Ok, I'm delving into the world of 3D computer modeling so I can make my own graphics for my own plugs, and I recently got Strata 3D v 3.0 from the MacAddict CD #48 (couldn't find another with the full version of Strata whose version was higher). I've been experimenting in both Strata and Mechanisto and I found that I like Strata 3D LOTS better than Mechanisto which I think is too hard to use (thats only my opinion, I don't wish to insult the Mechanisto Masters out there). Anyway, I've been trying to make my own ship in Strata 3D and I've not been having much luck, as I can't seem to figure out how to make curves and such. So, can those of you who use Strata 3D for graphics, could you all sort of help me learn to use Strata 3D, b/c I don't have time to scour the online manuals on the (url="http://"http://www.3d.com")www.3d.com(/url) site AND I don't wish to order the $500 CD just to get the manual in Acrobat format. Please help this newbi whelp who has taken his first baby steps into 3D graphics. (that was a bit "over dramatic" eh?)

Cheers,
~Jedibrass

------------------
-author of "Dragerron"
-OotS member
-Star Wars and EVO
nut.

There are (at least) 2 MacAddict cds that have Strata 3D v4 on them and with them a couple of really good PDF tutorials that contain just about everything that's possible with the program. The tutorials are easy to follow and have diagrams, etc.. to help you get used to the interface. I'm not sure off hand which cds they are but I'm sure someone around here knows. If not I can always upload the tutorials to my site and you can download them (easier if someone knows which cds though so you can get version 4).

Phoenix

------------------
(url="http://"http://commonwealth.cjb.net")EVO : Nemesis(/url)

Quote

Originally posted by Phoenix:
If not I can always upload the tutorials to my site and you can download them (easier if someone knows which cds though so you can get version 4).

Did you get Strata from the CD's? If so, just look at the number of the CD that has it. Just a question though.

~Jedibrass

------------------
-author of "Dragerron"
-OotS member
-Star Wars and EVO
nut.

Yes, unfortunately, if you want to do skins and the like, you'll need an older version of Strata. I have StrataVision 4.0 on my iDisk. I posted a link here on this board quite some time ago but without the search feature I can't find it and we can't have iTools installed so I can't just look on my iDisk for it. If you really want skins and the like to make curves, try and find it by browsing in these old topics.

I'd do it myself but I'm pulling 14 hours straight and need to sleep...

Best of luck!

ZZz zzz z.. ...

Just to clear up any confusion, Strata 3d is a more recent product than StrataVision 4 (the previous free version) and StrataVision 5 (which was about $100).
I'm not sure that Strata 3d is at version 3 yet, so I'm not just exactly sure which version you have.

Vision has skins, and some other interesting features. However, it's rendering is a lot poorer and is generally clunky and difficult to use.

If you want more modelling power, you could get Pixels 3d (also free) and then import into Strata 3d.

BTW, Sinkha and Myst were made in Vision 3d.

Regards

Martin

------------------
M A R T I N • T U R N E R

Quote

Did you get Strata from the CD's? If so, just look at the number of the CD that has it.

Unfortunetly I no longer have my MacAddict cds from that time period :frown:

Phoenix

------------------
(url="http://"http://commonwealth.cjb.net")EVO : Nemesis(/url)

What Martin said is correct.
I recently downloaded Strata 3D from their webpage, and I have version 3.0.2
So mabe there's a little confusion

P.S. JadiBrass
Just experiement around... Took me a couple of hours to get my first ship looking like it's suppose to, but afterwards it's pretty easy.... Just try things!

------------------
Arrrrrrr, matey!!!!

I learned by starting on POV-Ray, which I recommend. It's a complex thing to learn to use, but it's free, and it'll teach you the fundamental mathematical aspects of modelling, as well as how to visualize what you want as a combination of simple shapes, and it'll make you appreciate the features of a program like Strata Vision3D, which is what I use now.

BTW, Vision3D does have it's drawbacks, but I wouldn't call it difficult to use.

------------------

Quote

Originally posted by UniversalWolf:
**I learned by starting on POV-Ray, which I recommend. It's a complex thing to learn to use, but it's free, and it'll teach you the fundamental mathematical aspects of modelling, as well as how to visualize what you want as a combination of simple shapes, and it'll make you appreciate the features of a program like Strata Vision3D, which is what I use now.

BTW, Vision3D does have it's drawbacks, but I wouldn't call it difficult to use.

**

Well, last night I was making my first ship (not even sure its the right size). I've got some decent color to it and am using point lights with custom engine glow FX to get engine glow. Its fairly simple, but I'm getting the hang of Strata 3D. And BTW, Universal Wolf, where can I get Vision3D for free ( I hear its some where here, but I don't have the time to skim the 36 pages of the Development board), and is POV-Ray free? And I got the geometry down ok, b/c I made high A's in Geometry/Trig which I took last year from of the best math teachers out there.

