I haven't really used carrara in months. I thank DAZ for over pricing C8.5 for that.

None the less it seems the carrara comunity on the DAZ forum is down to 6 or 8 people posting. So what is going on? Where has everyone gone?

I'd post as my alt on the DAZ forum but I just created that alt account to welcome 3DAGE back. It's not like I tried to hide who I am with it lol  "man stan".

I still lurk  :m_wave:

...but I do more toon renders nowadays.  I used Yatoon2 in Carrara for a little while, but I really like the Visual Style shaders in DS, so thats where I've been more active.  Not like I am a very social poster anyway... :blink:

I think many people who use Carrara just don't post. I know that people are using it and for great results, but maybe most are too busy, or just don't feel the need for forum communication?

I myself post very rarely and usually when I either hit a technical wall, or when I happen to stop by randomly and see a question I know an answer to. And that usually happens here. I like the forums here better: I can follow the entire forum (not just a specific thread) and get alerts whenever people post, and since the posts here are usually to the point and there aren't dozens of them per day, I can pay better attention to what's going on. Not to mention that I like the tactful, insightful and expertly knowledgeable moderators here.

But there are months when Carrara just does what I need it to do and I spend my time working, forgetting to visit the forums. I suspect I'm not really unique in this.

Quote - I think many people who use Carrara just don't post. I know that people are using it and for great results, but maybe most are too busy, or just don't feel the need for forum communication?

I myself post very rarely and usually when I either hit a technical wall, or when I happen to stop by randomly and see a question I know an answer to. And that usually happens here. I like the forums here better: I can follow the entire forum (not just a specific thread) and get alerts whenever people post, and since the posts here are usually to the point and there aren't dozens of them per day, I can pay better attention to what's going on. Not to mention that I like the tactful, insightful and expertly knowledgeable moderators here.

But there are months when Carrara just does what I need it to do and I spend my time working, forgetting to visit the forums. I suspect I'm not really unique in this.

Where do you post your renders/animations/results?  The DA Carrara group gets very few posts.  Not sure where the most popular Carrara gallery is?

Quote - Where do you post your renders/animations/results?  The DA Carrara group gets very few posts.  Not sure where the most popular Carrara gallery is?

I don't publish often, but when I do, it's here and on DA. DA recently had more posts, because there are folders in the gallery, so I can publish my less successful/polished and more experimental images, or even tests, and share them without getting my "portfolio" folder polluted. My DA account is here: http://antarann.deviantart.com/

I have been laying low for a little while. I have been pretty busy and just haven't had too much time.

Also, the Daz site basically became a hotbed of propaganda and anti any statement that isn't cheerleading.

I haven't even been that active over here lately either. I started seeing more of those posts of people complaining about complainers and it just seemed ridiculous to me. Sometimes people are going to have problems and some are going to say things that aren't cheerleading.

Before that, we had some really honest discussions that talked about what is going on and it was interesting.

I continue to post tutorials on here, and talk about carrara on DAZ. Life goes on, but I wonder how many will "defect" to Octane once the plug in is ready.

I realise this is a rendering package only, but rendering your work is the presentation so very important.

I plan to sit in both camps when this momentus event occurs (release of the plug in).

Quote - I continue to post tutorials on here, and talk about carrara on DAZ. Life goes on, but I wonder how many will "defect" to Octane once the plug in is ready.

I realise this is a rendering package only, but rendering your work is the presentation so very important.

I plan to sit in both camps when this momentus event occurs (release of the plug in).

I'd really like to get octane...its just out of my budget.  Wonder if they ever have a sale on the standalone version of it?

Sorry to hear that. Perhaps one day it will be sold in the DAZ store, and therefore have offers on it.

I don't know. Personally I'd get in early somehow. (Sell something old?). The pro pieces of software can climb in value sometimes as they gain popularity. Then again maybe mass sales will drop the price.

Quote - I continue to post tutorials on here, and talk about carrara on DAZ. Life goes on, but I wonder how many will "defect" to Octane once the plug in is ready.

