3d Modeling Program of Choice

For Simplicity I have found that Blender 3D is very good it just dosn't have support for most other model formats and the visual qality of its rendering leaves much to be desired.

For best visual quality I would say 3d Max, but that is because I have never used Lightwave and the $3000.00 I had only went into one product. I heard about something called a Discovery version ofl ightwave, but most forums hush people who talk about it. Is that the bootlegged copy?

[TrekkieGal69]

Well I am poor, and I have DAZ Studio, and Blender. I'm quite pleased with DAZ Studio, for all it's limitations, it is still a great 3D renderer to have, but Blender will take awhile to learn. The TUT is long, monotonous, and boring. I figure by August I'll have my first model.

[VidFX]

Doesn't Strata still do a 'Free' Version? Used to be Strata Studio Pro and Strata Vision.

[TrekkieGal69]

I'll see if I can find it.

[TrekkieGal69]

I found them, but only a 30 day trial.

[TrekkieGal69]

Ouch! m $700 bucks, no way. LOL

Hmm, well I try to use a mix between 3DSMax (when I can) and Daz3D, but they're both kinda of hard to use .

[VidFX]

h**p://maxon.net/pages/dyn_files/dyn_htx/htx/1604/01604_01604.html

RaunchyMinds.com Reviews the CINEMA 4D R9.5 XL Bundle

"I've tried a lot of modeling programs and CINEMA 4D was the first one that actually made sense to me" - says reviewer, Ed Wright

[route56@route56.com]

I have another hobby that I'd much rather spend my $$ on (Model Railroading, FWIW).

I have been using OpenFX (http://www.openfx.org/) for some design and animation and Wings 3d (http://www.wings3d.com/) for design. I'll have to take a look at DAZ as well.

[TrekkieGal69]

Originally Posted by Mindlessthing

Hmm, well I try to use a mix between 3DSMax (when I can) and Daz3D, but they're both kinda of hard to use .

It took about a month for me to get good with DAZ. So far blender is proving a worthy opponent.

It took me about five days of pounding my head against the wall, trying to learn Blender, when I suddenly "got it". Now it seems very easy and intuitive to use.

[TrekkieGal69]

It's getting easier, but I lack the proper mechanical know how I guess. Either way I'm still befuddled with Uniforms for M3.

[VidFX]

Art of Illusion www.artofillusion.org it runs in Java on all platforms, and best of all it is FREE!

Well, Blender
http://www.blender.org/cms/Home.2.0.html

and Wings 3D
http://www.wings3d.com/

are also free, though they only run on Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

Is poser the best thing for figure art? I'm new to the whole 3D art thing and that appears to be the best to get started with

Originally Posted by mechagrover

Is poser the best thing for figure art? I'm new to the whole 3D art thing and that appears to be the best to get started with

I have not personally used Poser, but I have read nothing but good about it.

There is another program called DAZ Studio which does figures. I have heard that on the negative side it is not quite as powerful as Poser. On the positive side it is free. How do they afford this? It seems to be one of those deals like "give way the razor for free and make a fortune selling razor blades". DAZ Studio is free, but the figures and the costumes are not.

[VidFX]

Originally Posted by nyrath

DAZ Studio is free, but the figures and the costumes are not.

and that is how they make all their money, from those pepole (like me) who can not be bothered, making their own models

Those who know me know I'm 'MAXed' out for 3D

I also play with the Lightwave, Terregen and Poser - when RL doesn't get in the way

I use milkshape 3D because im not rich enough to buy 3D studio Max, or any of those other ones.

[Thomas P]

I use MAX 4.2 (cuz I can't justify the upgrade), have LW 6 but never use it. Have Vue, Blender, Terragen and World machine. Blender is too different from MAX so I get frustrated and close it (sort of like using POVray). Of course the staples too, for post work, Photoshop and PSP.

Have a number of the other freebies that are out there but having MAX, and being able to use it easily, makes it sort of pointless to try and make them work.

i use max7

It's a good inexpensive program.

[VidFX]

To be honest, it is really a combination of more than one 3D program that works the best, they each have their plus points.

I use 3ds max. I also use maya from time to time but I started with 3ds max and I feel more at home with that so I usually use that when I have the chance. I wouldnt argue that maya is better, though.

Maya 6.5 Unlimited + Renderman

There is a reason Maya is the industry standard for both the film/television industry and now too the game industry. Very good workflow, easy to learn modeling tools. Realtime dynamic simulation, hair, fur, fire, fluid and partical effects. Compleatly open source, so programing a plugin is a sinch. The ability to model using commands in notepad, load 'em into maya and hit render and get an actual model! (know someonw who did it)

I use both Maya 7 Unlimited and Cinema 4D Full bundle. i have to say I like the workflow in Cinema better. Maya is very powerfull, but a pain to handel

[VidFX]

Originally Posted by morganzacd5p

I use both Maya 7 Unlimited and Cinema 4D Full bundle. i have to say I like the workflow in Cinema better. Maya is very powerfull, but a pain to handel

Ain't that the truth

I dont find Maya difficult to use at all *shruggs* After I was shown how it works 3D Studio Max, Lightwave and all the other 3D programs I have used before all seemed clunky and badly organized.

I can build with poly's, nurbs or sub-d's in Maya very quickly because all the tools are available to you quickly either on the toolbars or through the hotbox menue, but in MAX for example I cant even find half the tools because they are buried in some sub menue somewhere.

[evil_genius_180]

You know, the more I hear about Max, the happier I am that I'm not a Max user. It sounds like a disorganized, hard to use program that has a lot of issues like taking up too many system resources to render a simple picture, plus the models don't seem to be compatible with a lot of other software, including a lot of the converters. My program of choice is trueSpace.

[VidFX]

Unfortunatly, the employers (most games Companies) want Maya and Max.

So I has to go and become a Cinema 4D user!