Can anybody suggest a good cheap 3d editor? Keyword: cheap. As in <$20, but very preferably free. I'm not spending $200 for the academic edition of strata 3d. I don't have that kind of money for something I'm going to be doing as a hobby (for making plugins and pretty pictures). I downloaded a copy of povray, but I'm scared. I could really use something with a GUI. Unless someone wants to send me 200 bucks... I'll take that as a 'no.'
-kb1eip
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Originally posted by kb1eip:
Can anybody suggest a good cheap 3d editor? Keyword: cheap. As in <$20, but very preferably free.
A bunch of people here use Mechanisto (I think I spelled that right...) It's pretty bad interms of rendering power, but it can produce some decent stuff. There's also the free version of Strata3D. It's currently not available from strata, but it is... Around...
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Originally posted by kb1eip:
I'm not spending $200 for the academic edition of strata 3d.
Well, I should hope not, considering Strata3D is only worth about $10 tops. 
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Originally posted by MadFax7:
**Well, I should hope not, considering Strata3D is only worth about $10 tops.;)
**
And why? Strata is a great program, and in the right hands can create stuff equal in quality to Lightwave:
I found that at the Stratacafe, and (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/ewan/personel_carrier/desc_pic.jpg")this(/url) is one of my old models in Strata.
Its an extremely nice and versatile program. Just because you might happen to not like it, doesnt mean its a bad program!
Anyway, you can download the old free version of Strata 3D (version 3.0.2 incase you wanted to know) from (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/ewan/")my site(/url) in the Strata Downloads section. You will also need the resource pack for it. which is available on the same downloads page. Instructions to get it working are included in the Resource Pack.
As a side note, Mechanisto is a very limited and basic program. In the right hands however it can be very good!
Enjoy,
ewan
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(url="http://"http://www.evula.org/ewan/")"In this world gone mad, we won't spank the monkey - the monkey will spank us!!"(/url)
Ooo... Purty bottles... I've downloaded strata off your website (thanks). Too bad it runs in Classic... I guess I'll have to put up with that, though... I use ResEdit in Classic anyway, so it won't be that much of a change... Compare the stability of 10.2 with the stability of 9.2. Scary.
Edit: It... It... IT HAS A PHOTOSHOP INTERFACE!!! I LOVE STRATA!!! kisses Jules' feet
(This message has been edited by kb1eip (edited 01-12-2003).)
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Originally posted by Jules:
**And why? Strata is a great program, and in the right hands can create stuff equal in quality to Lightwave:
I found that at the Stratacafe, and this is one of my old models in Strata.
Its an extremely nice and versatile program. Just because you might happen to not like it, doesnt mean its a bad program!
Anyway, you can download the old free version of Strata 3D (version 3.0.2 incase you wanted to know) from my site in the Strata Downloads section. You will also need the resource pack for it. which is available on the same downloads page. Instructions to get it working are included in the Resource Pack.
As a side note, Mechanisto is a very limited and basic program. In the right hands however it can be very good!
Enjoy,
ewan
**
I was overly-exageratingly being semi-sarcastic with little, if any, seriousness. However, strata is overcharging for Strata3D. I mean, for twice the price you can have, what? Four times the power? Eight times the power?
And I fail to see how that picture is anything special. Sure, I'll grant that the lighting is fair, and I'll give a nod to the thought of the displacement/bump map for the seal, but really, if your app can't do caustics, you're livin' in the past.*
*Assumes you paid $200 or more for your app.
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Out of curiosity, what 3D apps run in OS X (not in classic)? I've never done any 3D work, but I think it would a little fun to start, and I have photoshop 7, so why not put it to good use? 
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I am the creature that guards your lawn
I am the silent hat wearing evil that oversees your front yard
I am but one of a brewing storm of lawn ornament revolution
I am LawnGnome
Bryce 5 and LightWave 3D both run in X...LW of course is quite expensive (significantly less expensive but still pricey with educational discount), and Bryce is mainly a landscape-rendering program but can be used to produce decent-quality images of other types with some creative thinking and effort.
I don't know of any other off the top of my head. A little searching revealed Cinema 4D is, it seems, available for OS X (also fairly expensive, I think). Carrara Studio 2, which I've heard is much more stable than the awful original release of Carrara, is carbonized, I think.
Dunno any more, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.
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Originally posted by LawnGnome:
**Out of curiosity, what 3D apps run in OS X (not in classic)? I've never done any 3D work, but I think it would a little fun to start, and I have photoshop 7, so why not put it to good use?:)
**
Well seeing how you could afford Photoshop 7 (which costs, nevertheless, up to US$609.00, depending on the package you have) without having any 'good use' for it ( :p), I suggest you get Lightwave or Strata. Both offer solid packages that can do just about anything without need for loads of 3rd party plug-ins. You can produce outstanding stuff with them.
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Pez's Profile Refresh no. 15
Storm Bolt: 75 mana.Thunder Clap: 90 mana. Avatar: 125 mana. (url="http://"http://www.battle.net/war3/basics/herokillers.shtml")Owning their three heroes(/url) with your micro skills: priceless.
Some things just can't be finished with spells, for everything else, there's the (url="http://"http://www.battle.net/war3/human/units/mountainking.shtml")Mountain King(/url).
Lightwave runs in X ... and personally, I think Lighwave is the better program. Nice bottles, but with the right textures, those would be easy to create.
Keep in mind, each program can be manipulated with enough time to basically equal each other - and in the hands of an amature, each program can equally 'suck'
Just have a look at the lightwave gallery.
