Hmmm... still seems like it would be accomplished easier (and with more control) with multiple cross sections. Also may be easier in ther vertex modeler or with Hexagon. Good Luck. If you get it right, post it.

Message edited on: 12/29/2005 15:21

I just hope I'm understaning you correctly but yeah, it should work. Do it like this...

• Import your first EPS. This shape (shape 1) will be extruded along the entire lengh your sweep path.

If you want this shape to be replaced by a different shape somewhere further down on your sweep path while having the original shape remain where it is do this...

• Add a new point on your sweep path where you want the change to take place.

• With only that newly created point selected go to the "section" menu and choose "create". This will make a new cross section that is exaclty the same as the first one.

• With this new cross section selected import your next EPS file. This will be shape 2.

• You will now have two shapes on that cross section. Just delete the first one. (you could actually delete it before you import shape 2. it'll work either way).

I hope this is what you were looking for. If so, once you master this you'll be able to make many cool objects in the spline modeler.

Message edited on: 12/29/2005 14:36

"What I've done is import a spline as an envelope. Carrara automatically defaults to symetrical."

That doesn't happen when I do it.

"I then change the envelope to free and go to the projection where I want a different envelope. I can't import there, because it wipes out the earlier one"

It won't wipe it out if you create a new cross section before importing the second envelope.

"Carrara does not allow you to import different splines as for the envelope or path."

Sure it does.

"Actually it would be even better if I could import separate splines."

You can do that.

If possible post a screen shot of what you are trying to do so we can have a look and maybe provide further direction.

Message edited on: 12/29/2005 09:05

No, I don't think you can do that. I think you can only place images in the vertex modeler. Here's a possible alternative. You'll need Illustrator or something else that can save a vector EPS file.

Open the image you were planning on placing into Carrara in Illustrator instead. Trace it there. Save it as an EPS and import that into the spline modeler. In the end you get the same results as you would have if you were moving spline points to match the image in Carrara.

Attached Link: http://www.stratacafe.com

Yes, but that also has A LOT to do with the fact that 90% of the images you see there are from professional artists and FX companies as opposed to 90% of Carrara's user base which is hobbiests. It has more to do with the artist that the software. Give any of those LightWave users a copy of Carrara 4 and you'll likely see them turn out works that rival what you see in the LightWave gallery. (especially given C4's rendering engine) Giving the majority of Carrara users a copy of LightWave would not yield the same results.

That asside, have you looked at the gallery at Strata cafe? While not all of it compares to what you see in the LW gallery there's a good deal that does. Especially check out Chris Tyler's stuff.

One other thing, and this is not meant to belittle Eagle or anyone else. But to post an image that was created using Carrara and then ask "Can this be made with Carrara" seems more than silly.

Granted Eagle may not know the history behind Rustboy (but it's not like it isn't available to anyone who wants it) but I think anyone and everyone should try to have all the facts they can about something before questions are asked. This rarely happens here however. While everyone here obviously has access to the internet (the greatest research tool in history) few seem motivated to use it. Instead they just post their question and wait for an answer, relying on others to do the work without putting in any effort to find that answer on their own.

Now I know that there are many here (the moderators included) who will use the cop out that this is a "learning forum". Be that as it may this or any message board should be your last stop for info, not your first. If you're not willing to make an effort to help yourself why should we have to do it?

If Eagle had read the Rustboy site in the first place he wouldn't have even had to ask the question.

That said, I am now going to go to the LightWave site, download some images and them post them in the LightWave forum and ask if they can be done with LightWave.

Hey if there's flaming going on don't look at me. I answered Eagle's question throughly. It was Wea who totally misinterpreted the post (due to his own possible inferiority complex) and it was he who started the flaming (as if I'd just offended his only son) coming to the defense of Eagle even though there was nothing to defend him from nor did Eagle ask for it. As far as we know the post may not have (and should not have) botherd Eagle at all. Any one with clear thinking can see this.

Hey WeaBeast.

You are a first class moron. I suggest you learn to read.

Firsrt of all Dothrom didn't ask the question. Eagle did. Did Eagle claim he was the person who created the image? No, he didn't. And I never accused him of doing so.

He posted that it was from Rustboy which would lead me to believe that he had in fact already visited the Rustboy site because that's where the image came from in the first place.

As I said, if he took the time to actually read any of the Rustboy site he would have already known that the image was created using Infini-D/Carrara and wouldn't have had to ask the question to begin with.

Yes, he simply asked a question about the range of Carrara and I gave the most informative answer of the bunch. I not only told him that it was possible to do but that the image was indeed created with the very tool he asked about. I told him it could definitly be done.

What you read as a me belittling him was nothing more than a caveat. (you better clear up those "daddy doesn't love me" issuses you have) Many people post questions like that, buy Carrara and are then dissapointed when the software doesn't "do it for them". Like they expect to open the box and make something like that on the first try.

One of Brian Talyor's main points in doing Rustboy is to turn out a "high level" project with inexpensive, off the shelf software. It's his talent that makes the project what it is, not the software.

I never said that Eagle "wasn't Brian Taylor". Point is, maybe Eagle can put out that level of work and maybe he can't. I don't know I've never seen anything he's done before. I was just saying that if he thinks he's up to the task than with Carrara it can be done. (it really doesn't matter to me if he can or can't)

Graviton's point is both funny and accurate. It's not so much about the tool as the artist using it. Can stuff like the Mona Lisa be created with oils? Sure. Can you paint like DaVincci? If so, yes.

Can stuff like Rustboy be made with Carrara? Sure can but do you have the talent and vision that Brian Talylor has? If not, don't be dissapointed when it doesn't look the same as his.

Finally. I never claimed to be Brian Taylor myself. (don't know where you got that from either) Maybe I am and maybe I'm not but you don't know because you've never seen anything I've done. As I've mentioned in other posts, my gallery is empty because I'm not interested in the opinions of people here on my work. I know it's good.

I have however seen you're gallery and can say with 100% accuracy that you are defintely not Brian taylor. Not even close. And let's face it, you probably didn't even know Brian Taylor's name until you read it here.

The image you posted is from "Rustboy".

The tools used to create "Rustboy" are Infini-D/Carrara. (I guess you didn't read the "Rustboy" site to carefully or look at the back of the Carrara 2 box at all).

So, is it possible to do stuff like the image you posted in Carrara? Well, yes. That image was created with Infini-D/Carrara.

However, Infini-D/Carrara are simply the tools. That image is really the result of Brian Taylor's talent. So the real question is not if Carrara can do it but if you can do it with Carrara. If you have talent similar to Brian Taylor's than perhaps you can.

There's no bug. The color and bump channels always line up for me even when using "tile seemlessly" for both (which I do often).

FYI... your HTML is overall is fairly abysmal. All of your href tags are set up incorrectly and hence, none of your links or image maps function.

For that price, I'd get both.

Not sure if cost is a factor for you but... Amapi 7 - $499.00 Rhino 3 - $895.00

No. Photoshop didn't have actions until version 4.