Hi everyone, I recently bought poser 7 on sale...  Anyway, I haven't done much work with 3D in a long time, and figured, that at some point I would get back into it... 

So, for those of you that are still using Poser 7 are you generally happy with Poser 7?  Functionality, figures that come with it etc?  Just wondering.. Any info appreciated thanks...

I was happy with it until I saw P8. Like the new interface so much better. However When I was using 7 I liked it fine. It worked fairly well and was pretty stable.

P7 is a workhorse: it is stable, the features aren't obsolete at all, and I've had a few people tell me they've gone back to Poser 7 because of... a variety of reasons.

If you want to make the jump to something as stable and with the current features where everything pretty much just works, I'd invest that bit extra and get PP2010. That said, I still go back to P7 from time to time for certain scripts that only run in a previous-to-PP2010 version.

Ditto.  I gave P8 a good try, but couldn't make it run for more than a few minutes, kept running into unsolvable problems. 

Gave up and went back to P7 which has some limitations but never blows up.

Until thge release of Poserpo2010, I used Poser 7 and loved it. Stable.

I am very happy with Poser 7 - though I use the Poser Pro based off 7 mostly.  I would definately recommend heading over to RDNA and checking out some of the scripts and extensions by ShaderWorks (especially the P7 version of Advanced Render) - I have found these powerful and invaluable.  I also recomend a good batch render app for it, there are many to choose from out there - so you can do multiple renders succesively (since I use Pro I just uses the resident Queue manager for this).

Good stuff there, Kageryu. I had P7 and Ppro (P7)

I never liked Poser 7 and I don't remember why. I ended up using Poser 6 until Poser 8 came out (which didn't take all that long).

I enjoyed Poser 6.

7 is fine for me but I mostly use it as a plugin for Vue or 3DS Max :biggrin:

Quote - I never liked Poser 7 and I don't remember why. I ended up using Poser 6 until Poser 8 came out (which didn't take all that long).

I know a lot of Poser 6 and before users (5, 4, ProPack) did not take well to 7 as a vast majority of scripts, and some materials and figures, did not transfer well from earlier versions.  I still run into the odd scene I compiled on ProPack that does funny things when loaded into 7 (A few I ended up scrapping and rebuilding from the ground up as a result).  One script/Plugin that comes to mind is Metaform (works on all version up to 6, but because 7 uses new python methods it does not work properly) which is a shame as having native Metaballs in Poser was a nice thing.  It's sort of the same reason I am not fond of 8/2010, as once again they have changed python methods and it breaks a lot of nice scripts for 7/Pro - and not all vendors are willing to update, or even still making content (Daz Studio is having this issue with the new version 4 from what I understand too).

Quote - 7 is fine for me but I mostly use it as a plugin for vue and 3D studio max

Also an excellent point, I do similar sometimes with the Lightwave plugin, and I picked up Vue Complete for it's ability to import animated Poser Scenes, as well as import/export to Lightwave (would have gone XStream or Infinite, but it wasn't in the budget).  Great thing about exporting to Vue, you don't need the pro version or a plugin if you have the right verion of Vue to handle it.

P7 introduced multi-thread rendering.  It simply divided the doc window into halves or quarters, depending on the number of threads you specify.  Four was the max.  P8 and PP2010 render up to 32 threads, with the cores assigned buckets on a "next in line" basis.

If you model, this bit of trivia may be of help.  I've bought new P7 licenses in order to have P7 installed along with P8 (32bit systems) and PP2010 (64bit systems).  Sometimes P8 and PP2010 fail to properly import a new OBJ.  For any given OBJ, if P8 fails to import, then PP2010 will also fail, and vice versa.  I have yet to notice a common factor in the models which would allow me to predict -and thus avoid- import failure.  P7 will successfully import the OBJ every time.  If I then save the OBJ as a prop, or re-export it from P7 as a new OBJ, I can then use it in P8 and PP2010. Because of this, I keep P7 in use just to import OBJs.  I do all the setup and rendering in P8 or PP2010 because of their more efficient multi-thread assignment and their indirect lighting and gamma correction.

Poser 7 is great, rarely crashes, very stable after SR3, no major problems. Poser 8 on the other hand is a lemon, cannot render a scene with a single vicki clothed with no other senery without giving up. I really regret wasting money on it. On the plus side I don't dislike the library as much as I thought I would, but hate the docked windows, much prefer the old floating windows.

