New interface
The new Poser 8 interface maximizes screen real estate, while offering new tools, and improved functionality of existing ones. It has less unnecessary fluff than the previous version. And the new Poser 8 interface more closely matches an updated style. Windows are now docked rather than floating or expanding, and the tabs to access other areas of the program are more condensed and efficient.
Another new aspect of the improved interface might be a difficult adjustment for existing users. The library had been quite visual with large rendered 3-D icons of the various models and props available. Poser 8 has condensed this area to more of a list view with rendered graphics.
Poser 8 also has a streamlined and more functional content management system. With places like Content Paradise offering affordable and quality third-party content for Poser, management of additional props and characters could be a chore. Poser 8's update helps identify and maintain your content.
Dependent Parameters tool
Along with a greatly enhanced interface, there's the new Dependent Parameters tool (DPT). It runs under the hood, making your posing and animation experience a little easier. In the past, trying to make objects interact was a bit challenging. This feature is still limited, compared to other 3-D applications on the market that are capable of real world dynamics with gravity, wind, collisions, and more, such as Autodesk's Maya (), NewTek's LightWave 3D, or Maxon's Cinema 4D. Yet, with Poser 8's cloth system and the new DPT, this capability is plenty strong. The cloth system allows you to add organic animation in the form of shirts, pants, or flags, to your scene.
More new stuff
The new version of Poser has a number of additional handy new features that will streamline your modeling work. Here are some highlights: Wardrobe Wizard is cool new feature that will really help visual designers. Perhaps you created a full Poser scene and would like to re-use some of the clothes and assets you've already created. This new wizard will filter these props to the new Poser 8 character set. If you really want to get the most out of this software, you'll appreciate Poser 8's new support for the Python scripting language (wxPython). This will allow third-party developers to create more advanced plug-ins, with increased usefulness, while at the same time fully integrated into the program.
Another notable improvement in Poser 8 is Physically Correct Light Falloff functionality. This allows users to control not only the quality of light, but its angle and direction better than before, resulting in better-looking renders.
There are also enhancements to OpenGL performance for better interface responsiveness and a greatly improved rigging system. Posed characters will present fewer problems in areas such as hips, shoulders, and joints.