I realise this is a rendering package only, but rendering your work is the presentation so very important.

I plan to sit in both camps when this momentus event occurs (release of the plug in).

And thank you for continuing your tutorials! I continue to learn from them, especially since I have extremely limited experience with animation, and that needs to change.

I thought the Octane plug-in was already available as alpha(?). I don't have an NVIDIA card, so Octane has been out of the question for me and I haven't been following. I wish they worked with other cards too.

But it will be useful to know how well will the plug-in integrate into Carrara. Will it support dynamic hair? Atmosphere settings? Clouds? Fog? Inagoni volumetrics? HDRI? Automatic material conversions with at least the best guess for the standard channel alternatives? If you are registered at the forum, these are the questions to ask :).

I think the extent of the integration will determine how many people will switch.

Quote - I think the extent of the integration will determine how many people will switch.

Agreed. This is key.

re: Tutorials. My pleasure. I have a policy, when something slows me down I make good on the time "invested" by making a tutorial so that I and everyone who follows me won't get stuck on it in the future.

Seems to be working out quite well :D

I don't know, maybe it's just me and remembering what the DAZ forum was like before my ban. Before C8.5 came out and those of us using the beta where discussing back and forth about issues, work arounds, helps, and hints. You know I loved playing around and showing my results.

I think for me 2 years of working with C8.5 kind of blew C8 for me. What I was working with most in C8.5 was the soft body drapping and other physics tweeks. But then there wasn't much more to C8.5 other then the buggy genesis and the clothing fit app; which name aludes me at the moment.

And even though DS4 borked dynamic clothing, I was so happy when I finally got an animation from DS4 to C8.5 with out a hitch.

It just seems the entire carrara scene has went stagnent/quiet since the release of C8.5.

{man I miss the firefox spell checker on this foum}

Sorry to hear about the ban.

8.5 hasn't offered anything new imho, unless you wanted to work with genesis figures. (I can take 'em of leave 'em).

I still use 8.1

8.1 for me, too. I still use it often, although I do slum in Poser from time to time. :)

Quote - Sorry to hear about the ban.

8.5 hasn't offered anything new imho, unless you wanted to work with genesis figures. (I can take 'em of leave 'em).

I still use 8.1

I've been banned for quite some time; for telling the truth, repeatedly lol

But the physics tweaks in C8.5 made soft body draping possable, using conforming clothes. For stills it added a lot of realisiam. Genesis may have issues but G2f was working fairly well. Just that clothing autofit thing screwed up more then it fitted. I don't know what if anything has been done about it. Genesis would be fun to work with if issues with it and the autofit were resolved; ya, that ship has sailed.

"I still use 8.1" I read that more often then "I bought, use, and enjoy C8.5" ;)

Most of us, once avid C users, have wised up and moved on to real programs.

DAZ obviously has no intention of making C any better, their only goal is to make sure it's so bogged down with content that it barely functions.

Because of DAZ, C will always be considered nothing but an oddity, a toy, a cute little program that is used by a bunch of suckers that will pay any price to place half naked figures in curious poses so they can feel like they're real 3D artists.

C is now so far behind it may never catch up, and if the attempt should ever be made to do so, you hangers on should be prepared to really be raped by the cost.

I can't figure out why anybody is still paying for a program that hardly works anymore. Are you all just gluttons for punishment or do you just have money to burn?

I gave up on C years ago, the only reason I occasionally check in here is because now it's like a train wreck, you just can't not look.

...because it is really, really low-cost, and it works really well in the hands of an artist who wants to spend the time with it.  There are too many examples to provide, use Google.  ;-)

..becuase it's a decent all-in-one editor / modeller / animator for next to nothing (as long as you buy the offer prices).

When Octane for Carrara is out - watch out - the rendering "gap" will be closed.

Great minds think alike  :)

It does the job(s) I need it to do, and it does them well. It's easy to learn and use. It integrates well into my workflow, and on and on and on. It just makes sense for me (and others).

And as 3doutlaw and SciFiFunk said, you don't have to take out a loan to buy it.

