Hi folks, Kixum has expressed the idea of doing a CD of free stuff for Carrara containing members submission . Most of us have a bunch of interresting stuff to share : models, shaders, scenes, terrains, tutorials ... but we don't always know how to distribute it . The recent thread about freebies shows that there is some interrest for it . I've talked about it to the Renderosity team, and we're okay to distribute that kind of CD, for a low price . Yeah, you're right if it's for a low price, it won't be freestuff ;) Let's say "cheapstuff" : only the cost of production and shipping . Of course, all rights on the distributed freebies would remain to the artist who submitted it . One more thing : we got to find someone who has the time (and a fast internet connection !) to receive members submissions and organize the CD . I'm ready to help if needed . I'd like to have your opinions about it . litst

Sounds great! I'm not good enough yet to be able to contribute anything, but gather some nice stuff (especially shaders) and I'll buy it for sure. Keep us updated, please.

Let's Rock! I've put some serious thought into this since the last post. If we did it, probably the best way is to create the cd into some kind of web interface which would have thumbnails for models/shaders and a nice table similar to the tutorials section on Renderosity but the tutorial web pages would be on the cd. The way Renderosity works is a good example of how this type of interface is easy and clear. I've created large sample cd's of picture compilations using html and it works really great. A suggestion for big compilations: People could create their tutorial web pages and artwork and post them on their own sites where they could be collected. If you don't have a lot of web space, you could post things a few pages at a time. My site has a lot of pages and a lot of pictures and I only have 5 megs so it can go a long way. Here's my link so you can see how far 5 megs can go (I still have a little room left). http://www.concentric.net/~Franzs/cdp/index.html If you don't have a web space, I'm sure something can be figured out. Smaller things like shaders: As for the smaller things, I'm sure e-mail would work. If you look at the size of a cd and the probable number of people who would be interested in participating, each contributor could probably get many megs of space (50) on the cd. If enough people resond to this thread, I'd consider doing the work. I'd probably bolt down some simple rules to keep things somewhat consistant (thumbnail sizes, using jpg's to save space, etc) but not too many so as people will be free to use their creativity. -Kixum

Hello, folks! This very interesting. I dont have much models to share yet, but I am willing to give space for it on the web, if there is any need for it. Contact me, if you need my assistance! Thank you, - maddy

Cool :) I got the feeling the hardest part will be to actually get people to submit stuff . The members could e-mail to the supervisor ( Kixum ?) if the file is not too big, or upload to a webspace where the supervisor can download the stuff . For those who don't have their own webspace, some of us could give them access to theirs . I think i can get 40 Megs with my current host :), so count me in ! Getting enough stuff to fill the CD will surely take months, so it would be good to start a thread in the forum, every two weeks or so, to not let people forget about it and inform the newcomers . I can add a link in the announcement field also . By the way, i'll ask the Renderosity store how much space can be stored on the CDs they use . Kixum, i like the idea of a web interface . But don't you think it would be too much work ? Also, it's impossible to drag-and-drop from a web interface, in my knowledge, so people would have to browse the CD anyway . And having to make thumbnails for each file is also some more time to spend for the submitters . Besides, Carrara files usually have thumbnails included that you can see in the browser tray . I'd suggest to first fill the CD, and then see if a web interface would be easy to create . Now just an idea about the organisation of the CD . What i'd like to see is several sections like shaders, files, tutorials, ... Then for each section, several directories with the names of the submitters . Those directories would contain all the scenes ( or shaders or models ...) submitted by the same member . This would make things easy when it comes to add a folder in the browser tray of Carrara . Plus, using directories with the submitters names would respect the credits better than some "theme categories" like : organic shaders, wood shaders, outdoor scenes, plant models ... What do you think of it ? One more thing, maybe this CD could be of some help for the submitters to promote their website, products, or else ? litst

Ah Litst, You have stated many things I have already considered and I think it's GREAT! In terms of organization, I had the same ideas already. In terms of the web interface, I think I'm going to reserve the right to stay with the web idea as an index for the content of the CD but have the data files organized as you have said. We can always make the html thingy/thumbnails optional for submissions. At this moment, I'm not too concerned about html being too much work considering I don't think the CD is going to be so jammed full of stuff I can't handle it. It's something that's probably going to grow slowly. I'm not sure how the store here on Renderosity works but I'm assuming that I would re-issue the CD every six to 12 months or sooner if the content had changed significantly. I would also post some kind of index on a web page which would give rough numbers of the content of the CD (i.e., how many shaders were in version 1.1, how many shaders were added for 1.2, etc.). That way people would know if it's worth shelling out another $2.00 for another upgrade to the "free" CD. I'm getting pumped about this idea. Let's hear some more feedback so we can get this program rolling in a format that's useful and practical for everyone. I'm getting excited to get started. -Kix

I'll pay the price, I can't get enough Carrara stuff. We'll all be waiting for this, you'll be doing us all a greta service. kaom

Litst or Kixum, Would my Shades of Reality sample packs be something you guys would want to put on the CD? Let me know, Clint

Sure, Clint :) We could also ask the plug-ins developpers if they want us to distribute their free extensions this way . It would be more easy for Carrara users to have all that on CD . Also, RDS stuff would be welcome, don't you think ? I'll have to figure out some legal things, too : you can't distribute something just like that . I think we would need some kind of license agreement or something . I'll keep you updated . litst

Litst - If its going to be a CD from Renderosity you might consider using the license agreement that we use in MakretPlace items. Keep me updated. I would love to get my shaders on the disk... I have Carrara and RDS version. Clint

I would put everything that's on the free stuff on Renderosity on it and I would put all the free plug-ins on it as well (permission granted from all parties of course). I had already considered created two sections on the disk (one for C and one for RDS). As far as I'm aware, shaders/textrues and objects should be portable between mac and win but if they aren't, I can subdivide again to make four sections. I question it because I have seen distinctions between platforms for some things. It wouldn't matter anyway, we're just going to put it ALL on the disk. As far as tutorials go, if we don't do an HTML format, I'm not sure how we would want to go about it that would be as universal and flexible. Every tutorial I've seen is on HTML anyway so I hope this isn't a restriction for people. I'm going to start this project this weekend. The first thing I'm going to do is send out some E-Mails to some people as targets for collection of materials (litst, you're on the list for tutorials, Clint, send me your e-mail address). I'm not going to put anything on the disk without permission . I just have to find a way to make it work so I'm not in jail in a few months. I know that my hotmail account isn't big enough to tolerate this project so I'm going to see if the yahoo e-mail is bigger. I'm sure I need at least 15 megs of mail space for some of this. The rest I'll collect of off peoples websites. I'm going to push at Litst and Clint because I have a good feeling about they're pro-activeness for the disk but I don't really know who else would want to get on board so, as soon as I build up a prototype, I think I'm going to make this a volounteer basis. Litst has already talked about setting up a thread every few weeks ago advertising for people to make submissions. Therefore, I'm going to rely on people volounteering their stuff rather than starting a massive recruiting campaign. I'm sure I'm going to be busy enough with this project as it is and I don't want to get burned out because I really want this thing to fly and go high. Also, I know there were tutorials on other sites way back when before Carrara wasn't even a word. Those sites are gone now but if people know where to contact those potential contributors, we should get the word out. To conclude, my e-mail address is cooldudesp@hotmail.com. Litst and Clint, send me your comments and I'll get this ball rolling. All other logistics need to be planned as well. Let me know and let's ROCK!

Kixum, i'll set up a webpage on Renderosity that explains the project, and how to submit the freebies . It will make things much easier . I'll see with the team some few things tomorrow and i'll get in touch with you then, to see how to organize that in details . Hopefully, we should be able to start to receive submissions next week . I'm really excited about this :) litst

To answer the mac questions: Yes the Carrara files shaders, models, etc are cross platform . The shaders need to have the appropriate file type attached, however. So for these it would be best to have a mac and a win version. I can easily prepare these types of files for use on mac or win so let me know if you need help in that. PAGZone