but once they find they can't add  the very tatts their friends have or the long hair they have paid for and downloaded

Hi Gerry



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Thank you, that was most informative and useful!

Everything evolves in steps. Here is a simple method to use the AE and then convert to DH shaders.


You can then apply Headshot to the existing character.

Thanks but as this confuses me more I feel I need to yet again repeat myself! The only way I know to move something is with the 'pivot' gizmos. If I build a set and import a CC3 avatar it is standing at x and looking at y, I want to change both these so I use move and rotate. Both these gizmos are stuck at the feet so this needs to be done at a distance as I can't move the gizmo higher (an issue that now seems to have an unresolved history). I am told 'no problem use the mouse' - sorry??? Using the mouse gets rid of any dependency problems? Can you see why I said from the very start that I find this odd?
Thanks for the info on the Appearance Editor and it is this very way of going about things that has made me reconsider using RL. It is pushing for skin shading before building a really powerful base. Headshot has possibly attracted hundreds of new users, many just wanting to do fun memes of friends, but once they find they can't add  the very tatts their friends have or the long hair they have paid for and downloaded goes mental from the very start then they will walk. RL needs to think of an out-the-box edition and a pro-edition because until I can get hair and clothes to quickly work on a character I am not interested in showing every sweaty pore. What is the point? How much will the hardware cost to do all this?

@justaviking Thanks for that! I feel like I am going mad explaining this small but pertinent issue. Love the screwdriver analogy someone posted!

It sounds like you're looking for some functionality I requested nearly 4 years ago (April 2016).
https://www.reallusion.com/FeedBackTracker/Issue/Option-for-a-Floating-Gizmo-to-be-in-center-of-viewport

That request has comments with links to a couple other related Feedback Tracker issues.

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iClone 7... Character Creator... Substance Designer/Painter... Blender... Audacity...
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But it is the same for props. You would not normally move the pivot to place the prop. So if it is a large prop you will need to use other measures. The reason why you would leave pivots alone is that there may be dependencies, for example with sub-props.

The existing Appearance Editor is not compatible with CC3 characters, which is how tattoos etc. are applied to the skin. The choice at the the time was to either delay the introduction of CC3 characters and dispense with the improved quality or delay a compatible AE. I don't work for RL, but they must have had ideas for improved skin, etc. a while ago, which asked for a different approach to the AE, which could not be further developed without the new digital human shader actually being there. So it is not a matter of "taking away functionality" in this case, it was a matter of applying development resources efficiently. 

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Thanks again. I am fully aware of using the preview camera to 'position' the asset in a frame but as I said, I am concerned on the difficulties of positioning the asset within a set, so to get him to go behind a table, slightly more to the left of the sofa etc. This is done with the pivot move gizmos and they can only be at the feet of the asset and not elsewhere. I now know about switching them off and using the mouse but I find it extraordinary that the gizmo itself can not be moved chest high. If my asset were a tree - no problem!!!
 

An addition to my post above.

When using the Preview camera to position any asset in a scene it helps if the main/recording camera is selected in the Mini Viewport and that this is open to ensure proper adjustment for the final scene.


Gerry

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System: Win 10 Pro (21H2), Asus X99-E WS, CPU i7-5930K -3,5 GHz, 32 GB DDR4 2666-16 RAM, NVidia GTX 1080 Ti GPU - 11 GB VRAM(Driver Studio-536.99), Samsung 850 Pro 512 GB SSD, 6 TB HD storage.

The Preview camera does not create key frames, or any other control points, on the Timeline in iClone. When making a movie one needs to add a camera from the "Create" menu that will be used to record the scene. It is also possible, and very helpful, to create a number of cameras to record the scene from different angles. When using a new camera the user can select settings such as Focal length, Depth of Field, motion etc.. Any motion such as zooming in and out, rotating etc. while a camera is selected will be recorded and added as key frames on the Timeline.

To make position adjustments to any and all assets in a scene it is best to always just use the Preview camera and any rotating, zooming etc. will not be recorded, it is then possible to return to the "Main" camera to continue recording the scene.


Gerry

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System: Win 10 Pro (21H2), Asus X99-E WS, CPU i7-5930K -3,5 GHz, 32 GB DDR4 2666-16 RAM, NVidia GTX 1080 Ti GPU - 11 GB VRAM(Driver Studio-536.99), Samsung 850 Pro 512 GB SSD, 6 TB HD storage.