Quote - Sometimes P8 and PP2010 fail to properly import a new OBJ.  For any given OBJ, if P8 fails to import, then PP2010 will also fail, and vice versa.  I have yet to notice a common factor in the models which would allow me to predict -and thus avoid- import failure.

I was unaware that P8/Pro2010 had import problems of this nature. That is good to know for future reference, thanks.  Since I have lisences for P4 ProPack, P6, P7, Poser Pro, as well as Pro 2010 I do not forsee this causing me significant trouble.

Quote -  I do all the setup and rendering in P8 or PP2010 because of their more efficient multi-thread assignment and their indirect lighting and gamma correction.

Just for reference, the Advanced Render Settings I mentioned turn on hidden Global Ilumination in Poser 7/Pro, though it will slow down your renders (and if you are lucky enough to have Poser Pro, it has gamma correction and HDRI as well).

Quote - Sometimes P8 and PP2010 fail to properly import a new OBJ.  For any given OBJ, if P8 fails to import, then PP2010 will also fail, and vice versa.  I have yet to notice a common factor in the models which would allow me to predict -and thus avoid- import failure.  P7 will successfully import the OBJ every time.  If I then save the OBJ as a prop, or re-export it from P7 as a new OBJ, I can then use it in P8 and PP2010. Because of this, I keep P7 in use just to import OBJs. 

I still use Poser 6 to this day because of that little quirk! That and I use it everytime I run across an item with only an RSR file instead of a PNG thumbnail to convert the RSR.

now there's Pose2Lux, unless there's something show stopping in Poser 9/2011, I don't need to upgrade...

Agreeing with Magnus. SM are really going to have to pull out the stops on the next version. Even revamping the Material Room to include caustics and SSS is a bit too little, too late, since I already have that in other renderers. To be honest, I'm less motivated now to use (or create) elaborate shaders for Poser, since other renderers don't use them and have lighting and material features far superior to what Poser offers. So, Poser is back to being just a "posing" app. What might inspire me to upgrade is a revamp of the cloth room: don't care what the SM experts say: it's a mess.

I hope to see more development on export plugins to other renderers: I'd be investing in that!

Wow, this is a much greater response that I had ever imagined.  thanks to you all...  Thanks for the head's up on poser pro, but I'll start on Poser 7 just to get back in the swing of things...  So, until I actually feel the need for the next level, I'm sure that Poser 7 will work fine...  For those of you that may read this and still don't have Poser at all, Tigerdirect is selling Poser 7 for $29 dollars... 

Yep, there's another thread on that. A bit fiddly to purchase for those that don't have a TigerDirect Franchise in their country, though... wish they took Paypal like most civilised people do. :biggrin:

funny TD here in Canada do take Paypal...

I stand corrected, Kaibach:

What payment methods do you accept?- - - - - -

**We accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card, PayPal, wire transfers, Bill Me Later®, Google Checkout & eBillme, Tiger Gift Cards and money orders. We DO NOT CHARGE YOUR ACCOUNT until we have SHIPPED your order! Most personal and company checks may be held up to 10 business days for processing.**I was looking on another page, where it goes on about wire transfer etc etc etc, can't seem to find it now, dang. I know I didn't dream it. :blink:

ETA:

Here it is:

For all international orders, export, and distribution please contact our sales force at:

**800-800-8300
or
1-305-415-2201

**

Canadian orders can be placed online through our website, TigerDirect.ca.

International orders are subject to additional handling charges, higher shipping rates, and applicable customs, duties and taxes, all of which are the responsibility of the customer. Please be aware that many products' warranties do not provide coverage outside the US, and some products may not be exported under any circumstances due to manufacturers' restrictions or US law. TigerDirect.com makes no representations regarding warranty coverage, compatibility, or serviceability for products that are used outside the US. No international orders will be accepted by facsimile, postal mail, e-mail, or the TigerDirect.com web site. TigerDirect.com currently ONLY accepts international payment via wire transfers. International credit cards and checks are not accepted. Note: All wire transfer orders are subject to a $25 processing fee, except for those over $500, where the fee is waived.

I knew I didn't dream it. Oh, and since my Paypal account is linked to an international credit card, it wouldn't work.

you had me confused cos I paid for a USB network adaptor, Bluetooth USB dongle and Bluetooth headphones from them with paypal for xmas you see...

Well, TD do have an online presence in CA:

Canadian orders can be placed online through our website, TigerDirect.ca.

Not in AU. So, if I wish to purchase, I have to go with the ETA stuff, not the Paypal option.