Using the Figure Metrics Script

2019-03-04T23:06:48+00:00

Using the Figure Metrics Script

Summary

Figure Metrics is an add-on script for Measure Metrics that allows you to quickly see and customize the measurements of your figure. Need your figure to be a curvy “36-26-38”? Enter your desired measurements into the form and the figure changes to meet those measurements. Want to adjust the figure's height? Enter that measurement and go.

The great thing about Figure Metrics, is that it will work on any figure with Measure Metrics nodes. You are not limited to the Genesis series alone. Measure the DAZ Horse 2, or Michael 4. You can even save presets to re-use later.

Process Overview

In order to use the Figure Metrics script, you will need a figure with at least one associated [distance based] Measure Metrics node, in your scene. The Figure Metrics content includes several presets to get you started. Below is a step by step guide that makes use of the included content. We'll also show you how to create your own.

It is recommended that you be familiar with navigating DAZ Studio, and how to use Measure Metrics. If you need a refresher, please see the Using Measure Metrics article. This article will cover the following:

Figure Metrics Requirements
Using Figure Metrics
Customizing Figure Metrics

Figure Metrics Requirements

In order to use the Figure Metrics script, you must first be using DAZ Studio version 4.6.2.118 (or higher). You will also need to have the Measure Metrics plugin installed, as Figure Metrics depends on new node types provided by the plugin in order obtain the measurements of your figure.

The Figure Metrics package provides the following:

The Figure Metrics script
The Figure Metrics Cleanup script
Wearable(s) Presets for Measuring:
- Genesis
  - Female (Basic, Standard)
  - Male (Basic, Standard)
- Genesis 2 Female (Basic, Standard)
- Genesis 2 Male (Basic, Standard)
- Genesis 3 Female (Basic, Standard)
- Genesis 3 Male (Basic, Standard)
- Genesis 8 Female (Basic, Standard)
- Genesis 8 Male (Basic, Standard)
Pose Presets for Measuring:
- Genesis
- Genesis 2 Female
- Genesis 2 Male
- Genesis 3 Female
- Genesis 3 Male
- Genesis 8 Female
- Genesis 8 Male
Metadata

Using Figure Metrics

Usage of the Figure Metrics script is fairly simple. We have included several presets to get you started.

Let's begin with loading a figure. In our example, we have loaded Genesis 2 Female.
With the figure selected, apply a Wearable(s) Preset from the “Utilities > Measure Metrics” category of your Smart Content pane, or the “People > Genesis 2 Female > Measure Metrics” folder in your Content Library pane. In either case, you can choose between:
- Measure Genesis 2 Female - Basic - This will give you 3 Tailor Tape nodes for the typical Bust, Waist and Hip circumference measurements, as well as a Tape Measure node for Height.
- Measure Genesis 2 Female - This option gives you more advanced measurements, using a combination of Tape Measure, Tailor Tape and Compound Measure nodes, to highlight 25 distinct areas of the figure.

You will also see a “Pose” preset - provided for those instances where you are creating your own measurement rigs. It is a simple base pose used for easy measuring of the figure. This pose is applied to your figure by default when you use any of the included Wearable(s) Presets.

Once you have applied the preset of your choice, you will have access to the various measurement nodes in the Measure Metrics pane, as well as the Scene pane. Refer to the Measure Metrics article if you need more information on using the base plugin.

Continue on to the next section to learn how to change your figure's measurements to the customized values you choose.

Customizing Figure Metrics

Step 1: Setting up the Figure

Figure Metrics allows us to set measurements and create custom presets. To do this, we will first need a figure. We are using Genesis 2 Female for our example.

Load Genesis 2 Female
Apply the “Measure Genesis Female - Basic” Wearable(s) Preset to the figure found in “Utilities > Measure Metrics” on your Smart Content pane, or “People > Genesis 2 Female > Measure Metrics” in the Content Library pane.

You should see the following nodes in the Measure Metrics pane, as well as the Scene pane. You may need to expand the listview in the Scene pane to see everything.

01. Height
02. Bust Circumference
03. Waist Circumference
04. Low Hip Circumference

Note: The nodes will be parented to your figure, and show the figure's current measurements. By default, these will be set to centimeters (cm). You can change the unit of measure to whatever you are comfortable using. You may also notice, applying the preset changes the figure's pose to a neutral one, suited for measuring.

Next, launch the Figure Metrics script found in the “Utilities > Measure Metrics” category of your Smart Content pane, or in “Scripts > Utilities” in the Content Library pane.

Once you run the script, you should have access to a dialog like the one to the left, which is where you will set and customize your figure's measurements. The sort order of the nodes listed will follow the sort order of the Measure Metrics pane.

Keep in mind, if you have any nodes “hidden” in the Measure Metrics pane, they will also be hidden in the script's dialog as well. This can help keep things from becoming cluttered if you are using a large number of nodes in your project. This works the other way as well. If you are missing nodes you expect to see when you run the script, make sure you didn't previously hide them. If so, you will need to close the script, un-hide the appropriate node(s) and re-run the script.

Step 2: Adjusting the Measurements

Now we are ready to adjust our figure's measurements. If you try to change measurements at this point, nothing will happen. You need to check the box next to each measurement you want to adjust (or keep).

Before we do this, let's switch to the “Configuration” page and inspect the setup. Notice that each “node” and it's corresponding “property” have a value.

For 01. Height, the node is set to “Genesis 2 Female”, and the property is set to “Scale”

For 02 Bust Circumference, the node is set to “Genesis 2 Female”, and the property is set to “Actor > Upper Body > Chest > Real World > Measure Metrics > (Bust Circumference)“

For 03 Waist Circumference, the node is set to “Genesis 2 Female”, and the property is set to “Actor > Upper Body > Waist > Real World > Measure Metrics > (Waist Circumference)“

For 03 Low Hip Circumference, the node is set to “Genesis 2 Female”, and the property is set to “Actor > Lower Body > Hip > Real World > Measure Metrics > (Low Hip Circumference)“

Note: If you check the ”Advanced Options” option, you can set tolerance values to further tweak your measurement accuracy.

Once you are finished looking around, simply move your cursor away from the popup window, and you will be back on the main Configuration page. Go ahead and switch back to the “Measurements” page now. If you create your own nodes, you will need to set each measurement property like we saw on the “Configuration” page, or you will not get a check box or be able to edit that measurement. Now let's edit our measurements:

Check the boxes next to Height and Bust Circumference
Change the height from 179.32cm to 175.25cm
Change the Bust Circumference from 87.14cm to 91.44cm
Check the un-changed Waist and Hip boxes as well - this will ensure the script knows we want these to ”remain the same” as it calculates the changes to the other measurements. If you do not care about the measurement of a particular node, and it's affect on the overall figure, you can leave the box un-checked.
Click “Accept”

Notice that our figure got slightly shorter, and has a larger bust line. You can adjust any measurement on your figure following these same steps. Add Measure Metric nodes, configure their properties and adjust the measurements.

Step 3: Saving Presets

If you have a preset you want to use over again in the future, then save it out in the Figure Metrics script window.

Set up your desired measurements
Click the “Save” icon next to ”Select a Measurement Preset…”
Name your preset and click “Accept”

You will now have a preset in the drop-down that you can quickly apply whenever you want. This is good when you have a set up you want to use in a different project. Or when you have a character preset and want to use a different measurement set. Instead of saving several copies of a character, each with the same measurements, just save the preset and apply it to any character you are using.

Wrap Up

Figure Metrics is a useful tool for creating customized figures based on precise measurements. By saving out presets, you can use same measurement nodes for other figures. Using Figure Metrics hand-in-hand with the powerful Measure Metrics plugin gives you the ability to find and apply measurements consistently throughout your projects.

Return links:

Documentation Center public:software:dazstudio:4:referenceguide:plugins:measure_metrics:using_the_figure_metrics_script

Using the Figure Metrics Script

Using the Figure Metrics Script

Summary

Process Overview

Figure Metrics Requirements

Using Figure Metrics

Customizing Figure Metrics

Step 1: Setting up the Figure

Step 2: Adjusting the Measurements

Step 3: Saving Presets

Wrap Up