This is just a small example of how I buy my models. I have had a few people criticize me and claim that I have not been buying my models because my library is so large it would cost a fortune to acquire. Well, it did cost a fortune, but I have taken advantage of many sales to get the models at a lower price.

I do buy all my models, but I rarely buy them at full price. https://www.daz3d.com , the site I go to for models, has sales going all the time. I wait for the best opportunity to get the models I want.

Every new model at Daz starts with a 30% off discount. I will admit it has caused a few impulse buys, as I know the price will go back up to normal in a few days.

When a vendor releases a major new product, usually their store gets a 30% to 50% off discount on similar items.

Daz has plenty of theme sales. March Madness is a perfect time to stock up on models, as they have packs and bundles almost every day.

There is a freebies section, in which select models are free for a limited time. There is also a 'Fast Grab' section where all models there are 70% off. Random picks seem to go there, and I always check there when I decide to buy a model.

I used to have a Platinum Club membership. Its $70 per year, but it gave me a permanent 30% discount on all models by Daz Studio (marked Daz Originals), it dropped the price of Platinum Club items down to $2-$3, it gave extra discounts during sales, and it granted 2 free models per month. Overall very much worth it. I'm not a member anymore, as I could not afford the $70 one year and was not buying much at the time.



In this cart, the top item is a bi-weekly freebie. Every 2 weeks a new model is released that is free on the condition that you are either a Platinum Club member, or that you buy something else at the same time. The next three items were in the 'freebies' section. Some older models are shuffled there every so often. Usually the freebies are texture packs or pose packs which require other models. I tend to grab the poses and standalone textures along with any free model that comes up from that section. Finally, the last two items I got from a discount offer: 75% off 1, 80% off 2, or 85% off 3 Victoria 4/Daz Original items. With all the discounts and freebies applied, a cart that goes well above $100 has been cut to $7. And instead of getting 2 models (like I planned on this day), I walked away with 8+. I added 2 more items to this cart, bringing it up to over $200, but spent only $50 with all the discounts applied.



So, in conclusion: yes, I have bought every single model that I own. Yes, I probably have spent way too much on them. However, I have also saved myself quite a lot of money by using the sales at Daz3d. I pay for the models through my real life job, commissions, and through Patreon donations.

I support the 3D content makers, as I understand the sheer level of commitment and detail that is required for a 3D asset. I'm only just starting to make my own 3D assets, and it is not easy. Downloading the models for free from other sites is illegal, and I wont partake in it. I also will never give someone a model that I have bought. I can point to where I got it, but I cannot give it away.

I have a list of all the models that are shown in my images here: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6997394/
This is not my entire library. I have more and I have been updating the list often to reflect what I use in my gallery. This journal also satisfies FA's upload policy 2.5 for citing sources. An admin told me to make one, and all my uploads point there.

I have been buying for 5 years, and since there is no reason to throw away models (its not like they expire or go bad), my library can only grow.

What is Daz Studio's stance on using models? See here under General License Agreement: https://www.daz3d.com/eula
To summarize: The models I have bought can be used for 2D renderings, animations, and even 2D sprites for video games. I can sell the images, the animations, and the sprites I create. The key thing is the original 3D model used cannot be redistributed in any way. So I cannot use the models in 3D games or 3D interactive animations where the model itself is in the files.

If you have any questions about the models, please ask. If you're looking at buying a model and want an opinion on it, I might have it and can tell you what I think of it. If you need any advice on getting started in Daz, I can point you in the right direction.


Hopefully this example will shed some light on how I buy models and all the legal stuff behind it.