I have a question for you all. My boss would like to buy me a new rendering program for equipment and satellite design. I have been using Specular Inifi-D 3.0. I would like a package which can read my old files. I don't have a firm budget, but under $1,000 (U.S.) would be good.
Thanks in advance.
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(url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ev_scourge/")www.geocities.com/ev_scourge/(/url)
A good bet could be Strata 3D pro for around $850. Go to (url="http://"http://www.strata.com")www.strata.com(/url)
You might have to export your Infini-D files to a universal format.
A Spisak
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Why have one when you can have two for twice the price.
Andrew "Congruency damnit' Spisak
well,
strata3dpro is okay, but... far from perfect and a bit outdated even with the new 3.5 version. and it doesn't have direct infini-d import as far as i know. i use strata 2.5.3 myself and find it has some serious limitations.
if you intend to move on to a new level in 3d graphics you might want to seriously consider the likes of lightwave by newtek and cinema 4d xl by maxon, even if they do cost more. you can try out a demo of both. at least maxon offers a discount for infini-d users who want to upgrade. i don't know if they can import infini-d files tho.
LW is especially good at special FX used on TV and movies and character animation ect. both have blazing fast high-quality renderers with raydiosity, caustics and other realistic effects. try the demos to see if they can import your files. (url="http://"http://www.newtek.com")www.newtek.com(/url) (url="http://"http://www.maxon.de")www.maxon.de(/url)
if it has to have infini-d import then you might want to look at carrara or bryce (i think they have infini-d import but i'm not totally sure for i haven't used either one.), other than that i'm not sure if moving on to either of these packages can be considered an "upgrade", the best stuff i've seen done in infini-d ( (url="http://"http://www.rustboy.com")www.rustboy.com(/url) ) is better than the best stuff i've seen come out of bryce or carrara. Bryce does have descent procedural textures and some nice rendering effects but it is painfully slow and doesn't have much modelling power compared to programs at the higher pricerange (so you don't want to ditch infini-d if you buy bryce).
(url="http://"http://www.eovia.com")www.eovia.com(/url) (url="http://"http://www.corel.com")www.corel.com(/url)
the lates version of infini-d is 4.5 by metacreations. it is propably hard to find (and in a company pirated software is not an option) but possibly a good "temporary fix". i also don't know what files infini-d can export so it might be possible to use infini-d files in all of these programs even if they don't directly support the format.
FormZ might also be a program you would be interested in. it has an extremely powerful modeler and raydiosity rendering but not much to offer in the FX department. and i think it is in budget.
FormZ has been used for numerous movies tho, usually with Electric Image Animation System or EI Universe. EIU costs as much as LW or cinema4dxl tho and is something you propably don't need, it's more of an entertainment orientated tool (for movies, TV and games ect.).
(url="http://"http://www.autodessys.com")www.autodessys.com(/url) (url="http://"http://www.electricimage.com")www.electricimage.com(/url)
hope this helps.
ComputerLizard
(edit) fixed an url (/edit)
(This message has been edited by ComputerLizard (edited 11-01-2001).)
The best program you could get would be Lightwave 3D 6.5, but that's just slightly over your budget 
I've personally got Infini-D 4.5, which fits my needs perfectly.
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(url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/chaosgrafix")Conwy Station(/url)
(url="http://"http://dmoz.org/Games/Video_Games/Genres/Strategy/Escape_Velocity_Series/")DMOZ's EV/O Directory(/url)
well if it's buisness then LW shouldn't be that much out of budget (wich is at version7b btw, not 6.5). and it's not the ultimate app either, such a program doesn't excist (not even maya or houdini or whatever).
ionStorm said infini-d is insufficient for his needs (which i well understand). if somebody else finds infini-d sufficient for his current needs it doesn't mean it should be good enough for everybody. having to change from program to program to program will eventually be more expensive than getting what you need in the very beginning. learning a program after another can be a lot of work and time consuming, too. if it's buisness then a better program might be a good investment.
ComputerLizard
(This message has been edited by ComputerLizard (edited 11-08-2001).)
On a slightly related topic: Is Bryce 5 really as buggy under OSX as it seems or is it something wierd with my computer. (It lags massively all the time, and crashes whenever I use the dock to switch apps while it's rendering)
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If you wonna use your old files in a new soft then your only option is Infini-D 4.5. But Metacreations dont support it anymore. And it will be difficult to find (may be on some auction).I dont think you can read Infini-D files in any other programmes. So to use them youll have to export your files, and Infin-D is not very friendly with exporting(has very limited exporting formats, 3 or so). It corrupts exported files a lot. The only file format I had limited success was DXF (exporting my models to Bryce or Shade).Still it sucks, cause it creates enormous size DXF files difficult to mannupulate in other programmes.Also is roughly polygonize your models so after importing to another soft you have to smooth them. This distortions may(usually) destroy some nice little complex-form shapes of the parts in your models.
So that`s it. Want to use your models find Infini-D 4.5.Or get yourself a more decent modeler and make them from scratch.
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Once again, Amorphium by play is the only realtime 3D editor currently available. Check it out at (url="http://"http://www.amorphium.com")http://www.amorphium.com(/url)
Its pretty cheap though, and not really the best thing if you're measuring angles, etc.
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(url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/chaosgrafix")Conwy Station(/url)
(url="http://"http://dmoz.org/Games/Video_Games/Genres/Strategy/Escape_Velocity_Series/")DMOZ's EV/O Directory(/url)
Quote
Originally posted by Jak205:
**Once again, Amorphium by play is the only realtime 3D editor currently available. Check it out athttp://www.amorphium.com
Its pretty cheap though, and not really the best thing if you're measuring angles, etc.
**
what do you keep talking about, amorphium being the only realtime 3D editor?
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DeAdBoY-
(url="http://"http://www.grybs.com/harzius")Harzius Productions(/url)
(url="http://"http://www.IcedEarth.com")Iced Earth(/url)
One thing I think is important to note.
An expensive rendering engine doesn't necessarily mean that you'll have great renders. Nor does a cheap rendering engine only produce crappy renders. I've seen really amazing and photorealistic renders come out of Infini-D without having any photoshop tweaking afterwards. The render quality is gonna be highly dependant on texturing ability.
Lazarus
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