(url="http://"http://www.lightwave3d.com/gallery/spgm.php?g=LightWave3D&pg;=1")http://www.lightwave...ightWave3D&pg=1(/url)
also keep in mind that each program has its learning difficulties. It took me about a half a year to be able to work fluently in lightwave, and since then, Ive been working on increasing my skill..
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"if its not a threat, its a promise!"
Admiral (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/zombat/tute/tute.html")Zom(/url)bat
(This message has been edited by Admiral Zombat (edited 01-13-2003).)
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Originally posted by MadFax7:
**I was overly-exageratingly being semi-sarcastic with little, if any, seriousness. However, strata is overcharging for Strata3D. I mean, for twice the price you can have, what? Four times the power? Eight times the power?
And I fail to see how that picture is anything special. Sure, I'll grant that the lighting is fair, and I'll give a nod to the thought of the displacement/bump map for the seal, but really, if your app can't do caustics, you're livin' in the past.*
*Assumes you paid $200 or more for your app.
**
Strata does do Caustics. Strata has one of the most powerful rendering engines on the market. Ok, its modelling system is unique and hard to get used to but once you do, you can do lots with it.
*I paid nothing for my app.
ewan
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(url="http://"http://www.evula.org/ewan/")"In this world gone mad, we won't spank the monkey - the monkey will spank us!!"(/url)
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Originally posted by Admiral Zombat:
**Lightwave runs in X ... and personally, I think Lighwave is the better program. Nice bottles, but with the right textures, those would be easy to create.
Keep in mind, each program can be manipulated with enough time to basically equal each other - and in the hands of an amature, each program can equally 'suck'
http://www.lightwave...0&frpg=1&f=#pic
Just have a look at the lightwave gallery.
http://www.lightwave...ightWave3D&pg=1
also keep in mind that each program has its learning difficulties. It took me about a half a year to be able to work fluently in lightwave, and since then, Ive been working on increasing my skill..
**
If a moderator could erase the post by "what," that'd be great. I accidentally hit return, instead of shift. Stupid me....
Anyway, it's not as if I use Maya, but I know that it's now native for OS X. It's hideously expensive, and not all that intuitive (not as intuitive as SoftImage or Lightwave), but it is powerful.
Personally, if you're going high end, I recommend Lightwave, but the main reason is that it's relatively similar in interface to SoftImage, which is the (GUI) program that I learned first.
POV-Ray ROCKS!!!!!
Matrix
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"Nothing is fool-proof to a sufficiently talented fool."
Hmmm, let's see this leads into my question. Which app do you think I should get. Currently I'm kind of an amature, the best I can do is unposted as of now so I can't show it to you.
Right now I'm working in Strata 1.75+ (don't say itI will, ouch), which is kinda funny, considering I'm running a G4 and 10.2. I also have Animation Master, full version. Animation Master is horridly unreliable, and crashes when you try to launch it in classic enviorment.
I can get virtually any 3D app for free, I'm leaning twoards getting Lightwave (as it's OS X native and extremley powerful). It wouldn't be a super steep learning curve for me. But what of th new OS X native Strata, I can already use Strata so it seems a logical upgrade, some of you, I'm sure can see the wisdom in keeping with something you already know.
Also, just for the record, and if it changes anything, I have Photoshop 7 and After Effects PB.
Any advice would be appriciated.
(here's an awsome image from the Lightwave 3D Gallery)
(url="http://"http://www.lightwave3d.com/gallery/spgm.php?g=LightWave3D&p;=10&frpg;=1&f;=#pic")http://www.lightwave...0&frpg=1&f=#pic(/url)
Thanx
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The Evil Spoonman
My Brain is Right here (Subject to Change Without Notice)
Albatross!!!
"Life is to important to be taken seriously."
(This message has been edited by Evil_Spoonman (edited 01-13-2003).)
Since this is a topic about 3D Software I will ask this question here insted of creating a whole new topic for it... Does anyone have a copy of Strata 3D 3.5 Base. I already have 3.0.2 free but I require 3.5 base just to test out a few things with and do some experiments. If anyone has a copy, please email me at (url="http://"mailto:ewanc@mac.com")mailto:ewanc@mac.com(/url)ewanc@mac.com
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Originally posted by Jules:
Strata does do Caustics. Strata has one of the most powerful rendering engines on the market. Ok, its modelling system is unique and hard to get used to but once you do, you can do lots with it.
I was merely pointing out that just about every 3D app that's still being supported can do caustics. It's nothing to be proud of.
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Originally posted by MadFax7:
**I was merely pointing out that just about every 3D app that's still being supported can do caustics. It's nothing to be proud of.
**
I wasnt saying it was, I was merely correcting a flaw in your argurment 
As Zombat said, " each program can be manipulated with enough time to basically equal each other - and in the hands of an amature, each program can equally 'suck' "
ewan
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(url="http://"http://www.evula.org/ewan/")"In this world gone mad, we won't spank the monkey - the monkey will spank us!!"(/url)
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Originally posted by Evil_Spoonman:
**
<snip>
I can get virtually any 3D app for free <snip>
**
/me wants! What studio/company are you working for?
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Pez's Profile Refresh no. 15
Storm Bolt: 75 mana.Thunder Clap: 90 mana. Avatar: 125 mana. (url="http://"http://www.battle.net/war3/basics/herokillers.shtml")Owning their three heroes(/url) with your micro skills: priceless.
Some things just can't be finished with spells, for everything else, there's the (url="http://"http://www.battle.net/war3/human/units/mountainking.shtml")Mountain King(/url).
Quote
Originally posted by pesimist_guy:
**/me wants! What studio/company are you working for?
**
he probably does not mean legally. If, however, he can, then I stand corrected.
Matrix
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"Nothing is fool-proof to a sufficiently talented fool."
