Attached Link: Strata Design CE 7.5 - $59

I see Strata is now offering a SE version of their modeling software for $59. Anyone here using this app? How does it compare to Hexagon? What features does it not have that hexagon does? 

Thanks kindly

I remember a few years ago, seeing Strata Design 3D SE for sale for 99 cents!  Full license.

Anyway, Strata offers a lot of presets, and a library of simple, old-school model templates.  It has a decent raytrace engine as well, but it's no Vray.  It's good for absolute beginners, or people interested in incorporating some 3D elements into documents or 2D designs.  You can create simple models quickly, but it will be frustratingly limited if you're an intermediate modeller.

Strata's modelling tools, from what I recall, and have seen in reviews, are mostly bezier spline based.  You don't get very good tools for subD or box modelling, or even polygon modelling.  You'll be able to create models with rudementary lathing, lofting, bevels, and extrusions.  You can do basic polygon and vertex editing, and move edges around.  It's very basic.  In fact, if you ever used Ray Dream Studio back in the mid to late 90's, then you will know how to use this software right out of the box, because it has about the same modelling tools that Ray Dream did back in 1996.

I now that sounds a little overly critical, but it's definitely an entry-level application at best, and they were practically giving it away a couple years ago.  It's big brother, Strata CX isn't half bad, if you are into CAD-style modelling, or booleans.

One of the bullet points I saw in an online review was that you have the ability to import models directly from Google 3D Warehouse.  I think we all know what most of those models are like.  Oh, and that the render engine allows objects to glow.  Mind you, this is a review from 2011, not 1998.  I had to look a few times to be sure, but yep, it's 2011.

Strata, back in the day, was similar to Carrara in terms of modeling and rendering.  I haven't used either in a long time now.  It's been years since I heard mention of Strata.

www.youtube.com/user/ShawnDriscollCG

Quote - Strata, back in the day, was similar to Carrara in terms of modeling and rendering.  I haven't used either in a long time now.  It's been years since I heard mention of Strata.

You mean Carrara is similar to Strata, since Strata was around long before it.  In fact, Carrara is the birthchild of the old Strata, and RayDream applications.   Strata was used back in the day to model some elements to the award-winning Myst game, which now appear in the Smithsonian American Art museum.  The software hasn't progressed that much from those glory days, and it's modelling features are still heavily cad-like, so it's not used much, if at all, in today's modern 3D world of subdivision surfaces.

Quote - In fact, Carrara is the birthchild of the old Strata, and RayDream applications.

Not true, unless history has been re-written.

www.youtube.com/user/ShawnDriscollCG

Quote - Not true, unless history has been re-written.

Sorry, it wasn't Strata, it was Infini-D.  The material structure and renderer in Carrara are a direct descendant of RayDream Studio, and so is the triple-plane, box workspace.  I mix up Infini with Strata.  They were both CAD-like, and very similar.

Still, Strata was around before Carrara.  Carrara was about 1999.  Strata is older than that.

Bro i love you this game really killed my time!

woodoku