I was wondering. What 3d program should I use to make them.

I'm just venturing into this myself. Any program that exports into ".obj" format should fit the bill. I'm using LightWave, which comes with plug-ins to import/export .obj files. 3D Studio Max also requires plug-ins for .obj support. I've seen many tutorials mention Ray Dream Studio, and it supports .obj files "out-of-the-box." I prefer LightWave because they simply labeled each tool/function in text rather than fancy pictures, and it's a very powerful program in it's own right. There should be demos available on the web for above-mentioned, I can only recommend finding an interface that you're comfortable with.

You may find these links to these free or low priced 3D modeling programs helpful:-- Anim8or

• Blender
• MilkShape 3D
• 3D Canvas

I model in Truespace which I may be within your budget. You may like to visit my site to see what that program can produce.

I use Amapi...just learning that one...There is a link to a free Amapi in that forum. Also, they have some very good tutorials in that forum. I also use Openfx...it is free, also....It is a bit more complex than Amapi, however. WWW.openfx.org...44mb download, but, it does alot.

Wow! Wasn't aware of all the great free stuff. Stupid CNET/download.com soured me on free 3D modelers. Nothing like downloading 37 megabytes (on a dialup) and then finding out the program does next to nothing!

I use openfx and amapi. I totally am falling in LOVE with Amapi, too. Gettin' all addicted, etc.

and if budgeting isn't a problem, don't forget Rhino!! it's great, IMHO :)

I tried to install Amapi, and did something wrong in the registration. It asked for a "password" so I tried to type in a password, but I think, in reality, what it wanted was the registration number (why didn't it say so in the first place?!). So it screwed it up and now I can't use the program. It gives me a locked version that I can't save or export from, like a demo. And I can't fix it. I got the program off 3D World Magazine's CD (didn't have to download it). Apparently, it placed some file in my system that won't delete when I uninstalled and tried to reinstall. It still does the same thing. I'm stumped. So I can't even use it to find out if it's any good. Bummer. Why didn't they make it clear what they wanted? Don't call it "password" when they're really asking for the registration code. That was stupid! I'm so disappointed. Melanie Melanie

See, I'm so upset, I signed my name twice! Duh! Melanie

Have you tried getting the download version? You get the password, right at the site. There are 2 links to it in the Amapi forum. Once you get the hang of the tools, and, what they can do, Amapi rocks!!! It would be well worth the time to download it. I got a Vue cd from a magazine, and it took forever to get the password set up, as the link on the cd would not open, etc. What I finally did was go to their site, and email them a little s.o.s. They mailed me a password. You might want to try that with amapi, although the free version is by tgs, and, eovia now owns it.