Cheers,
~Jedibrass

------------------
-author of "Dragerron"
-OotS member
-Star Wars and EVO
nut.

Quote

Originally posted by Phoenix:
**I'm not sure off hand which cds they are but I'm sure someone around here knows. If not I can always upload the tutorials to my site and you can download them (easier if someone knows which cds though so you can get version 4).

Phoenix

**

Well, it seems most people don't know which CD's and I think Strata 3D is only at v 3.0.2 (I got 3.0 off of the August 2000 MacAddict CD) and got no tutorials so could you upload them to your site, then I could download them. Sorry if it inconviences you :frown:.

Cheers,
~Jedibrass

------------------
-author of "Dragerron"
-OotS member
-Star Wars and EVO
nut.

(url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/meebo/StrataVision3d4.sit")http://homepage.mac....taVision3d4.sit(/url) (url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/meebo/StrataVisionPreferences.sit")http://homepage.mac....Preferences.sit(/url)

Enjoy boolean operations and skins

------------------
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone."
-Bill Cosby
Star Trek Escape Velocity
(url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/startrekev/")http://homepage.mac.com/startrekev/(/url)

Oh yeah, I almost forgot! You can make your skin and boolean operations in StrataVision 4.0 and open it in Strata3D 3.0 natively through the File>Open

Keeps file size down.

I don't know if this actually works in the free version, actually, but I do know it works in the Pro...

Oh well. If it doesn't work after you've skinned (which may/should be the only thing that doesn't import, booleans will import because they change into polygon meshes (ie very ugly things and not flexible at all...) you can convert the skin to a polygon mesh by choosing the "Smoothing" command. That should change it into a polygon mesh...

------------------
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone."
-Bill Cosby
Star Trek Escape Velocity
(url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/startrekev/")http://homepage.mac.com/startrekev/(/url)

Metzen,
Maybe you should do a whole Strata 3D/StrataVision 3D tutorial like Bomb has about universe making. You tend to explain things better and I've tried reading the online manual and it has helped very little if at all, so having you do your own online manual for using Strata 3D and StrataVision3D to create your own graphics for EVO would be great. Or you could write them up in a Doc with pictures and all then upload it to the add-ons page under Guides and then we'd all have a copy of your tutorial on our hard drives and with you to thank for that.

Cheers,
~Jedibrass

------------------
-author of "Dragerron"
-OotS member
-Star Wars and EVO
nut.

Hehe I think so too!!
he's helped me with Strata before as well!
You should make one!

------------------
Arrrrrrr, matey!!!!

(quote)Originally posted by Black Beard:
**Hehe I think so too!!
he's helped me with Strata before as well!
You should make one!
If we want to make our own outfits, planets, landing pics, etc. they won't be as hard as making a good ship, and if you can make a good ship then the other stuff (except maybe the landing pics) are that much more of a breeze.

Cheers,
~Jedibrass

------------------
-author of "Dragerron"
-OotS member
-Star Wars and EVO
nut.
**

Quote

Originally posted by Metzen:
**Oh yeah, I almost forgot! You can make your skin and boolean operations in StrataVision 4.0 and open it in Strata3D 3.0 natively through the File >Open ...(snip)... That should change it into a polygon mesh...

**

Wow! I don't even remember writing that!

Hmmm... Make a tutorial for you alls, eh? That doesn't sound like a bad idea. I'll do it once I get some time, right now I don't have any but I should after these next couple of weeks.

------------------
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone."
-Bill Cosby
Star Trek Escape Velocity
(url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/startrekev/")http://homepage.mac.com/startrekev/(/url)

Yeä!!!! (to get that joke read the EV haiku's on the EVN Board). Metzen is gonna make a tutorial, Metzen is gonna make a tutorial, Metzen is gonna make a tutorial! Wahoooooo (and NO! I'm not a UVA fan, nor am I a Tech fan, I AM neutral). For this (the tutorial) I can wait a few weeks and even longer if thats how long it takes Metzen to do a really good tutorial. Yeä, he's making a tutorial; our Strata 3D woes may soon be over; correction (b/c I have faith in Metzen): our Strata 3D woes WILL soon be over.

Cheers,
~jedibrass

------------------
-author of "Dragerron"
-OotS member
-Star Wars and EVO
nut.

Yaaah! Just what I need more pressure

Soon, soon...

------------------
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone."
-Bill Cosby
Star Trek Escape Velocity
(url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/startrekev/")http://homepage.mac.com/startrekev/(/url)

(quote)Originally posted by Metzen:
**Yaaah! Just what I need more pressure:p

~Jedibrass

------------------
-author of "Dragerron"
-OotS member
-Star Wars and EVO
nut.
**