Hi folks, For some reason, (typing without due care and attention perhaps :) I typed in www.zygote.com instead of daz3d.com, and bloody hell! $35 for single piece of hair! Count yourselves lucky that we have poser and not some other package, you'd need an overdraft just to render a single scene :) later jb

That's why they split up into two companies, you can charge higher rates to production houses through Zygote.

Zygote's human figures are anywhere from $100-$300 each! And they aren't anywhere as attractive as Vicki and Mike. Thay're basically the old Poser 3 Dorkette and Dork. We should all be grateful that DAZ charges so little for so much better items. Melanie

Well, I don't begrudge them that, (the high production house prices)not when you get the same stuff, albeit at lower res, in poser 4. Now if somebody would only sell me the models from final fantasy, (the movie) That I'd pay through the nose for :) (Big though it is ;) later jb

Also, don't forget that many production houses aren't looking for models with the weight and detail of things like Vickie - far too large and heavy to use multiple instances of as padding for crowd scenes and a lot of other work. In point for architectural renderings many houses will use photographs of real people over the render to give scale and realism to an image. On top of this, normally to save time a stock figure will be used for modelling purposes, so again there is no great need for detail as that can be added by in-house modellers or in post or by textures. Then there's the other side of the coin. One that has started many arguments over software costs. When you buy professional software (ie Max etc) you expect, nay, dare I say "want" to pay professional rates for things you add to it. Hence why so many of the add ons for the so-called Professional programs cost "professional" prices - usually in the hundreds of dollars bracket if not up into thousands for some software. Why? Well, I can only put it in the context of Hollywood. The more money you throw at something - the better it must be, yes? OK, that's bullshit, but it certainly seems to be the yardstick that is used by so many production houses and "professional" artists. Quality does not always equate to price in the strange twisted world of professional 3D. At least that's how this particular person interprets some of the nonsense prices he's seen around.

Attached Link: http://www.viewpoint.com/vp/catalog.jsp

If you want to see rediculously overpriced low-quality (no, I dont mean low-polygon)models check out viewpoint digital. For models that look like they were created by beginning students of 3D modelling theyre charging hundreds or even thousands of dollars. This "Army Man" that I could put together in less than 2 minutes in any 3D modelling program retails for $1050 US.

Even more ridiculous, does anyone actually buy that thing? If so, it only proves the old addage, "A fool and his money are soon parted." They've got to be kidding! It looks like it was made of stacked up block primitives and textured. Duh, even I could do that. Melanie Laughing so hard I can't stop!

The other thing that you are buying when you buy a production model from Zygote or Viewpoint is the right to use it commercially in games and movies and such. There is a value to copyright which is factored into their costs. Carolly

Hi, Well, some, (OK 99% :) of thier models may suck, but the free model here: http://modelbank.viewpoint.com/ is a killer rescue helicopter available in a range of resolutions, complete with map file :) Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines :) later jb

Yeah, but $1050 for that square thing? Really! Melanie

Hi all I had planned on using lightwave to create some highly detailed male models as an alternative to micheal and sell them from my new web space But i have decided to make some easy cash and sell through veiwpoint!! here is a model i created on my IBM 486 yesterday its only 1200.00 US get em while they are hot!!!!! Mocap