I've seen this "bug" in many 3D softwares...

Each 3D soft' has an internal coordinates system. This system doesn't work with "real" numerical values, but with "abstract" formulas.

When you enter a value in a field, VUE converts it in it's own geometry units. This conversion is never perfect, often VUE has to choose an approximate value...according to the amount of polygons, the center of the 3D space, the amount of separate meshes in the object-group, the object axis, etc... this is why a value of, i.e., "110" will be converted to "110.011".

You can notice the same "bug" in a 2D graphic application : how do you center a 1 pixel object in a 4x4 pixels image ? or how do you resample by 50% a 5x5 pixels image ?

It can be a problem for architecture or engineering 3D modeling, where you need very precise metric value (down to nanometers). But for "artistic" 3D scene creation, it's not a problem. Your eyes can decide if an object is a the right place or not...

:) Eric

Oh yes Guitta, you surely can export this Zbrush model in a 3D "polygon object" format like OBJ.
But converted in a polygon object this model would be made of probably 300 000 polygons and - as you know it - VUE hates high resolution imported meshes.

Hi Pete,

One thing that you have to know is that these organic models are procedural objects smoothed with subdivision surfaces (or "NURBS"). This method is used in Xfrog, Lightwave, StudioMAX, Cinema4D, Rhino, etc... it saves memory, allows you to create more reliable IK chains and smoother deformation (soft bodies).

Making "Zsphere" models compatible with VUE is not simply a question of adding a displacement channel in VUE's material editor. It requires that VUE supports procedural objects and subdivision surfaces. VUE doesn't. I don't consider this a weakness. There is no reason to add these advanced modeling tools in a "scenery generator".

As Guitta said it "VUE is NOT a modeler". Other improvements are, by now, more important. What you actually ask is a totally new software !

:) Eric

by the way, I didn't made it either... Guitta can really be proud !

NightVoice, "3D World" is a UK magazine about CGI. A very good one.

the magazine website is here.

:) Eric

Thanks Guitta for this new contest... it's a very interesting challenge. Thanks also to Bop (I'll never get used to your new nickname ! LOL !) for the template scene.

It's sad that I'm not allowed to participate to it. Well I do it for fun then (I'll be free to do a bloody murder scene...).

:) Eric

Hi Talley,

"The packages are very close in price"... in fact Cinema 4D is now much cheaper than Lightwave. Cinema 4D Release 8 starts at $ 600 (full license). And that's not a "limited" edition, but the complete application !

Wavefront Obj. and POSER files ? Great ! I'm eager to get it !

Thanks again

Eric

Thanks Yarp !!!

Can you tell us the file formats that "3D viewer" will be able to read ?

:) Eric

I'll take a # 15 ! but the other ones are also tasty...

Hi,

One thing that you should know : the new POSER 5 strand hair are a mix of polygons and volume shader. You could surely import the "polygon" hair in a 3rd party application but the effect done during the POSER 5 rendering would be lost.

All the "hair & fur softwares" (Sasquatch, Hair-or-What, Shave and Haircut, etc...) work like this :

a few strands (between 500 & 5000) are created with splines. This will be the basic shape. Then, during rendering a volume shader fills the gaps and simulate millions of strands. This methods saves hours of rendering and allows the software to calculate the dynamic simulations (gravity, damping, wind,...) faster.

The problem of this method is that it works only in a single application. As it's a shading effect, the rendering engine must be adapted to it. So even if E-on release a POSER import update, you will never get the same look as in POSER 5.

Kupa (Steve Cooper from Curious Labs) was clear about this issue : the strand-hair and the dynamic simulation (cloth and hair) included in POSER 5 will not be compatible with 3rd party host applications (that's the reason why I will not upgrade my POSER4pro to POSER 5 !).

:) Eric

Hi,

Unless I missed the latest news, VUE 4 doesn't support POSER 5. That's the reason why your serial number is not accepted.
A few VUE users have managed to load POSER 5 contents in VUE 4, they will maybe help you to find a work around.

Eric

no problem xoconostle... have a great weekend you to ! :) Eric

Let me answer your message :

"Audity writes: "Steve Jobs and his team have spend the last 3 years only focused on design and propaganda instead of improving the system itself." Oh my, so very wrong. (...) If you honestly believe that they're only focussed on advertising and design, you haven't done your homework about the company."

The G4 processor is old and slow. There hasn't been any serious improvement on it since 2 years. PENTIUM and ATHLON processor are now far ahead. Any serious benchmark can show this. You know, even 3D software companies complain about this.

The MAC G4 dual 1.25 GHz PowerPC (with 512 Mb of RAM and a 120 Gb HD) costs $ 3500. You can get a faster PC for $1000. Good design, but poor perfomance...

But Apple still claim that MACs are "the best you can get". So YES this is only "design and propaganda". Look at the whole "Switch to MAC" adverstings (http://www.apple.com/switch). How would you call this :

• "I coudn't do video. I couldn't do audio. I couldn't do anything on my PC" -

• "You can do things on a Mac that PC users only dream about" -

So, am I wrong by saying that "Steve Jobs and his team have spend the last 3 years only focused on design and propaganda instead of improving the system itself" ?

"How many PCs are actually in 3DCG and not in third world countries or used for surfing the net during coffee breaks ?"

Well Karl, StudioMAX is the most widely used pro 3D software, yet it doesn't run on MAC (neither Houdini, Softimage, Final Render, NEXT LIMIT Real Flow, Electric Image Universe, etc...). So this should answer your question...

By the way, I think it's cool that "third world countries" can also use computer !

:) Eric