I don't frequent these forums, but do frequent that Daz forums. I heard about this great Halloween fun from there. I came over here yesterday morning and was able to put a couple items in my cart before the servers just got too slow. I decided to wait a day or so to come back and finish browsing (had only seen page 1 of the 3) and load up my cart when things died down a little.
Another post at Daz later in the day alerted me to the fact that there was now a $5 charge for what was supposed to be FREE. Then sure enough, I got an email from Rendo advertising the goodies that came with a $5 charge.
This was a dirty trick Rendo played and I for one will NOT be paying $5 just to get items that were FREE from the beginning. If you have to PAY, the items are NOT FREE and should not be advertised as such.
I left a comment on the newletter page, but like many others, it hasn't been approved. Rendo only wants to show the good praising comments...who cares about all the customers they pissed off.
I wont go so far as to say I will never shop here because there are vendors here I absolutley love and will continue to support them when I can. But I will not be tricked into getting freebies for $5. Unfortunetly, that means I miss out on some great freebies and the vendors miss out on getting their stuff out to one more person.
I would like to thank all the vendors who so graciously offered up their hard work for free, and to those who are allowing alternate ways to get their items truely for free. I appretiate it greatly. It's not you who I am mad at, it is Rendo for pulling such a fast one.

I just started having this same problem with P6...and I've been using it for over a year with no problems before now! It has been a very frustrating last couple days.
Thanks for the info...tried it and now my scene is saved!

okfir, i was replying to brain21. I did read your last post. However, I have also read your other posts where you stated Poser art should not be entered in contests because it was not "original" from A to Z. Are you now revising your original statements?

Quote - RavynGyrl, I dont think you understood me completely Please read my last post.

What you quoted I was refering to okfir as he/she gives the impression that ALL Poser created images are not art, and that none should be entered into contests. THAT is what I disagree with. Poser images can be very beautiful art when the time is spent on them. I completely agree with you that crappy-thrown-together Poser images are not art and shouldn't win just by virtue of being Poser created. Having just witnessed this very thing, I myself am a bit peeved, so I completely understand where you are coming from.

Quote - Good and bad points. It is HOW you use your tools, not what tools you are using. People who don't model should NOT be looked down upon. MY complaint here, as I previously stated, is that the site is SOO poser-centric, that even crap poser stuff thrown together "wins" over well done stuff in other programs (not just photoshop). I have seen some stuff here done with poser that was absolutely beautiful and fantastic, and most definitely art, but it's almost like the ONLY qualification in many cases is your tools (Poser in this case), and not necessarily it's artistic merit. Sometimes you look at some contests and you think "Jeez. Bert Monroy could create some work of art entirely by scratch and lose to this guy that has been using poser for like a week and obviously rendered the figure & background seperatly because the objects all have light sources in different directions." It gets frustrating for the contestands, and bewilders those browsing through and looking at the contest archives. I have seen where some creates something truly artistic and original in PS, or illustrator, painter, etc. and it "loses" to some thrown together and sloppily created poser "art" simply by virtue of the fact that it was poser art. Your bad point? Poser created images ARE art. No, they are not inherently. As YOU stated, it's not the tools, but what yopu do with them. Poser created images CAN BE art, but just cause it was made in poser doesn't mean it's art. Like Stevie Wonder said: "Just because a record has a groove don't mean it's in the groove!"

Here's an idea...
Instead of complaining to Poser users, who are going to disagree with you for obvious reasons, take your issue to the contest managers. Maybe you could request a contest that only accepts originally modeled creations.
What you're doing here is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Instead of complaining about having contests that accept all forms of 3D art, and having those contests thrown out just because most of the entries use pre-made models, think beyond that into requesting some of the contests be for modelers only. That way everyone wins.

And you should also keep in mind that many Poser users do it as a hobby...and just don't have the extra time to model their own models. They shouldn't be kicked out of the art community (including contests) just because they have time contraints (ie: job and family)...or don't have the tools, or don't have the talent.

Obviously it's not against the rules to make original art using pre-made models...or none of the Poser images would have been allowed. I think you're taking your complaint to the wrong people. If the contest stated "no Poser art using pre-made models", then you'd have something to complain about. Simply stated, the contests are open for every type of 3D creation...whether modeled completely by the entrant or not. If you don't like it, don't enter, simple as that.

Besides...it's not technically considered other people's work when I change it to be original to my ideas. That is why pre-mades are allowed to be used in entries. The entries are original art, as they are original ideas by that artist. Get a grip...if it bothers you so much, don't enter the contest.

P.S. - Maybe I'll give Blender a try...but remember, I may not have the same talent as you, in which I can successfully make my own models. You act as if we all can do the same things if we just "give it a try". I'd like to point out...again...that a painter that is excellent at that form of art may be terrible at another form of art. We are not all the same with the same talents...and I see that as a good thing.

Apparently some people will never understand that art is art, regardless of the tools used. Like someone above said...it's all in how you use the tools you have, not what tools you have. Some of us can't afford higher-end modeling programs. And even if we all had the same tools, doesn't mean we all have the same proficiency and talent. Not all painters can draw with a pencil...and not all Poser users can model their own models. We all have different talents. Why is that so bad? Yes, there's a difference in using Poser than in modeling your own figure. Can everybody model their own figure? Should those who don't be looked down upon because either a) they lack the tools or b) they lack the talent...or both? That's like saying sketch artists shouldn't be allowed to display their art because painting takes more time. It's ridiculous to try to draw a line when it comes to artistic freedom. Whether you like it or not, Poser created images are original art, no matter how much or how little time is spent creating them.

Besides, I don't hear those who are making money off their models complaining about people using their creations to make their own original images....do you? If everyone felt like you, then models wouldn't sell (or creators wouldn't sell their models), and the market would die. Instead, it's the complete opposite, the market continues to grow. Which means most modelers enjoy sharing their creations so others can use them, regardless of the amount of work went into creating them. And those of us who use those models do understand how much time it takes and we are generally grateful to the modelers for their generosity. It's too bad some people can't see the good both sides bring to the art community and have to try to rain on the parade.

I've been a member here for a while, but never really wandered through the forums. This topic caught my eye, as I have been creating Poser images for about a year now.

I'm wondering if the two people who are putting down a form of art realize just how much time goes into creating an image from Poser "pre-mades". Yes, my creations are made from pre-made characters, hair, clothing, ect. Time spent on average for a good quailty piece: about 20 hours...and that's before I do any postwork in a 2D graphics program, which I generally do. Just because it seems simple, doesn't mean it is.

If you want to dismiss "putting products together and rendering them" as a form of art, then you should think about dismissing all forms of art. Where would you be without your Photoshop? Where would a traditional artist be without their mediums (pencil, paper, paint, ect.)? Some have a talent to create, others a talent to manipulate and change. Regardless, it's all art in the end.

Thank you! I didn't even think of the ReadMe file and had no idea I could send them an instant message. Learn something new every day.

Ok, will do. Thanks.