Hi guys, I've made a futile search here for already-posted information, so I'll just ask you for your opinions straight out....

What are your favourite applications for producing Poser content? I'm looking to eventually produce sellable historic props, textures and clothing.

I've been deciding for YEARS which application to fully take the plunge with and thoroughly learn. I've dabbled with Maya, but find its learning curve a little steep, but I'm prepared to persevere/train. Should I look at Carrara, Lightwave, Shader, C4D, Rhino? Does anyone know what app DAZ actually develop their content with?

Please share your experiences.

Any help is greatly, etc, in advance. Also, advance apologies if there is already an extensive thread on this subject.

Regards, Steve P.

Most people suggest getting demos and trying them out.

Most modeling programs do alot of the same thing (some have more bells and whistles) what you really need to do is find the workflow and interface that work for you.

My personal favorite is Shade.

Well, I believe DAZ has many creators using different aps. But I think Vic, Mic..other characters were made using a high end 3D software....maybe 3DS Max (I am guessing). My favorite modelling app I am using is Wings3D, then once you know that, other apps will come with ease. You will also need a UVmapper. Wings3D has its own mapping, and the thing is I got to comfortable with UVmapper, that I do not know how to use Wings3D mapping.

Here is a MadCat (Battletech), before for poser which is ok. But I wanted more. So I took it into wings3D. Removed some faces, and created new ones, which is a cockpit (interior). Removed the missles, so missles can be individually added. Instead of attached to the mesh. When animating, you can not animate missles, so they have to be removed and created indivually. I dunno why people do this (add missles to mesh). I made the toes movable in poser and other features. This was a heavy project, and did take a toll on me, but was very well worth it.  Image example.

And here is a good example of Cockpit and missles. I had to redo the missles. I was just checking when I made this image.

Goood model, Robo2010.

Another requirement for the app would be easy porting in and out of Poser. I seem to recall that Lightwave is the app that DAZ uses, but I'd be looking for an app that can be used with poser without too much faffing about. Faffing costs time.

Thanks for replying, guys.

Lightwave is very good.  I use it.  It can export in .obj format straight to Poser.  I don't think you have to faff.  I guess it all depends on which app you are most comfortable with.  I tried to learn max and had to force myself to work on it.  Lightwave, I was up and running right away.

pretty much any app that can export .obj files will work with poser just fine. its better if the app can do exportable uv mapping and grouping right in the app. But ultimately you have to factor in the Grok factor, the best modeler in the world doesn't help you if you are not comfortable using it. DAZ has used several apps over the years. Lightwave was popular for a while, and more recently Modo. but they don't use any one app exclusively. I tried lightwave at one point due to the fact that several people recommended it highly, but it never flowed for me. C4D works for me, I seemed to understand it almost intuitively but I have heard other people say that they couldnt stand the workflow and prefer something else. it is possible now that DAZ and E-fronteers both own a couple of modeling apps that one of those apps might come to the forefront for product development due to the fact that both companies are so familiar with the workflow of poser, but we will have to wait and see.

I know DAZ use Modo...but as already mentioned they probably have many in their arsenal.

Cheers

I use a multitude of 3D apps during my modelling process.

Most of my non organic models are created exclusively in Milkshape3D. Those that need that extra detailing are then moved into Zbrush2

Organic stuff almost always starts in Zbrush2

My final processing for models is done in Polytrans, which is where I unify the mesh, optimize the model, tweak the smoothing groups and check and fix scale.

www.anim8or.com
I model everything in Anim8or, texture with UVMapperPro.  They are excellent and simple programs.

I use Amapi, which is very fast and powerful but has a truly peculiar
"mindset".  Most of the really good meshes I see lately are done
in Wings3D.  Each app has limitations, and I don't know of any 
that fits 100% with Poser's needs.

Overall, though, don't spend too much time or effort on choosing;
try several demos and go with the one that molds to your brain
most comfortably.

The real key to modeling is not the app but your 'bag of tricks' ... the
set of little routines and methods developed by your eyes and hands. 
And the sooner you start filling that bag, the faster you'll get to the level of
productivity and fun.

Ockham makes a good point, and answers your question from the first post about "Daz' secret toolkit"  Its not the tools, its the artists who make the stuff.  Leonardo DaVinci made great drawings with the same piece of charcoal or pencil you use.  Its how you do it that matters.  So go get a free modeler, learn to use it, and have fun.

"pretty much any app that can export .obj files will work with poser just fine."

It's worth mentioning that Poser uses a subset of the obj file format; curves and surface patches are not Poser friendly.

Poser geomtry files are all based on .OBJ.  .OBJ has aways been owned by Alias Wavefront, whom produced Maya. 

