I have been making ships and landscapes in Bryce for almost a year now, and have become quite good at it. However, I am beginning to feel Bryce's limitations, and am considering upgrading to a more powerfull 3D app. I've saved up about $250 for this purpose so far. Does anyone have any recomendations?
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"I don't want to insist on it, Dave, but I am incapable of making an error" - HAL 9000
Quote
Originally posted by Captian LeGrenadier:
**I have been making ships and landscapes in Bryce for almost a year now, and have become quite good at it. However, I am beginning to feel Bryce's limitations, and am considering upgrading to a more powerfull 3D app. I've saved up about $250 for this purpose so far. Does anyone have any recomendations?
**
For $250? The cheapest 3d programs I can think of apart from Bryce are all around $500. :frown: Maybe Infini-D, but that's discontinued. Which makes it kinda hard to get. Maybe somebody else will know of one in that range?
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Diddly,
Recursive: adj. See Recursive
I'd definitely suggest Infini-D, but try to get version 4.5. It's been discontinued, so you'll only be able to get it through some kind of auction like eBay or possibly from a friend or (gasp) warez/abandonware. I've been using it since last year and it's very easy to use if you hate/don't have manuals 
Divals
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Ever wonder if illiterate people get the full effect of alphabet soup?
Quote
Originally posted by Captian LeGrenadier:
**I have been making ships and landscapes in Bryce for almost a year now, and have become quite good at it. However, I am beginning to feel Bryce's limitations, and am considering upgrading to a more powerfull 3D app. I've saved up about $250 for this purpose so far. Does anyone have any recomendations?
**
You have Bryce ล2? I only have StrataVision and gasp KPT Bryce 1!
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(This message has been edited by Lord Gwydion (edited 06-02-2001).)
Quote
Originally posted by Lord Gwydion:
**You have Bryce 32? I only have StrataVision and gasp KPT Bryce 1!
**
There is no such program is Bryce 32. Maybe in a few decades there will be. I currently own Bryce 4.1
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"I don't want to insist on it, Dave, but I am incapable of making an error" - HAL 9000
No, I wrote: ห 2. Okay, so you have Bryce 4. I'm stuck with Bryce 2 demo, Bryce 1, Mechanisto, and StrataVision. There's only one program that isn't free there: Bryce 1, which I find is not exactly the greatest graphics program, if you know what I mean...
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I suggest Inspire 3D the little brother of Lightwave. You can get a academic discount which I think is $100 less then the normal price. You can check it out at (url="http://"http://www.newtek.com")www.newtek.com(/url)
I think sharbor.com also carries it.
I have had Bryce 4 since it came out - and moved up to Strata3d when it became available.
Bryce is still the best for landscapes - no question.
For space scapes, you will want to look at SolarCell, Glitterato and LunarCell, all I think by Flaming Pear, which are plugins for Photoshop or compatibles.
For modelling, I recently got hold of Amapi from the cover of a magazine. There is nothing to touch Amapi on modelling, although the interface is unique.
Big bucks programs cost the money because of their speed of rendering and other professional video based options, such as networkability. If you charge $100,000 per reel and a rendering program costing $10,000 can reduce the time to make a reel by 11%, then you get your money back on the very first project. However, for mortals like ourselves making stuff for EVO and later Nova, the figures don't add up - in my view freebies are definitely the way to go.
For intuitive modelling, you might also want to look at Clayscape, at (url="http://"http://www.jarfish.com")www.jarfish.com(/url). Excellent program.
As additionals, Poser can't be beat for human modelling, and free versions are available on magazines (as far as version 2 or 3, I think). But don't overlook Strata3d - some people sneer because it's free, but it is a magnificent piece of software.
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M A R T I N ย T U R N E R
Quote
Originally posted by Martin Turner:
**As additionals, Poser can't be beat for human modelling, and free versions are available on magazines (as far as version 2 or 3, I think).
**
Which magazines? That's bloody amazing! :eek:
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**But don't overlook Strata3d - some people sneer because it's free, but it is a magnificent piece of software.
**
Here, here. I use it all the time (though I would like to move up to Infini-D). Strata's a really cool piece of software.
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Diddly,
Recursive: adj. See Recursive
Quote
Originally posted by Martin Turner:
**Big bucks programs cost the money because of their speed of rendering and other professional video based options, such as networkability. If you charge $100,000 per reel and a rendering program costing $10,000 can reduce the time to make a reel by 11%, then you get your money back on the very first project. However, for mortals like ourselves making stuff for EVO and later Nova, the figures don't add up - in my view freebies are definitely the way to go.
**
the rendering is only a part of it. they cost so much money because of their flexibility, and what you can do with it. Lightwave can do better landscapes and better people than ive seen come out of Bryce or Poser. I havnt tried Amapi, so i cant really judge it.
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DeAdBoY-
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Yes, I actually do like StrataVision. However, the only problem with it is that it can't do roughness on textures. I still would like to use Infini-D, but if I ever get Infini-D, I'd probably use both.
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I recommend you look into a student discount -- most companies will sell you their products quite cheaply if you are a student.
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Andrew Welch / el Presidente / Ambrosia Software, Inc.
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.
Quote
Originally posted by Lord Gwydion:
**Yes, I actually do like StrataVision. However, the only problem with it is that it can't do roughness on textures. I still would like to use Infini-D, but if I ever get Infini-D, I'd probably use both.
**
Strata3d and Stratavision are two different products. Strata3d can do roughness (actually, Stratavision 5 could as well, and I don't seem to remember that 4 couldn't, but it was a long time ago).
The most important new feature in Strata3d is the ability to overlay textures. If you have the time you can have dirt on rust on patchy paint on metal girders. You couldn't go there with Stratavision.
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M A R T I N ย T U R N E R
Do you know where I could get a copy of StrataVision 5, and (if it's free) Strata3d?
PS-Wow. My 600th post. And I remember when I still had 66 and there was only an EV, Cythera, Ferazel's Wand, and Help on the Way boards!
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(This message has been edited by Lord Gwydion (edited 06-02-2001).)
I've tried Strata, and It's okay, but it dosn't work well on my computer (crashes a lot). I don't know where I can still get a copy of Infini-D, except maybe eBay. Any other ideas? I heard some good things about Hash Animation Master from the Meowx Studios webside, but there's no demo version, so I'm still skeptical.
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"I don't want to insist on it, Dave, but I am incapable of making an error" - HAL 9000
Quote
Originally posted by Lord Gwydion:
**Do you know where I could get a copy of StrataVision 5, and (if it's free) Strata3d?
PS-Wow. My 600th post. And I remember when I still had 66 and there was only an EV, Cythera, Ferazel's Wand, and Help on the Way boards!
**
(url="http://"http://www.strata3d.com/")http://www.strata3d.com/(/url)
yes, it's free. StrataVision is no longer available.
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M A R T I N ย T U R N E R
Quote
Originally posted by Martin Turner:
**http://www.strata3d.com/
yes, it's free. StrataVision is no longer available.
**
...Unless you happen to have a copy of the Oct/99 MacAddict. I used it until quite recentlyย then I got strata3d which is better.
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Diddly,
Recursive: adj. See Recursive
That's were I got my copy of StrataVision.
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I recomend The el Cheapo Lightwave, Inspire 3D or Animation Master (Hash), Moewx uses it and its $200. But for ships and stuff LW is the better choice I think. but hey, $200 is hard to beat!
- Squinky
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