I already have a 3d program that I enjoy working with but now I want to get into developing items for Poser. I have visited the Marketplace and still don't have a clear idea of what additional tools would be helpful.

Can anyone suggest tools to help me with learning to design clothes or make characters for Poser?

Thank you.

I don't have alot of experience just the two figures I am working on, but I would suggest a modeling App like Modo or Max and Zbrush is invaluable, plus Deep Paint for textures and Photoshop.  I have heard that C4D Has body paint included and that may be your best value.

Carrera and ZBrush work pretty well although Z Brush isnt really needed for clothing but it is wonderful for mapping. Learning curve is a little steep but not too bad. A good uv mapper is needed, most people seem to use uv mapper or uv mapper pro I prefer Lithunwrap. And a good image processor such as photoshop.

It depends on your budget too. I use 3dsmax and Lightwave, but they are pretty expensive. I'd recommend starting with something free like Wings3d. It has built-in UV mapping too, so that's an added plus.

Fun of programs which are not mentioned below please remember:
This is my private opinion. I can be wrong. ;)

MODELING
Wings3d is best subdivision software to create low poly models. If you are not going to make Victoria5 Wings will be good.

1 - it is free. 3Dmax is expensive, too expensive concerning that you can say "it is not for me" after few weeks. Moreover expensive professional programs have "professional" interface either.
2 - very very easy interface (Win3.1 style). After few hours you know all commands and can create first model, after few days you can create your first model which is worth of saving. In Blender you will be able to open and save model after few weeks of reading manuals (anywhere Blender is great software)
3 - it is quite stable. Of course I had few crashes, but comparing to another software, crashes are rare.

Daz made very similar software Pegazus. The same options and command, Interface XP style, many bugs, crash every half hours and 40$ for models in Poser scale (wings default model size is much bigger then poser figure).

UV MAP
UVmapping in wings is not the best imo (depends of preferences of course). UVmapper is free and easier

ANIMATION
If you made correct material groups in wings, they will be expored as a group on obj file to poser without any material. It is very important, because poser grouping tool is for very patient people. Making bones and fixing joints in poser is quite easy, althought human have too many fingers. I think that God never worked with Poser, if he did he would create man with 1 or 2 fingers.

TEXTURE
Photoshop would be the best, because you can find many textures in PSP format, but to be honest, processing texture is easier then making basic texture for example good photo. Paint Shop Pro is cheaper and deffinitelly sufficient.

Pencil and paper.  Burne Hogarth's Dynamic Figure Drawing,  Dynamic Clothing.  Jack Hamm's Drawing the Head and Figure.  Mp3 player and the song "  Rocky Top " by the Osbones.  6 pack of beer.  Handful of cigars.  Pot of coffee.  A pretty model helps too.        

Check out Silo, 3d-coat, the Gimp, a gorgeous chick, and lots of beer and coffee

Give me beer and I create it all in my mind and forgett to put it on the computer.

Quote - Give me beer and I create it all in my mind and forgett to put it on the computer.

hmmm, I'ld need several doses of tequila and vodka, and the gorgeous babe to be as inspired! :biggrin:

if you want, there's a figure-to-character (start to finish) tutorial by Quinlor. Can't post the URL, but do a search. All the steps, laid out in order. Now if I could only follow directions...;)

if you want, there's a figure-to-character (start to finish) tutorial by Quinlor. Can't post the URL, but do a search. All the steps, laid out in order. Now if I could only follow directions...;)

Wings or silo. Metasequoia (gesundheit) is really neat too.. But if you have bazillion dollars you absolutely wanna spend, then I hear lightwave is a mondo cool app.

The cave scene in IronMan was rendered out in Lightwave.

Yes. like drapg say, try wings3d, free and very powerfull for modeling. The interface is easy to understand. You can make the uv mapping in wings too, or use UVmapper. This would be my first, and cheaper option.In fact, it is the tool I use.

Silo is another great option, it is cheap, about $160 , has a good interface, great for modeling and has some sculpt options, not as powerfull like zbrush, but nice.

Anyway, I don't know the program you say you have, but if you can model in it, just use it, every modeling application can make clothes for poser.

If I may offer advice, don't go out and buy a stack of expensive applications with the idea of becoming a Poser vendor. You'll never make enough money to repay your investment anyway; and what if you decide you don't want to do this after all? Faced with a daunting pile of learning curves, you may well turn tail and run. :) The added stress of needing to produce something won't help in that situation.

Make stuff for yourself first of all, because you need it. Start simple and work up. Once you have some things you're proud of, give them away as freestuff and see if everyone else agrees with you. ;)

The basic tools you'll need are:

• a modeller. These range from free to many thousands of dollars. All the good ones have demo versions - try them out and see which ones "click".
• a UV mapper, assuming you aren't 100% happy with whatever your modeller provides - and many people I know aren't. Again, there are free ones, but the high end of the price range isn't as high as it is with modellers.
• a painting program for texturing. You may already have Photoshop or something like that.
• There are a variety of small utilities which will make your life easier, but it's best to get those as the need arises, I think. In today's pay-and-download world, you can decide you need a CR2 editor at 12:00, and have one installed on your machine by 12:05. :)

Hope that helps...

Thank all of you for your suggestions. I am mulling over them now with sipping out of my coffee mug.

Lots of good info...especially the ones that suggest the beverages I should have around while trying to learn. :)

*...it is caffiene that sets my mind in motion. It is from the juice of the bean that my thoughts acquire speed, my hands begin to shake, the shakes become a warning...; (someone's handle around here...;)

I suggest Silo, it's cheap and you can paint the clothes straight onto the mesh and the UV mapping is vastly improved.