what 3D program do you like?

Spot|DSE wrote on 7/8/2004, 9:04 AM

Cool 3D from Ulead is very good, so is Swift 3D for the lower-cost apps. Then there are great tools like Maya, Lightwave, Raytrace, 3DS Max, as starters on the high end.
I'm a fan of Cool 3D for anything that doesn't need deep/complex shadowing, it's cheap, fast, and with Wax, doesn't need to render til it hits the final render stage in Vegas.

David_Kuznicki wrote on 7/8/2004, 9:55 AM

I personally like Lightwave, but that comes from having used it for a while. It's showing it's age in certain respects (the separate modeler and animator applications, for example), but it's stable & gets the job done. I was never a fan of Studio Max, but that's a personal prefernce from working with an earlier version.

Although I encourage EVERYONE to play with 3D, realize that there is a steep learning curve involved that even I struggle with from time to time. My wife does a good deal of the modelling work, but it's realtively easy for her-- she has a background in CAD engineering.

David.

prairiedogpics wrote on 7/8/2004, 10:43 AM

I've played with Lightwave, 3D Studio Max, and Cinema4D.

I decided on Cinema4D because it's learning curve is not half as steep and it comes with good tutorials. You can build basic stuff VERY fast. It's as stable as Vegas, too.

(It didn't hurt that I got a free version with a magazine, and was then able to upgrade to Cinema 4D CE+ for $99. (Cinema CE+ is equivalent to Cinema 4D XL6)

Dan

logiquem wrote on 7/8/2004, 10:44 AM

Spot, please, could you explain a little more about using Cool 3D *inside* Vegas? Is this really possible?

Orcatek wrote on 7/8/2004, 11:32 AM

Truespace for non-charcater (www.caligari.com).

Hash Animation Master for characters (www.hash.com).

Chanimal wrote on 7/8/2004, 11:37 AM

I recommend Web3D from Asymetrix. It is cheap (only about $69) and blows Cool3D out of the water so far as quality (it has actual ray tracing with glass, chome, shadows, reflections, etc.) and takes about 1 hour to master (less if you use the wizards).

However, it is hard to find--although one member of this forum found it on E-bay for $9.95.

This thread is at http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=230779&Page=0 tells more.

You can get it at:

Digital Video Solutions, LLC
P.O. Box 250652 - Daytona Beach, Florida 32125

Toll Free Sales: (877) 227-6281 -- Daytona Beach: (386) 672-1941
Technical Support: (386) 672-1907 -- Fax Line: (386) 676-1515
http://www.digitalvideosolutions.com/web3d.htm

Good samples on site. You MUST get this application--won't be disappointed!

You can also view a sample of effects I've created with it at:

http://www.vegasusers.com/vidshare/ (search for chanimal and select specialFX video).

Mikee wrote on 7/8/2004, 11:56 AM

I'm a hobbiest also. Since I'm on a limited budget, I use the open source freeware blender. It has a steep learning curve but it is fairly robust.

Mike

Spot|DSE wrote on 7/8/2004, 12:02 PM

You can save the Cool3D project as a 3DS model without rendering and drop that on the Vegas timeline via WAX. So, you don't have to render twice. Of course, every app that outputs 3DS models can do this too, not just C3D. I just happen to like it a lot, it's fast and easy.

NaperRick wrote on 7/8/2004, 1:02 PM

Not great if you are just interested in 3D text but if you are interested in creating 3D scenes you might check out Bryce.
http://www.daz3d.com/program/bryce/

TomE wrote on 7/8/2004, 1:38 PM

There is also Carrara 3.0
http://www.eovia.com/carrara/product_intro_car3.jsp
If you have a student in the family you can get it at the academic resellers for pretty cheap. It was once upon a time part of the Meta Creations (Fractal Design) software lineup. They ended up folding the Ray Dream stuff and Infini-D stuff into it. I think they have a demo you can try to see what you think of its learning curve.

-Tom

MyST wrote on 7/8/2004, 1:43 PM

"(It didn't hurt that I got a free version with a magazine, and was then able to upgrade to Cinema 4D CE+ for $99. (Cinema CE+ is equivalent to Cinema 4D XL6)"

Same here.

Mario

RafalK wrote on 7/8/2004, 2:38 PM

What magazine? Can you guys provide the issue and volume? I wonder if you can reorder an old issue and whether it would come with the software.

MyST wrote on 7/8/2004, 2:48 PM

The magazine is 3D World, November 2003 issue 45. I have no idea if you could get it, plus I believe it was a limited time availability for the upgrade.

Maybe if you tried contacting someone through www.3dworldmag.com
Then, if it's available, check with Maxon to see if they'd still sell you the upgrade for $99.

Mario

JohnnyRoy wrote on 7/9/2004, 7:36 AM

I used Cinema 4D too. It's easy to learn and has a lot of capabilities. I also use Cool 3D. For those of you who took the $99 upgrade, what did you get other than higher resolution output? Can it do more? I thought the 640x480 output limit on the free version was perfect for video so I never upgraded.

~jr

efiebke wrote on 7/9/2004, 11:23 PM

I use Ulead's Cool 3D and Caligari's TrueSpace programs. The TrueSpace program has a huge learning curve. I've been using this program (tinkering with it, actually) for years and there's still LOTS of features for me to learn! But I like the results. Used rendered projects from both programs with Vegas (3, 4 and 5). So far, so good! :)

Ted

kosstheory wrote on 7/10/2004, 4:03 AM

Mike didn't do blender justice in his post.

I've been using it in conjunction with Vegas for nearly a year now, and it friggin rocks whether it's free or not. Fortunately it is, that's just a bonus.

No, it's not as simmply as cool 3D which I also use, but only for minor text animation, but it has so much more to offer, and did I mention that it costs nothing?

Not to mention that all of the support is free as well. I have literally gone on their irc channel all times of the day and night and there have been at least 5 'experts' available to answer my questions in depth. They also ohave a forum that is full of good info.

Because it's open source, there are people who have devoted their lives to improving the code, and adding features that make the program more and more useful with every new release.

Once you get to know the interface, which doesn't take long, you can make better looking 3D text almost as quickly as using Cool 3D.

Here's another link to the blender site!

http://www.blender3d.com/

oh yeah, it's absolutely free, and friggin awesome.

did you know Blender was used in the making of Spider Man 2, for the pre-visualizations? Yup, Hollywood knows what's good...