Attached Link: FREE Strata 3D

Strata 3D has just been released for both the Mac and PC platforms. TOTALLY FREE! it's a 22MB d'load so be careful. The following is a portion of the press release: ...Strata 3D version 3.0 is a complete, fully functional 3D creation suite which is now free for everyone to download from www.3d.com. Strata 3D has won numerous awards for its power and ease of use. Strata 3D was used to create Myst(TM), the most popular CD-ROM game in history, and has lit up the silver screen in movies like Batman and Robin(TM). With this latest release, Strata 3D is the clear leader for the creation of 3D for the web... Now before you go running over to download a bit of truth in advertising: 1) 90% of my online adventure Hat Check Kelly is done in Strata (www.ultranet.com/~jje1/ What do you mean you haven't been?) 2) I dont use Strata 3D I use the "bigger" ($$$) product Strata Studio Pro 3) The modeler is an accident waiting to happen. I do NOT (after using Strata for nearly 5 years) use their modeler for anything. That way lies maddness. 4) The rendering engine(s), lights, volumetrics and spot rendering features rival (exceed IMO) anything that is out there including MAX. 5) If everyone starts using Strata than my stuff will not look as unique and..hey wait a minute maybe this is a bad idea! Check it out. I'm interested in hearing the groups opinions and I'm willing to supply help to anyone who wishes to brave those icy waters. jje

anyone get it to work in win 95?

I can find nothing on their site that says it is not. Strata 3D is a totally "new" product released just last week. All the tutorials I could find seemed to be using Win screen shots. There were incompatabilities with SSP for Windows, I think this product is an attempted solution to that. I know 22 MB is a big d'load based on just my assumption that it will work...but when did I lie to you last?...ok...I mean after then. While you are there be sure to check out 3D.com. Talk about ambitious projects. jje

thanks jje! I hope I can get it to work, it looks to be pretty cool.

I just got a note from their tech support, they have not tested it on 95 yet, and plan to do that tonight. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will work for them. When i try to launch it, It tells me I need NT 4 to run :-(

heya; it needs to connect to the internet when you launch it, maybe it doesn't like the old winsock or whatever that deal is.

They removed all mention of Win95 from the docs on the site, guess I won't be trying it out. -JH.

I downloaded it last night, looks awesome.... now to find the time to learn it, LOL

Well, I extend the offer of help to everyone. To bad about the WinNT thing. That's the same thing they did with SSP and it caused them no end of grief. (sigh) Heck, if enuf people latch on to it maybe Jack & Co will have to put up another forum. Yea, right! Just what this site needs. Points of interest to look at: Creating a new "Simple Texture", the diferent results from the diferent rendering engines, volumetrics and caustics (Bryce is still better here), Applying multiple textures using diferent schemas nad diferent tilings to a single object. Ok ok I'll be quiet. It's just I was convinced I was marooned using orphan software :-) jje

Cool, I can always use another program I have no idea how to use

actually, i use ssp quite a bit (* a couple of my pix) the new release is pretty cool, [a trimmed version of their] pro ware coming out soon. i know that ssp brought up that[NT] error when launched on the win platform, but it still would install...might not be the same issue...all in all...it is cool, and ....f..r..e..e

I downloaded it, and tho it requires more memory than I have really, I'm very impressed. And the on line manuals kick ass! Reading them helped me understand features in my other modeling programs. They have to be the best, most clearly written program manuals I've ever read

cool...i'm glad you like it...what platform are you using? it's almost too easy...really...mostly why i like it...>g<

I'm on win 98, AMD K-6 2 500, but I only have 64 megs og memory. I'm desperate for more memory, but I have no money at all, and since Compaq rather likes proprietary memory, it's a bit higher than just reg memory.

