I'm always on the lookout for new and interesting resources I think would go well with Vue. Here's a couple I don't think I've seen listed here before. http://www.bitbrush.com/groundplane.html All they do is make ground clutter that adds the kind of chaos to a scene that makes it look more natural. Lightwave format models and tileable ground textures. At $79, it's a little pricy but not terribly so. Dosch 3D has a new CD that looks like a God-send: http://www.doschdesign.com/e_product/product.php?id=89 The "Garden Designer" Have you ever tried to make a pathway in Vue? Used scaled down trees to simulate bushes? Tried to combine the natural with the man-made? Can be pretty tough, can't it? I'm very stoked on this one. Here's why: It's a combination of "200 3D-models of hedges, shrubs/bushes, flowerbeds, park benches, fences, walkways, lawn areas, as well as a large number of decorative design elements and potted plants." In short, it's just what Vue doesn't have a really needs. Check out the sample pictures very closely and see if they don't just cry out to be used in Vue. The models are in all major formats and the CD is $99. In this case, I think it's well worth it. Your friendly neighborhood product reviewer, -SMT -SMT

Thanks for the heads-up on these goodies. I'm off to investigate now. - Charles

No advertising for pricy softs here, please!!!

Hey, thanks for sharing this, these are things that definitely come in handy, since I'm more interested in doing more nature scenes in the future.... And the prices are not that unreasonable... When you think of trillium36 flower models are kind of in the ball park, 200 models for $79 bucks is not that unreasonable... Beats buying additional Vue vegetation at $11 bucks a pop... I mean talk about pricy... :)

Hey SMT....those stuff at BitBrush sure looks great. Thanks for the link. The Dosch Design Garden Designer Cd is just great too. Thanks again. Love to see information like that. "Beats buying additional Vue vegetation at $11 bucks a pop... I mean talk about pricy.."...I second this Tradivoro, moreover, beside pricy...it is only useable in Vue...duh!

Also, I just remembered http://www.3dplants.com/ also sells something comparable, but they sell little sets of bushes and hedges for like $7.95 a pop... You can't beat that with a stick... Or the whole library is like $34.95... so, that's also worth investigating.. And yeah Bill, I wish Vue sold 3ds models... :)

"...I wish Vue sold 3ds models..."...better still if Vue can make their solid growth vegetables...vegetation I mean exportable in most common format like wavefront obj or at least 3ds. Looks like Vue now only takes in...never give out...LOL!...other program made models I mean.

Guitta, I'm sorry you feel that way. However, I think I need to say a few things. 1. I have absolutely no relationship to either of these two companies. 2. My sole interest is to inform fellow Vue users about resources that will enhance their "Vue-ing experience". It doesn't matter to me whether they are free or commercial. 3. I've been making these "review" type post since long before you became moderator. 4. No one has ever complained about being given links to commercial resources for Vue. If we're not free to talk about resources to use with Vue, regardless of whether or not they're free, then what kind of forum has this become?

No, there is a misunderstanding. We don't want to become this place an advertising for software. Every body can speak about any software that's good for Vue (which one is not... LOL), but we prefer you don't give prices. Otherwise it looks effectively as an advertising and there may be people who comes here just to announce their soft like in a marketplace. We don't want that. It is not only me, but it is not well seen at Renderosity in a general way. I hope I made it understandable:-) Guitta

I wanted to say: "It is not only me, but it is not well seen in Renderosity Art Forums in a general way":-)

And... If you wish, I can create a special page in our Annex for "pricy" software that's good with Vue (we have already a page for free and up to 20$ software there). Then everybody who is interested can read the links and opinions. Here it will be lost after some days, there it could stay:-) Guitta

Ok, Guitta. I can understand about prices. The funny thing is, I don't usually give the prices, but someone will invariably reply to my post saying one of three things: 1) "Ok, how much is it?" 2) "It's nice but it costs $XXX. That's way more than I can afford!" or 3) "Only $XXX...great price! I already ordered it!" -SMT

You know, Guitta, I've heard about the Annex but I have no idea where it is or how to get to it...and I bet it's that way for a lot of other members. -SMT

Yeah bill, that is the unfortunate about Vue and Bryce.. they make trees, but apparently due to the programming that is unique to both, exporting would be something difficult.. I think the transparency masks for the leaves in Vue will probably be lost if exported... Bryce uses metaballs, so that would probably export easier... I don't know how Vue models their trees and plants...

Yeah bill, that is the unfortunate about Vue and Bryce.. they make trees, but apparently due to the programming that is unique to both, exporting would be something difficult.. I think the transparency masks for the leaves in Vue will probably be lost if exported... Bryce uses metaballs, so that would probably export easier... I don't know how Vue models their trees and plants...

Steven, have you ever seen the image at top of this forum? There is the image of the winner of the latest Vue challenge. At right hand of it is written "Vue d'Esprit Forum Annex" (and more...) If you click at it, you go straight there.

Generally users know it, because very often they post messages in there:-).

To make it easy for you, here is the direct link.

:-)Guitta

Aw Gees, Guitta! Do you know how small that is on my display? I need a magnifying glass to see it and I'm only running 1152 by 864 on this computer! Please pump up that font before I become the last one to know anything important! oops! Too late! :)

Gosh, there must be a problem with your screen, smallspace, cause I run mine 1600x1200 and the font size of the 'forum annex' link is ok... Argentium Thri'ile

I don't find what SMT say here in anyway a form of advertising, neither for the company or for himeself, but just to keep the Vue user community inform of what is available on the market. And what's wrong asking or mentioning the price? I hardly visit any other place like "...page in our Annex" or even so, I would not have the time to go check every now and then. Its just very common that almost everyone would come here first, just like the headline of a newspaper where wanted news need to be read. Siggghhh....!what's the difference even if its here or there anyway?...its either here or there but being in theAnnex, it waste some surf time having to be there to do some searching. We are paying here $60.00 for the first 30 hrs for ADSL line and 5 cents per minute after that for each month....so popping in here and see what I want is much streamline...afterall its Vue related as far as what SMT said. Like SMT said before, no problem in the past. I have no problem posting this kind of info in other Vue forums, why here? I find all things here in moderating getting too petty lately. Tradivoro...know something?..Bryce 5 still have that easter egg that allow you to export wavefront obj :) "...running 1152 by 864 on this computer"...hey Steve!...not so bad, I'm using 1280x1024...wonder what it would do to you....LOL!

Argentium Thri'ile: On my screen the Annex listing is about three times smaller than regular posted text, and I have my posted text set to medium. Try switching the text in your browser to the "smallest" setting, then reduce it by half again. That's what it looks like to me. >|(

I am very glad to hear about those Dosch cds. Having just ordered Poser 5 I can't afford any just now, but the garden design and buildings ones are way up on my list of things to come, and I have bookmarked the page. Thanks Smallspace. I would never have found them without your heads up. I think info like this is the sort of thing we should share when we find out about it.

hey make trees, but apparently due to the programming that is unique to both, exporting would be something difficult My belief has been that they prefer not to have a bunch of non-vue users having great vue-generated gnarly trees in their poser/whatever program renders. Since their vegetation is better than most, it serves as an enticement to use their software (rather than aquire the output of their solid growth engine for use elsewhere) I doubt it has anything to do with complex programming. Just one cynical guy's opinion :) eric

This is not a cynical argument, eric, just a good marketing view... :-) Argentium Thri'ile