How to Install Content for DAZ Studio

So, you’ve read my article about getting started with 3D art and DAZ Studio, but you aren’t quite sure where to go from there. Content can be acquired a number of ways. Both DAZ productions and Renderosity would prefer that you purchase your content, but you can get a number of free downloads from both sites. Anyway, finding content is one thing, but installing it is another. See, DAZ Studio is still a relatively new program and a lot of objects you’ll find were designed for Poser, a different 3D modeling program (Bryce and Carrara are more about landscape than figure renders). While the content you find for Poser will work with DAZ Studio, it does require a slightly different installation method. Below I will detail the two most common types of installation methods.

EXE Installer File

Most content downloads from DAZ productions come in the form of an exe installer file. This means that when you open the file in question, it will launch a special ‘installer’ program that will take you through the process step by step. This is the easier of the two methods of installation, but unfortunately only DAZ offers files like this, so you probably won’t see it very often. While you’re installing, be mindful of a few things: first you might want to choose not to create an uninstall shortcut. The purpose of this is to allow you an easy uninstall method for that one piece of content which can be accessed in your start menu. However, in practice, you build up so many of these that your start menu becomes bloated and cumbersome. I explain how to uninstall items below. The second thing you want to consider is the file path of the installation. Usually this will default to the proper folders, but just double check it every time to make sure it is going to your DAZ content folder in program files. Oh, and if Windows keeps asking whether or not to allow the installation to continue, it’s usually because there are added protections for .exe files. Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean the file has a virus. If you downloaded it from the DAZ website, it can be trusted. Follow the prompts and your installation is finished.

ZIP File

Generally every file from a source other than DAZ Productions, is in this format. Since you’ll probably be downloading a lot of free stuff from other sources, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with this one. You could go through the extraction process of ZIP folders, but I don’t trust it because often times the proper folder you need, isn’t the first one visible inside the zip folder, which means there is no guarantee that your content will go into the right place. Plus you tend to fill up your DAZ content folder with readme files and that can just be annoying. So the method I’ve developed is the following:

1^st- Locate your DAZ content folder. Generally it can be found by going to My Computer > Local C: > Program Files > DAZ > Studio > content. In the content folder you should see another folder called “runtime”. This is where you want to be. Don’t click on the runtime folder, just hang out there in the content folder for now.

2^nd- Locate the content you want to install. It may have been saved to My Documents > Downloads, or maybe you saved it somewhere else. In either case, find it and open the zip file until you locate a “runtime” folder inside.

3^rd- Select the runtime folder in the zipped file, then right-click and select copy. Then go back to the DAZ content folder and right click in any of the white space, then select paste. Windows will ask you if you want to replace the runtime folder already in there, say yes (you won’t lose any of your other files). Allow it to continue until it is finished.

And you’re done; now your content is available for use.

Locating your new content

While this has nothing to do with installing content, I feel it is important to mention; the new file you installed might not be labeled the way you expect it to be. Often times products are listed in the content window based on their creator, not necessarily what the object was. So it may take some searching to actually locate what you just installed. And there will be many instances where something didn’t, or can’t, install properly. Usually this happens when you install content intended for older versions of DAZ Studio and Poser. I’ve found that it’s easier to just delete the prop, rather than try to find a way to get it to work. These are complex programs with lots of folders filled with content. Proceed at your own risk.

Uninstalling Content

If you decided to ignore my advice for the DAZ content, then you can select uninstall from the long list you now have in your start menu. If you didn’t ignore my advice, or you installed a non DAZ product, you’ll need to physically go into the DAZ folder to delete what you don’t want. Basically just head back into the content folder and start looking around. You may have to reference the original Zip file (if you still have it) to see exactly what was installed. I also believe you can delete something from within DAZ Studio simply by right clicking the object and going to ‘delete’. It will prompt you with a dialogue box that asks if you want to delete the file. In this instance you could delete as you go, rather than needing to hunt it down in the DAZ folder. Be mindful not to delete things that you don’t know the purpose of. Many objects and figures have multiple pieces and if you delete any one of them it will cause the overall content not to work. So, try to stick with things you are certain you don’t need.

A few links where you can download free content:

Renderosity
Select “free stuff” from the menu along the top of the page. It requires a membership, but signing up is also free.

DAZ 3D
Select “3D models” from the menu along the top of the page, then “free models” from the menu on the left side of the page. It requires a membership, but signing up is also free.

Most Digital Creations
Membership not required to download free content.