I've downloaded Amapi 3D v4.1.5 from iDevGames, but I'm having trouble with it. Essencially I want to make a generic human model that I can edit later to make my characters. I just can't figure out how to do it. There was no real manual, and the tutorial for reasons unknown to me will not open anymore. How's everyone else doing with Amapi?

I was seriously considering scrapping Amapi and buying a graphics program. I want one that's easy to use and can give me decent characters, both humanoids and monsters, as well as some "props" like trees and houses. I was leaning towards Animation:Master, though Poser seemed good for people and creatures. People also keep talking about Lightwave. How easy to use is that? What I want most from a program is that it would be easy to use to quickly make models. I suppose they don't have to be good models as I can colour them in Photoshop anyway.

Also, someone in a post mentioned a program called HexaSuper (sp.?). Apparently you can just draw the two sides of a character on paper, trace it in the program, and have it generate a model, mostly for anime/manga characters. This sounded very useful to me, but is it any good? Has anyone tried it.

Sorry for putting everyone through this topic again.

------------------
Someone give me a funny signature! PLEASE!

Try clayscape. It can he hard to get use to, but it is basically working with clay. If you did well in art with clay, this will be useful. Important part: it'a free!!!!!! Costs zip, and it is a full version.

Here: (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/download/clayscape3d.sit")http://www.geocities...clayscape3d.sit(/url)

Hope thats useful.

------------------
CI-I@()s

I tried Clayscape before. I didn't really like it, as it didn't suit well for making humanoids, which I'm really looking for. Then again, maybe I quit too soon. What kinds of models were you able to make, CI-Ia0s?

------------------
Someone give me a funny signature! PLEASE!

As far as i understand it the newest version of Poser (Poser 5) under the liscensing agreement does not allow you to create models for use in products that will be sold. This might have changed in the last little while, but before you purchase Poser 5 you might want to contact Curious Labs. As far as I know this only applies to Poser 5 and not any of the other Posers.

Pedrith

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

Quote

Originally posted by Pedrith:
**As far as i understand it the newest version of Poser (Poser 5) under the liscensing agreement does not allow you to create models for use in products that will be sold. This might have changed in the last little while, but before you purchase Poser 5 you might want to contact Curious Labs. As far as I know this only applies to Poser 5 and not any of the other Posers.

Pedrith

**

I recall this restriction as applying to the output of the Face Room. In any case, Poser is not a modelling ap. If your idea of "custom" means Judy with a cloak from Daz and boots brokered throught Renderosity, fine. But if by "custom" you mean an Iron Golem taken by you from sketchpad to leering visage in full-rendered glory, you might want to look at a mesh modeller. Poser is convenient for posing and animating, tho, and importing a custom mesh isn't too messy a project.

Opinion is split on Amapi. Everyone has trouble at first. Some grow to love it. I'm on Carrara Studio 2 right now; it also has good points and bad points. A paucity of tools (no bevel tool, for instance) is among the problems. A simple bones system is among the plusses. I could certainly build and animate a custom character within Carrara. It would take me a while...I've made posable wings, and a gargoyle face, but I've never tackled a whole being!

If you have access to a PC Rhino is very well spoken of. Back on the Mac, Animation Master is very well suited for character design but has a reputation for bugginess. Cinema 4D is worth a look as well...but if you have the bucks, Lightwave.

------------------
"I know the stranger's name."
Turandot

I've been using clayscape for a while, and I think that as far as modelling capabilities go it's very useful. Its only setback is its unanimatory base.

------------------
Poor little Johnny, of whom we'll see no more, for what he thought was H2O was H2SO4.

You might want to check out Meshwork( $25 shareware; (url="http://"http://www.codenautics.com/meshwork/index.html")www.codenautics.com(/url) ) for modelling combined with the free POV-Ray ( (url="http://"http://mac.povray.org")http://mac.povray.org(/url) ; open-source freeware ) for rendering.

