Wow, I just got 3dmaxr3 two days ago and have been buried in the docs since, most of the stuff is the same as any 3d setup(i have rds5.5) but I can see how Max kicks butt with things like gravity and all the other stuff...BUT... All I wanted was to do some char. animation like the stuff on the 3dmax cds. I have spend hours in the doc and I am still lost on how to do things that I do in poser in 60 seconds. Its seems to have a char. walk onto a set bopping his head, waving his arms, cracking a joke to intro the next segment of my home video IS GONNA TAKE ME FOREVER...I have to give up my life ? or am I just missing something ? Any tips on how to get a stick man to walk that would not take up my summer ? If MAX is a lifestyle...any one want to buy a used copy....I am back to poser and rds and bryce. If not...SOME help???????? To buy my copy of 3dmax r3....!!!@!$#$#%$ email me spike@loveable.com

Did you ask in the 3D max forum if not I would suggest it and add an attn. Virus to your question. He most Likely can help he has a VAST knoweldge of 3D max Trust me :O) Sprout

Ummm...people go to school for months to learn 3DMax. Just plan on adding it to your curicullum. laughs

Max does take some time to learn...like most worthwile endeavers. The rewards are worth it..to the Max! I don't do much animation, but I assume you also have Character Studio..a must for animation. It may not be a simple as Poser's animations, but there are no limits with what you can do in Max. Foxhollow

MAX is a major undertaking but, as others have said, it's well worth it. Check in the MAX forum, Konan is working on a plugin for MAX which will transfer Poser animation into MAX. Drop him an e-mail and ask to be put on the development list Paul

The pros render everything in layers. No reason you couldn't use both for there respective strengths. Then map the Poser avi onto a flat plane in Max. Or layer in Premiere. Looks totally convincing. Cast shadows even.

Relax... read my posting a few messages ahead entitled "Maximum Pose..." I am developing a software package that converts Poser figures and ANIMATION to 3ds MAX seamlessly. It converts the texture mapping without seam splitting and everything. Check out the post.

Thanks all, I know you guys are right,Its just coming from a quick pose and shoot (poser) to Max is a hugh jump. Thanks Konan, I will be waiting for that plugin....That seems to be my missing link... The layers do work well, its just getting the players to interact when rendering separate avi sometimes is tough... I will hang in there.... Some times Too Much Power is a bad thing, I do love the interface in poser/bryce, but I do see the limitless future in Max......Konan.....Keep up the work...Need any more coffee.... Just please dont tell me that it will cost a pile of cash........... Fleanbilly

later you will find Poser handicapped when you LEARN Character studio

3D Studio can be a tough nut to crack but once you learn the software you can create images that are not possible with Poser alone. While 3D Studio 3.0 ships with a lot of docs the tutorials are not very novice friendly. Go to to the local bookstore or Amazon and pick up a copy of "Inside 3D Studio Max." I3DSM has more basics that got skipped in the Max 3 tutorials. The only catch is that many of the "Inside..." books have some sloppy editing and the tutorials sometimes don't work properly... I guess that's why it's called a learning experience. JohnH