Hi there everyone, I would like to start making my own poser content and was wondering if anyone could suggest a program.

Modeling (geometry, morphs):
Blender 3D
Wings 3D
MilkShape 3D
trueSpace (version 3.2 is free)

UV-mapping:
UVMapper
Ultimate Unwrap 3D

Painting (textures, other maps):
The GIMP
Paint Shop Pro
Photoshop Elements

Modeling:

Rhinoceros 3D

Rhino Forum

Of course I am a tad prejudice about Rhino, but when it comes to a user friendly "Intuitive" program that can build models for just about anything, not just Poser. Rhino is the best. All 500 commands used in very version of AutoCAD will work in the command line. Plus the drop down tools and then several tool sets right out there for your easy access, makes Rhino the best choice.

Other add on features include Bongo for animating, Flamingo Photo Realistic rendering. And if you take only one college course, or are already a student, you can get the student discount offered here at renderosity or over at their official site.

Add to this, we have a Rhino forum here with over 50 tutorials in the threads all inked in the forum header. The same guy that co-moderates that forum also moderates the UV Mapper Forum. Our team and its users nearly step over one another to help fellow Rhino users. You will find them the most tame and helpful bunch anywhere on the WWW.

I would recommend Photoshop for a paint program because Poser will let you use Photoshop documents when making textures.

Paint Shop Pro can save images in Photoshop format, also. Don't know about the GIMP.

I don't think Gimp can use Photoshop plug-ins, if I read their Help file correctly. I also find the interface a model of the non-intuitive. A shame, too, because I was hoping to avoid upgrading PSP to Photoshop for the camera plug-ins. However, I think I'll look into PhotoImpact, which sells for less than $75, if you shop around, and appears to have the most desireable photo features built-in. For overall usefulness (and price), you can't beat Carrara Pro. I just bought Pro5, and I can't wait. M M

I use Shade http://www.e-frontier.com/ my suggestion is to find every demo and free program you can and try them out. Modeling programs call all do pretty muche the same thing. you just need to find the user interface and work flow that suits you.

I use Rhino3d and 3dsMax. For textures I use Paint Shop Preo 8 and Photoshop Elements3.

There's also something called Silo..which some people swear by. I use Wings, and it works just fine..

Another powerful, but inexpensive utility for texturing (mostly for non-human stuff), is TextureMaker. Coming in the hopefully soon to be released v3 is the ability to use Photoshop plugins in TextureMaker, as well as use TextureMaker as a Photoshop plugin. If you're not drooling yet, you obviously haven't used TextureMaker :)

My vote is for zBrush, so much functionality, it's scary.

Almost any modelling program can be used to create poser content. It is a matter of personal choice. Different people have different work styles and like different programs. Try as many demo and free versions as you can. Then choose the one you like best. Personally, I ended up with Wings3d, not because it is free but because I suited me best.

I use Cinema 4d. I got an outdated version from a magazine, Version 6 CE+. It is great for making new stuff, but I haven't been able to do good looking morphs from existing models. I plan to get silo. I loaded the demo and played a bit with it. It handles even big models with impressive speed. The smoothing function works great in making morphs and the topology brush seems to be perfect in making tight clothes. I probably won't drop Cinema, since it still has modeling possibilities which I did not find in Silo.

Bookmark for additional opinions.

If you are gonig to use box modeling, don't doubt it, the best is wings3d.

For making morphs and final painted stills to boot? ZBrush, but it does have limitations. You should use it with another app for altering topology and for scenes which involved mutliple models that must work in unison. As for its ability to model living creatures, I am simply in awe by how easy and flexible a program it is and how truly intuitive it is.