How to move on?

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compPanda
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How to move on?

Post by compPanda »

Hi

It has been a long time since my last post here. I have gone through a rough patch in life, to much work and responsibilities caused a depression and I haven't fully recovered yet.

Anyway, I am now looking into coming back in 3D.
My only interest in it nowadays is to make object to the simulator Trainz from N3V (new version coming out this winter). I haven't kept up with the 3D scene so I am more or less starting from scratch.

I still haven't managed to move over from Truespace so my work pipeline have been a bit troublesome... I model in TS 6x, export to 3DS file, import into Blender and export to Trainz IM format. This has several drawbacks, mainly that the object is triangulated when exported to 3DS.
I have tried the TS 7.6 -> Collada -> Blender path but that have given me other problems with Blender having issues with Collada (that might be fixed now).

I understand that I will have to move from Truespace for technical reasons in the future. For instance, TS 6x doesn't start if you resolution is higher than 1920x1080 on my computer (you can use a higher resolution but not make the window bigger). TS 7.6 seams less buggy in that regard but have other issues and I am afraid that they both will not work in some future.

What would be your recommendation? I would like to use software that comes from a solid company (or open source) and that isn't threatened to be discontinued like Truespace was yet doesn't cost a fortune (so forget 3D Studio Max).
I also would like the interface to be as Truespace like as possible. An easy interface is more important than anything else. I also need a good way to export into Trainz (but I can accept to go through Blender if it doesn't mean a lot of work in Blender also).

The software I have looked into is Carrara and Blender.
Carrara has the benefit of having a solid company behind it. If I understand it correctly it is DAZ main 3D program so I should be rather future proof? The cost is OK for me. My biggest concerns is how the interface works (is it easy to learn?) and the lack of Trainz exporter which would force me to go by Blender in final export. So how compatible is Blender and Carrara? Can I export objects with textures and simple animations from Carrara to Blender?

When I comes to Blender I think the new UI is a great improvement. But it still isn't as easy as Truespace. I don't think it ever will be.
The benefits are clear - it is open source, has a stable community and is in constant development (perhaps to active sometimes - the exporter for Trainz breaks in the new 2.70 version if you don't update to the latest).
It also has one of the few official exporters to Trainz.

Suggestions of how I should choose? Have I missed something?

Regards
Mathias
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marcel
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Re: How to move on?

Post by marcel »

I use trueSpace with a resolution of 2560x1440 Full screen. You need to use opengl, not directx for the principal Windows. But after you can open a new view with directx at the same time.
TS can export obj without triangles, but it is possible that is your other software who create triangles when it import the obj file from TS. Not tested with Blender.
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jamesmc
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Re: How to move on?

Post by jamesmc »

I use Carrara and like it as it's almost like having an "easy button" with 3D software.

It's render engine is quite nice. I was impressed initially on how well it did glass without any acrobatics.

There are dozens of plug-ins, free and for purchase.

Here's a list of free ones I like

http://www.sparrowhawke3d.com/Sparrowha ... ugins.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For paid plug-ins, I like inagoni, digital carver's guild, Fenric's ERC and others.

There are free tutorials and paid.

For the free tutorials go here:

http://carraracafe.com/category/tutorials/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The best paid tutorials imo are from Infinite Skills
http://www.daz3d.com/carrara-8-5-tutori ... l-download" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Daz has it's own Carrara forum which is quite helpful
http://www.daz3d.com/forums/viewforum/66/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
There is also a Carrara Café with many E-magazine articles and etc.
http://carraracafe.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


There are also many freebies that come with Carrara in the way of models, shaders and etc.
Walk by faith, not by sight.
compPanda
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Re: How to move on?

Post by compPanda »

marcel wrote:I use trueSpace with a resolution of 2560x1440 Full screen. You need to use opengl, not directx for the principal Windows. But after you can open a new view with directx at the same time.
TS can export obj without triangles, but it is possible that is your other software who create triangles when it import the obj file from TS. Not tested with Blender.
Hmm, I forgot that TS can export OBJ files. I guess I need a plugin for that?
But can you really export 3DS files without triangulating them?

When it comes to resolution - I also use a 2560x1440 screen. But I also have a second screen with a resolution of 1920x1280. Might that be my problem? And are we talking about TS 7.6 or 6.6? 7.6 works better, 6.6 doesn't work. Like doesn't even start - if I don't start it with a previously saved file from Explorer and chooses "open with".
compPanda
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Re: How to move on?

Post by compPanda »

jamesmc wrote:I use Carrara and like it as it's almost like having an "easy button" with 3D software.

It's render engine is quite nice. I was impressed initially on how well it did glass without any acrobatics.

There are dozens of plug-ins, free and for purchase.

Here's a list of free ones I like

http://www.sparrowhawke3d.com/Sparrowha ... ugins.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For paid plug-ins, I like inagoni, digital carver's guild, Fenric's ERC and others.

There are free tutorials and paid.

For the free tutorials go here:

http://carraracafe.com/category/tutorials/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The best paid tutorials imo are from Infinite Skills
http://www.daz3d.com/carrara-8-5-tutori ... l-download" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Daz has it's own Carrara forum which is quite helpful
http://www.daz3d.com/forums/viewforum/66/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
There is also a Carrara Café with many E-magazine articles and etc.
http://carraracafe.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


There are also many freebies that come with Carrara in the way of models, shaders and etc.
Would you recommend Carrara for a guy like me that mostly is interested in modeling and have a hard time moving from TS?
Most Youtube tutorials I see about Carrara seam to focus on posing people in different ways, something I am not interested in.

