Attached Link: http://www1.sphere.ne.jp/mizno/main_e.html

Last week I found a really nice freeware polygon modeler : METASEQUOIA LE R2. Some of you surely need a modeler (Myske, Alekssander ?) to create "organic" models. VUE's Bolean objects are not really adequate for this.

You can download METASEQUOIA LE R2.1 freeware at the following link :

http://www1.sphere.ne.jp/mizno/main_e.html

The file to download is very small (2 MB) and there is no installer, so if you don't like it just delete the files !

METASEQUOIA is the most powerful 3D freeware I have tested. There is everything in it : magnetic tool, mesh smoothing, extrude, etc...
There is also a simple material editor where you can load texture, bump and alpha maps. Texture mapping works differently than in VUE : instead of mapping "one" material on a objet, you "paint" materials on faces ! a really nice feature...

You can import OBJ, DFX, COB and LWO files and export in DXF, POV or COB. COB files are totally compatible with VUE4 : meshes and textures are imported correctly. For other file format (3DS or OBJ) you can use the small (2 MB) freeware converter "CROSSROADS" (http://home.europa.com/~keithr/Crossroads).

"Unfortunately" METASEQUOIA is a japanese software, there are no tutorials or help file in english. But as the interface is very logical it won't be long to master.

MIZNO LAB doesn't sell the "pro" version (VER2.2) of Metasequoia outside Japan. It's really sad as it's a complete modeling software for a very smal price (5000 yen / $ 35). Download and test it if you want, but you won't be able to save your work in other format than MQO.

I'm not related to MIZNO LAB and I'm really a beginner in 3D modeling, so you can trust me : this is a great software.

If you want I can give you a few tips or make a little tutorial to get you started (but not in the "VUE" forum).

As Steve would say :

ENJOY !

Eric

Hey that looks pretty cool there, Eric. Thanks for posting. :)

This is great, how on earth did you find it.....thank you, others will be really happy....I am going to look at it too, anything to make it easier would be great...Sharen

I found it in the "read me" file of a POSER hooded-cape made by Kazuyuki Kasahara !!!
there was a note : "Modeling by Metasequoia Ver. 2.1Beta2", so I did my little research...

Thanks! Very cool - more tools is always good :)

I'm Japanese Metasequoia user. It's most powerful and popular modeling tool in Japan, I think. >MIZNO LAB doesn't sell the "pro" version (VER2.2) of >Metasequoia outside Japan. It's really sad as it's a >complete modeling software for a very smal price (5000 >yen / $ 35). I think so, too. This pic shows Metasequoia Pro. Very easy to use but powerful. Perhaps Mr.MIZNO doesn't want to spend a time-consuming job such as international remittance or Internet market.. I feel bad I don't have enough language ability to translate Metaseqoia tutorial.

Yes, I need it, how did yo know that? Thanks :)

And so do I ;))) This is great! Annother option to learn a lot of new stuff. Thanx for sharing. Myske

...and another info for 3D model creaters. UV Mapper Pro has released. Demo version is available at http://www.uvmapper.com/index.html Hatsumi

Don't forget about the excelent and free Wings3D modeler. The rate of new releases is about one per week! You can find it at www.wings3d.com (note: the first time you have to download and install Erlang to) There is also a active forum at http://pub33.ezboard.com/bnendowingsmirai

...and I will download and try the Metaseqoia modeller because I'm allwas interested in new free or low priced modellers but if I can't use export to other formats and I can't buy the full version then what should I use it for... ;)

Hellborn, Which version did you download? LE version can export objects to formats like DXF, COB, RDS, POV. Shareware version can't export to any format except its own format until regist.. Hatsumi

message to Hatsumi : as you're a japanese, could send a e-mail to Mr Mizno to ask him how we can buy a licence for the full version (V. 2.2) outside Japan ?
He could sell the software through Renderosity's MarketPlace, it's an easy solution... and I will buy it directly !

Eric

Very good suggestion Eric. Myske

OK sorry if I did missunderstand something. Reading the info made me belive that the difference between the shareware and freeware version was that the freeware version only could save in its own format. I did belive that the free version was the same as an unregistred shareware version witch it usually is. So what is then the difference between the free and shareware version? Is in the terms of use only? 'MetasequoiaLE is provided for edutional or non-profit purposes only'

There is a huge difference between LE and VER2. The "pro" version has more features and tools, the interface is also different. Download both of them and compare...

Eric

Attached Link: http://www.paypal.com

Paypal is available in Japan, and could easily be used to pay for it.

Attached Link: http://www.maxplugins.de/cgi-bin/read.pl?config=r_r4.pl&ptype=Import&sort_a=author&matches=1

Ah.... guys... great news for those of us who own 3D-Max: There is a MQO-Importer for 3D-Max available for R3 or R4. I downloaded it immediately and will give it a try tonight. So, if any of you needs some object transfered from MQO to OBJ, DXF or 3DS, just mail me. Of course, only if this import-filter works. Joerg

Sorry, wrong link, but the plug-in is on that page somewhere. Take a look at R4-PlugIns, Import-Export, Page 4 Joerg

Thanks, Eric, I need it hard :-). Yes, please a tutorial. Guitta

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?ForumID=12402&Form.ShowMessage=570968

I did a little tutorial for you.

It's in the modeling forum, the title of the message is "Metasequoia LE small tutorial".

http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?
ForumID=12402&Form.ShowMessage=570968

Hope it will be useful,

Eric

OK I'll email to Mr.MIZNO. The biggest advantage of shareware version is 'Plug-in'. There are many FREE plug-ins made by Metasequoia power users. 'Solidify', 'Make a hole on the surface', 'Taper', 'Bend','Scatter', 'Noise',etc,etc.. Well, I'll stop... audity: Thank you nice tutorial! Hatsumi

It's ol, but I need a couple of more days;) Have spent 40 minutes so far...A couple of irritations, and it's difficult to make noises......