I just recently downloaded the demo for Carrara. I must say I am impressed. A long time ago I used Infini-D. I was actually a beta tester for version 4. Anyway, after the mess they made with 4 (rendering speed was horrid compared to 3.5) I was starting to get more work and I was looking for something a little more robust. I ended up switching to Lightwave. I do a few projects each month on the side for a studio where I live. Mostly weekly TV spots for their clients. I have been using LightWave for about 6 years. I am amazed at the rendering speed of this engine. It is superfast. Though the interface will take some getting used to, I can see myself purchasing this. The demo lighting scene renders unbeliably fast. Change is good. Since I am not tied to a studio and their software solution, I can see Carrara being a nice change of pace and fully capable of everything I do. Plus the cost is cheaper than the cost of some plugins I have for LightWave. Anyway, just wanted to say hi to everyone. Might be posting here more in the future, with questions. Donnie

Hi Donnie, i'm really glad to see you here:-) I use carrara for my everyday work as illustrator/graphic designer. You're right the renedring engine of Carrara is superfast. Also the modeling with subdivision surfaces is one of the best of the market. I've tried lately every 3d application of which i've found a demo, but for sure Carrarastudio is my home and this forum is the little nice garden. Don't forget to downolad also the demo version of Amapi 7 pro. I'm sure that you'll be amazed... -TOXE

Thanks for the welcome. I've been using Lightwave for so long it will be hard to get use to the interface and all the "cute" buttons, but as I mentioned before change is good. Sometimes changing programs or finding another tool can spark your creativity. I have tried Amapi before. Been a while though, and at the time Lightwaves' modeler provided everything I needed. But if I start using Carrara too, I'm sure Amapi will be great. Not saying LW's modeler is better than Amapi, just I was already used to it and the modeling tasks I was and have been doing were easily acomplished with it. If I purchase Carrara I will be kind of starting fresh, so I will definitely give Amapi a try then. On the site its says I can upgrade (being a previous Infini-D user). I havnt owned Infini-D since around 1997. Sure wish I had held on to that disc just for this promotion. But even at $399 its still a very good bargain from what I have seen. Donnie

Hey Donnie, I was a Ray Dream user and moved to Carrara when Metacreations put it up for sale and it's future seemed uncertain. I figured I needed to switch and tried out Strata for a few months. Ease of use, great textures included, great rendering, weak modeler. I then switched over to Lightwave for about a year and although its power in all aspects is undeniable, I never warmed to the interface. For a person who does still pictures, Lightwave seems overly complex. Carrara 3's improvements in its vertex modeler and renderer pulled me back. I haven't opened Lightwave in a few months now but I am grateful that it gave me insight into polygonal modeling, something which has carried over to Carrara's vertex modeler.

Good points there. Yes Lightwave is very powerful in many respects. But most of that power goes largely unused by myself. Some product shots and a few logo animations a month are all that I currently do. Small market where I am from. So far from the demo, I feel Carrara can do all that I require and a whole lot more if I get to that stage. Of course if I get to that stage I can always go bacl to Lightwave (7.5). Right now though, an update is about to be released for LW. Rendering speed from what I have seen has not been addressed. Physics have and appear fairly complete. But I was impressed with the physics example in Carrara demo. I will continue to play with the demo and then after a week or two make a decision. The cost for the upgrade to LW is about the same as the whole cost of Carrara. But since I dont use a whole lot of the extra features of Lightwave now, I think Carrara will probably be the better choice. Plus like I said, sometimes an app change can get you excited again. Cheers

Oh, one other thing. I started with Lightwave at version 5.6. I found I liked the interface, but for many people they either hate it or love it. The interface for Carrara has that Kai cuteness, but I think I can get used to it.

Poser and Carrara have improved their interfaces since the old Bryce days.

I would have to agree with you there SHONNER. Been working with it for about a day now, and I am getting along pretty well. This program has so many features for the money it seems like a steal. The plant generator is fascinating all by itself. Sometimes in life you stumble onto something and you think "Wow". For me that has been Carrara. So many features and the rendering is top notch. Like I said, I have worked for years with Lightwave. There are a lot of things with Carrara that Newtek could take lessons from. The lens flare editor is great, but I remember it has been great since the days of Infini-D. The plant generator, again is awesome and fun to explore, not to mention very useful. So many other things I could talk about in comparison with Lightwav, but for now I am too busy having fun exploring the program. Guess I'll get back to working with the demo now. Just wanted to re-iterate how pleased I am with Carrara so far. Donnie

Yes , I do like the new plant generator,it makes Carrara an even more well rounded package. I use carrara everyday as an architectural illustrator and find it works well for me in almost all situations. Carrara is a program I would miss for sure. Good luck with you decision. Mike

Hi Mike. Not really much of a decision. I have already seen enough, and the cost is such that if it doesnt work out, I wont be out a lot of money. I still plan to use Lightwave for projects. But once I get Carrara I plan to try some projects in it too. Once I get comfortable enough to rely on it solely, I will do so. For now I have some dedicated clients that I have to be sure and fulfil projects for. Once Carrara demonstrates it can (through my manipulation) achieve what I need, Lightwave might get shelfed. Even effects like exploding objects are easy with Carrara. Again, I guess I am very enthusiastic, but after working with Lightwave for so long and having to find workarounds for problems like this, it is a breath of fresh air to see Carrara do it effortlessly.

See if you can get TransPoser bundled with Carrara Studio 3. I don't know if you have Poser 4/5 or not. If you do, get the bundle.

No I do not have Poser. I just talked to the Chief Financial Officer (wife). I had already budgeted for the upgrade to Lightwave. After running the demo through its paces a little for her she agreed that it would make more sense to purchase Carrara. The upgrade for Lightwave is really not going to improve my work. I am a veteran user, but I am not a heavy duty power user. There are about a 1000 things built into Lightwave that I dont use. So for everything I do need, Carrara seems to fit the bill. Not to mention all the cool "freebies" as I call them. The plant editor comes to mind. So, now I am waiting for them to e-mail me about my previous Infini-D license. I dont have the software anymore, ot the serial number. I know the software has changed companies now, but maybe they might have a record of it. If not, it will cost me an extra $150. But I look at it like I looked at the original purchase of Lightwave. A couple of jobs and it will pay for itself. Donnie

Carrara is great you will love it. It so handy and wonderful to use. You are smart to purchase it. Lightwave is great also I can't wait 'til version 8 arrives. Have a GREAT day! Stan

Ok. Decision made. Easy actually. Have school after work today, but will place order when I get home. Cant wait to get my hands on the full version. I do have one question though. What are the manuals like? Are they detailed? How many pages, etc? Thanks, Donnie

OK. Order placed. Should arrive in a couple of days.

Donnie, The manual is about 600 pages. The manual should get you up and running but it doesn't tell you everything . I guess it is a typical manual , covers the basics of the program. You can also check out www.3dXtract.com for tutorials and other info. Mike

Thanks Mike. I have already been there and bookmarked it. I already have a pretty good foundation in 3D having used Lightwave for several years plus Infini-D before that. I also use Vue. So the initial learning curve faced by those new to 3D wont be there. Getting to know the interface and the program intimately will be different though. I plan to spend about an hour each night until it arrives, just playing with the demo. I am getting better at running the program. I may have to spend more than an hour each night though, the plant editor alone keeps me interested for that long. ;-) 600 pages? Cool, I really like a program with big detailed manuals. I still find myself thumbing through my Lightave manual. For reference a lot, but sometimes just for an overview of features I dont use, but find interesting. BTW, I have seen your images and they are excellent.