I also believe that Maya has much more Video Tutorial support(by Digital Tutors, and Gnomon) than like all the other 3D modellers put together.

Recently the owners of 3D Studio Max, Autodesk, aquired Maya.  I'm not sure what happened to the .OBJ file format rights, but I'd guess they're Autodesks now.

The choice between Maya and 3D Studio Max may now depend on what you want to do.  I've seen Maya used alot in the making of Playstation 2 games, and I've seen 3D studio Max used mostly for Hollywood movie effects.

As far as direct siblings of Poser are concerned, Daz3D's Carrara 5 Pro is the eldest.   It was origionally created from Ray Dream Studio 5, byt the owners of Poser 3(Metacreations.)  Currently it is the only Modeller that can import Poser scenes/files, but even it ca'nt export.  Shade 8 is another Modeler related to Poser, as it is owned by Poser's current developers.

Otherwise there are'nt many basic modeler functions that ca'nt be done by either Poser Magnets or a free modeler, like Blender, WIngs, etc.  Modelers can effect a polygon at; the vertex, the edge,  or the surface.  Where as Poser Magnets only effect edges.  So, this is what a modeler holds over Poser, but I'd like to someone further the list with things that warrant paying $$$$ for one?

Just a few things of a modeller to add to the list over Poser...Modo for example....

3D texture painting
UV editing
mesh editing/modelling with falloff zones
macros - no need to repeat repetitive tasks. Do it once while recording a macro, then save it for later use. A great time saver!
Customisable GUI - arrange the application to suit your work flow.

Just 4 or 5 things I can think of, before bed, that I feel are worth the money.
As with any application, you have to find a program that you feel comfortable with that is at the right price. For me it's Modo amongst others, for another it may be XSI and for another it might be Wings. As with all software, it's best to try the demos.

Cheers

Attached Link: http://www.wings3d.com

I've used anim8tor, amapi, strata 3d, doga (l1), and have downloaded tons more, but Wings 3d does what I want. Haven't done too much in Poser yet (getting there..;) but it's free and easy.

Cheers _ I'll give you half credit for 3D Texture painting, but can you export a new texture map, once you painted, else how would you get the work back into Poser?

" UV editing, mesh editing/modelling"

Those are the same, and I covered these already.

"with falloff zones"

I think the P7 magnet tool offers these?

"Wacros"

These are nice, but Poser does has Python, which may not be as simple, but is rather versatile.

"Timesaver"

I'm not really sure what you mean.  I'm fairly handy with poser magnets, there is'nt  alot they ca'nt do.  I think a modeler would be much of the same thing.

"GUI"

I do'nt htink any program has as an attractive GUI as Poser!  Carrara, maybe, but it got it's GUi from Poser.

Attached Link: Cloting and Props made in Carrara

As many have already said, you should try the demos, because some modeling programs will fit the way you think better than others. The first real modeling I ever did was in C4D, I tried 3DS Max, Lightwave, and Rhino first. Rhino was OK, but C4D really fit the way I think, and was much easier to learn and use. I also like (and use) Hexagon (v1), it plays very well with Poser (doesn't re-order verticies, which means it can be used for making morph targets, and can easily handle importing the full V3 mesh as a base to model cloths on), was real easy to learn, and is very simple to use.  I don't have Hex2, so I can't say how well it works.

I use Carrara too, It has a very powerful spline modeler, a good vertex modeler, plays well with Poser, and has a lot of other very nice features including a fantastic render engine, powerful shaders, and good terrain/landscape tools.

You should definitely take a look at some of the free modelers mentioned here too. Wings3D seems to be a favorite and can do UV mapping for texturing too. Blender has a lot of features if you want to go beyond modeling, but for most people it isn't easy to learn.

Silo is another low cost modeler that is easy to learn and use, but the current version (1.4?) re-orders model verticies, so it isn't a good solution for creating morph targets (may change with the release of 2.0).

The bottom line though is that the modeler you chose needs to fit the way you think, or you will never be comfortable modeling. The high end programs (3Ds, Maya, etc.) will have a very steep learning curve, and typically are not the best choice for a beginner. I recommend that you start your quest to find the perfect modeling software with the free and low cost applications. Once you learn the basics, you be able to better evaluate if purchasing a high end product would be a good invesment. 

Utimately, it's not the software, but the talent of the user that makes the difference. Any of the modeling software mentioned in this thread can make great models for poser in the hands of a talented user.

Oh, for UV mapping you should take a serious look at UVmapper.  It's a great product for the price, and can often fix problems with a obj file that the would be very difficult and time consuming to fix in your modeling software.

