As I'm going to have some free time this summer, I plan to get more serious about my plugin that's been sitting unattended for so long. However, my trusty RayDream 3D doesn't work with MacOS X :mad:, just when I got the hang of it. So I'm wondering what to buy as a replacement. I don't want to spend more than $200 or so, and it should have all the features RayDream had (low learning curve; precise numerical control of object data; texturing with bump, glow, transparency, etc.; free form modeller, ability to look at projects and position cameras in real time; and preset behaviors like point at and spin come to mind). I would also love A. a Bryce-like terrain generator for landing pics and planet graphics (maybe Mojoworld is what I want); 2. some type of virtual-clay-style modelling; and/or 3. a Poser-like character generator would make plugin movies so much easier (feasible, even ). So what's the best program for covering all this? The most important thing is the ability to make good-looking ships. I'm looking at Carrara, made by Eovia (!), which took over RayDream and offers Carrara as it's successor, but for me it's a completely new interface. Suggestions/experiences?

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When oppurtunity knocks, make lemonade!

A confused wise man

Sounds like Strata 3Dplus would satisfy your ship building needs. It costs less than Carrara also, I beleive. If you buy pro for several hundred dollars, you will significantly enhance it's landscape and planetary capabilities, among other things. Pro does have IK and other character tools, but you still have to make your character from scratch or import it.

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Get a life, a cyberspace life.

Quote

Originally posted by Captain Bob:
**As I'm going to have some free time this summer, I plan to get more serious about my plugin that's been sitting unattended for so long. However, my trusty RayDream 3D doesn't work with MacOS X:mad: , just when I got the hang of it. So I'm wondering what to buy as a replacement. I don't want to spend more than $200 or so, and it should have all the features RayDream had (low learning curve; precise numerical control of object data; texturing with bump, glow, transparency, etc.; free form modeller, ability to look at projects and position cameras in real time; and preset behaviors like point at and spin come to mind). I would also love A. a Bryce-like terrain generator for landing pics and planet graphics (maybe Mojoworld is what I want); 2. some type of virtual-clay-style modelling; and/or 3. a Poser-like character generator would make plugin movies so much easier (feasible, even ). So what's the best program for covering all this? The most important thing is the ability to make good-looking ships. I'm looking at Carrara, made by Eovia (!), which took over RayDream and offers Carrara as it's successor, but for me it's a completely new interface. Suggestions/experiences?

**

Eovia is currently asking $139 from any registered owner of Ray Dream to upgrade to Carrara Studio. I could and have said many mean things about it, but it is OS-X friendly, more stable than Ray Dream 3D, and the learning curve for a Ray Dream user is practically nill. (When you get right down to it, Carrara is Ray Dream with a new coat of paint. Oh, plus metaballs and a simple terrain modeller.) Free demo, save disabled I think but otherwise not cripple-ware. Try it out.

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Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.

I concur with Colours. Strata 3D plus is what you want. Personally, I found Strata a very easy program to pick up and within a short space of time can create impressive results. The interface takes some time to get used to but once you have figured out all its ideosyncacies (sp?) and quirks, it is very easy to use. Here are some old examples of my work made in Strata 3D 3.0.2 free (older and not quite as good as plus):


(url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/ewanc/images/personelcarrier.jpg") (/url) - click to enlarge

I cant remember the urls to anymore so thats your lot

Seriously, Strata is often over looked but in the right hands, it can be a seriously great program.

ewan

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may contain nuts

Quote

Originally posted by Jules:
**I concur with Colours. Strata 3D plus is what you want. Personally, I found Strata a very easy program to pick up and within a short space of time can create impressive results. The interface takes some time to get used to but once you have figured out all its ideosyncacies (sp?) and quirks, it is very easy to use. Here are some old examples of my work made in Strata 3D 3.0.2 free (older and not quite as good as plus):
ewan

**

I would enjoy a chance to try out Strata. All links I have attempted to the old 3.02 have come up dry, however. The newer "free" versions are either OS-X or just don't like my machine (an aging NuBus Mac brought up to reasonable speeds only with a Sonnet daughterboard.)

If anyone has a link they've_tried to 3.02 I'd like to see it.

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Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.

You can download the Mac version of Strata 3Dbase (url="http://"http://download.com.com/3000-2180-7613313.html?legacy=cnet")here(/url), if you are interested.

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Kalos.
(url="http://"http://www.wheenit.com/monkey-robot/")Monkey-Robot(/url)

I've tried my hand at Strata and Bryce some, but haven't made much in the way of ship graphics with them. I'm mostly about the landing scenes (Bryce).

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"What goes up must come down, unless it reaches Escape Velocity and flies off to Palshife to join the Rebellion." -mrxak
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Quote

Originally posted by Mahayana:
**You can download the Mac version of Strata 3Dbase here, if you are interested.
**

That's version 3.5; but a lot of people on these boards seem to prefer version 3.0.2, which apparently has several more options. I've never used 3.5 so I can't say whether 3.0.2 really is better.

