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".
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:
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.
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.
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.
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"
Click on the "Base Color" texture for "Arms"
Click on "Browse"
This opens a file browser showing the folder where the textures are stored on your computer. From here you can copy the folder location.
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.
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.
Select the "CombinedImporter" within the Scene Hierarchy.
First, we will address the addon path field marked in red.
Click on the folder icon to the right of the addon path field.
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.
Then under "Attach To Compatibility ID" select "G8FemaleMeshGroup".
Your "CombinedImporter" should now look like this:
The scene should now include a "FigureG8Female" model where the textures will be applied.
With the "CombinedImporter" selected, click the "Populate Textures" button to apply the texture settings.
A process will happen where the textures within the "Materials" have the appropriate settings applied.
Importing your Textures
Now click on the "Import" button.
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.
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.
In this instance "g8", "female", and "skin" have been added.
Type "Victoria" in the "Add Custom Tag" box, then click "Add" to include it.
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.
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".
Click on the "Build Addon" button.
Click to confirm both pop-up messages that appear.
This "Addressable Report" popup will reappear until you click "yes" to enable the "Debug Build Layout".
Once the process completes you will see that the "Build Addon" window will change and resemble this.
The "Deploy To Folders" should have the path to the locations specified in your Preferences.
Sixth: Deploy and Test your Textures.
Click on the "Deploy Addon" and open VaM2. Your newly created Addon should now be available.
Conclusion
This tutorial is a short guide to help you create your first texture set addon.
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