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.

Cinema4D Plugins (Home of Riptide, Riptide Pro, Undertow, Morph Mill, KyamaSlide and I/Ogre plugins) Poser products Freelance Modelling, Poser Rigging, UV-mapping work for hire.