linda357, your question about modeling easiness is already answered in my first post in this thread. I don't know everything about the Blender renderer yet, I have not finished learning about the program, but I have seen some nice renders. Blender renderer might not be best renderer of earth shattering epic proportions, but it is good, and I have seen some pretty amazing Blender renders. And straight from the horses mouth, the rendering engine is supposedly going to be improved soon in near future update(s). As for exporting/importing, there's a bunch, I can't tell off the top of my head if it has Bryce, but if it doesn't maybe the new version that just recently came out has, because they added some export/imports. And if it doesn't it will most likely be added, because I have always seen them adding lots of different exports/imports when I have looked at the release log history. As for experiences, I'm still a total noob to 3D programs and I have found my first few experiences with Blender3D good, I didn't find anything that hard to grasp or something that was impractical, quite the opposite infact. Many many say that the modeling workflow in Blender3D is fast, and I have never seen anyone that knows what they're talking about when it comes to Blender3D, ever disagree with that, and I believe them, because so far for me my experience has been good. For a specific example, it didn't take much time for me to make my first two models, and then subsequently tweak them afterwards. More about that a little bit later in this post, keep reading. There are some practical features if you look around, for example the select only facing sides/vertice/edges, etc. I think that the hotkeys allow you to do things fast as well, especially when you need to do something precision wise, like when trying to transform or move something a specific number of coordinate.

And to everyone else: If there's a feature that is missing from Blender, or isn't strong enough for your needs, you must realize one thing, the program is still maturing, give it a chance. If you don't like it now, come back later and see what a new version is like, because new version update growth is, as I have noticed and already stated, pretty fast. It does have good features to it if you stop and look and learn about it, just as you would do the same with other programs. And it's not version 2.36 for no reason, it's a perfectly good and strong program. I have seen some pretty amazing jaw dropping models created with Blender3D, especially this one Superman model I saw, and also this jaw dropping amazing spider robot with turrets that this one dude is making, and he said it's his first model in Blender! I couldn't believe it when he said that. Go look at the forums that are linked on the official Blender3D website, and you'll find those two models and more amazing stuff.

And the message in my previous post is clear enough, to anyone who blames the program for being difficult because they can't grasp it - It is not. If you want to learn about the features that are within Blender and are looking for a specific feature, it should be in either the books, the free open-source manual, or the knowledgebase help FAQ on their website. And there is lots of rich feature information in the release logs on their website, which I already linked to. And get this, you can actually find the features you want by going in the menus or selecting one of the different viewport window types at the bottom of program, like the Buttons Window for example, and also the feature hotkey reference in the Help menu. Who'da thunk it? It's all there if you open your eyes. There's even popup help descritions if you hover over the buttons and tool bar in the Buttons Window and other places. What's stopping you from finding the feature you want, is the help texts in yiddish or something?

Besides a really simple model that I made in 3DS Max one time at a friends house, I have never really used a 3D program before in my life, and I managed to make two chess pieces with Blender3D the first two days I had the program, a pawn, and a more complicated rook piece. I have linked them in this forum. If I can do that, a newbie to 3D programs in general, what is stopping all the rest of you from doing the same, especially you guys who already have alot of 3D experience? Really, it's not that hard.

Message edited on: 01/04/2005 21:42

Just because you learn X faster then Y, does not mean X is better or Y is difficult. It just means you're a slow learner :P

Intuitive does not always = good. And there are other rendering engines to choose from besides the default one. And you have to learn how to use any 3D app, they're all hard at first. Why don't learn about the interface first before you start complaining? The interface in Blender is hard to learn at first, but so is every other 3d app, but once you learn it, it provides very fast workflow due to the focus on hotkeys and other cool stuff. That is what I keep hearing all the time, fast workflow, and as I learn more about the program I believe it more and more everyday. Another of Blender's advantage is that it is programmed by the actual users, it's open source. What that translates to is fast growth, and the updates/additions that are added are good, and the bug fixes are found faster and updated faster then any commercial program could ever hope to. Each update continues to add amazing stuff as Blender3D matures. The next update(s) is supposedly going to improve the already good animation features of Blender, and also rendering engine improvements will be focused on as well, and I'm sure some other good stuff will make it in. Go to the following link to see what I mean by fast growth, bug fixes, and cool features that are always being added: http://blender3d.com/cms/Releaselogs.34.0.html And another thing, open source programs are nothing to laugh at. I have alot of open source programs that I use instead of commercial program because they are just as good and even superior. Internet Explorer/Outlook huh? MS Office what? Paintshop and Photoshop who? Those are just a few examples.

And it has tons of bug fixes! They're getting ready for next version which they said will have tons of animation and renderer updates. Ooooooooooh I can't wait. More info here: http://blender3d.com/cms/Blender_2_36.384.0.html

A belated happy new year to everyone!

Thanks for the comments everyone.

ysvry: I don't know, it looks pretty much like the reference pic I used. Which part about it looks small, the whole top as a whole, or the ridge walls?

casey_42: There's link inside Blender3D Help menu that loads the tutorial pages on their site. Here's a direct link for the specific page with the video.
http://www.blender3d.org/cms/Model_Material_Light.397.0.html

Message edited on: 12/03/2004 21:12

hehe cool, I have yet to really mess around with lighting, so far I've only used the default lamps lol

yeah, that's what I was trying to do, like a softly raised fiery marble effect. Now, on to the next piece..... :D I think I'll save the horse for last, that one scares me lol

I see what you're trying to do. I wish I could help, but I don't know how to do the stuff you did in the pics (transparency, soft shadows) in the first place lol How did you do that, looks very usefull.

Weird, I thought it was gonna do it for sure with this topic, but it didnt happen here, how ironic. Is it a bug in the Blender3D forum only? That's the only place I've been posting in. Not sure if it happens in other forums.

AHH so thats what that funky box is for lol yeah, and so far so good, the rendering isn't freezing up anymore.

I haven't used wings, but I hear it's good for certain specific things, but I reckon that as Blender matures it will soon be better :D I want to try using Blender by itself, I truly think this program is fully capable, because I have seen some "shock and awe" Blender-only models on some other sites, I couldn't believe it that they were only done in Blender. Plus, it will make learning and the workflow easier, since I don't have to go bonkers everytime I switch a program, trying to remember how to do so and so in this program, and then "now, how did I do that?" in the other program. :D Anyway, yea, the tab thing, it's gotta be a bug, hopefully it will be fixed by the next version. In the meantime you could try my solution, or try out the intel optimized version I guess. Nice pic by the way, how did you do that yellow and pink thing at the far right bottom corner? Is that an explosion or a glob thing? :D

I want to try and make the flames of the texture more pronounced, like have them just SLIGHTTLY raised or bumped up, but I'm not sure how to do that. Anyone know how?

I don't know what happened, but it seems to be working, for now. Wish I knew why it happened in first place. Anyone have any clue?