can anyone recommend some good options as far as modelling programs go, on the more affordable end of the price scale? I saw TrueSpace3.2 on another website offered for free download! so I whave onder, is it too good to be true? would it even be any good for modelling Poser 5 clothing, characters, etc? also I saw yet another free program offered, for producing grass in .obj form, Bantam3d Grass, but the link seems to be dead...does anyone know where I might get this program? any advice/info is very much appreciated! ;D

I model in Truespace, started with a free version of 2, purchased 4.3 now have the current 6.6 I had heard that they were now giving away 3.2 so I'd say that would be a good way to test the waters.

I'll hunt up the grass proggy link -- give me a few on it. For a great modelling proggy on the strict side, wings has the best price, and Silo is pretty sharp, as well. I'm fond of carrara, as well, for a suite - style set. The others tend to be rich on the money side.

Attached Link: http://grass3d.com

found it :)

Wings is probably the best, price-wise. It's free, the last I heard, and has its own forum here at R'osity. Just post a thread there asking for the link and someone will point you at it very quickly (if the link isn't already included at the top of the forum - I've never checked). If you want a more traditional "3-ortho +1 perspective" interface (which is the area I come from), then AC3D by Inivis is shareware and cost me less than $20. It's not a "high-end" 3d modeller, but it works for me:-) (You'll have to do a google search for AC3D, I can't remember where their site is at the moment.) Cheers, Diolma

You can do a 3 ortho +1 perspective in wings The addy is www.wings3d.com

I prefer Wings3D to any other modeller I ever tried. Have a look in the Wings Forum.

You should also consider Shade from Curious Labs. Very low entry level cost if you have Poser, and has a lot of possibilities :) - Noel

My suggestion would be Wings3d also. It's free, frequently updated, and reliable. TrueSpace isn't very stable.. in that you've got to save often before it crashes on ya. You can't select 1 edge, hit L to select the edge loop in trueSpace (there isn't an edge loop selection option in ts 5.1).. and you can't select 2 or 4 edges, cut them 3X's and hit C to connect. You have to draw edges onto yer object which slows down workflow... these things are very noticable when you go to truespace after using Wings. Wings has a new connect tool, it is like drawing edges. Also Wings has a predictable tweak mode...I don't think truespace has that and who knows where truespace is going to put your vertice. (= Wings handles zooming very well.. zoom too fast in truespace it might very well crash on ya. Wings has better tools for box modeling and a faster workflow with hot-keys, which you can create your own hot keys, and moving your selections is more predictable. And to get some of the modeling tools Wings already has for truespace (like selecting an edgeloop), ya gotta buy plug-ins.

I would also suggest Wings3D. Its still free, and as far as I know it will remain that way. There are lots of other programs out there that do all sorts of fancy stuff, but if you're looking for a program to model stuff specifically for poser, wings is really all you need. It has a lot of features and is really easy to learn.

Attached Link: http://www.ac3d.org/

AC3D is here.. Ok, Wings has been recommended, so our work here is done..;) Wings Users local 509..;) Here's some others.. Anim8tor - http://www.anim8or.com/ Amapi3d - http://bakhter.com/html/main/amapi4.html (may not be there any more) Blender- http://www.blender3d.org/cms/Blender.31.0.html Curvy 3d- http://www.curvy3d.com/ (this is a modeler, right?..;) Gloodle- can't find it, may be a painter, but I think it's a modeler Metasequoia - http://www.spies.com/~palevich/3d/metasequoia/english/ may not be around, but I think the site is Truespace- http://tvanonselen.tripod.com/downloads.htm older version, but if you can figure out the interface, you can create world peace..;) here's a site with a bunch of modelers, courtesty some kind soul in the Bryce forum..;) http://www.cbel.com/3d_graphics_software/ almost all of the above, and a bunch more besides, tons of Bryce, Poser, etc., about 1,200+ links.. if that don't feed your need, I can't help you..;)

Message edited on: 09/23/2004 22:57

My fave combination: MarbleCLAY (free, fairly stable beta): http://homepage3.nifty.com/escargot/ I use this for initial modeling, because I can create a new polygon/polyline anywhere I want. The one thing to beware of is that you need to change the axis orientation for import/export so that the lower left says X+, and also check "flip facet". Wings3d (free, very stable beta): http://www.wings3d.com I then bring the model into Wings to tweak and add detail. There is one additional thing to be aware of in both programs, and that is to set import scaling to [50] and export scaling to [0.02]. Both apps have the ability to create UV mapping, each with their own approach. This is an especially powerful combo if you want to create clothing for Poser characters (conforming or dynamic).

Wings3D and/or Blender.

Ack! The following is what I meant: the lower right says X+, and also check "flip facet".

Heh, I don't know why people can't get the OLDER Truespace Interface (2-4.3)... Then again I originally learned on Caligari 24 on the Amiga. (Truespace's granpa)

Then again I can't even remotely comprehend the current Truespace interface.

I think the Direct Manipulation of objects in TS 4.3 (and 3.2 for that matter)is VERY intuitive. Then again I'm not a great modeller, and mostly do a lot of Boolean modelling, and some subdivision modelling (with the Thermoclay plugin.) :D

TS is buggy though, but no more than Poser 4. Ya get what ya pay for as far as stability goes.

Message edited on: 09/24/2004 10:04

hmmmm, I have never used Wings so I can't comment on it. I have attempted to use free vers of Amapi and TS and couldn't understand them at all. I did however get lucky finally when I got a free vers of C4D, (C4D 6 CE) a while back. Only limitation was the render size. Since I wanted to learn modeling, I didn't mind that. It came Chock full of stuff too It had a complete Manual and a Tutorial Manual w/ Very detailed lessons and the tut proj files too. TS came w/ nothing. And when I registered they tried to Sell me the Manual! lol. I recently took a class at the eclectic academy and found out that to my suprise, the modeling prog they were supplying was the same one I had, C4d. That was ok w/ me. lol. It was 20.00 I think for the class and those who didn't have the prog already got it free. Now I just heard they are giving a full complete vers of Amapi 6 away w/ the Latest Copy of 3dWorld. And they also have Maya PLE on it too. http://www.3dworldmag.com/ And finally, I want to give you a link to a page that someone I know made that list and compares all the features of the popular Modeling Programs. It is a very good page for anyone looking for a modeler. http://www.knucks3dstuff.com/modelingprograms.html Take care, and good luck! star****

Rhino

I've done little jobs in Anim8or with no real problems, once I had the OpenGL drivers sorted. I've also done some modelling in Poser. It may surorise you what can be made with primitives and such in-Poser things as the grouping tool.