I don't know which one should I go for. I prefer one that is easy to learn, load of tutorials, and to use with Zbrush, Carrara 2.0. Thanks for your input

Not sure if cost is a factor for you but... Amapi 7 - $499.00 Rhino 3 - $895.00

If you are a student or teacher you can get them under $150 for each.

For that price, I'd get both.

Ah, the thing is I can master( hopefully ) just one at a time. I want to focus and really good at one good program rather knowning a little of two, though.

I think experts in both softwares would say they're both powerful and have their strengths and weaknesses (although I'm not skilled in either). A7 is brand spanking new and is having some growing pains with bugs and stability but patches are on their way. A pro version of the software is due out later this year. We have no idea what it will have inside it. Rhino is mature and can do a heck of a lot of magic tricks. From reading through tutorials for both, they look like the learning curve is significant for both. Your taste in 3D conceptual design, your needs, and the way your brain works are the things you should consider. If I were you, I'd see if I could get freebie trial versions and simply give them a whirl. Pick something simple but useful to build in each and see how it goes. This kind of question is tough to answer. I was pretty much where you were about six months ago and I chose the A7 path because if its connection to Carrara and for the power it appears to have. I don't really know how it rivals Rhino but I do think it can build models that are good enough for me. Good luck! -Kix

Hi rabit1, Can Amapi export/import lots of file types, from engineering to animation etc? Rhino has many options for cross-platform translation which makes it particularly useful for working with folks from all disciplines. ...just my 2cents worth. :o)

To answer bicycle, A7 has several import export options. Pretty much the favorites. -Kix

"Easy to learn"? "Loads of Tutorials"? Modellers are not "easy to learn". That's a simple fact of life-- what's going on as you try to take your 3D creativity and apply it through 2D interfaces is simply going to take some getting used to. No one does good work in any modeller right off the bat. The reason that so many folks use Rhino is that its powerful, and its robust. Many modellers fall down on certain aspects of functionality--weird results with booleans is a common one. I haven't done anything much in Amapi, but I can say that learning Rhino will serve you well for industrial design, as well as animation. But there's a learning curve. Amorphium is a great product, IMO, and the learning curve is not nearly so steep. Not something to be used for precision industrial design, but easy to use, fun, and will deliver nice models for Carrara and so on. . .

Thank you all very much for sharing. I'm trying Rhino and Amapi demo now. So far, it seems to me that I need to shape up my "poor" math( geometry ) skill in order to creative something using these programs. I could follow the tutorials ok but not yet be able to do anything my own. I guess a rich imagination is also important here...

it takes time and practice. Think of it like sculpture-- you'd laugh at someone if they asked you "if I buy this chisel, will that make me a good sculptor?" It is not the tools, its the eye, the experience, and the vision. I'm always blown away by what people manage to do in Bryce --which has a very limited modeller. As I noted above, I also like Amorphium. . .fun and easy. For getting started fast on landscapes, Vue d'Esprit is excellent-- you'll be producing things you like in half an hour. . . In general, the people who do the really good work, the stuff you admire and want to emulate, are working a couple of hours a day on modelling-- that's why they're good.

I would agree with Kixum, Amapi7 is very new and if you give it a try you may get frustrated and give up on it like I did. It has some serious stability issues, and until these are addressed I couldn't recommend it to you. That being said, I have never used Rhino so I don't know how they compare. I do know that Rhino is used on the professional level in The Industrial Design industry. If you are interested in Amapi7, wait for at least the first patch. regards, Paul