Thanks again Eric (and bwtr)

I imagine I'll have to have a couple of your plugs in any case. As bwtr has said, I won't regret it at all and to me, a little overlap is no real problem given the overall gain.

Keeping this 'other brand' 3D thing updated is a little bit rich (expensive) for me. I am really just very pleased that Carrara now has the core of a modeler that I can understand plus all the other functionality with this release. I can even better afford to update it from time to time! And I'm really looking forwad to getting into it and your plugs too!

Best, wb

Thanks for the quick response!!! Digital Carvers is where I've just been and I really like what is there. Great work Eric! Just wanted to know if I would be duplicating something already in the software - my order of C5 has not arrived yet. Just barely had time to begin on the demo.

I am really impressed with C5. I've always liked Carrara (especially the renderer) and had v.2 Studio but got diverted with some architectural things that had to be done in another software. Can't wait to get into 5 - for the landscape/atmosphere/GI possibilities which I plan to begin to combine with my architectural models.

Thanks again, wb

Yeah, I really liked the terrain materials, so I picked them up a few days ago. I'll be able to get around to using them in a few days and look forward to it. Sure wish I had 5I so I could use all those grasses and such! Really great work there. Best, wb

Primarily use Cinema4D but occasionally use Vue5E when I want easy atmospherics+trees+an extended landscape without emphasis on the architecture of a model. Use both for "art" and for my work. I just purchased Lightune for my 5E so I can do more work with accurate shading/shadows on imported .3ds models. If Infinite ever gets most of the bugs/crashes straightened out, I'd really like to try it for my work. Right now I have too many deadlines in my little one-man-show. Got to have something near rock solid - like C4D.

Thanks, now all seems to have downloaded fine. Best, woodboat

Thanks pearce. Good suggestion, I'll check it out Best, wb

@ Dann-o / pearce.....I looked into Metasequoia but found only a limited file save version. Apparently he doesn't sell the version (outside of Japan) that saves out any file I can use. Is that right? It looks like a very useful app for me if for a smallish price. Did you find some way to purchase it? I tried the demo of Silo and like it a lot. With just a little more development in splines I might get that one for ease of modeling. Thank you.

Just spoke to Eovia and they say the demo of Hex will be avail in another week ....more or less. Since I've been nicked by software promos before, I'll just wait for the demo and then weigh the higher price against its actual feel and against the capabilities of the Silo demo which I've been using before I decide.

Thanks so much...the one by Lyne I can afford and it looks very good! best, wb

Add me to this list! Best, wb

Thanks very much, I think I got it and will try this way. Seems just right. I first used Vue several years ago and have finally had a little time lately to rediscover with V5. Very much appreciate your input here. wb

Hi Wabe - Could you elaborate a little on that "cube that contains all" concept? Do you mean that you put everything - meaning any model you export or import - inside a cube (of known/controlled dimension) then export from other software and finally import into vue? If I got you right, what controlls the scale/position into Vue? Just use "do not center or rescale? Maybe. Thanks a lot. wb

Hi DigReal, Good suggestions...I have tried high smoothing way over 90 deg, with no luck. Nothing changes, and Ive tried different lighting input including just a spot at different angles too. It renders just fine in Poser 5. Tried importing then exporting from Rhino, Poser and VIZ (Max6)as a .3ds and .obj. I guess I'll have to rebuild with some delilberate kind of subdivision. In some software there is the possibility of polys and other objects casting shadows on themselves in ways that show up like this. Adjusting shadow bias can help. Just wishing Vue had that capability to try. Thanks. wb

Thanks Polax. I have found some - but not all - of the problem using several different applications to run the model through as you have suggested. Subdividing the polys did not help, actually made some undesirable geometry banding in the model. Still can't get all the shadowing fixed, but it is better. I there a setting for shadow bias on either the sunlight or spotlights or is there something about rendering qualaity/resolution I might not understand? I looked around but did not find anything. Many thanks to you. wb

Thanks Djeser, we musta x-posted. Phong shading is another CG term for poly smoothing in other softwares. Thenks for your help! wb