The PhysicalSurface node serves as a middle ground between Firefly and Superfly. It performs adequately in Superfly when the texture nodes are arranged optimally. Nonetheless, the texture maps are not ideal, as Rhia has noted. The face texture map is not to my liking, but currently, it's the only option available. I plan to reconstruct the skin shader using Cycles and the Principled BSDF nodes to see if it yields any enhancements.

I tried a Cycles version. it is better, but there is something about the texture itself that I don't like. I totally get this is a base though but am concerned if this is a merchant resource--what will the derivatives form it look like?

I'm curious how yours will look like.

And I checked, the Dawn 2.0 page says she is compatible with Poser 11.2 and higher. I'm still trying to fit Dawn 1 clothes on her without them blowing up, too, but she takes dynamic clothes beautifully and poses well. I just personally think she wasn't quite ready and am a bit disappointed.

*whines* Subsurface radius values are messed up again, le sigh.

Let me know what you come up with pls, I'm about to give up.

The Superfly render features Dawn 2, with the left side utilizing Cycles and the Principled BSDF nodes, and the right side employing the base skin shader. All the scene lights have been disabled, and an HDR image is placed behind the construct.

The notable distinction between the two is the presence of the Fresnel effect on the left Dawn.

The Superfly render features Dawn 2, with the left side utilizing Cycles and the Principled BSDF nodes, and the right side employing the base skin shader. All the scene lights have been disabled, and an HDR image is placed behind the construct.

The notable distinction between the two is the presence of the Fresnel effect on the left Dawn.

*whines* Subsurface radius values are messed up again, le sigh.

Let me know what you come up with pls, I'm about to give up.

Rhia and hborre, I would love to see your material settings for the cycles setup at some point!

Here you go; it's ghostship2's Cycles shader for P13 published on the P13 forums here (I think it's stickied somewhere). I'm still trying to find the Subsurface Radius values that eliminate the faint blue undertones/ glow, but the subsequent updates to the software keep messing with the values, plus the Dawn2 skin gives me odd hues (so I probably need to play with the HSV values there too).

Current SSR values I use are 0.1, 0.1 and 0.1--a lot less than what I have for V4 skins.

(Redfilter node is a Separate RGB Cycles node. Bump2Normal is a Cycles Bump node.) SSS method is Random_walk_fixed.

Super curious about what hborre came up with!

This skin shader was assembled last night, utilizing the original maps that came with Dawn 2. Cycle nodes were exclusively used throughout to normalize the shader. The Subsurface radius values are displayed adjacent to their respective channels. The Subsurface Color derives from the chart previously posted, although it may be modified. Typically, I don't assign a color to that chip. This shader is a simplified version.

Note: The PrincipledBSDF node is a compound node tailored specifically for the Skin Shader. I utilized normal maps for the bump effects, which are connected to the Normal and Clearcoat Normal inputs. Clearcoat is incorporated into the shader. The Invert Node, a Cycles node, has replaced the Math node from the original shader. It governs the Roughness or the reflectivity of the skin texture. This adjustment is crucial because the original Specular map is excessively dark. Should you choose to use the Cycles image texture nodes, ensure the Extension is set to 'periodic'. Failing to do so, and selecting any other option in the Extension setting for the Eyewhite textures along with Cornea transparency, will result in black eyes.

@Rhia: The issue with Subsurface Scattering arises from the Redfilter node linked to your 'Surface'. Each RGB channel outputs a grayscale map derived from the original texture map. The intensity of the output varies with the selected RGB channel; the Red channel outputs a brighter map, while the Blue channel yields a darker one. The illustration below demonstrates this.

Connecting the Redfilter output to the Subsurface channel alters its value range from 0 to 1, according to the grayscale map. This results in excessively high values that can overwhelm your Scatter. To address this, disconnect the Redfilter node and lower the Subsurface value to an initial setting of 0.01. Then, adjust the Subsurface radius values to achieve a more varied scatter tint, as the current values may not provide the desired variability.

Since one hasn't been posted yet, here she is rendered in Daz Studio using Iray. No changes to surfaces, using 65% transparency for the skin, and using a HDRI for lighting.

The skin is a major improvement over Dawn SE, which rendered too red and waxy for my taste. I'm not a fan of the hair, looks like something made for V4.

I'm realizing I really don't have any content for her or her previous version, but found I have clones(!) for the SE which may help.

Thank you sir, that is much better.

You're welcome.  That looks much better.

I modified Dawn's skin to make it darker and reduce the contrast in the original skin texture. I used the Gwenith hair from V4 and applied Ghostship's hair system. However, I need to adjust the shader to make the hair highlights less bright.

I'm working on Eye and nail shaders/textures

Yayy! *poings*

Don't mind me while I experiment with outfits for the new girl, mostly raided from LF2's closet.

