hey folks,

Well here goes my first post ever to this whole board idea. So I've been playing EV for about 5 years, and EVO since it came out. It's time to make a plug-in!! Actually, I made a couple of sort of (ok REALLY) crappy ones...but I gave up quickly because I didn't know what I was doing and it got frustrating. Anyway. (nice little autobiography there eh)...

I was wondering if anybody has (or knows of) any step by step guides on how to actually draw/model/whatever some simple ship shapes or other EV related objects? Or any really helpful tutorial-like websites? (I've been looking for a couple days now..and there is A LOT of related websites but I've not found really what I'm looking for). I'm working with mechanisto and photoshop 6 (though I haven't applied that yet, I'm still working on getting the twist transformation to look right on a cylinder in the first program...yes I suck.... :D) I've downloaded the mechanisto helper guide thing, but it didn't take me too far. So, if anybody feels like replying that would be

later,
::neverfear::

If you have any money, I recommend getting something other than Mechanisto; I have been working with the program for three years and am only able to produce fair images. I never used the Mechanisto helper.

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Silent Night, a plug-in for Nova, will feature a small, unique galaxy. With only three races, I will be able to change the galaxy to my hearts desire. To help me finish it faster, I will not be slowed down by making ship graphic- I will use the ones from Nova.
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Approving someone else's work is not the same as creating it yourself- Bill Watterson, Author of Calvin and Hobbes

so if I come into money, what program do you recommend then?

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Originally posted by neverfear:
so if I come into money, what program do you recommend then?

Bryce is a good starter. It has an intuitive interface with some easy to learn features. I don't know a lot about Bryce 5, but I would suggest getting it. I've seen some good stuff come from it. I'd also recommend it for it's all-round usage. You can create anything you want in it (landscapes to ships and outfits).

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James Lomax
(url="http://"http://www.area21developers.f2s.com")Area 21(/url) - EVN plug-in developers

If you want a better free program I would reccomend Strata 3D 3.0.2 (do a search for it at (url="http://"http://www.download.com)")www.download.com)(/url). Version 3.5 free is out but it isnt really good so i would get the old version. However if you were willing to spend some money I would reccoment getting Strata 3D 3.5 plus (available from (url="http://"http://www.strata.com)")www.strata.com)(/url) which is $149 i think.

ewan

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"It's a hundred and six miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a packet of cigarettes, its dark and were wearing sunglasses. Hit it"
- The Blues Brothers

Come to think of it, if you pop down to your local magazine stand, you could probably find an issue of Computer Arts. I got a copy, about 4 weeks ago, that had a full version of Amapi 3D (I forgot the version). Try getting your hands on that.

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James Lomax
(url="http://"http://www.area21developers.f2s.com")Area 21(/url) - EVN plug-in developers

Lightwave! Lightwave! Lightwave!---If you feel like submitting yourself to the book of learning-720 pages. Plus you have to have....hum-m-m-ah...2,800$* Or infini-d. Infini-d Has not that much newer stuff, but you can do some really nice stuff...stuff that is sometimes better than what bryce does. But I will say, that Bryce is relatively easy to learn, though, I have not tried to make a ship with it.

-moi

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I bet people became scientists just to piss off the pope

Quote

Originally posted by neverfear:
so if I come into money, what program do you recommend then?

Strata's nice but if your gonna spend money I suggest Cinema 4D GO for $200. It's a very good program plus it come with a starship construction kit with tex and sample models/parts to get you started. They had a christmas special for $50 once and thats when i picked it up. Best money I ever spent.

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edited for spelling

(This message has been edited by ThorPrime (edited 08-16-2001).)