Also, I am a bit worried about the slow progress that DAZ seam to have. I notice that 8.0 was released about 2011 and that the current version only is 8.5. Also, there is no trial version that I can find for 8.5, only for 8.0?
And should I need the Pro or the standard version? I notice that the price currently only differs about ~$140 which is quite little (even if it mean that the pro version cost about the double amount compared to standard).
jamesmc
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Re: How to move on?

Post by jamesmc »

compPanda wrote:
jamesmc wrote:I use Carrara and like it as it's almost like having an "easy button" with 3D software.

It's render engine is quite nice. I was impressed initially on how well it did glass without any acrobatics.

There are dozens of plug-ins, free and for purchase.

Here's a list of free ones I like

http://www.sparrowhawke3d.com/Sparrowha ... ugins.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For paid plug-ins, I like inagoni, digital carver's guild, Fenric's ERC and others.

There are free tutorials and paid.

For the free tutorials go here:

http://carraracafe.com/category/tutorials/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The best paid tutorials imo are from Infinite Skills
http://www.daz3d.com/carrara-8-5-tutori ... l-download" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Daz has it's own Carrara forum which is quite helpful
http://www.daz3d.com/forums/viewforum/66/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
There is also a Carrara Café with many E-magazine articles and etc.
http://carraracafe.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


There are also many freebies that come with Carrara in the way of models, shaders and etc.
Would you recommend Carrara for a guy like me that mostly is interested in modeling and have a hard time moving from TS?
Most Youtube tutorials I see about Carrara seam to focus on posing people in different ways, something I am not interested in.

Also, I am a bit worried about the slow progress that DAZ seam to have. I notice that 8.0 was released about 2011 and that the current version only is 8.5. Also, there is no trial version that I can find for 8.5, only for 8.0?
And should I need the Pro or the standard version? I notice that the price currently only differs about ~$140 which is quite little (even if it mean that the pro version cost about the double amount compared to standard).
I learned not recommend anything to people anymore as they have to make their own decisions on what they like and don't like. I can only give 'my' take on a matter.

There are several free modeling software(s) out there including Blender, Wings3D and etc.
Walk by faith, not by sight.
compPanda
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Re: How to move on?

Post by compPanda »

jamesmc wrote:
There are several free modeling software(s) out there including Blender, Wings3D and etc.
Hehe, I will try Carrara in the trial version to make my own mind up. Is there big differences between 8.0 and 8.5 in the modeling department?
I have tried Wings3D and I didn't like that so much.
jamesmc
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Re: How to move on?

Post by jamesmc »

compPanda wrote:
jamesmc wrote:
There are several free modeling software(s) out there including Blender, Wings3D and etc.
Hehe, I will try Carrara in the trial version to make my own mind up. Is there big differences between 8.0 and 8.5 in the modeling department?
I have tried Wings3D and I didn't like that so much.

Yeah, try it in version 8. I never keep track of the differences in the versions. It's kind of like buying the same car, but a year newer. You know, the rear windows are bigger and the radio buttons are smaller or something like that.
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Re: How to move on?

Post by FHembree »

compPanda wrote:
jamesmc wrote:I use Carrara and like it as it's almost like having an "easy button" with 3D software.

It's render engine is quite nice. I was impressed initially on how well it did glass without any acrobatics.

There are dozens of plug-ins, free and for purchase.

Here's a list of free ones I like

http://www.sparrowhawke3d.com/Sparrowha ... ugins.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For paid plug-ins, I like inagoni, digital carver's guild, Fenric's ERC and others.

There are free tutorials and paid.

For the free tutorials go here:

http://carraracafe.com/category/tutorials/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The best paid tutorials imo are from Infinite Skills
http://www.daz3d.com/carrara-8-5-tutori ... l-download" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Daz has it's own Carrara forum which is quite helpful
http://www.daz3d.com/forums/viewforum/66/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
There is also a Carrara Café with many E-magazine articles and etc.
http://carraracafe.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


There are also many freebies that come with Carrara in the way of models, shaders and etc.
Would you recommend Carrara for a guy like me that mostly is interested in modeling and have a hard time moving from TS?
Most Youtube tutorials I see about Carrara seam to focus on posing people in different ways, something I am not interested in.

Also, I am a bit worried about the slow progress that DAZ seam to have. I notice that 8.0 was released about 2011 and that the current version only is 8.5. Also, there is no trial version that I can find for 8.5, only for 8.0?
And should I need the Pro or the standard version? I notice that the price currently only differs about ~$140 which is quite little (even if it mean that the pro version cost about the double amount compared to standard).
I like Carrara for its rendering abilities, easy to use and includes pre-made material, but I don't like the modeling side. Also I don''t have the pro version and find the standard version is lacking in a few important modeling tools. I like blender and then exporting to .obj and importing into Carrara for rendering still scenes. Haven't mastered rendering in Blender. Haven't been satisfied with Carrara modeling abilities (I find Hexagon is better for modeling, but can't find an easy way to transfer model from Hexagon to Carrara. Blender to Carrara works good, But I don't think the other way around works (Carrara to Blender); I wouldn't do this anyway as I find modeling is much/much easier in Blender).
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