At the moment I'm still using everything I need for an image what Vue is offering me, but now I'm planning to use some of the free objects that I can find everywhere. Now my problem... how can I remember who I should give credit? Some objects come with a description (visible in Vue), but many objects are without any. How do you guys deal with this problem, especially when you're having large amounts of objects/materials/textures etc Thanks. (btw, sorry for posting the same question twice; I wasn't able to edit the original post (spelling mistake) so I decided to delete it, but it's still visible. Sorry, but I'm new here ;) )

I keep a (very large) Word file with everything labeled and categorized, with the creator's name and an indication of whether the object can be used for commercial work. I add a new entry whenever I use or install a new object or texture. I'm up to over 200 objects and still growing strong...

You can create a directory by the name of the person that makes the object and save different objects to the appropriate directory at download time. Or you can do what I did and just learn to model your own props. Then you don't have to worry about giving credit to anyone. It's really not as hard as you may presume. And there are good free modelers out there. jon

Some of the stuff I found ages ago, I lost the readme, or didn't note who made it, but for all items that I can (textures or models), I create a file like "Davy trees" and put all the stuff in there. You can do this inside the Vue files, or if you keep some stuff in another place you can do the same thing. I am not obsessive about it, but do try to say thanks to the generous folks who share with us.

An other possibility is to rename the files with the name of the author , for instance "bark_lemog.jpg",... A real pain when there are a lot ;=) Yves

I save the downloaded stuff as *.vob and write in the DESCRIPTION who made it:-) Guitta

Let's face it, all of these techniques work, but are a chore to keep up... and even worse to create if (like many of us) the idea doesn't occur to you when you first start off in this game, and consequently already have a large collection before recognising the issue. Just a couple of observations on suggestions above. I agree with Gebe that using the description field for things like Vue objects and atmospheres is an ideal method of identification. But then again, if the creators welcome credits, perhaps it is in their interests to add this themselves (asm any do) prior to publication. Models in other formats like OBJ, 3DS etc are more of a problem, as also are textures, not least because the latter often come in large collections. Using subfolders to store them can often cause problems in cataloguing them for access from Vue, or in the case of textures from other programs and/or generalised image catalogues like Media Centre, Portfolio, etc. I gues the ideal way here is via notes in a word-processor doc, spreadsheet or field in an image cataloguer - but it is a real chore to keep up. Renaming the files is sometimes a viable possibility, but again can cause some location and recognition problems (as with sufolders) where a texture is pre-linked with a downloaded object. I agree with Yves' comment about the "pain" of renaming a lot of these EXCEPT if you have Paint Shop Pro 8 which has a very flexible batch renaming facility that I have found very useful. Doubtless there are other stand-alone freeware apps that would do a similar job. So personally I rely either on memory or the use the original creators have made of the filename or the description field (where appropriate). Otherwise I tend only to acknowledge that things were downloaded from the web and not created by me. Without wishing to re-open the recent debate on another thread here, that is the important thing in my view: credit is a matter of courtesy tempered by convenience; claiming authorship of something you did not creat is immoral and dishonest. It is also pointless - not least because there are a lot of viewers here, many of whom will visit the same sources and will readily recognise the activities of a cheat who deliberately stoops to such levels.

Other question; how can I change the description of a VOB file (look at my attachment).
I converted an object to VOB, but now I have an empty description. The only thing I see is the file name.

You need to load the object again and save it again:-)

and in the save dialog add the description :-))

I use a simple database that I started years after downloading many models. It contains a description, the creators name, an image of the product, restrictions for use, and date downloaded. After about 1,000 models, I decided it was time because I didn't want to do it after 2,000. I also keep models under a folder/directory with the modelers name. If unknown, they go to Unknown especially if it can't be found in any text file with the model. Everything gets saved to CDs or DVDs. It is also useful so you don't download and/or purchase the same model again. It is a pain to keep up, but I wouldn't want to do it again.

One related tip I forgot to mention previously which might be helpful to newcomers. When I first started using Vue, I downloaded a lot of files in other formats, notably OBJ and 3DS files. What then seemed a good idea at the time was to load them into Vue, retexturing them if necessary, then saving them in VOB format for convenience, deleting the originals. I do NOT recommend this. What had not occurred to me at the time was that since Vue has no export facility for objects, I would no longer be able to use these meshes in any other 3D application in which I might take a later interest. Nowadays therefore I retain them in the original format and import them into Vue as needed.

I have everything I downloaded sitting on my F drive. That entire drive is indexed by one very large private website. When I download an item I also save the thumbnail using the same name as the zip file. Then I add it to my EffDriveSite. For private places such as Sams 3d there is a seperate page that holds only that sites items. For freebies from public places like Renderosity I rely on the readme file unless it is from an artist whos stuff I donwload frequently, then they get their own page. It sounds like a large undertaking but I have blank template pages so all I have to do is open the html file type the name and path of the zip and the thumbnail. This makes it very easy to remember where and from who I got what. It also makes it very easy browse through everything I got. This hard drive based website includes everthing from freebies to purchased items to patches and updates. It has links to all my pdf manuals and some tutorials. Still sounds like a huge upkeeping? Glad I started that early as the last full backup of my F drive took 16 CDs. That's how I do it Laters

I don't keep a database, however, I do go through great pains to credit the artists (not out of legality, but out of appreciation), sometimes to the point of lunacy in large complicated scenes. Sometimes in large scenes it might be easier to say what is yours, rather than what isn't.

When I install an item (which I only do usually if I plan to use that item in the current render) and I check then for the readme to see who did it for the credits. Since I usually export from Poser a good majority of the items I use, that also makes it easier to keep track of who made what. When I put up the picture, I list all the items and if I use one of those items in the future, I reference the credits from the previous image. Course if there is no readme on something downloaded long ago, then I usually just say 'item by ????' to signify that it was someone else's but I don't know who, or I'll list the site it came from if I remember (like item from 3Dcafe). So far this system has worked well for me. I do try to credit free stuff and marketplace items, but will usually just say 'All the rest from the Vue Library' rather than listing out who made what tree or texture (unless they were specifically downloaded separate from the e-on CD's)...

ShadowWind