Anyway, if you want to give 3.0.2 a try you can find it (url="http://"ftp://cdrom.digitalriver.com/pub/strata3/Strata3D_302_Installer.sit")here(/url).

best,
Curwen

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"Choose again."

<edit: made link go directly to download location>

(This message has been edited by Curwen (edited 05-11-2002).)

Quote

Originally posted by Curwen:
**That's version 3.5; but a lot of people on these boards seem to prefer version 3.0.2, which apparently has several more options. I've never used 3.5 so I can't say whether 3.0.2 really is better.

Anyway, if you want to give 3.0.2 a try you can find it here.

best,
Curwen

**

Good link, good installer, but it asks for a registration number. Is this perhaps not a free software? Can anyone advise?

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Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.

What about Inifini-D? I've looked everywhere for that but can never find a download site. I'd be great if one of you guys could tell me where to go.

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Warning: Signatures in mirror are closer than they appear.

Quote

Originally posted by Commander Arashi:
**Good link, good installer, but it asks for a registration number. Is this perhaps not a free software? Can anyone advise?
**

It's free, but you need to get a registration number from Strata anyway.

They'll then send you a code for 3.5, but it works with both versions.

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"Choose again."

3.02 doesn't have as much as the newer Strata3D versions in the way of modeling addons, like metaballs, deform, etc., but it does have animation capabilities, which Base3.5 doesn't. It also doesn't bring up a box saying "You've clicked on a Plus (or Pro) feature! Buy now!" which you can't get rid of for10 seconds, every time you click something. But I'm not bitter.

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"No matter where you're going, there you are."

Quote

Originally posted by Neon Soldier:
**What about Inifini-D? I've looked everywhere for that but can never find a download site. I'd be great if one of you guys could tell me where to go.

**

It no longer exists. Like Ray Dream, it was folded into Carrara. Ray Dream and Infini-D were never sold but never officially abandoned, thus the only way to access them is to buy (or upgrade to) Carrara.

I have seen it on eBay, and it speaks to the quality of that program that used versions go for $60 and up.

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Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.

Quote

Originally posted by Neon Soldier:
**What about Inifini-D? I've looked everywhere for that but can never find a download site. I'd be great if one of you guys could tell me where to go.

**

It's impossible to find... I got lucky and found a free copy being given to whoever got their hands on it first. I spent months at ebay, but I mostly could only find version 3.5 or 4.0, the majority of which were for Windows. Ebay is still your best ticket.

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Quote

Originally posted by Curwen:
**It's free, but you need to get a registration number from Strata anyway.

They'll then send you a code for 3.5, but it works with both versions.

**

Thanks for all your patience. 3.0.2 wouldn't register, regardless, and 3.5 gave me a type 1 error. I spent a happy evening trying out different versions of the extensions set (going back to base OS, etc.) trying to satisfy it, then gave up. I guess I should stick with Ray Dream, which is running just fine. (For that matter, so is Bryce3D, Bryce4, Poser3, Poser4, Amorphium1.0, Cinema4D GO demo, Meshworks, and A.M. v.9 demo. What is is about Strata that makes it so difficult to register and run?)

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Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.

Quote

Originally posted by Commander Arashi:
**Thanks for all your patience. 3.0.2 wouldn't register, regardless, and 3.5 gave me a type 1 error. I spent a happy evening trying out different versions of the extensions set (going back to base OS, etc.) trying to satisfy it, then gave up. I guess I should stick with Ray Dream, which is running just fine. (For that matter, so is Bryce3D, Bryce4, Poser3, Poser4, Amorphium1.0, Cinema4D GO demo, Meshworks, and A.M. v.9 demo. What is is about Strata that makes it so difficult to register and run?)
**

OK I have emailed you a copy of my User Name and Serial Number for 3.0.2. It isnt illegal as it is free software.

ewan

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may contain nuts

Quote

Originally posted by Neon Soldier:
**What about Inifini-D? I've looked everywhere for that but can never find a download site. I'd be great if one of you guys could tell me where to go.

**

email me.

Matrix

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"Nothing is fool-proof to a sufficiently talented fool."

Quote

Originally posted by Captain Skyblade:
**It's impossible to find... I got lucky and found a free copy being given to whoever got their hands on it first. I spent months at ebay, but I mostly could only find version 3.5 or 4.0, the majority of which were for Windows. Ebay is still your best ticket.

**

I got a copy of 4.5 from a source on the EV Dev Board-who-shall-remain-unnamed-unless-he-decides-to-reveal-himself. Since it's practically abandonware (software that hasn't been supported by its developer for more than 5 years), we might be able to arrange something.

Please be aware that I'm only extending this offer to the people who have posted before me on this string. I don't want a flood of emails from random people ("I want Infini-D too!"). I don't even know why I posted this on a public forum....

Oh well... Get POVRay.

Matrix

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"Nothing is fool-proof to a sufficiently talented fool."

(This message has been edited by what_is_the_matrix (edited 05-15-2002).)