Poser 6, a three-dimensional figure and animation software released by Smith Micro, includes a variety of built-in content such as figures, hair, and clothing. In addition to the software's default assets, a vibrant community of users has created and shared third-party freebies—often referred to as "freebies"—that expand the available library for Poser 6 users. These resources range from character morphs and clothing props to utility scripts and construction tools. Accessing these materials typically involves downloading files from community forums, personal websites, or archival wikis.
Included Content in Poser 6
Official documentation and user discussions confirm that Poser 6 comes packaged with a significant amount of content beyond the basic figures. According to a forum post regarding the software's official FAQ, Poser 6 includes multiple new hair models. Specifically, there are hair models categorized under "Hair:Kozaburo," which includes four models for the figure James and approximately a dozen for the figure Jessie. The same post notes that there is also hair available for the LaRoo2 figure, which is included with Poser 6, and hair for Alphaman by Sixus1. In addition to these specific categories, the software provides a mix of strand-based and transmapped hair models for the standard James and Jessie figures.
Clothing is another area where Poser 6 provides substantial content. According to the FAQ source, the software includes "lots of clothing items of all sorts." These items are often located under the "Props" directory within the Poser library, even if they are conforming clothing figures. The source suggests that the volume of included clothing is sufficient to prevent users from needing to wait for third-party items to populate their scenes. Furthermore, the figures included in Poser 6, such as James and Jessie, possess full body morphs. These morphs allow users to adjust the physical characteristics of the figures, such as body type, and are found within the figure directories (e.g., under Figures:James). Users can also access high or low-resolution versions of the figures, with or without genital geometry.
Community-Shared Freebies
The Poser community has long been a source of supplemental content for users of the software. Various websites and forums host collections of "freebies" created by independent artists. These resources often require users to manually download and install the files into their Poser libraries.
Character Figures and Morphs
Several free character figures and morphs compatible with Poser 6 are available through community archives. One such resource is a "low-poly 1940s scientist / investigator" figure designed for populating backgrounds. This figure, listed under "Figures | !DieselPunkUniverse | Character Male | Agent the Forties" in the library, is noted to have a poly count of just under 3,000, making it suitable for scenes with multiple instances. This figure is compatible with poses designed for the M3 figure and can accept M3 head morphs, such as "HdFrankentn," allowing for customization without increasing the polygon count.
Another free figure mentioned is "Slon," a character available from the Renderosity marketplace. A freebie set titled "Slon Imperial" provides clothing and props for this character. The set includes a conforming coat with skirt handles for posing, a hat, rings, and earrings. It also includes multiple texture sets.
Clothing and Props
Beyond the official content, community members share specific clothing items and props. For example, "QuickSuit" and "QuickDress" are utility items designed for various figures. A list of these utilities includes QuickSuit for the Poser 10 Roxie figure, QuickSuit for Smith Micro "G2" females (G2 Jessi, G2 Olivia, G2 Sydney), and QuickSuits for the Poser 6 children, Ben and Kate. There is also a QuickDress for the open-source "Project Human Female" and for the Smith Micro Miki 2 figure.
Piercing props are another niche category of free content. A set of "16 Piercing Props for David 3" was shared, noted to be set up in Poser 7 but with materials compatible with Poser 6. The props themselves are definitely compatible with Poser 6, though the source notes they were not tested for DAZ Studio. The set includes post earrings, which are placed differently than a comparable set for M3, though they are otherwise equivalent.
Utility Scripts and Tools
Utility scripts assist with technical aspects of scene creation. One example is "Duplicate and Scatter for Poser 12," a script intended for low-poly props. While labeled for Poser 12, the concept of using scripts to populate scenes is relevant to Poser 6 workflows. Another utility mentioned is the "FrameCounter" and "Gen 2 Joint Setting Poses" for older figures like Michael 1-2 and Victoria 1-2. A "Magic Tube" utility and "Magnets to fit V2 clothes to V3" are also listed in a utility directory. Additionally, "Mike 3 Tools" are mentioned, though specific details on their function were not provided in the source data.
Compatibility and Usage Notes
When utilizing third-party freebies, users must consider compatibility with Poser 6. Many freebies are created in newer versions of Poser or for different software entirely, such as DAZ Studio. However, community sources often provide guidance on compatibility.
- Materials: Some freebies include materials that may need adjustment. For instance, the "16 Piercing Props for David 3" source states that the materials should work in Poser 6, even though they were created in Poser 7.
- Figures: Free figures like the "Agent the Forties" are designed to work with existing pose libraries (e.g., M3 poses) and morphs, maximizing their utility for users with older content.
- Installation: Freebies are typically downloaded as ZIP files and must be extracted to the appropriate folders within the user's Poser library directory. For example, the "Slon Imperial" set includes .MC6 material files to avoid cluttering the Pose directory, though material poses are also provided.
Sources of Free Content
The Poser community relies on various platforms to distribute free content. These include: * Wikis: The "Poser and Daz Studio Free Resources Wiki" (miraheze.org) is cited as a repository for listing freebies, including texture sets and poses. * Forums: Websites such as DAZ 3D forums, Renderosity forums, and the "Morphography" website (via web archives) host discussions and links to free content. * Personal Websites: Individual artists, such as "cooltuna.com," host their own freebie collections, often created using tools like Silo, modo, and Photoshop.
Conclusion
Poser 6 users have access to a robust library of official content, including diverse hair models, clothing, and figure morphs. This core offering is significantly expanded by a community of artists who share free props, clothing sets, character figures, and utility scripts. While compatibility varies, many resources are designed to work with or be adapted for Poser 6. Users can find these resources on community wikis, forums, and personal artist websites.