Ok... i have been making plugs for a lil while, but i have always relied on other people for graphics. I dont want to do that. I already searched the boards but i couldnt find anything! hard to beleive but true. So if anyone could give me the link to the most recent version of Strata 3D i would most greatly appreciate it. 
------------------
Hugs, Not Drugs
(url="http://"http://www.strata.com")www.strata.com(/url)
The d/l is accessable from that sight, though I hear it is nothing to write home about. There are a number of alternate, free 3D utilities out there that may better be worth your time. (url="http://"http://www.blender.com")www.blender.com(/url) is a great one, and the older versions of strata have more features than does the one that is currently available. These versions can be acquired from several members of this board, and I am sure someone will happily provide you with a download link.
Joe
------------------
"Life is tough, but it's even tougher when you're stupid."
-John Wayne
(url="http://"http://shop.strata.com/")http://shop.strata.com/(/url)
------------------
A life, ohhhh, that a new plug-in right?
"Borb II of V.S.S Hellfire."
Ok, this proves it... I really am stupid... See i found the right site... But i still cant find it!!! AAAARRGH! (url="http://"http://shop.strata.com/?Product=83")http://shop.strata.com/?Product=83(/url)
This is the site! But nowhere on the page does it say ' click here to download!!!' ahhh i hate strata!
:mad:
------------------
Hugs, Not Drugs
(This message has been edited by Lord Tekk (edited 08-24-2003).)
Quote
Originally posted by Lord Tekk:
**Ok, this proves it... I really am stupid... See i found the right site... But i still cant find it!!! AAAARRGH!http://shop.strata.com/?Product=83
This is the site! But nowhere on the page does it say ' click here to download!!!' ahhh i hate strata!
:mad:
**
I had no problems, they just use an unconventional way of getting to the downloads. Click add to cart, then checkout, and you get your download.
------------------
It wont really do you much good downloading it anyway... All images are watermarked and i dont think you can save or something. I cant remember to be perfectly honest. Its quite restricted and wouldnt be that good for what you're wanting. It is only a demo.
Once I get the next update complete, you will be able to download the full (abeit old) version from my site. It was free ware at the time and was a cut down version of the old Pro. Ok, it doesnt have all the fancy features that Pro has now, but used correctly, can produce some pretty ok results...
ewan
------------------
(url="http://"http://www.evula.org/ewan/")Ewan's Lair(/url) | (url="http://"http://dreamwave.evula.net")Dreamwave(/url) | (url="http://"http://www.northernswamp.com")Northern Swamp(/url) | (url="http://"http://www.evula.com")EVula's Lair(/url)
"In this world gone mad, we won't spank the monkey - the monkey will spank us!"
I'd say better than okay... Jules, you've done some pretty nice stuff with it, and I'm going to post some of my stuff once TDC gets it online (it's for his plug).
But, I really wanna get my hands on Pro... :frown:
And Lord Tekk: Good on yer, for having the guts to make your own graphics. I'm so sick of people saying "Come on! Please make me a graphic for my little plug that only changes one thing and I probably won't even make available to the public!"
Gahh!
~A~
------------------
"How can I make it go faster?" -Me-
Quote
Originally posted by Azdara:
**I'd say better than okay... Jules, you've done some pretty nice stuff with it, and I'm going to post some of my stuff once TDC gets it online (it's for his plug).
But, I really wanna get my hands on Pro... :frown:
And Lord Tekk: Good on yer, for having the guts to make your own graphics. I'm so sick of people saying "Come on! Please make me a graphic for my little plug that only changes one thing and I probably won't even make available to the public!"
Gahh!
~A~
**
For the price of pro, why not go for an animation sweet like Lightwave or Maya. Especially if you can go for a student discount.
Joe
------------------
"Life is tough, but it's even tougher when you're stupid."
-John Wayne
Quote
Originally posted by jdh545:
**For the price of pro, why not go for an animation sweet like Lightwave or Maya. Especially if you can go for a student discount.
Joe
**
I've been playing with lightwave. From what i've seen i can say: The interphase is VERY hard to understand if you don't understand how the 3D world works. Its not a photoshop style pick-up-and-go, its a more complex understanding. I've heard from a lot of people that Maya's interphase is one of the worst unless you get someone to customize it for you. Most pro's have a custom-tailored version of maya with a more freindly interpase.
------------------
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."-Albert Einstein
Hmm, I think Lightwave has an excelent interface, quite streamlined, and very easy to customize. I also think maya's interface is also rather simple and easy to use, there are things that I have changed, but nothing major, infact it has some interface features that I would love to see in other programs. In my oppinion, both programs are quite user friendly. However, you must realize that high end 3D animation software is inherently much more complex than is Photoshop, and has a steeper learning curve. This is no reason to avoid the more advanced features that come with the better packages in defference to a less feature-rich, but perhaps simpler program. If you are gonna drop the big bucks on a program, you should get one that has all the capability that you need.
Joe
------------------
"Life is tough, but it's even tougher when you're stupid."
-John Wayne
Quote
Originally posted by jdh545:
Hmm, I think Lightwave has an excelent interface, quite streamlined, and very easy to customize.
True. I found it very easy to slip into working with Lightwave after learning how to use SoftImage in class.
