As it may have been apparent from my posts, - I've used Simply 3D for years now. I did have an old Bryce 2 version that I kinda never really got used to. So when S3D got totally outdated, I started lookin' I got the Bryce update, - so I'm on ver. 5 now. But as y'all (uh.. how's my Southern accent??) know Bryce isn't really good for modelling details that I want into Poser. I've downloaded the free Amapi ver. 4.1 and I'm about to pull out my hair. :) the interface is SOOO different. I know, - it's all a matter of getting used to it. But one of the things I've discovered with the different 3D modelling programs is that they "all" have to have an "artistic, NEW" way of inventing the wheel. And by the time you finally have LEARNED the darned thingy, you discover that it wasn't THAT good after all. Of course we ALL know the price tag on those packages. They don't come cheap! I get more and more annoyed about the costs of these things. So I've decided that I want to travel the "tourist class". I don't want to buy "pro packs", Victorias that get more and more expencive the larger boobies she gets. But apparently I DO need a "ground floor" modelling tool. Which one would you reccomend, - and why? Britt

Attached Link: http://www.discreet.com/products/gmax/gmaxconsumer/index.html

For Cheap?! I suggest 2 programs. Milkshape 3D and gmax. Milkshape is cheap and gmax if free. Milkshape will import and export .obj files and QIII files. gmax will import and export QIII files. gmax has almost all the modeling capablilities of Max 4.0. gmax kicks butt for the money - it is the best modeler out there (IMHO). I think it is better than studio max in that I don't load a bunch of plugins that tie up system resources (when all I want to do is make models).

Perhaps... but if you're not doing games, it's pretty much not worth it. I prefer my nice little Rhino. A lot more $$$, but oh-so-sweet.

I'm not talking games. I make poser conforming figures (clothes) and props in gmax - then export them as QIII models - then import into MilkShape - then resize and export as .obj files. I also use UV Mapper, Detriang and poser's grouping tools to finish them.
No kidding - if you know how to use max (there are plenty of free tutorials on the net) you can make some amazing stuff for cheap.
Only draw back to this is with MilkShape: It can't handle large files. It crashes if my model is too complex.
What I do is export in parts (if the model is too complex).

Caligari is selling TrueSpace 4 for 99$ as a Halloween special. It will do all the modeling you need, it's got a great renderer (including radiosity), and it has a lot of great, work-saving plug-ins. For Poser clothes and figure creators I heartily recommend Chikara Kojima's free plug-in galore (for rave reviews, just make a search for his name here on R'osity in the Poser and Truespace forums). If you're strapped for cash, I'd just as heartily recommend a second look at Amapi 4.15 - check out the Amapi forum for a basics crash course (try searching for "exercises" and "project" and "conforming).

hi I will stand Amapi right next to any program you can put in this list. Amapi has every modeling tool that the big dogs have with maybe the exception of max's excellent 'skinning' method (most excellent). but for the bang/buck ratio...you can not, and will not beat the very program you are on the way to learning right now. of course thats not to say that you will automatically open amapi and make models like these..but you wont automatically make models with any program. :) BT

Thanks guys! :) I think I'll try to be patient and do tutorials again and again. laughing I guess I'm just impatient, BT.. I want to be able to do things that I did in Simply 3D "right away" :) And your models are pretty convincing, BT (but I do think it has more to do with talent than with the tool! :) Britt

nuh uh its the tool ;) lol but thanx anyhow :) BT

Attached Link: http://www.blender.nl

Maybe Blender 2.2 is something you might like, its free, has ample 2D and 3D capabilities and comes with a Game/Animation Engine (Valander!!!).