Free Poser Superfly Assets And Materials For 3D Artists

The Poser software platform has long been a popular choice for 3D artists, particularly in character creation and animation. With the introduction of Superfly as Poser's advanced rendering engine, users gained access to more realistic lighting and material rendering capabilities. This article explores the available free assets, materials, and scenes specifically designed for or compatible with Poser's Superfly rendering engine, based on verified sources from the 3D art community.

Overview of Superfly in Poser

Superfly represents a significant advancement in Poser's rendering capabilities, offering artists more sophisticated material options and lighting effects. According to official Poser documentation, Superfly materials are built using the PhysicalSurface node as root, which allows for more realistic texture creation even with simple setups using a single node. The system also incorporates Cycles nodes, which opens up new possibilities for complex material creation with displacement, emissions, and multiple layers.

The rendering process with Superfly differs from previous engines like Firefly, requiring different approaches to material setup and rendering parameters. Artists using Superfly may need to adjust their workflow, particularly in terms of rendering time and sample settings. As noted in one source, using 64 pixel samples can take a very long time, so a recommended approach is to start the render in progressive mode and continue until the image is sufficiently clear before canceling and exporting.

Free Shader Materials for Superfly

Several shader collections are available for Poser Superfly, ranging from commercial offerings to free community resources. One notable collection is VB SuperShaders for Poser11 SuperFly Vol. 1, which contains over 160 shaders organized into categories:

• Car Paint: Bloom, Metallic, Shiny, Speckled
• Liquids: Coffee, Beer, Milk, Water
• Organic: Concrete Polished, Ceramic SSS, Jade, Marble
• Plastic: Plastic Translucent, Plexiglas, RubberSilicon
• Textile: Cotton, Fabric, Silk
• Bump: A new method for adding bump to any Superfly shaders

While this particular collection is commercial, it demonstrates the types of specialized materials available for Superfly. Community artists have also shared their shader experiments, though with varying degrees of success. One source mentions a gold metal shader that was criticized for not being realistic enough, with a suggestion to use color ratios at or near RGB 255, 215, 150 for more accurate results.

Free 3D Models and Props

The 3D art community offers numerous free models compatible with Poser Superfly. One notable example is a pack containing Superfly adaptations of Stonemason's "Level 019," "cargo bay doors," and the elevator/shaft. This pack, created by seachnasaigh in 2016, is free for both personal and commercial renders, though redistribution is prohibited. The pack includes:

• CR2 files in runtime\libraries\character\Level 19 Superfly
• PP2 files in runtime\libraries\props\Level 19 Superfly
• MT5/MC6 files in runtime\libraries\materials\Level 19 Superfly

Additional free models mentioned across sources include: - A sci-fi corridor with Iray materials - A treehouse with dual root materials optimized for Poser 11+ Superfly - Various steampunk elements like compact mirrors and cannons - Fantasy elements such as antlers for G8 Female - Historical items like a 1910s European Street Lamp

Free Scenes and Environments

Free scene resources for Poser Superfly are categorized to help artists find appropriate environments for their projects. The main categories include:

• Indoor Scenes: Interiors that are either ready-to-use or require additional furniture
• Outdoor Scenes: Exterior environments
• Indoor and Outdoor Scenes: Structures with both interior detail and exterior ground planes

Specialized scene collections include: - Bases: Designed for up-close-and-personal renders - Freebies hosted at Fantasies Realm and the Fantasies Attic/Scenes - Themed collections like Star Trek Scenes and Set Dressing, Star Wars Scenes and Set Dressing - SF Resources/generic science fiction environments

Specific scene examples mentioned include: - AJ Futuristic Base 2, part of PoserPremiumContent3DScenery01.zip added with Poser 11.2 - AJ SciFi Corridor 3 with Iray Materials - AJ Tree House 2, which includes Lightcaster MAT optimized for Poser 11+ Superfly - Medieval Ruin – Modular for DAZ Studio - Various landscape elements like Chiselled Blocks

Free Characters and Poses

The community also offers free character assets and poses compatible with Superfly. These include:

• Character meshes like Flossie for La Femme for Poser
• Manga-style characters such as Masataka for Walther 2.0 for DAZ Studio
• Historical characters like Shakespeare's Puck for G8M
• Storybook characters with unusual accessories like the free Candy Hat
• Toon characters like the Marshmallow Man for GM8

Pose resources mentioned include: - Five Soft Fashion Poses for G8 - Various character poses for different figure types - Dynamic poses like the Dynamic nightie for Diva for Dawn for Poser

How to Access and Use These Freebies

Accessing and utilizing Superfly-compatible freebies requires understanding Poser's file organization and rendering process. Most free assets follow standard Poser directory structure:

• Characters typically go in runtime\libraries\character\
• Props go in runtime\libraries\props\
• Materials go in runtime\libraries\materials\

When using Superfly-specific assets, it's important to note that: - Some assets are dual-root materials optimized for both Superfly and previous engines like Firefly - Rendering times may be longer with Superfly, so artists should use progressive rendering and check image clarity before final export - Some assets may require specific lighting setups to achieve optimal results

Several sources recommend starting with the official Poser documentation and community forums to learn about Superfly's capabilities and best practices. The learning curve can be steep, but the enhanced rendering quality is generally considered worth the effort.

Conclusion

The Poser community offers a wealth of free assets specifically designed or adapted for the Superfly rendering engine. These resources span multiple categories including shaders, 3D models, scenes, characters, and poses, providing artists with comprehensive tools for their projects. While some assets are commercial, many high-quality options are available at no cost, though redistribution is often prohibited.

Artists should be prepared for a learning curve when working with Superfly, particularly in terms of material setup and rendering optimization. The community forums and documentation provide valuable guidance, and many creators share their experiences and tips. With the right resources and knowledge, artists can create stunning renders using Poser and Superfly without significant financial investment.

Sources

1. VB SuperShaders for Poser11 SuperFly Vol. 1 Announcement
2. DAZ Poser Freebies Collection
3. Poser Official F.A.Q Discussion
4. Poser Free Scenes Wiki
5. Superfly Adaptation of Stonemason's Level 19 Cargo Bay Doors