I am hoping for some advice on a 3D modelling program. Would like to create all types of 3D objects for use in Poser, Bryce etc. Carera is 400.00 and Amapi 500.00 both by Eovia. Must be targeted to different needs but I am not totally familiar with all the different creation engines etc. Any suggestions are very welcome. Thanks

Attached Link: http://www.spacecorps.net

If you purchase Carrara Studio 2.0, you get a copy of Amapi 5.1 including in the deal. Amapi is a nice modeler, but that is it's main strength. Carrara is a more general purpose, although it can do some fair modeling as well. Carrara can import and export formats from /to Poser very well. Same with Bryce objects. If you need strong modeling tools and the ability to move files from to other programs, get Carrara Studio 2.0.

kestrel: Do you have any experience in modeling at all? If not(...or if you own Lightwave as far as that goes) I strongly recommend Wings3D. It is probably one of the best modelers out there right now. I have almost completly givin up Lightwave and Amapi for Wings. Oh yeah...and it's free/open source. Check out the Wings3D forum here at Rosity for more info. ~EA

Attached Link: http://www.wings3d.com

Why spend 4-500 bucks when you can get a better and easier modeller for free! Seriously I've got to agree with ElectricAardvark, not only is Wings one of the best and most powerful modellers available (and I'm including Maya, XSI, 3DS and Lightwave here)but it's REALLY easy to learn/use.

It's only drawback is it doesn't have a renderer. But since you'll be modelling for Poser/Bryce that doesn't matter!

Baz

Doesn't have a renderer? Really?...I have 4 POV-Ray Aquis 3Delight and Open GL. All of which render from within Wings. So I have a high quality Raytracer, 2 Renderman compilant render engines and an OpenGL...I'd say that's better thsn most packages, wouldn't you?

LOL! OK, but Povray and the renderman compliant renderers arn't particularly easy to use and the exporters aren't fully developed and the open GL is @%$*!!? In my opinion renderering is by far Wings weakest point, hopefully this will change before too long though. As a case in point, Hellborn said he needed about 100 test renders before he got his render of his Viper looking right, merely because there's no preview. I've not tried any of these though, I'm stuck using Wings0.07.01 till I upgrade my operating system and even then, from what I've heard I'll have to wait for the mac exporters to be fixed :o( How do you find the POV and Renderman rendering? It sounds extremely difficult with no shadows or material preview in Wings. Also you have to add any procedural textures in a text editor don't you? Baz

Use Wings to model - render in Vue. Perfect.

Thanks for the advice all. Wings is working well to start for sure.