Is free in the latest version of 3D World but what's it like to use ?
For reference, I've used Hex and Blender with a little bit of C4D thrown in.

Regards

Frank

Depends on what you mean. In general terms, it feels like a CAD program. This is not so true in the latest version, the GUI and stuff have had significant improvements, but it is to an extent in 8.5
I made a review of Shade a few months back, you could check that out.
Or do the archviz tutorial in the magazine....

Can I say, as a person who used to work for e frontier, that I never liked Shade. I mean it. They kept trying to get me to use it and I just couldn't. I mean, I knew where most things were in the app but I just did not like the work flow/interface. This is coming from a former Rhino user, so CAD interfaces are usually not that bad for me. 

Personal opinion aside, a LOT of people did really cool things in Shade. Once you got the hang of the interface and knew where things were, they told me it was a very logical way to model. While I never fully agreed, I have to respect the work done  - Shade is a powerful program and in the right hands, could be a force to be reckoned with. Mine just weren't those hands.

Teyon, Somehow, I don't imagine you using Shade. From what I know of the work you do, it sort of doesn't fit your personality.

I agree with Teyon, Shade is a case that once you understand how the program "thinks", things start falling into place very quickly. But they will only fall to place if your way of doing things gets along with the program.

I've learned many 3D programs quickly.  They all have their "what the heck" factor in the beginning while learning.  But Shade seemed to me to be two or three generations behind in the 3D modeling business.  I did not feel like going back to 1989 style 3D modeling.

A big reason why it's free.

Quote - Teyon, Somehow, I don't imagine you using Shade. From what I know of the work you do, it sort of doesn't fit your personality.

You are so right. Especially now that I've incorporated ZBrush into my conceptual stage  workflow, causing retopology to be a major factor in my work. The program just doesn't allow for that and I'm more of an organic thinker - lots of on the fly changes that CAD and CAD-like programs aren't fans of. That's why I had to stop using Rhino. Both Shade and Rhino are great apps but not the right ones for the way I work (and in some ways, the work I do).

When looking at software ask yourself - will this allow me to do the type of work I want to do? Will I be able to adapt to the way the program wants me to work? Does the program work well with others?  If you get those answers, it becomes easier to decide on a package but it all starts with you trying the program to get a feel for its work flow so you can answer those questions. Never go on the word of a friend or forum user, as they speak from personal preference and what works for them won't always work for you.

• end speech.

Quote - I've learned many 3D programs quickly.  They all have their "what the heck" factor in the beginning while learning.  But Shade seemed to me to be two or three generations behind in the 3D modeling business.  I did not feel like going back to 1989 style 3D modeling.

A big reason why it's free.

It's also free because it is indeed several generations behind. It's 8.5, and the current version is 10.5

But I agree, don't try to do Zbrush work in Shade. Or do Shade work in Zbrush, come to think of it...

Well, I installed and activated it so we'll see what happens.  Unfortunately the manual doesn't seem to want to open properly but hey - that's what google is for :biggrin:

Open the manual from Windows Explorer instead of from inside the program.

It's also free because they hope you buy the latest greatest.

that doesn't work either.  You just get the index in acrobat, it won't open the books which is a bit of a pain.

http://shadecamp.net/ has the documentation for shade 9.
Some things won't work (as it is for a newer version), but the basics pretty much are the same.

Quote - Can I say, as a person who used to work for e frontier, that I never liked Shade.

Sadly, that does you no credit. You worked for e-Frontier America, right?

e-Frontier America was made up of almost entirely all Poser oriented staff, coming over from Curious Labs and hired through the Poser oriented network.

The problem with that is, while Poser and Shade are very compatible products (it has Poser Fusion, so you can import native .pz3s and animation), they are a significantly different user experience from each other.

I am involved in the forthcoming Shade 10 release as a translator, and I can say that since Shade 9 was first released as a Mirye product at the beginning of 2009, its gotten a lot of good press to date - not as an add-on for Poser, but as a professional 3D tool for doing what it does best.

Shade 8.5 Pro is awesome and free is...well...free - if you have Poser installed, you can import in your .pz3s, even animated ones. The Callisto renderer is great. I think like Juan, I also prefer the workflow in Shade 10, but good thing is that you can upgrade to Shade 9 using the special offer in the magazine and save big bucks, AND get the upgrade to Shade 10 for free.

Shade was never a good add-on for Poser. But Poser is an awesome way to get fully animated characters into Shade.

FrankT, I'm trying out Shade 8.5 pro in Shade forum. While I recommend all the stuff in Shader's Cafe and shadecamp, there are resources in many places. I think we might give the new toy a few kicks around the toy box and have some fun with it?

Btw, I'm also Blender and Hex user also, among many others. it would be nice to see what others do with this kind of new possibilities, hey?

Purchased 3D World Mag on Thursday and registered the program same day. Still waiting for serial number though...

How long did some of you have to wait?

IIRC, about 2 days. But they're sent manually, so... There's no way to predict, unless you know the guy who's sending the keys, lol. :biggrin: