Thanks, Shonner, I'll try that too.

Thanks, Shonner.  The splash screen shows 5.1 but I've downloaded the patch anyway.  It was probably my fault using Save, instead of Save As, and renaming the render.  I'll render to a new window and use Save As from now.

BTW you have some gorgeous renders on your site.  Those and a search through the Carrara gallery gave me the incentive to rush down to the newsagents and pick up a copy of 3DWorld.

Thanks, kenmo, wouldn't have known about this otherwise.  Bought a copy today and installed.  Had "An unknown error has occurred" a few times when trying to save renders but otherwise OK.  I can live with that just as long as it isn't every time.

Attached Link: Wings 3D Hompage

If you decide to give it a try keep an eye on the information line at the bottom of the modelling window, it will let you know which options are available when using tools. Should you need any help the forum is quite active and you usually won't have to wait long for a reply.

Wings only has an OpenGL renderer but can be used with YafRay or the models exported for use in other programs. The main thing is its modelling capabilities.

Good luck with your search and Merry Christmas.  :)

A very effective demo and I agree 100% with your last comment about finding the right balance.

Yes, you can work at the higher level and return to the lower level while retaining detail - at least in ZBrush and, I would imagine, the others I mentioned

The higher level is, in most cases, used to produce a normal or dispalcement map which can be applied to the lower level model. For a model in C4D that would be applied to the original base model dropped into a HyperNURBS with the required subdivision level. That's about the limit of what I've picked up.

I think you'd still need to pay attention to the basic edgeloops to avoid any unexpected deformations when animating/ deforming and it would be wise to model the major forms rather than trying to do too much with the sculpting.

It's very appealing but RGB normal maps only seem to be supported in the higher end apps at the moment.  They allow the surface of the model to be displaced in 3 dimensions rather than just a +/-% option of a greyscale displacement map.  They'd allow things like caves and overhangs in a terrain formed from a plane. In that respect they allow you to push the modelling to greater limits but how advisable that is I don't know. I'm going to have to wait until the technology filters down to the lower end before I'll be able to find out. :)

ZBrush allows you to move between a low and high poly subdivided version of a model (and levels inbetween) for a sculptural approach. I'm not sure of the exact terminology for this in ZBrush.  In Daz's Hexagon this is called "Multi-resolution smoothing".  I expect that Silo and Mudbox employ a similar method of working at different levels.

For more info

Hexagon
Mudbox
Silo
ZBrush

I don't own ony of these but I have tried ZBrush and was excited by the possibilities.

Carrara Studio 2.1 is also on the cover disc of  Computer Arts #122 (May 2006).  That's the UK edition, not sure of elsewhere.

swishy

You'll have to bear in mind that this is a lite version and six years old so I expect the specs for the current Pro version will be lightyears ahead of what's listed here.

You can find the experiences of some people who have been using the lite version on the Metal Meets forum in this thread. Hope the info below answers your question and please forgiven any HTML glitches it's not something I'm used to.

Pro Comparison Table

Blank cell means "No".

Feature

Pro

Lite

Limits

  Maximum image size on disk

Unlimited (up to memory size)

250 Kbytes/image

Maximum number of Photo Marks

Unlimited

250 marks

Simultaneous Cameras supported

Unlimited

1

Maximum number of Materials

Unlimited

5

Maximum number of Layers/Groups

Unlimited

2

Maximum 3D Viewer photo-texture size

Unlimited (DirectX viewer has some memory limits)

768 Kbytes/texture

Accuracy

  Camera Calibration program

Yes

Film camera fiducial/reseau support

Yes

Sub-pixel target marker

Yes

Lens distortion compensation

Yes

High resolution image support

Yes

**Exports**

  3D Studio 3DS export

Yes

Yes

VRML 1.0 export

Yes

VRML 2.0 export

Yes

Yes

Direct3D X export

Yes

Wavefront OBJ export

Yes

3D Wireframe DXF export

Yes

Yes

2D projected DXF export

Yes

Perspective distortion removal on textures

Yes

(3D viewer only)

Ortho-photo production and export

Yes

Table Viewer (sortable and exportable spreadsheet)

Yes

Export camera positions for perspective matching

Yes

**Power and Flexibility**

  Unmatched-point search(semi-automated referencing)

Yes

Inverse Camera for unknown cameras

Yes

Image enhancement

Yes

Measure tools

XYZ, distance, cylinders, closest distances, lengths, angles, areas, volumes and sums

XYZ and distance

Processing options (turn photos on and off and control orientation)

Many different controls

"re-orient all" only

DDE programmability

Yes

Load previous and current Pro, LX and Lite Projects

Loads all project types

Loads Lite pmrs. Loads Pro and LX pmrs in "Read-only" mode

Allow simultaneous viewing of many large images over memory size

Yes

Point Audit

All or selected points

All points only

PhotoCD Image Support

Load all resolutions

Load base768x512 only

Support

  Telephone, email and fax technical support

Yes

Free bug fixes and minor upgrades

Yes

Extensive multimedia tutorials on CD

Yes

Extensive printed user manual with reference

Yes

Commercial Use Allowed

Yes

Copyright 1999 Eos Systems Inc.

