The process of moving a head from FaceGen to Genesis 9 involves three distinct phases: Generation, Export/Transfer, and Integration.
FaceGen’s default lighting model works best for mid-range skin tones. If you are generating darker skin tones, you will notice the specular highlights are blown out.
Fix: Immediately lower the "Glossy Layered Weight" in the G9 surface tab from 1.0 to 0.65. Then, add a purple/blue tint to the Subsurface Scattering color. This instantly removes the "plastic" look.
This is where many users hit a wall. You cannot simply "drag and drop" a FaceGen OBJ onto Genesis 9 without a morph target.
Yes. FaceGen for Genesis 9 is currently a "power user" workflow, not a one-click install. It requires manual topology matching, shader baking, and sculpting touch-ups.
However, the reward is astronomical. You can take a photo of a friend, a historical figure, or a celebrity reference and have a fully animatable, Genesis 9 native character ready for animation or still render in under 30 minutes.
The future is bright; Singular Inversions has hinted at a "Gen 9 Native" exporter in their roadmap. Until then, the Transfer Utility method reigns supreme. Master the bridge between FaceGen and Genesis 9, and you will never be limited by stock 3D heads again.
Do you have a specific FaceGen error when exporting to Genesis 9? Check the Daz Studio log file (Help > Troubleshooting > View Log) for "Vertex count mismatch" errors—that is the most common Gen 9 hurdle.
To generate full content for Genesis 9 (G9) using FaceGen Artist Pro, you must use version 3.33 or higher (specifically FaceGen Artist Pro V4), which introduced native support for G9 meshes and textures. facegen for genesis 9
The process creates a high-fidelity head morph and corresponding texture maps specifically optimized for the Genesis 9 dual-node system (head and mouth). Step-by-Step Workflow How to use FaceGen Artist Pro – Part 1 of 3
Using FaceGen for Genesis 9 allows you to transform photographs of real people into highly detailed 3D character morphs and textures within Daz Studio. This capability is primarily found in FaceGen Artist Pro, which has been updated to natively support the Genesis 9 figure's unique mesh and UV layout. Key Features of FaceGen Artist Pro for Genesis 9
Photo-to-3D Conversion: You can generate a 3D face from a single front-facing photo or use up to three photos (front and profiles) for higher accuracy.
Native Genesis 9 Support: The software creates specific shape and color controls that affect both the head and mouth parts of the Genesis 9 figure.
Comprehensive Customization: Beyond the initial photo import, you can adjust over 150 attributes, including age, gender, ethnicity, and fine-tuned facial features.
Improved Color Mapping: Recent updates have simplified the application of color maps for Genesis 9, including better eye coloring and diffuse/SSS (sub-surface scattering) maps essential for Iray rendering. How to Use FaceGen with Genesis 9
Prepare Your Photos: Use passport-style images with neutral expressions and even lighting. Avoid hair covering the face, as it may be baked into the texture.
Import and Landmark: Load your images into FaceGen Artist Pro. For a single photo, the software uses automatic point placement; for multiple photos, you may need to manually place markers on key features like the eyes and chin. The process of moving a head from FaceGen
Generate and Refine: The AI creates a 3D morph. You can then use "Tween" features to blend character shapes or "Genetic" tools to create subtle variations. Export to Daz Studio: Set the Genesis Generation to 9 in the export settings. Specify your Daz Content Library path.
FaceGen will save the morph and textures directly into your Daz directories.
Finalize in Daz Studio: Load a base Genesis 9 character and find your custom morph under the Parameters or Shaping tab. Apply the exported textures via the Surfaces tab. System Requirements & Compatibility
Operating System: Windows 7/8/10/11 with DirectX 11 or higher. MacOS and Linux are not natively supported.
Hardware: Requires a GPU that supports Feature Levels 11_0 or 11_1.
Integration: While FaceGen Artist Pro is a standalone application, it is designed to export files that Daz Studio can immediately recognize as Genesis 9 assets. Comparisons to Other Tools
The integration of FaceGen Artist Genesis 9 (G9) marks a significant leap in creating hyper-realistic 3D characters from photographs within Daz Studio. Users consistently report that G9 results are "ridiculously better" than previous generations, featuring incredible detail that avoids the "plastic" look common in older models. Key Features for Genesis 9 The latest FaceGen Artist
updates (v4.1 and above) have specifically optimized the workflow for the G9 mesh: Native Texture Creation you can adjust over 150 attributes
: Generates G9-specific textures directly, including high-resolution diffuse and sub-surface scattering (SSS) maps required for realistic Iray rendering. Precision Shape Export
: Creates two distinct files for each shape slider to ensure the morph correctly affects both the head and internal mouth parts of the G9 model. Improved Blending
: Recent versions have significantly improved how generated faces blend into the rest of the body texture, ensuring skin tones match more seamlessly. Landmark Placement
: Users can utilize "Create → Photo" for automatic point placement on front-facing photos, with manual adjustment options for finer control. Performance Comparison: G9 vs. G8/8.1 Reliable, but can look "boxy" or plastic in close-ups.
Far superior realism with smoother geometry and denser mesh. Hardware Demand Lower; easier to render multiple characters on older GPUs. Hardware Demand
Highly VRAM demanding; large scenes may "flatline" on 8GB-10GB cards. Texture Support Standard 4k maps. Texture Support Supports 8k textures and improved SSS components for Iray. Ease of Use Mature ecosystem with thousands of compatible morphs. Ease of Use
Advanced "sticky lip" features and better eye/mouth separation, but steeper learning curve. Expert Workflow & Tips
Well If You Want Gen 9 Capability In FaceGen - Daz 3D Forums Jun 2, 2566 BE —
They have added some improvements over time. The biggest one in 3.12 is that faces blend much better into the rest of the texture.
FaceGen can be a powerful source of realistic facial geometry and texture for Genesis 9, but effective integration requires conversion steps—retopology, vertex-order alignment, texture baking, and morph transfer—to ensure compatibility with Genesis 9’s topology and rigging. A robust toolchain (Blender/ZBrush/Maya + Daz Studio utilities) and automation for repetitive tasks will yield the best results.
