XtrmeJ, 3D Programs.

[Wilbus]

There are lots and lots of 3D programs on the market, the most powerfull are usually said to be 3D Studio MAX, Lightwave, MAYA and Softimage. Not sure of the prices, you can't afford any of them though

3D Studio MAX is some 3500 USD, Lightwave a bit cheaper I think, MAYA too, Softimage is probarly around 10,000 US dollars. (guessing from what I've "heard" before).

There are also quite a few free ones and quite a few pretty cheap ones.

AutoCad 3D is quite often used to make modells, there are quite a few who use Autocad to make plane modells for the Targetware flight engine right now. Autocad 3D is fairly cheap, bellow $100 I THINK.

There is a FREE Version of MAYA, however every picture you make there is Water Marked.

MAYA

To the right is a small link "MAYA Personal Learning Edition".

Another really good program is GMAX, it's a free version of 3D Studio MAX specially designed for Gamers. The company that wishes to support GMAX modells in their game must pay a large ammount of money, one time. Then, after 2 years they must pay more and contineu every year (what I've heard). GMAX can officially only be used for games that Support it, currently MS FLight Sim 2002 Quake 3 and a few more, however, there are ways around it that are legal and any modells you make in it can be converted to other 3D Formats. If you decide to go with GMAX I'll tell you how to convert and export etc.

GMAX is a really good powerfull program, that it is free only makes it so much sweeter.

GMAX

Last, there is a program called "NENDO", pretty powerfull, looking at things that people have made you can make very nice things in it. It costs $99 but a Demo is available for download free.

NENDO

There is also another program, forgot the name, it was in some posts ago on AH BBS. See if anyone reads this and can add it to the list.

I haven't modelled for long my self (haven't done it for like 2 weeks now either) so just learning it too. Worth the time spent on it though, very fun.

[Wilbus]

Think there is a Demo version of Lightwave aswell, not sure.

Also, if you're a Student, you can get 3D Studio MAX for about $700.

[Furious]

just not looking hard enough.

[Wilbus]

?

[Nefarious]

Anybody see Max 5 yet?

I have a copy but I'm not sure if it is a demo or not, Im not going to install it over my copy of 4, beacuase my school is still using 4.2.

Is there a Max 5 demo? If there is, Is it readily available to the masses?

[mason22]

completely free and almost as powerful as the big boys...just lacks things like a powerful rendering solution...


http://www.anim8or.com

if you make it into the forums, look for a guy named Jeb....he does great stuff with anim8or.

[Hristo]

still have links to some (fairly old now) pics I rendered in max 4

http://free-kc.hinet.hr/nt3d/pic/1.jpg

http://free-kc.hinet.hr/nt3d/pic/3.jpg

http://free-kc.hinet.hr/nt3d/pic/6.jpg

Was a max without any plugins, no radiosity all indirect lighting is faked.

Same model, but transferred to Maya and rendered with mental ray's final gather.

http://onyx.globalnet.hr/~ntomlino/large/262t1s.jpg

I only wish I had more time to play with these thingies

[Wilbus]

Nice stuff Hristo. MAYA does render alot nicer without MAX pluggins, looked alot more photo realistic in MAYA except for no real camo.

[Hristo]

Maya is a lot better than Max in many ways, although slightly harder to learn.

The only part where max is better than Maya is rendering.

Still, both have plugins available, so rendering quality is a matter of plugins you use.

Max has Brazil, VRay and mental ray (early version).

Maya has mental ray and connection to Renderman (for professionals, to be honest ).

Max 5, I hear, has radiosity implemented in its default renderer, so it should be MUCH better than Maya default (as of version 4.5)

AFAIK, Softimage used to be best overall, and even cheaper than max and maya (especially maya unlimited).