I have been using bryce for a while now and want to expand beyond boolean modeling. Is there a good easy to use program for 3d modeling that works well with Bryce 5? I have heard good things about amapi but ease-of-use is the main thing. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

It all depends on what you want to do and how "easy" easy to use is. I tried Amapi 4.whatever and it was all right. I don't like the interface and I was thoroughly unimpressed with the mess it would make of complex booleans. But, you can get Amapi free if you know where to look. (Sorry I can't direct you). I've since switched to Rhino. It might not be the easiest to pick up, but it only took me a week of constant tinkering to get fantastic results. The best thing about Rhino is that it can do just about anything I can dream of. Heck, there are lightwave and Maya users that would rather model in Rhino. If you are looking to make some vairly complex shapes but are willing to leave much of the detail in the texture then a cheaper modelling program will likely suit. Like I said, it really depends on what you intend to use it for. Just my $.02

i use metaseq223 and mqle21 get them from http://www1.sphere.ne.jp/mizno/main_e.html i use 223 for the modeling but will not save in a format that can be imported into bryce. so i save the model in its own format which is mqo, then i convert it to dxf with mqle21. the best thing about it is its free

You can get the full version of Cinema4D V5.2 free by just registering with Maxon. This is 600 of s/w for nothing and it's superbly easy to use! You can produce complex models in minutes and if you export your files as OBJ you can import them directly into Bryce whilst retaining all the names and sub-objects.

Aye, another good one is Amorphium Pro (Electric Image). It's got a clay-type modeler for realtime sculpting, a wax modeler for melted objects, bio-spheres which are much like metaballs, and all kinds of morphing and optics tools. It lack the severe power of NURBS or facet modeling, but it's pretty cheap.

Some free 3d Modeling programs: -Amapi 4.15 - http://www.eovia.com -Ayam 3d 1.1 - http://www.ayam3d.org -Blender 2.23 - http://www.blender3d.com -Wing3d 0.92 - http://www.wing3d.com -Metasequoia 2.1 - see mark34 address -Gmax 1.1 - http://www.discreet.com -Maya Personnal learning edition - http://www.aliaswavefront.com -XSI Experience - http://www.softimage.com But for the 3 last, you can't export anything. I'am learning Amapi together with Bryce. It's working good.

I was lucky enough to receive the entire metacreations line-up as a gift from an ex-employee when they folded. I became proficient with Bryce first because it seemed to me that it was the easiest to learn and I could get decent result the quickest. Just like you, I wanted to start modelling (still getting the hang of that). In my CARE package were Carrara and Ray Dream 5.5, both of which I are good modelling programs. Well, after working extensively with Bryce (and Poser, occasionally) for so long, the Carrara interface was just so much more natural for me than Ray Dream, which has the same bare-bones windows style interface as most other modellers I've seen. And, like other, more "professional" programs, you can export models in a variety of formats which import directly into Bryce, Poser, etc. Ok.. so it's not free like some others, but it's less expensive than high-end modelling programs, it's easy to use, gives quality results, has an excellent renderer built in, and a familiar interface. Probably reason enough for me to go buy Carrara even if I didn't already own it. Right now I'm just trying to save up enough to upgrade to Carrara 2.

Thanks all for your input. This gives me something to work with.

You can get amorphium 1.0 with the manual for about $6 on ebay (it was a magazine give away and some guy is dumping his stock). I've used Metasequoia for a while and love it, though its undocumented and not that easy to use. I've been on a search for the perfect modeler, best bang for the buck and easy interface. Played with all the demos from Truspace to Maya PLE. Here's my choice......... www.universe3d.com and when the little popup screen shows, check out the 3d tool kit. It comes with an older version of Universe Modeler, Univ. Animator and Amorphium Pro along with tons of training. I'm going to buy it this week. The demos are worth getting. I was able to make several objects in the demo of the modeler, save in native format, open in amorphium, save as .obj, and open in bryce as a grouped object that ungroups, etc. Best thing is for you to get all the demos and see what you like. I'm hot on this one for the $200 price tag!

I think carrara is very easy to use. And if you use Poser at all it has a very similar interface. The full version is about $300 but you also get a full version of amapi 5.x. -Paul

tuttle: Do you have the link for the free version of C4D XL5.2? I went to Maxon's site and I cannot locate it anywhere... Thanks, -Paul

Attached Link: http://www.pcplus.co.uk/issues.asp?ID=32020

I usually use Amapi 4.15 It's free and I find it easy to work with. It doesn't do anything you could imagine, making complex organic shapes (like a realistic human head) can be difficult but it's good enough for most basic objects. You can make charactersusing amapi, but you need some time to experiment. check out one of my first images I've posted in the gallery. It's an alien wich has been modelled using only amapi. The textures and the final render are made in bryce. Modelling this alien took a few hours, but that was mainly because I wanted to tweak everything to perfection.

I found it very hard to get to grips with Amapi. Rhino suits me very well.

I used a tutorial from a magazine to learn the basic things in amapi. The tutorials that came with amapi suck, you won't get far when you use those. I find amapi easy to use myself, but a friend of mine finds it hard to get to grips with just like Phantast. I quess it's just a matter of taste. But it's freeware, so you don't have much to lose.

PAGZone - sorry, I don't have the link. I got the version a while ago on a free CD and had to go to the Maxon site to register. The best bet is to send them an e-mail and ask if you can download it, and where from.

Attached Link: http://www.staigerland.com/amapi/robot/index.html

the free amapi is very cool. it finally let that "how to model" lightbulb go off in my head. then, i tried rhino. talk about hooked....it's the worst. it is like a parasite...burrows under the skin. i still like amapi. alot. just rhino is faster for me.

Speaking of Carrara /me surfs over to Carrara Forum 'cause he loves it's interface... = )

I just got Carrara 2 and the interface is similar to RDS so I'll stick with that. I looked in C2 forum, and alot of the threads there are saying how hard the interface is.(Not many of those seem to have upgraded but rather are newbe users.) I like the interface. It is easy for me to use - coming from RDS it is intuitive. - TJ

bikermouse - would you provide us with a screenshot? = )

what do you need to know that only a screenshot can provide ?

How much more C2 looks like RDS rather than C1? Just a small image... = )

It doesn't LOOK like it. but everything is either in the same place or easy to find.

Aye, I think C2 rocks, it's much more Bryce-like in it's camera powr and the way it functions, and it flows better than RDS 5 ever did....

I've heard that C2 is very unstable is that true?

Ray, I haven't had any problems yet, but you could ask on the Carrara Forum and get a much better idea. There are so many differences in the various OS that you need an answer that relates to your own system. This program is selling well and Eovia knows what they've got here. If it is unstable you can bet there will be a patch. As shadowdragonlord says the cameras controls are now similar to Bryce and Poser. If you can update do it now. can't beat the sale price $129-159 US. - TJ

Thanx. I'll have a look at the Cararra Forum. Does C2 have any features that C4D Bryce or Amapi don't have? (I want to know if C2 has new tools that I don't have in other programs before I buy C2)

Attached Link: http://www.eovia.com/home.jsp