel Features: Further details on Autosave plugin features like incremental numbering, scene notes, and managing saved files directly from the plugin.
00:17 Managing Large Numbers of Files: Tips on handling numerous scene files, including grouping, selecting, deleting, archiving, and backing up files efficiently.
00:19 Advanced File Management: Discusses advanced options for selecting and managing scene files, using auto-select features, and grouping files for easier handling.
00:21 Backup and Archive Files: Explanation of the differences between deleting, archiving, and backing up files, and how to perform these actions using the Autosave plugin.
00:23 Setting Backup Intervals: Advice on setting appropriate autosave intervals based on file size and computer speed, ensuring smooth operation without hindering performance.
00:25 File Compression: Overview of file compression options in DAZ Studio and how they affect file management within the Autosave plugin.
00:27 Handling Large Files: Tips on managing large scene files and optimizing autosave times to balance performance and data protection.
00:29 Recommended Autosave Times: Mike D’s personal recommendations for autosave intervals based on his experience as a PA, adjusting times based on scene complexity.
00:31 Auto Save Plugin: Designed to be resource-efficient. Transition to creating icons for scenes and assets.
00:33 Creating Icons: Steps to create icons for scenes, assets, and props. Demonstrates loading a new scene and preparing assets for icon creation.
00:35 Changing Material Colors: Shows how to change colors of materials, such as shirts, using the Surface tab in DAZ Studio. Explains base color and diffuse overlay weight properties.
00:37 Saving Material Presets: Details the process of saving material presets, including choosing which properties to save to reduce file size.
00:39 Icon Creator Pro: Introduction to Icon Creator Pro, demonstrating how to create icons for the newly saved material presets. Uses Simple Icon Creation tab for basic icons.
00:41 Icon Creation Process: Shows how to select assets and use Icon Creator Pro to render icons for each asset. Explains the interface and preset creation.
00:43 Advanced Icon Creation: Brief introduction to Advanced Icon Creation tab for using multiple cameras and different images for icons and tips.
00:45 Adding Layers in Icon Creator Pro: Demonstrates adding layers like backgrounds and frames to icons using the Icon Creator Pro library. Shows how to move layers within the interface.
00:47 Rendering Icons: Uses Icon Creator Pro to render icons for multiple material presets, explaining the process and showing the results.
00:49 Enriching the Library: Explains how to enrich the Icon Creator Pro library with custom assets created in Photoshop, such as frames and banners.
00:51 How to create frames in Photoshop: Step-by-step process for creating a frame in Photoshop, including using guides and adjustment layers.
00:53 Saving and Using Frames: How to save frames as PSD and PNG files, and use them in Icon Creator Pro for custom icons.
00:55 Creating Banners in Photoshop: Demonstrates creating a banner for Genesis 9 in Photoshop, including text and color adjustments.
00:57 Saving and Using Banners: Instructions for saving banners and adding them to the Icon Creator Pro library. Shows how to apply them to icons.
00:59 Applying Custom Assets: Shows how to use newly created frames and banners in Icon Creator Pro to enhance icons. Explains the layering and rendering process.
01:01 Advanced Icon Creation Tab: Detailed explanation of the Advanced Icon Creation tab, including using multiple cameras and creating different images for main and tip icons.
01:04 Setting Up Cameras: Instructions on setting up multiple cameras for different views. One camera for the main icon and another for close-ups.
01:05 Icon Creator Pro: Using Icon Creator Pro to create presets in the Simple Icon Creation tab for each camera. Example of changing the shirt color and setting up the render cameras.
01:06 Creating Presets: Creating a preset for close-ups with additional layers like a black border and gradient background. Setting the render camera to focus on the cane.
01:07 Advanced Icon Creation Tab: Using the Advanced Icon Creation tab to create a main icon and a detailed tip. Combining different presets for the main thumbnail and the tip icon.
01:08 Rendering Icons: Demonstrating the rendering process with two cameras, one for the main icon and one for the close-up. Adjusting positions and scales for detailed tips.
01:09 Non-Square Tips: Explaining a trick to create non-square tips using specific camera dimensions and settings in Icon Creator Pro.
01:11 Setting Camera Dimensions: Setting local dimensions in the camera parameters to create non-square renders. Matching these dimensions in Icon Creator Pro.
01:13 Rendering Non-Square Tips: Rendering the icon with adjusted dimensions and explaining the necessary steps to avoid squeezed main icons.
01:15 Adjusting Icon Names: Renaming and managing files to ensure the correct display of non-square tips and main icons. Steps to refresh and view the updated icons.
01:17 Listing Used Products: Introduction to a new script for listing all products used in a scene. Demonstrating how to scan and list products, and write them to scene notes.
01:19 Using Pins for Libraries: Explaining how to store listed products in Pins for Libraries for easy future access. Integrating with the autosave plugin for enhanced scene management.
01:21 Saving Product Lists: Saving lists of products to text files and importing them into new scenes. Demonstrating how to use stored products and the efficiency it brings to workflow.
01:23 Adding Assets to Pins: Using keyboard shortcuts to add assets to Pins for Libraries. Managing and accessing stored products for quick retrieval.
01:25 Integration with Other Scripts: Discussing the integration of scripts like Autosave and Pins for Libraries. Benefits of having interconnected scripts to enhance functionality.
01:27 Personal Insights: Mike D shares personal experiences and motivations behind creating his scripts. Emphasizes the importance of addressing workflow needs and solving common issues faced by artists.
01:29 Development Process: Insights into the development process of the Autosave plugin and other scripts. Collaboration with colleagues and continuous testing to refine the tools.
01:31 Future Developments: Mention of potential future developments and continuous improvements based on user feedback and personal needs in the DAZ Studio workflow.
Documentation: (ProScriptsSearchableVersion.PDF)
Link to the searchable version of the tutorial (includes optional captions)
