I need to creat a huge, vast cavern to use as a setpiece for an animation. What would be the best way to get this done???

One way.........

Make a stalagtite/mite object in your modeler of choice. low poly of course and with an appropriate texture. Import to Vue and save as .vob.

Create a terrain and sculpt it for your cavern floor however you wish it.  Texture and populate with your stalag object. Variate the size, density and distribution.

You can simply duplicate this terrain and flip it over and above the first one......or create a separate cavern ceiling terrain and follow the same steps.

Adjust your lighting and atmosphere to taste.

well...since i don't have any modelling software I was hoping for a way in VUE 5 Inf.

I can't seem to get it to look like an actual cave, plus I would like a suggestion on the rock material, which would be best, possibly someone can show me how to edit an existiing to something that looks real.

Wings is a free 3d modeller (and can do a lot of what the very costly high-end apps can do, albeit in it's own style).

See the Wings forum here at 'rosity to get a link for the download..
You could also ask in that forum for advice on how to create stalactites etc. They love to help ('cos it allows them to show off.. - but don't tell them I said that..)

Cheers,
Diolma

Ok then, just use Vue 5.

Make a procedural terrain.  Dig all around it flat leaving a spike or two in the middle. Add to your spike if necessary.

Now, take the clipping slider and move it to the right till you have a stalagtite. Save it as a .vob and follow the other steps above.

As for materials, there are any number of ways to do it but....

...it would be very helpful if you posted an image of your project so others can actually see where there may be issues.  'Not looking like an actual cave' doesn't help us help you very much. No offense meant...it's just easier if we can 'see' where you are having trouble. Please post one so we can get you squared away....

If you make a terrain for your cavern floor and ceiling, you can use the underside of the terrain if you choose 'skin only' in the upper left in the terrain editor.  Just a tip.

Also...how much Vue experience do you have?  Are you new to the tool?  That info will also help...

 

Attached Link: Varian's Cavern tut

Here also is a link to a cavern tutorial by Varian. It's simply another way to do this that might suit your needs.

M

This was done using the above method. Took about 5 minutes. No textures but you can get the idea. Stalagthings are Vue terrains saved as .vob . To open up the cave and build far cave walls, you can clip both the upper and lower terrain and place it all inside a symmetrical terrain, or just use a third ordinary terrain for the camera backdrop as in Varian's tut.....

Thanks for the help! I think I may have gotten a handle on what to do from your suggestions.