Hi all! Im looking for some advice as I continue to inch along with my digital art aspirations. Eventually Id like to be able to make nifty little animated shorts, but for now Im still in the early learning stages. What I would like to do is import Poser and Daz figures into 3DS Max. Id like to use Character Studio to add bones, IK, and weight as well as design movement sets. Id also like to be able to create entirely new UVs and make my own textures. Im wondering which path I should take. Every modeling package seems to have its strengths and weaknesses, so Im kind of lost as to where I should start. Mind you Im pretty new at this, but from what I can see 3DS Max is a very robust rendering package and Id like to stick with it and rely on Poser 5 for character creation only. If it makes things easier, heres what I have to work with: 3DS Max 6 Character Studio Poser 5 UV Mapper Classic Deep UV Deep Paint 3D Wings 3D Photoshop CS Anyway, I dont want to develop any bad habits so any advice you guys have for me would be greatly appreciated. I think Ive learned more from the Renderosity forums than from anything else! Thanks!

What are your strengths in Max? If rigging is not one of them you can stick with Poser's rigging and import the characters with BodyStudio. If you can rig then you can just import the models and adjust the textures manually and animate in max. (with bodystudio you animate in poser and use Max's lights, effects etc and render in max) I like Max! I have 3.1 and it renders ProPack scenes beautifully!! I dont think bodystudio works with Max 3 or under so I have't bothered with it! And a newer version of Max is too pricey for me... wonder if I can upgrade for cheaper rather than buying the whole shebang! Sorry off topic! my two cents are spent! G

"wonder if I can upgrade for cheaper rather than buying the whole shebang" I don't think there's an upgrade path from ver.3, but you can check. We're on ver.7 already. ;-)

Body Studio? Sounds like that's what I'm looking for. Is that made by Curious Labs or Discreet? (You guys rule)

"I don't think there's an upgrade path from ver.3, but you can check. We're on ver.7 already. ;-) " I know... :( There's a school here that sells there copies and licenses after a while but I don't know if the registration is transferable... I talked to a guy there a short while back and could get max5 for around $1000! If the license and registration is transferable I'd totally go for it!! At the reseller here max7 is about $4600 cdn! Ouch! My luck, the $1000 probably doesn't include a dongle!!! LOL!!! They could charge 2 grand for the dongle!! ROFL!!!!!!! BodyStudio is made by Reiss Studios!! CL sells it there too!