Photomodeler Lite might be the answer. It was released with the following licence**

---start---

BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THE INSTALLATION AND USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, CAREFULLY READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT AND LIMITED WARRANTY.

BY INSTALLING OR USING THIS SOFTWARE YOU INDICATE YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT OR AGREE WITH THESE TERMS, YOU MAY NOT INSTALL OR USE THIS SOFTWARE!

COPYRIGHT/PROPRIETARY PROTECTION
This software is owned by Eos Systems Inc. (Eos) and is protected by Canadian and international copyright laws and international trade provisions.

LICENSE GRANT
Eos grants you a non-exclusive license to:
a) Use the software for non-commercial purposes defined as any operation or use that does not make money or support the public through provision, sale or rental of products, models or services.
b) Distribute the software to other parties through web sites, email, and shareware CD-ROMs as long as you distribute the original installation executable and not pieces of the tutorials, programs or documentation.

Without the expressed, written consent of Eos, you may NOT:
a) sublicense, rent, or lease any portion of or the whole of the software or documentation.
b) Modify, translate, or merge the Software with another program, except for your personal use on a single computer. Any modifications to the software are subject to this agreement.
c) Reverse-engineer, disassemble, decompile, or make any attempt to discover the source code of the Software.

LIMITED WARRANTY
This software is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

Any written or oral information or advice given by Eos, Eos dealers, distributors, agents, or employees will in no way increase the scope of this warranty.

NO LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
In no event shall Eos or its suppliers be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of profits, business interruption, loss of information, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of or inability to use this Eos product, even if Eos has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
You are solely responsible for the selection of this software to achieve your intended results and for the results actually achieved. You also accept the entire risk as to the quality and performance of this software (including but not limited to errors and/or interruptions in operations). Should this software prove defective in any way then you assume the entire cost of any necessary corrective actions. You are advised to test the software thoroughly before use for your particular purpose.
Because some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitation may not apply to you. The foregoing limitations of warranty and liability inure to the benefit of Eos' licensors having an interest in the package.

GENERAL
a) Eos is not bound by any provision of any purchase order, receipt, acceptance, confirmation, correspondence, or otherwise, unless Eos specifically agrees to the provision in writing.
b) If any provisions, or portions thereof, of this agreement are invalid under any applicable statute or rule of law, then that portion shall be deemed omitted and the remaining portions of the agreement remain in force.
c) This agreement is governed by the laws of the Province of British Columbia.

---end---

**Although not still available from the Eos site many other sites and individuals took them up on the "Distribute the software to other parties through web sites, email, and shareware CD-ROMs as long as you distribute the original installation executable and not pieces of the tutorials, programs or documentation." part of the licence. I found a copy of the installation pmlt31a.exe in a number of locations. I've downloaded a copy, installed and had a play and it looks like fun. :) The results will be limited to the accuracy of the lines you plot on the photos though.

This looks like it would do the job for you as long as you don't breech the licence agreement or expect too much. I'd like to see the model if you find this is suitable. Good luck!

swishy

PS Sorry for the l-o-n-g post.

Ah, now we get the small print. It needs an Internet connection and they don't recommend using it on Win98. Well, that was worth the wait.

swishy

The way that I approached this in Wings was to UV map the support. That gave me a template to use so I knew exactly where the edges of the supports were when it came to adding the line of holes and the model contains the information about how to apply the image. That way there would be no distortion when the alpha/trans map was applied and I could use the template as the base for a texture/colour/diffuse map where I could have rust wrapping around the edges of the support or something similar.

I really like SHONNER's NURBS solution and if Amapi can produce similar results I'd definitely look into it - if not for this project then for the future.

Alpha/Trans maps can provide a quick and easy solution but aren't suitable for all situations. For mid-distance/background work they'll usually work OK but even then their effectiveness will diminish as the size of the finished image increases. Still a useful shortcut though.

swishy

Good to hear that you've managed to make your model. :) I wasn't familiar with Poser's Transmap term but yes, that will be the way to do this.

swishy

Message edited on: 06/27/2005 13:54

Not sure how to set up alpha maps in Amapi but if you look in the manual or ask in the Amapi forum I'm sure they'll help you out.

Wings is definitely work a look however you decide to handle this. Good luck.

swishy :)

Ayam looks interesting. It took me a little while to figure out that it's Maya reversed though - oh, I'm slow these days. :)

swishy