Sure, I believe that DAZ dropped the ball on the latest release, but that doesn't stop me from using the version I own.

Lets not forget poser compatability, and use of all that ready made content at the DAZ store.

How many times have I laughed at 3d studio efforts (or blender for that matter) with little wierd stick men (all nicely lit of course) wandering around a totally false looking world.

We have access to Stonemason sets. Plus it can all be edited.

Happy days!

Quote - **Where do you post your renders/animations/results? ** The DA Carrara group gets very few posts.  Not sure where the most popular Carrara gallery is?

As for Animation there is now our new community site CarraraTors.

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2878534

You will find the few guys there are focused on what Carrara can do and not what it cant - We dont wast our time, or yours with debating the "demise' of Carrara or inefficencies of Daz. We "enjoy" supporting each other, learning ,showing our results so if you are interested in animating why not join the "CarraraTor" Forum and get involved with the software?

Or do folks prefer to just "whinge" and not actually contribute anything, as quite a lot of people do?

http://bond3d.wix.com/carrarators

Quote - ...because it is really, really low-cost, and it works really well in the hands of an artist who wants to spend the time with it.  There are too many examples to provide, use Google.  ;-)

Um... no it isn't "low cost", unless you consider $200 to $500 "low cost".

Hmmm,  Blender's FREE... and does everything a thousand times better, faster, and easier. Talk about "low cost".

I have seen these "examples" you're talking about, I've been keeping track. Like I said, it's like a trainwreck...

I must say, there were a few good things. But nothing worth paying what you consider "low cost".

Quote - ..becuase it's a decent all-in-one editor / modeller / animator for next to nothing (as long as you buy the offer prices).

When Octane for Carrara is out - watch out - the rendering "gap" will be closed.

I love your work guy, but I wouldn't hold my breathe if I were you.

LOL, no-one ever pays non-sale prices at Daz.  I like Blender too. :)

Titanic401.

Yeah Blender is better if you can figure it out. I'm not denying that. Although you don't have the same access to models as you do with poser compatible software. I've seen lots of Blender people ask about using DAZ characters for example.

Also I got going with DAZ 3D initially in no time at all. With Blender I really struggled to get it to do anything. Carrara although different to DAZ 3D has the advantage of being similar. It took me a little while but the progression was a natural one.

Re: Prices. Carrara 7 Pro cost me $0 (from a magazine), C8 Pro cost be either $69 or $88 from memory (as an upgrade) I can't quite remember but around there. You'd be mad to pay full prices.

The usual progression goes - DAZ 3D FREE! Then you learn that there are lots of offers in the store. Then they make you an offer you cant refuse on Carrara and you are in - for the price of a few models.

Now back to rendering. You have to spend a LOT of time messing about with poor lights - three point lighting is the way to go and then expand your knowledge from there.

However if there is a fast unbiased engine out there which sits in the program givign you (near) instant previews. Now the excellent integrated nature of Carrara comes good.

Other than that I guess this is a defunct argument as it comes down to personal preference, and the abilty of the artist.

What do you use out of interest?

Cheers.

Titanic401.

Yeah Blender is better if you can figure it out. I'm not denying that. Although you don't have the same access to models as you do with poser compatible software. I've seen lots of Blender people ask about using DAZ characters for example.

Also I got going with DAZ 3D initially in no time at all. With Blender I really struggled to get it to do anything. Carrara although different to DAZ 3D has the advantage of being similar. It took me a little while but the progression was a natural one.

Re: Prices. Carrara 7 Pro cost me $0 (from a magazine), C8 Pro cost be either $69 or $88 from memory (as an upgrade) I can't quite remember but around there. You'd be mad to pay full prices.

The usual progression goes - DAZ 3D FREE! Then you learn that there are lots of offers in the store. Then they make you an offer you cant refuse on Carrara and you are in - for the price of a few models.

Now back to rendering. You have to spend a LOT of time messing about with poor lights - three point lighting is the way to go and then expand your knowledge from there.

However if there is a fast unbiased engine out there which sits in the program giving you (near) instant previews, then the excellent integrated nature of Carrara comes good.

Other than that I guess this is a defunct argument as it comes down to personal preference, and the abilty of the artist.

What do you use out of interest?

Cheers.

As I've said, I'll get C8.5 when it hits my price point; which includes the Pclub cost. I keep checking back, but the price for me has been $85 since release; not counting Pclub costs.

One of the things I loved about carrara was how fluidly I could use it. What I learned about textureing, shaders, and staging in other apps crossed over to carrara.

And Blender may be free, but I have a very large content library that I want to be able to use easily.

Stan, right now, if you have a prior Carrara it would be $66.75 (I believe), if you bought the PC Club.  The additional 50% off for prior owners only seems to show up when you put it in the cart. (See link:  LINK )

Add PC Club to your cart, and add 8.5 pro to your cart, then go to checkout and check the price...

Quote - Blender may be free, but I have a very large content library that I want to be able to use easily.

This is what a lot of the other independants don't get. Unless you are going to work in the industry (as an employee), then you will be responsible for all aspects of your production.

The modelling is the slowest bit, character creation is monsterous (esp if they have to talk). Better to let someone else do the hard work for you (DAZ), and limit yourself to tweaks and editing of models that are close to what you want.

Oh and another thing - have you seen the prices of models that are not on Daz or Renderosity? Who can afford those prices as an independant?

Quote - > Quote - ...because it is really, really low-cost, and it works really well in the hands of an artist who wants to spend the time with it.  There are too many examples to provide, use Google.  ;-)

Um... no it isn't "low cost", unless you consider $200 to $500 "low cost".

Um, compared to 1000 to 3500 (or even 8 or 9000 for Houdini) for other 'professional' apps then, yes I consider Carrara low cost. Not as low as Blender as you point out, but then Blender does have that learning curve going against it. Also, I've never paid full whack for Carrara because if you hang around DAZ long enough, you know to wait for a sale.

Attached Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE7QYp1dqxc

The issue is Octane is a graphics card render engine, if you don't have the right graphics card, it's not going to work for you.

"Octane Render requires a CUDA enabled NVIDIA video card". $150 graphics card from the looks of it.

Carrara already has a Luxrender option as well (Luxus), which has a GPU or CPU render option, I believe.  Also, you "can" get to Cycles thru mcjTeleblender (which has both GPU and CPU), though not nearly as easy/flexible as a dedicated plugin. Octane is just another option...that provides really nice renders, in the hands of someone who knows how to use it.

Back on topic...it looks like a lot of the community here just lurks  :tongue1:

Always lurking. :)

Well I'll be getting C8.5 today; finally at my price. And I do have a fairly unused alt on the DAZ forum; just to make a couple of PMs.

But then I still wont be using genesis, not as long as I need DAZ's DR.... er um CMS to use it.

Well I'm certainly glad I have no issues I need help with on the DAZ forum. That place is like dead, dead.

Quote - Titanic401.

 

Yeah Blender is better if you can figure it out. I'm not denying that. Although you don't have the same access to models as you do with poser compatible software. I've seen lots of Blender people ask about using DAZ characters for example.

Also I got going with DAZ 3D initially in no time at all. With Blender I really struggled to get it to do anything. Carrara although different to DAZ 3D has the advantage of being similar. It took me a little while but the progression was a natural one.

Re: Prices. Carrara 7 Pro cost me $0 (from a magazine), C8 Pro cost be either $69 or $88 from memory (as an upgrade) I can't quite remember but around there. You'd be mad to pay full prices.

The usual progression goes - DAZ 3D FREE! Then you learn that there are lots of offers in the store. Then they make you an offer you cant refuse on Carrara and you are in - for the price of a few models.

Now back to rendering. You have to spend a LOT of time messing about with poor lights - three point lighting is the way to go and then expand your knowledge from there.

However if there is a fast unbiased engine out there which sits in the program givign you (near) instant previews. Now the excellent integrated nature of Carrara comes good.

Other than that I guess this is a defunct argument as it comes down to personal preference, and the abilty of the artist.

What do you use out of interest?

Cheers.

Admittedly you an handful of others do excellent work in C, but that still doesn't warrant the amount DAZ is charging for software that is still essentially the same as it was going back to versions 6 or 7.

As for what I use, I've pretty much used all of them at one time or another.

3DS MAX - Not as wonderful as everyone makes it out to be.

Lightwave - Similar to the way Blender used to be as far as the interface, again not as great as it's made out to be.

Houdini, Cinema4D - Alright.

What do all these applications have in common? Outrageous pricing. And why? Because some studio used one or more of them in a professional production. All you're paying for is the name recognition.

I used to be a huge C user, until every release was never any different than the last and it became apparent that DAZ was only interested in pushing content on me rather than making C better. One only has to look to the ads on the right of the screen to see what DAZ really cares about.

Don't get me wrong, content is fine and it has it's place.

But DAZ needs to stop tricking it's users into re-buying the same program over and over under the guise of some "new added trinket" that is just an half-assed hack.

As for what I use, I use Blender pretty much exclusively now. It does everything all the overpriced software does, including AE and Zbrush, and I only need one package thereby freeing up HD real estate for projects.

Do you have any idea how much money I've saved by using Blender that I can now put towards other areas of a project?

Literally thousands and thousands.

Quote - > Quote - > Quote - ...because it is really, really low-cost, and it works really well in the hands of an artist who wants to spend the time with it.  There are too many examples to provide, use Google.  ;-)

Um... no it isn't "low cost", unless you consider $200 to $500 "low cost".

Um, compared to 1000 to 3500 (or even 8 or 9000 for Houdini) for other 'professional' apps then, yes I consider Carrara low cost. Not as low as Blender as you point out, but then Blender does have that learning curve going against it. Also, I've never paid full whack for Carrara because if you hang around DAZ long enough, you know to wait for a sale.

Exactly my point.

I wouldn't even consider paying nearly 10 grand for a piece of software. And for what? All of them can do the same job as the next, you're paying for how popular their name is.

That's it.

A name.

So why does DAZ think C is worth as much as they think they do considering C can't do any of what is considered 'standard' in ALL other packages and the 3D community.

But they've got breast enlargment deformers galore.

I'll have to disagree. A cadillac and a yugo are both cars, they both do the same job, it's how well the do it, how easy they are to drive, how much you enjoy driving, and the quality of the build that makes the difference.

Quote - I'll have to disagree. A cadillac and a yugo are both cars, they both do the same job, it's how well the do it, how easy they are to drive, how much you enjoy driving, and the quality of the build that makes the difference.

And both will get you where you want to go, the difference is a question of your level of vanity.

And no matter how cheap that Yugo is, no one would turn down a free Cadillac. Unless of course that Yugo owner is your typical C user who falsely holds out hope that even though Cadillacs are state of the art, Yugo may eventually add a CD player and intermittent wipers if they just keep buying more Yugos.

I didn't get into 3D so I could spend thousands on software just so I could impress other people by WHAT famous name software I use.

Ya, has nothing to do with vanity or what famous name software I use. Sorry you don't get this. Has everything to do with quality and features. The point you seem to be missing.

I like carrara for many reasons, just one of which is it's ease in using the rather large; fricken up to 120gig, of content I have. Another reason I use it is because I feel quite comfortable with the interface; as opposed to Maya, Houdinin, or Blender.

I drive a Jeep because it's the best all around vehical for the rural area I live in. It's comfortable, easy to drive and gets me where I want to go regardless of weather conditions or road condidtions. I use carrara for similar reasons, it's easy to drive, gets me there with little trouble, does what I need it to do, and feels comfortable.

Yes it needs work, yes it can be a pain at times, yes some of the features don't work as advertised; and why I was on DAZs back constently while I was on the DAZ carrara forum. Unlike my Jeep I can't fix the issues with carrara myself.

The key word for any and all application use is comfort of use.