Yep painted textures can be baked so that they can be exported...in fact you can paint right on top of the uv template if you wish.

I'm can't agree with you concerning Poser's GUI...its outdated, doesn't support dual monitors, rigid library structure, can't open two rooms at the same time,...in other words, no flexibility what so ever...but GUI is personnal preference. Flexibility is the key word...and Modo certainly has that.

As far as fall offs...falloff not only with scalling, but at vertex, edge and polygon level for modelling. Falloff that can be used with all modelling and painting tools as well as uv editing.

Cheers

Silo's around $100

DAZ Sell Hexagon ? it's affordable

Modo was coded buy Lightwavers it's $700 $800 something like that

Maya's $2000 & $7000 just to make stuff for Poser is a bit of a over kill.

think the $7000 version has annual $1000 user fee also.

 

Adobe most popular app for painting.it's not cheep.

 

I currently use TrueSpace,LW,C4D,BodyPaint.

You can set C4D's UI to look just like LW,Maya etc etc if ya wanted.

 

LW,XSI our the only 2 app's I no off that will subdivide a Triangle.

I refuse to follow the rule only model with quads. 

 

3D modeling ,mapping texturing takes time to learn and time to do.

Takes the comminment of a marage, really helps to be insane ;)

Takes $$$ also.most the time we get app's to fit our budget.

If I had the $$$ I would have all the app's.

 

Links to alot of the app's

http://www.atomic-3d.com/RK_Link/RK_Link_1A_3D_Software.htm

 

RorrKonn
http://www.atomic-3d.com

Cheers - Thanks for the Bake info! 

I've heard alot of good things about Modo and Sub-Surface Scattering; for realistic skin, from bagginsbill, but did'nt even know it was a modeler type program.

Any screenshots of the Vertex Modeler?

Here you go Angelouscuitry....

I would suggest going with one of the free apps first which is a good way to learn the basics of modeling in 3d. I also tried the Maya demo, it does have a high learning curve lol Personally I decided to go with Lightwave because there are a ton of online tutorials, books and training videos out there. And you will need instruction of some kind to really advance in 3d modeling, i think ^ ^

Quote - Goood model, Robo2010.

Another requirement for the app would be easy porting in and out of Poser. I seem to recall that Lightwave is the app that DAZ uses, but I'd be looking for an app that can be used with poser without too much faffing about. Faffing costs time.

Thanks for replying, guys.

 

Based on that requirement alone, if the budget allows for it, the best choice would be Cinema 4D.

With C4D and my (free) Riptide plugin, you can import .obj files (Poser's prefered format) and not lose any group, uv, or material zone information and it won't 'split' the mesh up into multiple mesh objects based on group boundries if you don't want it to (it's an import option).  Riptide will also keep track of UVMapper 'regions' if any are defined.

Whether you start by importing some model or build one from scratch, along Riptide's Group and Region tags, you can set up all of your material zones, groups, uv-mapper regions, use BodyPaint to uv-map your model, use BodyPaint to 3d-paint your model and then Riptide once again to export the model (again, without 'splitting' the mesh up into groups, but preserving the group records).  Once exported, the model is ready for direct import into Poser as a prop, or for rigging in Poser as a figure - no other apps are needed at all.

Using Kuroyume's inexpensive and feature-packed interPoser Pro plugin, you can import entire (animated) Poser scenes for rendering, along with the figure's rigging, so you can do additional Posing in C4D as well.

As mentioned, several of the less expensive (or free) apps will get the job done with varrying degrees of additional steps/apps involved along the way.  Several of the more expensive apps will also get the job done (usually with the fewer but still present additional steps/apps involved along the way).  So my recommendation is based soley on your stated requirements above.

With some other apps, you lose grouping information when you import/export, or you lose material information or you lose both or the mesh gets split up into multiple meshes at group boundries or the vertices get re-ordered (bad for making morphs), so something like UVMapper needs to get inserted between Poser and the modeller (nothing wrong with that - it's a great program, just an extra step). I don't know of another single modelling app that has everything under one roof (not that it doen't exist, just that I'm not familiar with it).

As a fortunate side-benefit, C4D has one of the shallowest learning curves of the higher end 3D apps and a great (generally-Poser-friendly) community as well.  But don't take my word for it - go grab the free demo from Maxon's site and try it out.

I recently switched from LightWave to C4D. Glad I did. And I use Spanki's free Riptide plugin, as well as InterPoser Pro. Great stuff!!!

I started on a few things with anim8or, have a copy of Hexagon, and mostly use Wings 3D. The interfaces are different enough that I reckon it's best to concentrate on one good program. Wings 3D is hard to beat, unless you want to spend huge amounts of money.