I am not an artist
I have little patience to learn new stuff, but I am fairly computer literate.
I'm clueless about the technical stuff re: UF and Apo
I can barely figure out PSP
Would I be wasting my hard earned money on XenoDream?
(why do I even want it? Because some of the images I've seen are extraordinary)

In my opinion you answered your own question when you said you had little patience to learn new stuff. I don't have XD and don't know how difficult it is, but to spend money on something you may not have the patience for would be wasteful. Why not try Apo, or Fractal Explorer and read the tutorials which are many, and see just how patient you are with those programs, and if you make headway, then consider XD. There are also other 3d programs you could download for free and see if you have the patience for them, Pov-Ray for windows is one that I know of. No matter what program you get, it will certainly take some time to learn just what can be done with it, but if you are that interested and have the time then you will certainly succeed. Good luck!

Message edited on: 07/17/2004 15:36

Hi Bee - I bought XD, myself, and was totally baffled by the user interface. I was unable to intuit anything that resulted in even an image. Granted, I only tried twice - and then for only a half hour to maybe an hour. I have some tutorials by Bryan Smith (check his gallery - "smithgiant" - dude was a freakin' PIONEER!) and some "xep's" by Panny Brawley that she sent me, but haven't been able to find/make the time to go thru them. UF has a lot of capabilites and is fairly complex, but you can figure out a lot by intuition if you've ever used Fractint, Winfract or Flarium24. I never read more than a few of the hundreds of pages of the UF manual. The XD user interface is WAY different and it looks like it will take a good bit of time and effort for me to get familiar with it like Dirk, Joseph, Michael and others here are. It sure does give the opportunity for some awe inspiring images. I guess its like anything else worth trying - depends on HOW BAD YOU WANT IT, eh? Buy it if you think you will take the time to learn it - I'm sure you'd get help from the folks here but you'd need to want it bad enough to spend the time. I'm sure you'd get it figured out pretty well, but it WOULD take some doing...'course, I'm not exactly the "brightest gradient in the folder" and maybe others wouldn't have trouble. :>) Rick

Bee, we bought XD about 4 months ago or longer what were finding even with the excellent help Panny and others have given us it is a time factor for us mainly to learn it. Like Rick said how bad do you want to learn it frankly if I had to do it over again I would not have had Ron buy it for us. It's very technical way above both of our heads and frankly doubt seriously if we will ever learn least not to the extent that Dirk and others know that program. Unless you can devote at least a full week or more with nothing else to do but just work with it you may be able to at least get a decent render of out it.. There are some people who can pick up any program and learn it then there are us kind that just do not have enough time in the day to spend 4 or 5 hours just going through the help section..Good Luck in whatever you decide Carolyn

Bee - I would have to add that patience is the one thing that XD requires a lot of. It took me a month or more of fiddling and reading tutorials and pusing buttons to get anything decent from it, and after using it for a year or so I'm still nowhere near as good as several others here. It's a very powerful program, but the user interface is very different, and very intimidating. I wouldn't go so far as to say don't buy it, but I would definitely say don't start there. Learn to use a few of the free programs, like FE or APO, first, then if you think you're really ready to spend the time and effort to learn XD, you'll find lots of help here. Good luck, Dennis

Bee- "I'm clueless about the technical stuff re: UF and Apo" Remember, you can always post questions if you need specific help :) Nick

Thoughtful and helpful responses here. Thank you. I have decided against XD for now. I'll leave that for the experts, whos work I admire so much. I already have UF, and I love it, but haven't played much with it since I found Apo. That has kept me busy for weeks. Time seems to be the biggest factor in my impatience regarding learning new things. Nick, I appreciate your response, and I know that I will ask specific questions when I'm better able to form them in my mind. At the present time, I'm dazed and confused by Apo scripts. I made some minor changes to one, and liked the results, but it was purely an accident. I know nothing about what they mean. Is there somewhere that I can read about the scripts and the various parts so I could perhaps make something intelligent of my own? Again, thanks to all of you who answered. It is obvious that I'd be way over my head with XD. Bee

Attached Link: http://www.apophysis.org/tutorials/index.html

Awwww geezzzzzz, I gotta READ stuff? Thanks for the reminder, Nick. I'd completely forgotten about that site. Is there a possibility that too much time spent in flames causes memory loss? :) Bee

Don't feel too bad, Bee. I was just reminded I hadn't updated the 'Featured Fractal' in another thread. But I think each new grey hair in my head is taking away my memory :) Nick

"I am not an artist"
We are all artists to some degree or another (as long as we can see beauty in the world - digital or real)

"I have little patience to learn new stuff, but I am fairly computer literate."
When one is bursting at the seams with creativity, one find it hard to have the discipline and patience required to do what is needed with any program to produce what is in one's mindeye.

"I'm clueless about the technical stuff re: UF and Apo"
As already pointed out, simply ask for help here. The only stupid question is the one which you do not ask. We all have had to start from scratch somewhere in our artistic endeavors.

"I can barely figure out PSP" Ask,and ask again! Check out the tutorial section here on Renderosity. Perhaps, someone has already answered your question with a tutorial.

One last comment, do not hesitate to join several communities here on Renderosity. As you gain artistic expertise, you will find that folks in other 'communities' have valuable input which can expand your undertanding.

Message edited on: 07/20/2004 07:39