May I suggest getting demo version? Try them out - I have LightWave and find the interface cumbersome. I got Cinema 4D because it has a more logical interface to me. Both are good products but it boils dwn to which interface works best for you - for me it was C4D but they are both excellent. Just try them both out. Max and Maya are deeper but SO much more expensive. Narrowing down to C4D and LW is a good start!

Rhino is great too but animation works well in C4D or LW.

/Jim

Message edited on: 07/12/2004 21:40

Message edited on: 07/12/2004 21:41

I was happy to see this thread. I can forgive a non-native speaker for even numerous errors - and I don't mean the color/colour Brit thing - that's not a misspelling - just a cultural variation. What drives me crazy is an English speaker misspelling every other word. There are many non-Engish speakers reading these forums and I feel sorry for them trying to understand the misspelled messages. I just read a message in another forum here that spelled what was obviously meant to be "mail" as "male". As an American, I can USUALLY figure out what is meant - but the poor non-native English speakers must get frustrated! Come on folks. Let's not leave the impression with the rest of the world that we are either terribly sloppy or illiterate. I see this in tutorials, websites, and even commercial websites. Reread your messages guys/girls. If you are unsure about a spelling, open Word also and type in the word to see if it is spelled incorrectly. I have Multiple Sclerosis so I KNOW I make many typo's due to lack of feeling in my fingers, so I reread before posting. As far as the above message goes, I'm sure that Guitta would not be offended and perhaps thankful if someone let them know that this error existed. I'm sorry if this offended anyone. I just had to get it off my chest! /Jim LW 7.5c, C4D 8.5, Rhino 3, Poser 4PP, Vue 4.2

TrueSpace has a free full featured version (Version 3 - old but a good renderer). It has a strange user interface but some people love it. It is a German product and MAY have French documentation. It has many English video tutorials on the site for later versions but many things are the same for beginners.