I need to quit checking the carrara forums, just too depressing. I used to be part of a big active community. Now it's died a way to a few old regulars. Even the DAZ carrara forum only has 7 or so active posters. And the 3 old users seem to be doing their best to keep the communit from dieing away.

The carraracafe can go days with out a new post.

The carrara forum here can go most if not all day with no new posts.

Even the DAZ carrara forum can go a good part of the day with no new posts.

Used to be; on the DAZ carrara forum, you had practically real time conversations.

I miss that converstation. I didn't always take part, but it was always good to hear what was going on with everybody else, or what problem was being fixed or whatever.

Quote - I need to quit checking the carrara forums, just too depressing. I used to be part of a big active community. Now it's died a way to a few old regulars. Even the DAZ carrara forum only has 7 or so active posters. And the 3 old users seem to be doing their best to keep the communit from dieing away.

The carraracafe can go days with out a new post.

The carrara forum here can go most if not all day with no new posts.

Even the DAZ carrara forum can go a good part of the day with no new posts.

Used to be; on the DAZ carrara forum, you had practically real time conversations.

Take the hint...

Yea, it was pretty active.  A few there still pretty active, but there was a core crew for a while that you could learn a lot from  :)  Nice thing here, is there is an "ignore" button to filter out the negativity  :tongue1:

Havent been there a while, but I did like the Challenges they were doing.  Wonder if its still going on?

They still have the carrara challenge, this one is wrapping up http://www.daz3d.com/forums/viewthread/36508/ But they aren't run by the same person.

As far as an ignore, DAZ forum has one too. I'm sure I was on many peoples ignore lists. But of all the forums I have been on there has only ever put one person on an ignore list. Fun part was they were still on the DAZ forum going at people every chance they got, long after I was banned for speaking the truth. But that is DAZ for you, covering up the truth is far more importent then protecting forumites from personal attacks.

Now everyone that knows me knows I'm walking gloom and doom. Eor is my hero. Yes I am Mr. Negativety. But I'm not negative just to be negative, DAZ has always given me ample reason to be negative. C8.5 is a good example. The more I do with it the more I find borked in the release version that worked in the beta. I'll set right here and say the beta for C8.5 was far better then the release version.

Quote - The more I do with it the more I find borked in the release version that worked in the beta. I'll set right here and say the beta for C8.5 was far better then the release version.

Stan - just a hint, if you don't like the release version of 8.5, your 8.5 serial works with the last beta. They can both be installed at the same time, just make sure you use a different installation directory, if you installed 8.5 over the beta. If you still have the beta installed, just use your 8.5 serial to activate it.

Quote - Stan - just a hint, if you don't like the release version of 8.5, your 8.5 serial works with the last beta. They can both be installed at the same time, just make sure you use a different installation directory, if you installed 8.5 over the beta. If you still have the beta installed, just use your 8.5 serial to activate it.

Thanks DustRider

That's good to hear. I hope I can get some money soon to pick up C8.5.

I really like the way V6 looks and it would be nice to be able to use some of the new clothes etc.

Quote - Stan - just a hint, if you don't like the release version of 8.5, your 8.5 serial works with the last beta. They can both be installed at the same time, just make sure you use a different installation directory, if you installed 8.5 over the beta. If you still have the beta installed, just use your 8.5 serial to activate it.

Did not know that.  That would be 8.5.0.204, that I just happen to have right here 

I know some people don't like me because I am so negative, but this is the stuff that makes me that way.

I have noticed DAZ Carrara forum is really just some hangout hacks making excuses and apalguising for Carrara then throwing a fit for your Heretical and blasphemous statements. KILL THE HERETIC! If I wanted to be lied to I would call my exe wife or to a used car dealer. WHICH is very metaphoric for DAZ actually.

I finally had enough of all the freezes crashes bug insults and injury produced to myself and intelligence SO through up my hands says THATS it I am gunna get maya, or Cinema 4D rt15 or something that actually works....

THEN I got a look ate the MSRPS GLOP! Maybe carraras not so bad after all.

WTF! 6-9 grand are you killing me?

I must say the Cinema 4D Renders are stunning