diff --git a/makehuman/compile_models.py b/makehuman/compile_models.py
index 89bbdb55..e6c2f787 100755
--- a/makehuman/compile_models.py
+++ b/makehuman/compile_models.py
@@ -72,14 +72,14 @@ def compileMesh(path):
         #print ('Compiling mesh to binary: %s' % npzpath)
         try:
             files3d.loadTextMesh(obj, path)
-        except:
-            print('Could not load OBJ file %s. Perhaps it mixes tris and quads.' % path)
+        except Exception as ex:
+            print('Could not load OBJ file %s. Perhaps it mixes tris and quads.' % path, ex)
             #import traceback
             #traceback.print_exc(file=sys.stdout)
             return False
         files3d.saveBinaryMesh(obj, npzpath)
-    except:
-        print('Unable to save compiled mesh for file %s' % path)
+    except Exception as ex:
+        print('Unable to save compiled mesh for file %s' % path, ex)
         #import traceback
         #traceback.print_exc(file=sys.stdout)
         return False
diff --git a/makehuman/core/files3d.py b/makehuman/core/files3d.py
index 106ef95a..672bc65a 100644
--- a/makehuman/core/files3d.py
+++ b/makehuman/core/files3d.py
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@ def packStringList(strings):
     for string in strings:
         index.append(len(text))
         text += string
-    text = np.fromstring(text, dtype='S1')
+    #text = np.fromstring(text, dtype='S1')
+    text = np.frombuffer(text.encode(),dtype='S1')
     index = np.array(index, dtype=np.uint32)
     return text, index
 
@@ -87,11 +88,11 @@ def unpackStringList(text, index):
     last = None
     for i in index:
         if last is not None:
-            name = str(text[last:i].tostring(), 'utf-8')
+            name = str(text[last:i].tobytes(), 'utf-8')
             strings.append(name)
         last = i
     if last is not None:
-        name = str(text[last:].tostring(), 'utf8')
+        name = str(text[last:].tobytes(), 'utf8')
         strings.append(name)
 
     return strings
diff --git a/makehuman/lib/image_qt.py b/makehuman/lib/image_qt.py
index 82dce6da..fd7f0bc2 100644
--- a/makehuman/lib/image_qt.py
+++ b/makehuman/lib/image_qt.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def load(path):
 
     pixels = im.bits().asstring(h * w * 4)
 
-    pixels = np.fromstring(pixels, dtype=np.uint32).reshape((h, w))
+    pixels = np.frombuffer(pixels, dtype=np.uint32).reshape((h, w))
     del im
 
     a = (pixels >> 24).astype(np.uint8)
diff --git a/makehuman/makehuman.py b/makehuman/makehuman.py
index 7bffd00d..8991f696 100755
--- a/makehuman/makehuman.py
+++ b/makehuman/makehuman.py
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ def _packStringDict(stringDict):
                 index.append(len(key))
                 index.append(len(value))
                 text += key + value
-            text = np.fromstring(text, dtype='S1')
+            text = np.frombuffer(text.encode('utf-8'), dtype='S1')
             index = np.array(index, dtype=np.uint32)
             return np.array([text, index], dtype=object)
 
diff --git a/makehuman/shared/proxy.py b/makehuman/shared/proxy.py
index ac98a196..b053be7a 100644
--- a/makehuman/shared/proxy.py
+++ b/makehuman/shared/proxy.py
@@ -555,25 +555,24 @@ def _properPath(path):
 
         folder = os.path.dirname(path)
 
-
         vars_ = dict(
             #proxyType = np.fromstring(proxy.type, dtype='S1'),     # TODO store proxy type?
-            name = np.fromstring(proxy.name, dtype='S1'),
-            uuid = np.fromstring(proxy.uuid, dtype='S1'),
-            description = np.fromstring(proxy.description, dtype='S1'),
-            basemesh = np.fromstring(proxy.basemesh, dtype='S1'),
+            name = np.frombuffer(proxy.name.encode(),dtype='S1'), 
+            uuid = np.frombuffer(proxy.uuid.encode(), dtype='S1'),
+            description = np.frombuffer(proxy.description.encode(), dtype='S1'),
+            basemesh = np.frombuffer(proxy.basemesh.encode(), dtype='S1'),
             tags_str = tagStr,
             tags_idx = tagIdx,
             lic_str = licStr,
             lic_idx = licIdx,
             uvLayers_str = uvStr,
             uvLayers_idx = uvIdx,
-            obj_file = np.fromstring(_properPath(proxy.obj_file), dtype='S1'),
+            obj_file = np.frombuffer(_properPath(proxy.obj_file).encode(), dtype='S1'),
             version = np.asarray(proxy.version, dtype=np.int32)
         )
 
         if proxy.material_file:
-            vars_["material_file"] = np.fromstring(_properPath(proxy.material_file), dtype='S1')
+            vars_["material_file"] = np.frombuffer(_properPath(proxy.material_file).encode(), dtype='S1')
 
         if np.any(proxy.deleteVerts):
             vars_["deleteVerts"] = proxy.deleteVerts
@@ -608,7 +607,7 @@ def _properPath(path):
         vars_['num_refverts'] = np.asarray(num_refverts, dtype=np.int32)
 
         if proxy.vertexBoneWeights_file:
-            vars_['vertexBoneWeights_file'] = np.fromstring(_properPath(proxy.vertexBoneWeights_file), dtype='S1')
+            vars_['vertexBoneWeights_file'] = np.frombuffer(_properPath(proxy.vertexBoneWeights_file).encode(), dtype='S1')
 
         np.savez_compressed(fp, **vars_)
     os.utime(path, None)  # Ensure modification time is updated
@@ -1043,7 +1042,7 @@ def _packStringList(strings):
         asbytes = bytearray(text,'utf-8')
         index.append(len(asbytes))
         text += string
-    text = np.fromstring(text, dtype='S1')
+    text = np.frombuffer(text.encode(), dtype='S1')
     index = np.array(index, dtype=np.uint32)
     return text, index