Hi. I'm having incessant troubles to export/import 3D data to/from Poser. I've found it's really tough to make complicated objects only by Poser. So I'd like to know the other people's suggestion. What kind of application do you use to render Poser objects except for Poser? What kind of application do you use to make objects such as bicycle, room, book for Poser? JET2003

I render almost only in Poser, I don't like the hazzle of exporting and importing to other programs, though it CAN be made easy :o) Also I actually LIKE Poser's renderer. To make objcts for Poser I use Max, but almost any 3D moeling program can be used. Max is actually not that good becourse objects go way out of size, since Poser's native units are TINY. But Max is the program I know best :o)

For a good deal on a modeling software, get the Cinema4D CE that's featured on many magazines' cover CDs these days. C4D has good mesh tools and is easy to learn. Wings3D is also very popular, I hear, and from time to time you can get older versions of Amapi or currently Carrara from Cover CD's too. If it's just for modeling, you don't need to spend a grand. I'd really suggest C4D CE as a start, or if you want an app with a powerful renderer too, Carrara 3 looks to offer a lot for its price. For rendering, I stick to FireFly, or sometimes one of the free RenderMan ones (3Delight is fast, Pixie has awsome GI features). FireFly can do a few tricks, I just built a a refraction shader that simulates color dispersion:

Wing3D for an open source program is excellent. I'm using it for some Free Lance work I'm doing. Simply because I don't have the funds for the bigger apps, I have however recently got Cinema4D CE that has featured on the likes of 3D World etc. Wings though is nice and easy to learn, I recommend downloading the manual, while it's a bit of a monster it is very good, the sort of quality of manual that comes with apps you buy. While it probably lacks a lot of features the pro apps have it is however a good way to learn modelling and get soem half way decent results, as I'm finding out.

for most of my stuff i use lightwave 3d, both for modeling and rendering. still, poser has a renderer, and i've heard some cool stuff about freeware like wings 3d... try out before you buy. almost every app that you pay for has a trial version :)

I use Amapi. There's a free version of it. It works best with .3ds for use with poser (the free version doesn't do obj files). It's nice for modeling. Check the Amampi forum banner here for the link to the free version. UVMapper is the next one I use. You really will find it useful for breaking down object groups and for material mapping. There's both a free version (standard), and a pay version (pro). Pro gives you a lot more flexability and options, but the free version works great too. For morphs I use Anim8or, also free. It handles .obj files nicely.

I'm the odd guy out. I love the Electric Image Universe modeler, though it has the same problem that 3dmax has with poser unit size. The downscale version through www.dvgarage.com is realy inexpensive and does a heck of a job modeling. I have some links to the free programs at www.annsartgallery.com/freeprop.html Try the demos, when you get an interface you like, then spend the time getting to know the program.

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Wings 3d is easy to learn, once you have the manuals, and a coupla tutorials (draculaz has a good one on spaceships, that also shows how many of the commands work). I've made some helmets for Poser..the strange thing is the scaling and orientation between the two..importing 'dork' into Wings makes him about 2" tall..but that's not hard to fix in Wings. Importing Wings into Poser is also strange, it makes bathtub-sized helmets (well, at least they're safe..;) yeah, Ann's Art Gallery has a good supply of free programs, there's another out there somewhere that has about 50 different ones..here's a whole list..modellers, poser props, hair, bryce stuff, etc., etc.,..;) enjoy

Cheers for the links, I'll be sure to check them out. It's nice also to hear that others have found Wings a good little program, sure it's not prefect, Bath-tub siced helmets and the like :o) but what program is perfect? It's good at what it does.

Wings3D is an excellent modeler, regardless of price. In fact, it seems to be attracting those who are already using other well regarded and pricey programs such as Maya, Lightwave, etc. The fact that the scale of objects created is rather outsized when imported into Poser is not a Wings limitation or fault. Rather, it seems that Poser's scale is considerably smaller than in most other programs. In any event, this is easily adjusted and not much of a problem at all. Another inexpensive modeler to consider is Silo (windows only at the moment.) Like Wings3D, it is based upon subdivisions. But unlike Wings3D, models need not be solid. They can have holes or be hollow. Silo also allows lathed objects, polygon and line creation and extrusion objects. It handles larger objects than Wings3D without slowing down as quickly as the latter. The workflow doesn't seem as quick as in Wings3D but that may be because I am more familiar with Wings3D. At any rate, the Silo workflow is still quite good. A working time limited demo is available at http://www.nevercenter.com/

Sounds like a program I could get some real use out of. Thanks for that.

@nevermore
You're welcome. I liked Silo well enough to buy it. I'm a beginning modeler so recently bought Ken Brilliant's "Modeling Digital Dinosaurs", mostly because it was the only non-program specific book I could find on subdivision modeling (it's quite good.) Based upon the program features he recommends Silo seems to be a good fit- actually a better fit than Wings (although KB has done some nice work with Wings)

Oooo a book recommendation too :oD I'll be sure to see if I can find it on this side of the pond and add it to my book list. What between models and props and books on art techniques I'll be bankrupt before my next birthday :oD

Modelling: Rhino Posing: Poser Exporting: Grouper Rendering: Bryce