When I first started out it was Bryce off a cover disk and a freeware paint tool. As I learned the craft and got better, I started searching for tools that did  particular tasks. As a result I became a tool collector as well. In my collection I have every freeware and shareware modeler, paint tool and all round application that can be had out there plus dozens of little tools that do only one thing. In the commercial app category I tried Max, Lightwave, C4D,Modo, Maya and Mudbox. All have their good points but I declined to purchase. Over time, things got narrowed down and countless CDs now are boxed and in the closet.

Here's a look inside my current, and much leaner toolbox......

Main staging application:  Vue hands down. I love Vue's wide open 3d spaces to work in and the material editor is one that actually allows me to learn and get good at it.  Bryce's and some of the others were completely beyond me and still are

2d applications: Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Painter, Gimp and RealDraw Pro

Modelers: Silo, Hexagon, Zbrush, Metasequoia and Curvy 3d. For sketch modeling I have Archepilis and ShapeShop. I'm just learning Zbrush and Hexagon and Meta are the two I use most.

Texture generators:  TextureMaker (awesome), Imagesynth, Terragen, Mojoworld and Bryce.

Mesh Optimization and conversion: Accutrans mostly although Hexagon has a great decimator for hard surfaces as it leaves all edges intact. I use Blender to turn tris to quads.

Masking: Vertus FluidMask....no comparison anywhere!

Special Effects: Particle Illusion, WinImages 7

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