How do I get started with Poser?

How do I get started with Poser is a common question, so it's only natural that you may feel overwhelmed or lost with Poser at first. The good news is that Poser 7, Poser 8, and Poser Pro 2010 pretty much uses the same user interface with the exception of the new library organizer found in Poser 8 and Poser Pro 2010.  Going through the steps on this page will make your learning process easier.

Poser has a tons of features that you can use to create your 3D art, so the first thing that you want to do as a beginner is to simplify Poser's user interface by only showing what you need.  This works for both Poser 8 and Poser Pro 2010. Steps on how to do this are below:

Step 1: Look at the menu bar at the top of your Poser application and look for the Window Menu.

Step 2: Click on Window and make sure that only these items are checked: Libraries, Camera Controls, Light Controls, and Parameter Dials. Your Poser Window Menu should look like the image below. Click on image to enlarge.

Now your user interface is set up in a way that will allow your mind to focus only on the beginner stuff.  Much of the frustration that people get when trying to learn Poser is because they are trying to learn too much at once.  By setting up your user interface this way, you are forcing your mind to only focus on the basics that you'll need to learn in order to build the foundation in which you'll build your intermediate and advance skills on.

After Setting Up The User Interface: Organizing Your 3D Content / 3D models

Organizing and storing 3D content / 3d Models is the next step because there's a lot of 3D content / 3D models out there so it's better to be organized from the beginning.  Follow these 3 Rules to organizing your 3D content / 3D models and your life will be easier.

Rule #1: Create a folder where you will store all of your 3D content / 3D models.   You can save some time by downloading our zipped folder structure that provides folders for saving your downloaded 3D models with folders for your bases, hair, clothing, character skin textures, props and more.

Rule #2: Every 3D model item that you download must go into the appropriate category folder and it must have an individual folder named after it.  For example,  If you are downloading  Daz3D's Space Dweller for M4, Then you'll need to create a new folder under Michael 4/Clothing/ and name the new folder Space Dweller for M4.  After you have created this new folder you'll need to save the pictures of this clothing and then finally, download the 3D Content files.  Saving the pictures allows you to see what your 3D content looks like before you actually install it.  This may sound strange, but if something were to happen that requires  you to reinstall the content, then knowing what the content looks like before you install it helps.  The more content you have the more useful this becomes.  Besides it makes finding your downloaded content easier.  The zipped folder structure provided should make this process much easier and faster for you. Feel free to rename the 3D model folders as you see fit.

Rule #3: Back up your 3D content / model.  Every so often back up your 3D content.  There's nothing like the feeling on losing all of the 3D content that you invested in because of a computer hard drive crash.  External Drives are the same.  Backups should be made on DVD or CD.  Popular programs like Roxio digital media software and Nero take the pain out of backing files.

You're now ready to install your content on your computer.  There are two places where you can install your content.   You can install to the Poser download folder or you can install outside of the Poser Folder (referred to as an external runtime).   Please see our External Runtime Instructions if you decide to install your content.  You can use our folder structure or you can create your own.  For the purpose of starting with Poser, we will just continue as if we are only installing into Poser's download folder.

Installing 3D content into Poser

If you have done everything that we have listed so far, then you are in great shape, so let's install some 3D content.  There are two ways that you can install content and both ways require you to give the folder that you want to install the content into.

Daz3d uses an installation file to install 3D content into your Poser.  To start this process run the installation file, and when asked select Poser.  Then when asked to choose which folder to download into then choose the "Download" folder found within your Poser directory.  This folder location may appear by default.  Daz3D gives installation files for use on PC and Mac operating systems.  Make sure you choose the correct operating system (PC or Mac) and be sure to only get the installation file for only Poser.

Renderosity and RuntimeDNA uses zipped files to install 3D content.  The files can be installed directly through Poser by clicking on the Content Tab found in Poser and then clicking the button that says "Install From ZIP Archive."   Poser will then ask where you would like to install your 3D content and will show the default Poser Download folder.  If it doesn't then you'll need to browse and select it.  If it is already selected then click on install and the zipped files will be sent  to the correct locations. Now you are truly ready to try the beginner tutorials or Workshop DVDs at Poser By Design .

Daz Studio Installation Walk Through

A Daz3d Platinum Club membership is recommended if you don't already have one. The membership will make buying 3d models affordable for you.  It allows you to buy  high quality 3D models for $1.99 and sometimes less.

Step 1: Download 3d model from Daz3d

Sign in your Daz3D account and go to your available downloads page.  Your download page will have all of the available 3d model downloads available for your operating system and 3D rendering software. Poser users will need to select either Mac or PC download depending on the type of computer you are using.  Daz3d Studio users will select the file for Daz3d Studio file file for the appropriate operating system.  Sample download page from Daz3d members download. Click on the image for larger size.

Step 2: Run the installation file

Daz3d uses installation files to put the 3d models in the correct folder.  Run this installation file and you'll see a similar message as the one shown below. Note if you are using Windows 7 then you may get a message stating that Administrator permission is required to install the program.  If so then simply click on yes or enter the administrator password.  If you haven't set a Password on the computer then just click yes.  The message comes up whenever a program is trying to install. This is a windows protection feature that notifies you when a program is trying to install.

Step 3:  Create or Don't create an Uninstaller

This next screen will ask if you want to create and uninstaller.  If you are using multiple external runtime folders (similar to the runtime folders we offer) then an uninstaller won't be necessary.  If you are installing content on the computer's hard drive then it's recommended that you create an uninstaller that will give you the ability to remove 3d models from the computer.

Step: 4 Choose the 3d rendering software that you are installing it to

After you have accepted the user license agreement, you'll be asked to choose the 3d software content that you want to install the content to.  Be sure you are using the correct installation and selecting the matching software that you are installing it for.  The newer installation files say Poser All Files while some older installation may ask you to choose different Poser versions.  As a Poser user you'll need to choose Poser All Files

Step 5: Choose the installation path (pick the folder where you'll install the files to)

You'll need to choose the folder where you want to install the content to.  If you are using an external runtime folder or the one that we offer then you'll need to install the files to the appropriate folder.

NOTE: Windows 7 has two types of programs folders that are based on the type of operating system; one for 32-bit (x86) computers and one for 64-bit computers.  The category that your computer and software falls under will be automatically selected.  If you are using an external runtime folder then neither one of those will apply since you will be installing the contents in a folder outside of the Poser folder.

The process of installing zip files is similar with the exception that the process is done through the Content Tab within Poser.  After clicking the install from zip file button, you'll be asked to choose an installation path.