Quote
I also think maya's interface is also rather simple and easy to use,
Maya's SubDivs are far superior to Lightwave's. Lightwave doesn't have refinement levels in the subs, and can only accept 3 and 4 point subs, though the poly and sub modelers are well integrated. Nurbs are quite powerful, if used properly, and Lightwave is severely lacking in this category (additionally, LW's spline patching abilities border on nonexistent, and are at best very sub-par). Lightwave does have a decent poly modeler, but it is still lacking some very important polygon modeling features: fillet/edge bevel, decent poly splitting ability (really, to split a poly in LW, you essentially have to kill it and rebuild it), LW only really handles quads well, lacks any ability to smooth objects that have any non tri/quad ploys, there is no chamfer ability, the bevel/extrude/smooth shift tools have some good features but are still somewhat underdeveloped, control cage deformations are absent, and overall hard to simulate, Booleans flat out suck, edge stitching is cumbersome, no construction history function. Maya kills LW in all animation arenas, supports global illumination and caustics more thoroughly, kills LW in hard body/soft body areas, has a better particle engine, supports hardware and vector rendering, supports full fluid dynamics (this is huge), Has much more intuitive UV mapping tools, in my opinion has a better shader system, supports MEL, has built in hair/fur, built in cloth simulation, a full physics simulation engine, and a host of other features. Also, the Maya paint effects and artisan tools allow incredible modeling possibilities, surfacing abilities, and scene building effects. I have not had a hard time with the interface, and have not totally revamped it (though I have modified it to some extent). I do like many features of Lightwave, but it is falling behind the curve. It has many intuitive features, but I simply like Maya better for many things. To each his own I suppose.
Joe
------------------
"Life is tough, but it's even tougher when you're stupid."
-John Wayne
You can download a free edition for XSI ( (url="http://"http://www.softimage.com")www.softimage.com(/url) ) and Maya ( (url="http://"http://www.alias.com")www.alias.com(/url) ) both I believe are full featured, but produce watermarked images. Lightwave can send you a free demo CD ( (url="http://"http://www.newtek.com")www.newtek.com(/url) ) but you may as well wait for vers. 8 to come out before you request it. Blender ( (url="http://"http://www.blender.com")www.blender.com(/url) ) is totally free, and probably the most powerful of the free programs, though Wings 3D is also a good modeler ( (url="http://"http://www.wings3d.com")www.wings3d.com(/url) ). If you go for strata, I would recomend Jules' version, it seems more capable (never used it personally). Pixels 3D is Mac only, a demo is available ( (url="http://"http://www.pixels3d.com")www.pixels3d.com(/url) ) but I can not speak for its abilities. Rhino 3D is a good program, and relitively inexpensinve ( (url="http://"http://www.rhino3d.com")www.rhino3d.com(/url) ) and has a demo available as well (Windows only I think).
There are others, but I am getting tired of typing.
Joe
------------------
"Life is tough, but it's even tougher when you're stupid."
-John Wayne
Quote
Originally posted by jdh545:
**You can download a free edition for XSI ( www.softimage.com ) and Maya ( www.alias.com ) both I believe are full featured, but produce watermarked images. Lightwave can send you a free demo CD ( www.newtek.com ) but you may as well wait for vers. 8 to come out before you request it. Blender ( www.blender.com ) is totally free, and probably the most powerful of the free programs, though Wings 3D is also a good modeler ( www.wings3d.com ). If you go for strata, I would recomend Jules' version, it seems more capable (never used it personally). Pixels 3D is Mac only, a demo is available ( www.pixels3d.com ) but I can not speak for its abilities. Rhino 3D is a good program, and relitively inexpensinve ( www.rhino3d.com ) and has a demo available as well (Windows only I think).
There are others, but I am getting tired of typing.
Joe
**
Yeah, I've managed some decent stuff with strata free 3.02. I'll put it on the image board sometime soon, when TDC puts it up on his site. Keep an eye out for them, it isn't a hugely powerfull program, but it is underestimated. Some people can do some brilliant stuff with it (not me of course, I can get by with it).
Yur. I'll have to try blender some time.
~A~
------------------
"How can I make it go faster?" -Me-
(This message has been edited by Azdara (edited 08-25-2003).)
The link (url="http://"http://www.blender.com")www.blender.com(/url) takes you to a music magazine site. Use this link instead and Mac users need to be aware that it's for OS X only: (url="http://"http://www.blender3d.com")http://www.blender3d.com(/url)
------------------
Starfleet Adventures: A Star Trek TC for EVN (url="http://"http://www.ev-nova.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=145") Discussion Board (/url)
Starfleet Adventures (url="http://"http://www.ev-nova.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=71")Progress Log(/url)
denki's Starfleet Adventures (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/starfleet_adventures/")FAQ page(/url)
It is better to feed the goat than it is today.
Quote
Originally posted by jdh545:
**...Wings 3D is also a good modeler ( www.wings3d.com ). If you go for strata, I would recomend Jules' version, it seems more capable (never used it personally).
**
A good number of people have used Wings for the modeling, and then strata for rendering. The results are awsome, sometimes on-par with even lightwave stuff. I don't have X.2 so I can't use wings, but from everything i've seen produced by the combo Wings-Strata I can only say good things about it.
------------------
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."-Albert Einstein
