I am really, really new to this stuff. I am trying to make a new character, but it doesn't look like I can do that in Poser. Is there another program I should be using also or am I just missing something.

No Poser will not create models, for that you will need another program. 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. I understand that version 3 is about to be given away on a magazine cover disc CD. You may like to visit my site to see what that program can produce.

I think the Blender link is outdated - you will find the new Blender site here:
http://www.blender3d.org/

thanks Philc and Stewer. I was wondering about another program, Ray Bright Studio. Have you heard of it? Is it a good program? Where would I go if i wanted to learn how to use it? I already have the program but I haven't bothered messing with it, should i?

Ray Dream Studio, (now called Carrara), I have and is a very good program. Ray Bright Studio I have not heard of.

The "Modeler"(The form of 3D Applicaton you're getting into)Carrara was made by the former owners od Poser, Bryce, and a few other great programs, thus carries with it the same communities. There are several tuts in the Carrara Forum. Though it is'nt equiped with a Bones system(Like many heavy end 3D Apps i.e. Maya, 3D Studio Max, Lightwave, Softimage, Rhino...) It's learning curve is still very useful in conjunction with Poser and Bryce. I few days of searching for links there will explain how much of what needs to be done in the modeler, and then where Poser comes in. I have Carrara and find it very usefull. The real marketing gimmik, as I see it, as far as Modellers go will be when one of them finally allows the import of drawn/photographic images to aid in the modelling process. None do this as far as I know. Carrara will pick up this eventually I'm sure. For now you need to look forward to mapping an image to a 2d plane, then positioning it behind your polygons. Either that of by making several vector paths of silouette then lathing/something them together. All of which can be done in Carrara. Then it's off to Poser's grouping tool, to make sure body parts are named correctly. There are other steps, but I' have'nt finished my tutorial yet. Carrara(Aside from the free modelers.) Is also the the best priced at about $200-$300 depending on which version you buy, compared to $1,000-$15,000 for the Hollywood caliber modelers I mentioned. You can find MC's Carrara 1 on e-bay pretty cheap, and then upgrade it to Eovia C1 free. Then there's Eovies Carrara 2 that just came out a few months back.

= )

Eovia just released a light version of Carrara called 3D Basics for $99.00. It doesn't have all the full version but does have modeling capabilities. Carrara 2.0 has bones, but if you are creating the figure for Poser you wouldn't want to bone it in Carrara anyway, you'd do that in the Set Up Room. If you have Poser 4.0 without Pro-Pack there is a text based method of boning your figure you can use. At any rate good luck in your endeavors! For more info on Carrara go to: www.eovia.com or check the Carrara/Raydream Forum here.