High folks. I'm relatively new to Vue. I've dabbled with it over the years, but am now thinking of investing in the Vue 7 Esprit package.

I'm only anticipating casual use and rendering  Poser scenes, etc. 

Any advice? I don't want to spring for the full Vue 7 Complete, Infinite or xStream packages. Is Esprit a good compromise? Does Esprit allow importing of poser secnes and models, for instance?

I  posted a render earlier today (my first Vue post in Renderosity). I think I might get addicted to this software, the more I use it.

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1952652

I would appreciate any feedback or criticism. Thanks.

Nice image! You might want to make the skin a bit less 'green'.

No, you can't get addicted to Vue. You can get addicted to Bryce though, which is much easier to use/learn and does all the things you're looking for.

(Boy! Am I gonna get some stick for this) ;-)

Here, ACue... this is the link to compare versions of Vue and what they do.

http://www.e-onsoftware.com/products/chart.php

At the bottom is a very comprehensive chart, and you can click to show only differences or click to see everything.

Esprit will import 3D.  Esprit is the base program, with content added in (YAY!), and two modules to get you started - renderup & 3DImporter).

Pro studio is Esprit with certain "modules" - which you can purchase seperately, one at a time, or in one lump sum to upgrade if you ever desire to.  Using this route, from what I am reading, you can soar all the way up to Vue Complete with the purchase of modules.  From experience with Vue 6 doing this, I can say once you get all the modules for the next step up, it automatically becomes that "flavor" of software.

For example, you purchase Esprit.  Next month, you purchase the Light Tune module (one I highly recommend) - you still have Esprit (albeit with a cool module.)  Ok, so every month for a while, you purchase a module - deep access, hypervue, botanica, and ecosystem) - once you have those 5, you now have Pro Studio.

Later, you decide that e-on has a kick-butt sale going on for modules that lead to Vue 7 Complete.  I dunno what most of those modules do, but ecopainter is EXTREMELY useful (looking closer - exporter is, too... zephyr is useful particularly for animations, but can be set to make some great wind effects for still images as well).  But you can keep going the one module at a time, or you can purchase modules together in a bundle and typically save a few $$.... eventually, you'll end up with Complete.

Or - you can ignore the modules and stick with basic Esprit, or basic Esprit with certain modules that you like (personally, i liked light tune, botanica, and ecosystems and with Vue 6, woulda been THRILLED if they had offered an EcoPainter module!!!)

Its almost completely customizable (i believe you have to have botanica module for ecosystem module to work effectively, but don't quote me on that one)

hope this helps!!

BRYSTER!  LOL.  mock-baps you

ACue -
yep, you can get highly addicted to Vue, and once you get the hang of tweaking things (like the skin)... you'll find a strange addiction growing, and a sudden reluctance to render in poser ever again.  BTW - its easier to learn than Bryce and makes more realistic images right out of the box.

(sticks tongue out at TheBryster, then laughs and pads away, still laughing)

renders a coddling grinder for The Bryster to sit on :P

(Ties several empty tin cans to Mel's tail)

MREOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for the great advice.  I am looking forward to exploring options and dabblling some more.

PS:  I'm afraid I might have inadvertently triggered a Vue vs. Bryce war!!

I have used the Esprit versions since version 4 I like the new 7 versions because you can add modules as you want.   Of course, they always have sales after you've bought so it seems.
Vue and Poser work well together and I must admit I  found Vue much easier  than Bryce or Carrara  it made sense to me right away.

PS*:  I'm afraid I might have inadvertently triggered a Vue vs. Bryce war!!

*Well that would be like a war between the USA and Monaco, over in 2 minutes!!

Vue

Bryce  and a spit!

I'm assuming that the Vue contingent has the upper hand, at least in this particular forum.

Acue, it's a very long and sordid story. :lol:

Quote - Acue, it's a very long and sordid story. :lol:

It's the "Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin." you have to watch out for.

nruddoc,
Man-O-War, the Warrior's Prayer
now WTH did I get THAT story as a kid, eh? ;)

http://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?hl=en&safe=off&resnum=0&q=man-o-war%20warriors%20prayer&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#

You might want to tag this for nudity.

I believe it is  tagged. Cheers.

Yeh. I tagged it when I posted.
Normally don't mind but I visited here at work today, and there are some prudes here.
SkinVue helps a lot in Vue but skin renders best in Poser by far.

Quote - Acue, it's a very long and sordid story. :lol:

Yes it is a Looooong story if you are talking about Vue, BUT, if you are talking about
Bryce,................. Then Sordid is Correct and the Story has Ended in a Fiery Crash!!!

Thelby
yes, sordid on part of owners, and more like a whimper...I see no reason to be happy to see Bryce withering like it has :/

a) Everyone ot their own. I like whisky and tea, others liek coffee and beer...no harm to me :)
b) Vue needs competition to keep it "hungry".
c) the genre needs plenty of happy users, anmd not everyone willl liek Vue, no matter how powerful it is.
d) Bryce started the "amateur 3D art" scene, relaly. yes, there were other apps but NONE of them had anything close to the impact or friendly-useability Bryce had. No Bryce, no Vue, simple as that.

:)

Silver, good points, but Bryce isn't withering - struggling a bit but not withering.