Can you make enviorments, buildings and creatures like the ones shown in the poser art gallery or do those things have to be imported from other programs? Also can you make textures in paint programs and use them on Poser models?

All the cool models have to come from other places like stores or free downloads like those here. Poser isn't a modelling program. It just makes things posable. As far as the textures you are completely correct. You can make your own textures and apply them. Most models come with templates for making textures. Anton

It is not a modeller type program! It has some human characters, animals you could figure in any position you like and render it. Also you could make some animation. You coul import building made in 3dStudio, Wavefront and others.

None of these extras have to cost much, as there are some excellent free or low cost utilities and programs, even Magazine coverdisks. If you decide to go ahead stick another post up and you`ll get a lot of recommendations.

The ideal package for the 3D hobbyist is: Poser Bryce or Vue And some low cost modeller. I have Carrara but I can't recommend it until I see something solid out of it's new owners to let me know it will survive it's post Metacreations days. Poser will let you take a model and add 'joints' to it with which to pose it. It's really best suited to figure work. You'd take that model into something like Bryce or Vue for really nice renders. The 3D modeller would let you build original models but I personally have found this to be an extremely difficult operation for the unitiated with no training an no buddies to 'leech' learning off of. :) Poser does render fairly well; but that is not it's strongest strength unless you want to use 3D images in Flash work...

Poser is about the only program out there of its type. Im really surprised that noone has jumped on the lag in the release of P5 and made a similar program. Arcady: Carrara 2 is coming..and at least one of the features is one that it needs. I have seen it first hand (when I did the macworld show for eovia). I still think its probably the biggest bang for the buck on the market right now. It comes with amapi 5.15 and then carrara has a lot of fluff that people want too. I have an arsenal of 3d utilities: poser--(for posing) bryce--(for rendering) carrara--(for effects) amapi--(for modeling) photoshop--(for touchup and compilations) ..and others I couldnt live without any of them :) BT

Carrara 2 will have amapi 5.15? My copy of Carrara 1 didn't have anything like that that I recall; or is it in a patch I need to go download? What I really need though is to figure out how to model well. :) The tutorials that came with it didn't get me anywhere near as far as I'd like them to have. :)

tbh if i were guessing, c2 will probably have a6 with it..but thats a guess...it shouldnt have, because its bad marketing for amapi 7 (hard to get people to pay for upgrades that are one step...2 is easy) but, again..if I were guessing..itll have a6 with it..but at the least will probably have a5.15 :) BT

To be fair, it should be noted that you can build stuff with primitives in Poser, allthough on a very basic level. If you just need a wall with a texture applied, it works OK. If you need something more complex than that, you will need a modeller.

Poser also makes mounds of cole slaw and delicious julienne fries.

Thanks for all the replies. What is the difference between rendering and modeling?

Thanks for all the replies. What is the difference between rendering and modeling?

Brycetech! Were you at the MacWorld in SF two months ago?!? I bought Carrara from the Eovia booth there. It would have been nice to say "hello" in person. Carolly

Rendering is the process where you have it 'shoot the picture' through it's camera lens. It's the actual final drawing or animating process. Modeling is the sculpting of objects. The 3D process is one of modeling, then placing, then rendering. Poser excels in the middle process.

Another San Franciscian? Though I myself have never gone to a MacWorld. I saw a guy crossing the street near 8th avenue and the Richmond site of the Park about 2 months ago holding the box to Carrara... :)

yes hauks..I was there I was the one demonstrating amapi at the booth at the right of the place where you bought the program (not on the big screen..I didnt want to do that) :) BT

I live in Emeryville, so the entire Bay Area is "local" to me (anything within 50 miles). We were talking about having a Poser User's Party a few months back, now that the weather is turning nice again, we should firm up some plans. It would be nice to meet more of you face to face! That way we could recognize each other even at an event with thousands of milling folks. The Game Developer's Conference is next week, and among the thousands of attendees I'll be so glad to see my friends' familiar faces. Carolly