Can any of you all that have Carrara and Vue compare the two please? I am thinking of getting Vue. Is it better than Carrara? I have Carrara6.

Jim

Simple.
Download a trial version of Vue.
If you are aware of Carraras capabilities and easy workings I can not imagine, in a million years, that you would buy Vue.

Theres Poser, Vue and THEN Carrara--a true allround 3D App.
(Some apps need Poser and Vue as plugins.)

Brian

LOL, I have both. Vue6 infinity and C6pro. Each has its moments. I use Vue more. I can't stand modeling in Carrara. I'm spoiled, I use modo302.

The first thing I did in Carrara was my avitar. Carrara does have some good option like fire and particles that Vue does not have. This is why I have both.

As bwtr said, get the demos and see what YOU like better and has the Options that you can use the most. It really does not matter what we think. We can only give you our opinions and as you can see the first two replies are completely opposite of each other.

They both are very slow renderers.  Vue specializes in terrains and vegetation.  Carrara generalizes in modeling, texturing, animation, and rendering scenes for film and/or illustration.

For content purposes, Vue imports Poser while Carrara imports DAZ.

Both are version 6.  Both have version 7's being worked on that don't add much new stuff.

 I use both and they're both good applications. Vue is more mature regarding it's atmospheric options but Carrara is significantly more versatile as a 3D application. If you have the cash, having both in your toolbox is nice. 

Fundamentally, Vue is a content manipulation program. Carrara is a content creation and manipulation program.

Um, Carrara 6 allows you to open Poser content just as easily (if not more so( as Poser.  A lot of folks have switched completely from using Poser to model and pose characters then render in Carrara, to doing it all in Carrara, I haven't touched Poser in over a year.

Quote - They both are very slow renderers.  Vue specializes in terrains and vegetation.  Carrara generalizes in modeling, texturing, animation, and rendering scenes for film and/or illustration.

For content purposes, Vue imports Poser while Carrara imports DAZ.

Both are version 6.  Both have version 7's being worked on that don't add much new stuff.

Thanks for the replies. You all were a big help.
I did try the demo and I did have V4 at one time. I think I gave it up because it crashed a lot.
I think I just need to stay with Carrara and really try to learn it.

Thanks for your help.
Jim

One Caveat.  NMake sure you have a fairly powerful machine.  Carrara can be a huge memory hog when you start using Poser content and/or start playing with multiple light sources and a lot of transparent, reflective, refractive or complex items.

Quote - Thanks for the replies. You all were a big help.
I did try the demo and I did have V4 at one time. I think I gave it up because it crashed a lot.
I think I just need to stay with Carrara and really try to learn it.

Thanks for your help.
Jim

 Really learning the software is always better than simply having more software. ;-)

Mark

I hear ya Mark. I have been kicking the tires on Carrara for a while now. I guess its time to get in there and learn to drive.

Jim

My company has been using both Vue and Carrara for a few years now and they're both great. Vue's Ecosystem creation is unmatched and it renders beautifully, but Carrara is so much more versatile that it's become our weapon of choice.
I strongly disagree with Shonner's claim that Carrara is "very slow." I can get a comparable render out of C6 in less than a quarter of the time it takes Vue and less thant half the time Mental Ray would take.
The nice thing about Carrara is the amount of control it gives you over your render settings. Of course like Mark said, you have to learn the program.
I know we all have different standards, but I've always found Carrara to be very stable and light on resources as well. I have it installed on a few older machines here at the house as well as on my 4 year old laptop and it runs just as smooth as silk :)

Thanks for the input JT.

Jim

• From what I understand you can't pose or animate Poser or Daz3d Characters in Vue...you have to import Poser scenes or Animations assembled in other programs like Poser, export/import into Vue for rendering in realistic environments. Someone correct me if I'm wrong about this.
• I agree with JT about the Carrara rendering capabilities. It's waaaayyy faster and more accurate than Poser or DAZ Studio. I haven't had the opportunity to try Vue so I can't say how it compares.
• Carrara 6.1 was really giltchie and crashed alot but update 6.21 has been VERY stable for me. If you want to learn Carrara 6 Pro the fun and interesting way...check out Mark Bremmer's tutorial at vtc.com  , it's well worth the time. I still refer to it even though I've completed the course. Packed full of useful advice, methods and shorcuts...to help you steamline your workflow and make you're 3d experience more fulfilling.

Thank you JonnyB. I agree. Marks video tutorials that I have viewed are top notch. I will be spending more time with them.
I have decided to work on Carrara. I have Carrara standard not Pro. I have Poser 7 and ZBrush 3.5 and Hex 2.5. I don't think I need anymore programs. If I cant get it done with these there is no hope for me. LOL What with work and all I just haven't had enough time. Y'all know what I mean.

Jim

Quote - Thank you JonnyB. I agree. Marks video tutorials that I have viewed are top notch. I will be spending more time with them.
I have decided to work on Carrara. I have Carrara standard not Pro. I have Poser 7 and ZBrush 3.5 and Hex 2.5. I don't think I need anymore programs. If I cant get it done with these there is no hope for me. LOL What with work and all I just haven't had enough time. Y'all know what I mean.

Jim

 - I think you've made some really good choices.

• Daz had a big sale in May "Economic Stimulus Bundle": Carrara 6 Pro, Hexagon 2.5,  Bryce 6, Mimic Light, and Mimic Pro, for just $199. So I jumped on it. Sometimes Daz has some great deals.
• Hexagon is an excellent modeling tool. I really like it and I think you will too. It's especially handy with the new Daz Studio Bridge, just load a character into DAZ, send to Hexagon, apply some morphs, send it back to Daz with morphs including dials...it's a snap. It's easy to use and really stable. It even supports subdivision now.
• I don't have ZBrush, wish I did, because I've have seen what it can do...very impressive. High level professional modeling tool.
  Good luck Jim.

http://www.3d-coat.com/

Jim
Have a look at this as a, maybe, better alternative to Z-Brush---things that ZBs dream of!

Brian

I just became a 3D-coat customer, and I'm finding it very easy to get around in.  I'm stoked about the voxel-sculpting abilities due for the next release!

My interest is peaked...thanks guys. Might be a good alternative to ZBrush for alot less money.

Attached Link: ZBrush intro video

Shonner.
Don't think you are up to either what 3DC does/works and what 3DC V3 Alpha is showing us.

It really is worth investigating---Z-Bs will drool!

Brian

Dont forget Hex as a comparitive tool to ZBrush and Deep Paint. Hex also does the "paint directly on the model" bit as well, not to mention having an awesome plethora of modeling tools to take advantage of. If you can grab it for 2 dollars, do NOT pass it up...