Hey i was just looking for some helpful input on poser. I really love the whole animating scene and plan to make that my major throughout school. I just don't quite understand all of poser 7 yet how to make hoods, wings, accessories for the most part. I only really understand the basics but i really wanted to work my way up to creating my own fight scenes and other things that I've always wanted to get out of my head but unfortunatley never had the artistic talent to do so. So please any feedback would be greatly appreciated. =)

~Roland White
Archail.productions@gmail.com

 Poser isn't a model making program.  People who own poser don't make wings, and hoods etc.  They buy the 3D meshes and apply them to their poser scene.
however there are a lot of free 3D meshes, but some (quite a lot really) have provisos for their usage attached.  If they say or don't specify whether the mesh can be used for commercial render, then you can never sell the art you make if it uses one of these items in your scene.
There are some free mesh making #D softwares about, but once you start messing with it, you can say goodbye to your uni degree, as all your free time will go into it.
Even using poser probably isn't good for study.  When you're studying you really have to put off all the fun things until you are finished it.
However if you are making 3d part of your study, well I don't know.  this hobby is terribly terribly addictive, and involves expense to buy the models and the latest and greatest software, then all the computing power, RAM, backup HDs for all your art files etc.  and the time taken to install the stuff you own and categorize it.
My advice is to leave poser until you have a degree in something.
Love esther

The best advice I can give you is this:

Schools are not just only a learning institution, IT's ALSO A MONEY MAKING INSTITUTION. The longer you stay at one, the more money they get. To make it longer for you to stay, the lessons must be slowly fed to you for at least FOUR DAMN YEARS!!! And guess what, let's say you did graduate and get them all the useful and not useful knowledge, does that guarantee you can get a job asap? Nuh...WRONG!

Experience is only a second rate to get to the ones you want. Its the CONNECTIONS!!!

Would it be better to build connections in four years than to learn all of this in four years while in reality you can study what you just need in just 1-2 years?

I believe if you really are passionate to your art GO TO COLLEGE! Yes, but if you can find a school that will teach you what you need quickly, the better!

Try this:

1.) Decide what you really want to do. Do you want to be a modeler model/create characters, props? Or an animator who makes the models move/talk? Or a texture artist who create those awesome photorealistic skin above the models? Or do you want to be a film maker who directs and plans the thing? Knowing the direction you want to go will save you alot of time. Most try to figure out what they want once they are in college, wasting time and quitting when they realize they dont like where they are.

2.) Pull out all of the video games, movies and magazines in your stack and know who are the people behind who made them. List down the companies. There should be at least one of them close to your home. If you have some computer skills like photoshop or some basic modeling/animating skills, go to them and apply as an intern. Tell them you are willing to work for free! Yes, FREE! Free cannot be denied. Brag and be humorous in your application form show the best samples you have. Be nice and helpful, do something extra like scrubbing their floor or brew some coffee for them. Ask ALOT of questions, make friends to the real world guys who made it.

3.) I STRONGLY recommend to learn poser because its EASY and there is alot of info out there on how to use it. If you need something just ASK ASK ASK ASK **ASK!

Create your first demo reel on Poser! You can learn creating your own stuff later once you can get your hands of those modeling software. Since you can get  many free stuff out there, download them and try to create a small movie that will capture the hearts of people (type Kiwi in youtube 18 million views). It's just simply knowing the basics on using poser with the PDF file** that comes along with it when you buy it. Start downloading free stuff or make use of the free characters that came along with it. Upload the movie here and get a critique. Once you think you are ready, send your reel to these companies and offer your self to work for them for free. These companies are looking for talent, not a degree. If they knew that you can do all of these while you are still in college, who's going to deny you? Who's not going to hire you???

Some info in animating:

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2746045
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2745489

Learn poser from Dr. Geep!