It does lack a library of premade stuff but Mesh supports 3DMF import( I think ) so you can probably find a large library stuff around the web. And you don't have to shell out tons of $$ to try it out

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

I've got the demo of meshworks, and its very good for free software. Simple, versatile interface. Its problem is that although you can make accurate objects with it, you cannot make organic models without a lot of boring work.
Meshworks and clayscape, each has setbacks and advantages.
Alas, meshworks too is devoid of animatory programming (which I believe should not be that impossible to implement.

Does anyone know any good, CHEAP 3D modelling and animation software?

------------------
Poor little Johnny, of whom we'll see no more, for what he thought was H2O was H2SO4.

Yeah I find Clayscape to be a beauty when it comes to organics, or adding an organic feel to a cold mesh without all the nitty gritty of manually pushing and pulling each point. So a combination of the two can create some really lively results...

I'm currentlty using meshwork, see post above. I fins that the best way to get a humanoid structure free of charge is to build your own(i'm just about 90% through with my stylized male and female models, i just have to make a simple head). Meshwork has o be the strongest cheapest product out there however 2 tools i'll suggest;
(url="http://"http://ellrx.250free.com/3dmfmapper.sit")http://ellrx.250free.../3dmfmapper.sit(/url)

and
(url="http://"http://ellrx.250free.com/3dmfoptimizer4.sit")http://ellrx.250free...foptimizer4.sit(/url)

to be used in conjunction with the mapping software, both by Pangea whose site is in disrepair(which is why i'm hosting these lovely tools)

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

• (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/index.html")eLL' softWare: "eLL'_e_vated" :Last updated 11.10.02(/url)

Quote

Originally posted by nero:
**I've got the demo of meshworks, and its very good for free software. Simple, versatile interface. Its problem is that although you can make accurate objects with it, you cannot make organic models without a lot of boring work.
Meshworks and clayscape, each has setbacks and advantages.
Alas, meshworks too is devoid of animatory programming (which I believe should not be that impossible to implement.

Does anyone know any good, CHEAP 3D modelling and animation software?

**

Nope i'm just using multiple adjusted poses to compile animations, which is fine when you don't plan on doing more than 6 frames a motion.

there was this tool called 3dmfOpenGl on idevgames, that coupled with snapz and you could create a frame animation save as a movie and use quicktime player to copy and paste each frames into separate files...

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

• (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/index.html")eLL' softWare: "eLL'_e_vated" :Last updated 11.10.02(/url)

Quote

Originally posted by ellrx:
**Yeah I find Clayscape to be a beauty when it comes to organics, or adding an organic feel to a cold mesh without all the nitty gritty of manually pushing and pulling each point. So a combination of the two can create some really lively results...

<snip>

**

You ever work with Amorphium? Several people have told me they used it to add organic effects to a model made elsewhere. The only use I've ever gotten out of it is to do some final smoothing on a model created vertex by vertex. BTW, the first creatures I ever made were done as lattice objects (aka gray-scale to height conversion) in Bryce. I like the lumpy organic effect you get that way, and I find it faster and more intuitive than pulling vertices.

------------------
"I know the stranger's name."
Turandot

amorphium that's like a hundred something isn't it...i'm completely broke, all i have is goodFavor and talent...almost absolutely no money to divert to softWare every single piece i get i barter or rend the cash from my check...it looks incredibly promising from what i've read.

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

• (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/index.html")eLL' softWare: "eLL'_e_vated" :Last updated 11.10.02(/url)

(url="http://"http://www.amazing3d.com/softcom.html")http://www.amazing3d.com/softcom.html(/url)

lots of links, check out organica

------------------
"Get back to work, you slacker!" - Duke Nukem
(url="http://"http://home.wanadoo.nl/wim48/templequest.htm")Templequest(/url) (url="http://"http://home.wanadoo.nl/wim48/coldstone.htm")homemade tiles(/url) (url="http://"http://home.wanadoo.nl/wim48/pog/pogscreenshots.html")Funny POG screenshots(/url)