Import is one area that Carrara Pro does pretty well now.
Out of the box Pro imports 12 3d formats including LW object files. They also added Transcad that opens up 8 more 3d formats that you'd get from CAD type programs like IGES, STP and Rhino 3dm files.
In contrast XSI(Fn) supports only 6 or 7 3d file formats (icluding the fbx and xfrog add-ons I got from the two 3rd party developers).
The issue you brought up about shaders & uv mapping got a face lift too, with a UV editor inside the modeling room. It has most of the basic tools that you'd get using UV Mapper classic with the advantage of working with C's shader domains and on the fly editing without having to export-import.

They put a lot of work into the program and threw in Amapi Designer 7 and a bunch of plug-ins before setting the upgrade price.

If you don't need or use the extra tools they will not have much value, if you do need them they are worth a lot.

It stacks up pretty well feature and price wise to other apps in the entry to mid level range like TrueSpace, Strata 3D, and Cinema4d (the core app with no advanced add-ons)

How C stacks up to the high end stuff from XSI & LightWave being brought down into the entry level game is hard to say. That's when the demos come in handy, letting users figure out for them selves if it is going to do it for them at a cost they can live with.

wayne k
guam usa

Message edited on: 04/05/2005 08:45