Hey everyone! When my tax return comes back, I plan to buy a 3D modeler program - preferably one the can make hair for V1,2 & 3. I know there's a bunch to choose from but, the research I've done so far hasn't really helped. At present I use Poser4 and ProPak and love both of 'em. 3DSMax and Lightwave are out - too expensive for me :( What do you recommend? Also, any chance of finding Kozaburo's tutorial on hair? I've gotten no response from the email I sent almost 2 weeks ago. ANY help or advice will be greatly appreciated! Thanx CyberscapE

The best way to start is to get as many demos of these apps as possible and see what fits you. Since 3DSMax and Lightwave are out, that means C4D and Maya are out. Though, you may be able to get "educational" versions under the right circumstances or purchase second-hand (most of these allow license transfer). AMAPI 3D, Bryce, Carrara, TrueSpace, Wings3D are all inexpensive modeling apps. Rhino is slight more expensive, but I hear it is a great modeling app using NURBS. Remember, try before you buy!!

Blender is 100% freeware and is great for modeling or morphing.

@fls13 I've not tried Blender, have you tried anim80r, if so, how would the two compare?

Attached Link: http://www.wings3d.com

Wings is another free one you may like to try.

Alias Wavefront Maya has a free personal learning one. I don't know what the difference is with the paid version since I only have the LE.

Bryce is not a modeller. Blender is far more powerful than Anim8or, but is hard to learn. If you are prepared to make the effort, Blender offers a powerful program for nothing. The difference of the learning edition of Maya is that it is highly restricted as to what output formats you can have.

dang..Phil, ya beat me to it..;) Anim8tor is also free.in fact, drop by the Modelling forum here, and the masthead has several freebies and their links..;)

In some 3D magazines there is a free version of Cinema 4D. It's a excellent modeller and the easiest to learn of the full 3D aps. The versions have limited reder output but if you are quick you can upgrade it to a full version C4D CE+ this month for a small price.

I recomment Wings3d, it's free, it's one of the best polygon modelers and it is easy to use. Look around in the Wings forum to see what it can do.

Attached Link: http://www.nevercenter.com/

An inexpensive ($109.00),very powerful,stable,and VERY easy to use/learn modeler is Silo. I use it more than my Cinema 4d 8.5. SWAMP

Attached Link: http://www.electricimage.com

Another inexpensive and good organic modeller is Amorphium (current version v3.1).

A full and legal version Realsoft 4.2 was given away in 3D World Issue No.45 (month before last) It will do anything 3D Max or Rhino will do. Before it was released as a give away in 3D world I had never hear of it before. I am quite hooked on it lately (obj pugins can be found around as well as many others). For less than 20 dollars it is a great investment. Perhaps go the 3Dworldmag.com site and purchase a back issue.

Attached Link: http://www.artofillusion.org

...I have also stumbled upon what appears to be a good 3D modelling Java-based program called "Art of Illusion". Its open source and part of Sourceforge.net. Haven't had a chance to play with it yet but looks really good.

Attached Link: http://k3d.sourceforge.net/new/

....and yet another one (K-3D). I've been looking at SourceForge.net, and they have numerous Open Source 3D programs on there (incl Wings3D).

WHOA! Talk about some options! Thanks everybody! So far... I searched for Blender and for some reason their homepage won't load. I DLed Wings3D (which seems to be in the test stages) and I can't see any decent camera zoom on it. I'll dig some more on this one simply because it supports .OBJ formats unlike CAD-3D(which is pathetic on export support). I also got anim8or and will play with it tonight. Here I was, thinkin' I was the searchmeister of free programs(not warez). Har! Thanks again, you guys/goils Rock! Knowing how inexpensive some of these suggestions are, I just might be able to upgrade the CPU(P2 350Mhz) as well. It argues with Vicky3 WAY too much;) Alas, I'm off to SourceForge!

One option above that may be underrated is the Amorphium 3 sofware (www.electricimage.com) and if you buy the DVGarage version of Electric Image Universe (for 200 more) you'll have a heck of a package. The Electric Image Universe modeler and animator that come with the www.dvgarage.com kit are awesome. For making hair, there's no need to have the full high priced EIU package, the DV package is way more than enough. The neat thing about the EIU modeler is that its a nurbs modeler just like Rhino. In fact, both Rhino and EIU license the same code for the base code in the modeler. The main difference is the interface and I way prefer the EIU interface. If you want a free modeler that is good for non commercial use, its hard to beat the Metasequoia LE modeler. You can grab individual vertice points and move them with the mouse. I think EIU has a demo available. Here's a screen shot at www.annsartgallery.com/ei.html Top image is the animator and bottom image is the modeler. Lightening fast render engine, but you will probably want to buy the DV garage AND amorphium so that you can convert to .obj. The older EIU does not save in .obj, but amorphium reads the native save format and converts. Amorphium is a great organic modeler that will let you twist and shape your EIU mesh so they work well with each other.

Just be careful with free or giveaway versions if you want to produce commercial models. Make sure you check the licensing carefully.

Attached Link: http://market.renderosity.com/softgood.ez?ViewSoftgood=26289

Has anyone tried the new Aartform Curvy3D program ?

I'd second the nods for ArtOfIllusion and Silo. The latter is really pretty impressive and can do some very nice stuff using subdivision surfaces.