Now back to your regularly scheduled shader-talk...

Don't mind me while I experiment with outfits for the new girl, mostly raided from LF2's closet.

Now back to your regularly scheduled shader-talk...

eyes and nails done. I don't remember the process of how to post up a free item here. I'll have to look.

Very nice.  I like the nails.  The eyes look fantastic.

Gorgeous eyes... wow

 I don't remember the process of how to post up a free item here. I'll have to look.

Simple enough - there's a button in the Freestuff menu ;) 

OK freebe uploaded. Now we'll see if I get nit-picked

Thank you.  

I got a quick opportunity to look at the shaders and liked what I saw.  Great job.  

Could you explain why you have 2 HSV nodes in a single chain for the Iris and pupil?

hborre posted at 11:33 PM Mon, 23 September 2024 - #4489668

I got a quick opportunity to look at the shaders and liked what I saw.  Great job.  

Could you explain why you have 2 HSV nodes in a single chain for the Iris and pupil?

looks like my eyes are the first freebe out for Dawn 2.

hborre posted at 11:33 PM Mon, 23 September 2024 - #4489668

I got a quick opportunity to look at the shaders and liked what I saw.  Great job.  

Could you explain why you have 2 HSV nodes in a single chain for the Iris and pupil?

That is to give more options for iris color without having to create a new map in Photoshop. One HSV is before the color chip and one is after. They work differently depending on where you place them in the chain.

Sounds fun. Thank you for posting those up, I will play with them after work tonight.

@ Ghostship: For the nail shader. are we working with an actual object mesh?  If that is the case, using the translucentBsdf node is not practical since it was designed for flat plane use.  I notice that renders appear too bright.  I switched out the nodes for a PrincipledBsdf node and modified the settings.  Results below.  HDRI lighting only.

Material Room below:

@hborre idk. It works just fine on my system. I will are a look at it when I get home from work.

That double HSV thing is genius, gives infinite variations of spectacular hues and invites to experiment. Thank you so very much!

Grey eye mats:

Same grey eye mats with hue changed on both HSV, just randomly until I saw something I liked:

Wow. Thank you again.

@Rhia474 Welcome! Are you using the Eye PBR morph?

I may have forgotten to activate it, darnit. Lol. I will check. 

as far as the nails shader: How about this: Still uses my bump map. Make sure you change the scatter group on the PBSDF or you'll get that green boarder between the nails and the skin.

This portrait render exhibits a reddish-brown iris color with one change in the Material Room.  The V4 Ali hair was resized using the V4 Prefitter and Dawn's ears moved to fit the hair piece.  Ghostship's hair shader replaced the original hair texture.

I think the pre-fitter put some kinks in that hair. Couldn't you just re-size manually with dials?

I'm calling this one "ghostship2's awesome free eye materials for Dawn2 are up here."

I think the pre-fitter put some kinks in that hair. Couldn't you just re-size manually with dials?

ghostship2 posted at 9:01 PM Tue, 24 September 2024 - #4489709

@Rhia474 Welcome! Are you using the Eye PBR morph?

these are all looking great!

Are there any ethnic morphs/texture sets in the works for Dawn 2? Our girl needs variety! I also thought Cath (Mec4D) was going to release the Ava character and others for her? I would also like to see expression packs for her.

Cath's stuff is coming this month I believe. 

DeeceyArt posted at 6:01 AM Mon, 14 October 2024 - #4490319

Cath's stuff is coming this month I believe. 

Desiree for Poser's Dawn 2 (Character). Something I've been working on.

More of Desiree for Poser's Dawn 2 (Character).

More of Desiree for Poser's Dawn 2 (Character).

tchamberlain2 posted at 7:51 PM Fri, 6 December 2024 - #4491948

More of Desiree for Poser's Dawn 2 (Character).

All these renders present heaven and hell.
Heaven because of a highly realistic face, expressions and face materials,
and hell for a terrible, stylish, distorted body shape that breaks completly that well done work on the face.
Rework the body shape completly and it will be one of the best done characters in the "Poserverse".

Thank you for the feed back. My desire has always been to see someone make a Poser character to the likeness of or near quality as Genesis 8 (but for Poser). Being that the only way you can get G8 into Poser is with Dson Plugin. Trust me, that still has complications in usage after you bring her in Poser. So for a long time I tried to create realistic morphs on already made Poser characters but there was always some form of complication. However, Dawn 2 may just be the ice breaker. She is so flexible in morph creation in other programs (to enhance her). I would never equate myself to the Pro spline and Model creators here at rendos. I humbly say What you see here came from pure desire and failure to some success. If anyone want's to help take her further, I am fully open. In the end I just want a (what looks like) high end Genesis 9 (like) character in Poser. Maybe even for Poser 14.

Here is some updates and reworks on the Body. Parental Discretion:

Desiree walking: