Hi I'm new in this sort of "business" and new in this forum. But I have knowledges in 3D modeling using AutoCAD 14. Which cheap modeling program (up to $400 but lower is preferred) will works at best with Poser 4.0 I want to modify and making bodyparts for Poser with the modeler. (In the case of importing and exporting to Poser and with editing capabilities. A renderer is not required in the modeler, because Poser will do that.) Yours Seravajan

Are you looking to switch modeling software, meaning no longer use AutoCAD 14? If so, why? You already have a modeling program. Sharen

We use AutoCAD 2000 for our modeling. Sharen

Attached Link: http://www.sams3d.com

Oh yes, welcome to Poser forum. Great place to be. Sharen

My favorit right now is gmax free and has almost evrything 3ds max has (you'll need a plugin for importing obj, also the tempest pack to export 3dm files that could be converted with milkshape or lithUnwrap to obj_files) Just search on this forum on gmax and you will find some tutorials Magnus

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

• Blender
• MilkShape 3D
• 3D Canvas
• Rhino
• Amapi

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

I think it's also important to see what tutorials are available for the program, both from the manufacturer and external. Reading the manual is great but sometimes it's hard to understand what a certain tool or plugin can actually do for you. Also look at the price of plugins for the program. My opinion is pound for pound your best bet is Truespace. The program is inexpensive and the plugins are cheap. Also you can get PhilCs' excellent modelling tutorial CD that will give you a jumpstart on understanding the concepts. I hope I've been helpful.

Phil, can you specify which of the low-cost programs is "sort of like Anim8or but better"? (If that makes any sense......) I'm willing to spend a few hundred, but I don't want something like TrueSpace that mainly duplicates Poser functionality; I just want a way to create arbitrary shapes, and I seem to have slightly outgrown Anim8or.

Go with Blender. Total FREEware. You will probably need one of the books to use it right. Available at Barnes & Noble.

I guess maybe I don't understand, but I use trueSpace and I don't see how it mainly duplicates Poser. Yes, it can have some functionality that is similar, but it is a full modeller. Any higher end 3D modeller/renderer will have the same similarity that trueSpace has. I do wish that trueSpace was as easy to use as Poser though.

Does anyone know if Carrara Studio still comes with a free copy of Amapi 5? Because in the $400 or less range, that would be the best option in my opinion. You get two programs for the price of one, and they're different enough to justify having both. They both work great with Poser: I usually find Carrara works a little smoother when it comes to making morph targets and such, especially with the four windows showing separate views, and yet Amapi is a much more powerful modeler (I liked it so much I even upgraded to version 6). Check out www.eovia.com for more info.

I use blender, and it is free for personnal use. You must have python script to be able to export and import wavefront objects. This program is good for creating object or morph target. But until Blender can manage wavefront object transfert from poser to blender and go back to poser you may lost uv tecturing, or the bodypart separation. Guy

Hi guys thanks to phil c's answer to my question last week I went hunting for a demo modeler and found out that amapi 5 is free with digit mag here in the uk next month. Idownloaded the 30 day trial of amapi 6.1 and have driven my wife mad this weekend made one or two errors in construction but have an acceptable sea turtle now i'll try to post it when i've texture maped it if i can figure how to post. thanks for all the help Dave

I wonder what exactly TheWanderer has crawling around on the ocean floor... I second Carrera http://www.eovia.com/! It was origionally written by the former owners of Poser(3), where it stood as The Hybrid modeler! Carrera's original programming(And USER INTERFACE...) is developed from that of Meatcareation's; Poser3, Ray Dream Studio, and Infini-D! I have a PDF lying around hear somewhere, written by Metacreations, about how to bring Poser3 Figures into Ray Dream Studio, and create .obj MORPH TARGETS, from the Metacreation Poser3...Meshes. Owners of Ray Dream Studio,like myself, are invited, by Eovia, to purchase the Careera Upgrade package instead of the full retail product. I 'm pretty sure there are at least a couple desent plugins available for RDS5. There is one to import Poser and/or Bryce, but you'll need to ask Eovia about importing physics programming, when getting into Carrera this way. The Ray Dram Studio 5 manual has mention of Poser. I'll gladly sell my registered copy of RDS5 if you want to get into Carrera cheaper than buying Retail(I need money the money!) I'll even; help you shop for an inexpensive upgrade, toss in my $50 Training CD, hand over my manual, and throw in whatever else I can find on Ray Dream/Poser, for $100. The disks themselves are in my CD book binder and in fine condition. I chuked the jewels a while ago... The current owners of Poser(Nor any other owners of Poser todate.) have'nt developed any of thier own Modelers(WHilst they've had thier hands on Poser,) that have done near the business of Metacreation's software(At least to my knowledge.) I believe the next step up from Carerra's class of Primative Modeler Render Engine Beast is Hollywood's production $2,000-$10,000 caliber, ruled by Rhino, Maya, 3D Studio Max, Lightwave, and Softimage. Have a good look at which of the apps. in the Software Forum are actually Modelers, this is the type of application. you should be looking for the edit meshes at primative levels. Carrera has the Modeler UI most as friendly as Poser and Bryce(The only other Metacreation UIs supported by this site.) What happened was that Metacreations sold thier entire product line to go into a HTML plugin business. Since then my stock in MC has gone belly up, but they sure as Hell put the nicest UIs I've ever seen onto the market. My guess is the learning curve, dirived there from, is an equal value. Though I ca'nt say for sure, the running joke is that the dollar for dollar differance between this application and it's thousand dollar bretheren is its predacesors render engines. Allhough I've seen some MC renders that rival photographic detail! }|> )

I worked with AutoCAD 14 at my old workplace. I'll try 3D Canvas Pro. It can import and export .OBJ Files and it is so cheap! :) Now I'm trying to upgrade Poser 3 to 4 but Curiouslabs seems to have a mess with their prices in their online shop. The regulary update costs $99 while the one from Computer arts special offer costs $129 (who should be 99 off the regular upgrade price!). (See these links for proof: http://www.curiouslabs.com/trade/productlist/5 http://www.curiouslabs.com/trade/productview/33/24/ ) Yours Seravajan

As far as 3D Canvas Pro, I bought that for the same reason. It was cheap, and it imported/exported .obj files. I don't use 3D Canvas Pro. It isn't that it is a bad program, it's just that it can be quirky with objects. It isn't the easiest to learn, and there is no manual to speak of. It sort of like trying everything just to see what it does. If a manual was done, I would certainly give it another try. They do have a responsive forum though.

My collection of programs looks now so: Anim8or GMAX 1.1 Wings3D Maya PLE (But that one needs me to meke a Win 2000 installation) Blender Canvas 3D Pro 5.5b Poser 3.1 (will be updated soon to Poser 4.0) All programs are free ones with the exceptions of Poser 3.1 and 3D Canvas Pro Yours Seravajan

I'd like to get that big hardcover book AliasWavefront has on Maya! = )

PC Format and (I believe) PC Plus have Cinema 4D v.5SE on their cover discs this month, but the serial number web page requires you be a UK or ROI resident. The program has filters for OBJ format.