Laurie (and others), please help me out here:

My scenario/requirements:

I have an existing Poser skirt, or midriff length blouse figure - and I want to pull it into my (Silo?) software and extend the length.  Perhaps I even want to add a shin bend to the skirt, or an abdomen bend to the blouse.  Or maybe I want to take a fitted piece of dynamic clothing and turn it into a figure.

Questions:

• What type of software and broad techniques do I need to be able to do this?

e.g.: (i) modeling (Silo), (ii) uv map adjustments (Silo), (iii) Rigging (?), (iv) Rendering (Poser or something I can plug into Silo).

Am I on the right track in learning Silo and rendering it in Poser?, or will I need soemthing else (Modo?) to accomplish what I'm after?

Thanks,  - Ken

Exahusted though I was after working all day, I played around with Silo last night and modeled a crude wood table (after having seen just a few tutorials last weekend).

I was able to export it from Silo as an .obj and import it back into Poser (as a "wavefront obj - whatever that is) and render it just fine.

I noticed that Silo has a "external render" option off of the main menu (which requires some setup).  Per the last post - I'll be checking out Nendo along with how to use that external render option (to save Silo export-Poser import time) on the weekend.

Blackhearted - this is absolutely SUPER feedback!  From what I remember about 3DSMax and what I recently played with on Silo last weekend, it rings so true.

... but once you wrap a mesh in a uv map using Silo, how do you render it?

(P.S. - my Silo book is still coming from Amazon, so please forgive me if this is a basic question).

Thanks!  - Ken

Danke Uwe! - but without a Silo renderer how does one determine whether the UV Map generated in Silo is correct?

Wie kann man feststellen entweder den UVMap richtig angepasst ist?

• Ken

Can he UV Mapping be done in Silo?  If so - how does one view it without a rendering engine?

... how to design and fit a UV map to a mesh has always mystified me....

Well, here's the latest status

3DSMax - what a rip off!

I found out that the 3 levels and 5 year old used copy of 3dsmax I bought in 2010 for $200 (and spent time learning) was actually a one year student edition!  Unlike everyone else's software - no where was that stated - neither on the packaging nor on the software.  

• I've had great luck with other used, back level software (espeically - the Adobe Creative Suite).  Does anyone know of anyone else (besides Autodesk) that isn't clear on what thier used software is (i.e., temporary or permant licenses)? (so I can beware).

Silo3D - Am making my way through the tutorials.  So far - not bad.

Modo - I am still admiring the renders on their website.  Haven't gotten to the point to rendering in Silo3D.  Does anyone know how their compares with each other (and with Poser 9 for that matter)?

Question:  Modo seems to have a lot of plug-ins.  Does one actually need to buy a set of them to do common things in Poser?  Pls advise.  Thanks!

Sat down this afternoon to play with my copy of 3DSMax 8 which I purchased used last year - only to find out that the darn activation code was only good for a year.  Submitted a request stating such to Autodesk, but alas - no weekend coverage.

Based on what I've read here (price, features, learning materials, learning curve), looks like I'll be checking out Silo in more depth tomorrow ...

Based on experience with other applications over the years, I've concluded that if I'm going to spend time learning an application - it's better to buy one than use a free one.  Although I'm sure there must be exceptions out there, in my experience the free ones have poor software quality control.

I have to take another look at my present copy of 3DSMax as a modeling program for Poser. 

I really appreciate aeilkema's comment on fitting the clothes to the model.  It's a typical "gotcha" that I'd overlook while starting out.

Question: what are the bext tutorials or books out there for Poser?  I'd really like to use 3dsmax since I have it, or would have considered modo since that's what littlefox uses in his/her poser tutorials.  I'm leaning towards Silo based on other recommendations - but in general I need Poser specific tutorials or books for these packages.  Any recommendations?  Thanks!

After looking at a couple of websites - it's down to Silo at $110 (+ $32 for the Amazon book) or Modo at $1K (and Littlefoxes $40 tutorial).

Can someone summarize why I might want to spend the additional money for Modo over Silo? 

Also, I bought a used copy of 3DSMax about a year ago and learned it via lynda.com courses.  I'm surprised no one mentioned 3DSMax.  Why not? 

These replies have been a HUGE help!  Thanks to all,  - Ken

I noticed that Renderosity had a sale on LittleFox's Modo tutorial, so I checkout out the Modo website.  Absolutely beautiful examples - BUT - does anyone have any idea on how long they took to create?  I have seen stunning 3D images created in Adobe Illustrator, but after working in 3DSMax I would not dream of using 2D Adobe products for demanding 3D work.  For me, it would just take too long.

Even though the $1K price for Modo is steep, time is a problem more than funds.  Before I pay out for Modo I want to make sure I shouldn't have done something with Maya (etc.).  I also don't want to spend the next 3 weekends putting the time into learning Modo - only to now find out that the free Modo demo software I downloaded is limited (and I now am cornered into spending the $1K to actually get something useful into Poser - else I have to trash the time I spent leanring Modo as I switch over to some other software).

I'll be checking out LaurieA's advice, and looking into Wings3D and Silo.  I'd rather spend money than pull my hair out, so I'll be bypassing her Blender suggestion.

Any other recommendations?  What software have the "pros" settled on (if any)?

Thanks again,  - Ken

Jeff,

Do these BillyT t-shirts have sleeves?; or are they sleeveless tank tops?  Hard to tell from the description.

Thanks!

Blackhearted responded via email:

hi there,
that hair is handpainted.
on some of the GND2 promos i used the Sapphire Fox hair by Quarker.

cheers,
-Gabriel

OK, thanks!

Does "painted hair" refer to the act of painting hair - or is this a (non Poser) product?
If so - where can I get it?, does anyone know the link or have more information on the product?

Thanks!