I've had Carrara for a while, but still have problems getting it to work. One of my biggest problems is the hot key for "Move" in the vertex modeller. The hot key combination listed next to the "Move" command in the selection menu is supposed to be Ctrl-Shift-T, but I've never been able to get this one to work. Strangely, the hot keys for resize and rotate work just fine. Anyone know what the problem is? I couldn't get this to work in either Carrara 1.0 or 2.0. Another question, how can I import a path I draw in Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator into the vertex modeller. I've been doing some reading and discovered apparently this can be done in other programs, like 3D Studio Max, but can't figure out how to do it in Carrara. The import command in the vertex modeller doesn't allow for .ai format. And please, no matter what your answers are to these questions, DON"T suggest to me that I buy Carrara 3.0, because I'm not upgrading this software package until I get a better handle on how to make it work. I'm pretty fed up with it right now. Helen

You can import via into the spline modeler, not sure about the VM, never found a use for it there. I suppose you could then convert the spline model to a VM. If anyone knows otherwise please step forward. Brian

Hot key (move) doesn't work in Mac version 2.1. It's easy to import filename.ai into the spline modeller, which is the logical place to do it.

I'm working with Windows 2000 and Windows 98, and can't get the hot key for move to work in either OS. It's a big pain too, because that's the command I'm most likely to use in the vertex modeller. As for importing vector paths, I know I can do it in the spline modeller, but there are times when I want to import a vector path into the vertex modeller instead, and I can't make that happen. I'll try Brian's suggestion and see if I can get it from the spline modeller to the vertex modeller, but to me that seems like going around my armpit to get to my rearend. Thanks for your help guys! Helen

You won't be able to import a vector path into the vertex modeller because it can't handle Bezier curves. The only way is via the spline modeller. I have the same problem with the keyboard shortcut for Move. I also had a problem with the Link shortcut but that disappeared for some reason I don't remember. It's a shame that Carrara doesn't have a way to change the keyboard shortcuts as is [was?] possible in Amapi. Perhaps you should try Amapi ... the NURBS handling may be exactly what you're looking for. ;-)

I have a copy of Amapi, but have had little success figuring out how to work it. I've come across some of the tutorials available online, but can't make heads or tails of a lot of what I've seen. I suppose I could try again, use Amapi for modelling and Carrara for rendering. Are there any good beginner's tutorials available for Amapi?

Attached Link: http://www.staigerland.com/amapi/tutorials.html

Amapi is a little confusing when you are used to other programs. The whole 'validating' thing seems strange until you get to grips with the program's logic. But it is a very powerful program and repays a bit of work learning it. There are tutorials on Eovia site http://www.eovia.com/community/tutorials_am.jsp but you'll probably find the staigerland link a good start. Alternatively, Brycetech's tutorials (available on CD or download, here or at 3DCommune) are excellent. The forum over at 3DCommune is a little more active than here [apologies, Kixum!]