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Official 03. VaM2: Importing Textures Tutorial

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VaM2: Importing Textures Tutorial

Introduction


Welcome to the VaM2 Importing Textures Tutorial. To follow this guide, you should understand Windows, Daz Studio 4.24, Unity version 6000.1.11f1, and an image editor like Photoshop. This guide assumes you have already installed Unity, Daz3D including the required base assets, and set up the Public Addon Kit. If you have not set up the AddonKit yet, please follow the "Public AddonKit Tutorial" first.

This tutorial is a step-by-step walkthrough of how to quickly import your first Figure Texture set from Daz3D. Note: Texture sets currently work only with Daz3D Genesis 8 Female or Male UV sets.

Setup your Skin folder


Naming your Skins folder


After opening and setting up the AddonKit within Unity, navigate to the Project tab and locate the subfolder "UserArea".

The "UserArea" folder is where you will keep all of your work folders. This folder is reserved for your work and will not be changed by future updates.

Within the UserArea you can create custom folders and subfolders. This is how you will personally organize your addons. For the purposes of this tutorial, we will simply create a subfolder called "Skin Addon".

image22.png


Remember: folder and file names will appear in the final addon export.
The following is how we will be organizing our official assets for release in VaM2, and so we recommend following our example below when you plan to officially release or share an addon:

image3.png


In our example, the top folder specifies that this contains a "VaM2Addon" for the "G8Female" with your character's name at the end. In this case the Female character is named "Victoria" and the Male character is named "Michael".

Each figure type has its own folder to indicate what model the textures are for. Currently we only have 2 versions of each sex. One with genitals and one without. In this case that would be:
  • FigureG8Female = Genesis 8 Female with no genitals
  • FigureG8FemaleGPGens = Genesis 8 Female with the Golden Palace Genitals
  • FigureG8Male = Genesis 8 Male with no genitals
  • FigureG8MaleDTGens = Genesis 8 Male with Dicktator Genitals

Lastly, the name of your character. In this case "Victoria" or "Michael".


Templates


After opening and setting up the AddonKit within Unity, navigate to the Project tab and locate the subfolder "\Assets\Create\Templates".
Copy the folder "SkinG8FemaleBodyTemplate" into the "Assets\UserArea\Skin Addon" subfolder that we created.
Important: Do not replace or delete any files inside the original template folders.

image19.png


Be sure to rename the copied template folder using our above suggestions guide. Important: The included "scene" file should not be renamed.

Texture Naming convention


The VaM2 Addonkit has an automated process for setting texture properties, creating shaders and then applying them to the Figure.
The script uses regular expressions (RegEx) to identify and apply textures automatically.
For this quickstart we will be focusing on importing Daz3D textures which use a specific naming convention and which the default RegEx within the addonkit are set to recognize.

image17.png


The naming convention for Daz is traditionally formatted like this:
<Character Name>_<Body Part>_<type>_<UV Tile>

  • <Character Name> = This would be the name of your character, in this example "Victoria8".
  • <Body Part> = This is where the texture is applied, Face, Torso, Arms, and Legs. This also applies to the shader names.
  • <Type> = This identifies what type of texture it is:
    "D" = Diffuse
    "NM" = Normal
    "B" = Bump
    "S" = Smoothness
    "SSS" = Subsurface Scattering​
  • <UV Tile> = Corresponds to the UV grid location of that material on the 3D model.
    Face = 1001
    Torso = 1002
    Legs = 1003
    Arms = 1004​

Note: If your textures follow this naming format, the AddonKit will detect and process them automatically.


Copy your textures into Unity


Locate and copy your textures into the "Materials" folder of your newly created Skin folder inside Unity.

image14.png


Locating Daz3D textures


To find your figure’s textures in the Daz3D Content Library:
  • Apply the texture set to the base figure
  • Select the Figure's root node and open the "Surfaces" panel
  • Navigate to "Genesis 8 Female" -> "Surfaces" -> "Arms"

image24.png


Click on the "Base Color" texture for "Arms"
Click on "Browse"

image7.png


This opens a file browser showing the folder where the textures are stored on your computer. From here you can copy the folder location.

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Alternatively you can use the DIM (Daz Install Manager) to locate your installed files by clicking on the icon on the right of your installed asset and selecting the "Show Installed Files" option.

image20.png


Populating your Textures


You are now ready to import your first texture set. Open the Scene file within the Skin template we copied to the UserArea.

image8.png


Select the "CombinedImporter" within the Scene Hierarchy.

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First, we will address the addon path field marked in red.

image23.png


Click on the folder icon to the right of the addon path field.

image21.png


If your Preferences are set correctly, clicking the folder icon will open the correct location in the VaM2 folder automatically.

Select the following path within your VaM2 install folder:
Code:
"Addons\MeshedVR\FigureG8Female\1.0"

Select the "Figure8Female" in the Addon Asset Name dropdown.

image6.png


Then under "Attach To Compatibility ID" select "G8FemaleMeshGroup".

image12.png


Your "CombinedImporter" should now look like this:

image2.png


The scene should now include a "FigureG8Female" model where the textures will be applied.

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With the "CombinedImporter" selected, click the "Populate Textures" button to apply the texture settings.

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A process will happen where the textures within the "Materials" have the appropriate settings applied.

Importing your Textures


Now click on the "Import" button.

image13.png


Now the shaders are created and your textures are added to them. The new shaders will be grouped into a "SkinVictoria" addon and linked to the figure in the scene.

image1.png


Adding Tags


The "CombinedImporter" still shows some red fields that be completed. The Curated Tags section is where you can import tags from our curated list or add your own.

Click "Auto Add" to insert tags from the curated list automatically.

image15.png


In this instance "g8", "female", and "skin" have been added.

image11.png


Type "Victoria" in the "Add Custom Tag" box, then click "Add" to include it.

image4.png


Adjusting your textures


The "SkinReferenceMaterial" controls the settings for the "Arms", "Face", "Legs" and "Torso". Changes made here are applied to all parts when pressing the "Import" button.

image9.png


Build your Addon


Select the "AddonCreator" within your scene. Set your Creator Name and select a license before building the addon. In this screenshot I have added my Creator Name "VaMDeV".

image16.png


Click on the "Build Addon" button.

image10.png


Click to confirm both pop-up messages that appear.

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This "Addressable Report" popup will reappear until you click "yes" to enable the "Debug Build Layout".


image12.png



Once the process completes you will see that the "Build Addon" window will change and resemble this.

image31.png


The "Deploy To Folders" should have the path to the locations specified in your Preferences.

Sixth: Deploy and Test your Textures.


image31a.png


Click on the "Deploy Addon" and open VaM2. Your newly created Addon should now be available.

Skin-VaM2.png


Conclusion


This tutorial is a short guide to help you create your first texture set addon.
 
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