I spoke with Strata yesterday and they told me that it will be 6 weeks to the release of the new pro version. Apparently not many new things (stereoscopic images etc), but loads of bug fixes and all of the extentions that they now sell seperately will be rolled in. Couldn't get them to commit as to when .OBJ format will be supported but I got the impression that they were working on it and having a hard time. I really think they should sit down with Creative Labs and support .cr2 It would rock to get Vicky and her textures into the SSP rendering engine. Not to mention all the additional controls their materials editor provides. Sigh we can but wish. But I would say if enuf of us nagged them they might take another shot at it. jje

I am going to just have to break down and upgrade to win 2000 so I can run this app. Thanks jje!

groans Now I have to go hunting for tuts on how to fly this darn thing....and I hate reading tuts :)Thanks for the infor bout it jje...I might not like tuts but this prog has potential :) Regards Eshal

there are tuts online@3d.com, if you have any modeling accumen at all, you should be able to breeze through this thing, really! remember, it has basic features, but if yer familiar with Myst( duh...) a prior version was used to render that. u can use illustrator eps files for lathe and extrude operations (saving as ill. 6 generally works pretty well, leaving extraneous adobe data behind).!!

there are tuts online@3d.com, if you have any modeling accumen at all, you should be able to breeze through this thing, really! remember, it has basic features, but if yer familiar with Myst( duh...) a prior version was used to render that. u can use illustrator eps files for lathe and extrude operations (saving as ill. 6 generally works pretty well, leaving extraneous adobe data behind).!!

Thanks for the info 3delf:) But I must say that my knowledge of modeling is about zero, hell I'm only just starting to use booleans in Bryce!lol But I figure with a few moron proof lessons I should at least be able to model something that is vaguely recogniseable as something :)Well I'm off to check out the tuts...thanks again 3delf Regards Eshal

Eshal I'm likea'broken record sayin this ('scuse all) I've been using SSP since v2.0. You gotta question...I'll do my level best to answer it. Avoid the modeler, boyz'n'girlz...yadda yadda yadda. The boolians will bite'cha There actually was a 3rd party book once upon a time. If anyone is interested I'll look it up in my lib at home. 3delf - You realize of course we are letting the cat out of the bag here :-) I't only a matter of time before someone posts "Oh so that's how jje does that! Gee and I thought it was because he was talented" jje (leaning into the inevitable cream pie that statement will generate)

hehe...lean allllll you like, boolians are not available yet...! ; ^)

Okay jje, I have a question. A couple. How do you get the ground textures not to do that nast furrowing tiling. And when you import models, is there any way to keep them from coming in so damn large? I also need to learn how to work the dang view window, and how to get it to render through camera view.

last thing first?...insert a camera, double klik it...opens a view 'through the lens"... import esoterica, check and see if you are importing feet/meters...try something smaller...>g< also there is a feature to use a different scaling in the main window itself, in the edit menu (set default units)

Thanks. I'm actually quite impressed with the program. Just wish the stuff needed to make it really high range didn't cost so much. Is there anything free available for it?

nothing free, as in tools, that i know of(it's a pretty new program...)..yeah...there was an upgrade path from 'any' 3d app not too long ago for ver. 2.5.3 for 189, which would have put you in the drivers seat of 'the pro' ver. for 89bux...sorry to tease...>g< ground plane tiling(furrowing?)...should be a couple of manners of toggling that puppy...in the environment window(where you set the ground plane) are 2 scale data entries, in the edit material window(drop down to see full features) at bottom is another menu button "compose maps", go into there and they are scalable...

Cool

Hokey Smoke! No boolians? You don't know what's missing you! heh Re Ground Tex. Forget them. Instead create a square plane and use that as a psudo-ground. You'll get much more control (mapping, scale, multiple tex, logical operators) and bypass that "viewed from the side tiling patter" mess. Also regarding cameras: have the camera tool "in hand"... A) click on any window=render that window with current settings B) create a "selection rectangle"= sender selection area with current settings. C) holding down SHIFT with any of the above actions opens the Render settings window D) If you wanna save an Alpha Channel you must check the box in the render dialog AND save as TIFF with ALPHA. jje

u soo seeeeleee....>g<...have fun sum !

I dunno, the user's manual said there were several types of boolian processes

i haven't actually seen the manual, but di know there are no booleans until the pro version is out...but...i understand you can order modules of extra tools(when the pro version is released)

The manual shows there being positive, negative and antimatter boolean actions. Now whether that applies to added modules I don't know. I haven't read the manual that well yet. I only remember the booleans because I was intrigued by the antimatter boolean, which leaves a shape onlt where the two boolean objects intersect

ohhhhh...yeah, the anti matter works...lol...in the project window, look for your shapes and check the box for anti-matter and collision object, respective of what you want booleaned...

Hey I just found some tutorials for Strata 3D and thought I would share them http://works.3d.com/tutorials/tutorials.html