Moho Forum

Seeing as Anime Studio 5 is now outdated I need to save up for something new. If possible I'd like to get something that is easy to use and is 3-D. If it's not easy to use, go ahead and please list it anyway. I'm sure with a little learning it'd become easier, and I could probably make realistic things with it.

Thank you, Oyster Man.

How about this?
Organica, a nice old blob modeller from the nineties.
http://www.imagine3d.org/modules/wfdown ... =6&lid=160

and a page where a guy used it
http://www.shaders.co.uk/graphics_factory/organica.htm


And Caligari of course
http://www.caligari.com/

So are you giving up on 2D? Because the software you have is into another version?

http://www.software4free.org/3d.html

or, spend some money, and a little time:

http://www.pixels3d.com/
http://www.strata.com/
http://my.smithmicro.com/win/amapipro/index.html
http://www.luxology.com/

Better, what do you want to do with the 3d bit? Just model (and what), or full-blown photorealistic character animation with effects and stuff (or somewhere in between)? That has a bearing on what you'll need or want. There are lots of other 3D packages to choose from.

Seeing you mention Amapi Pro 7.5 reminded me. I got Amapi 6.1 when it was released for free by Eovia. It's probably the best software giveaway I've found. It's a nurbs modeler like Rhino and has many useful import/export formats - I use it as an indirect translator. I found this site which seems to still have a download link for it.

http://www.thebest3d.com/amapi/

But for mesh subsurface modeling, animation, etc. I'd recommend Blender, with which you can do practically anything - even 2D if you want.

http://www.blender.org/

I appreciate the help.

Dm-
I wont completely give it up. Just for what I'm wanting to do 3-D is better.
I am currently working on an RTS called Parasite Wars. Were just now beginning and I want it to gradually look better. Now for the game itself I already have covered and it will be 3-D, but I'd also like the cinematic to also be 3-D.

I suppose I should have mentioned that the ability to add a sound track is preferred. My bad, sorry.

Again, I thank all of you that have taken time to help me.

I would have to say that Blender is probably the best bet. Not only do you get 3D capabilities, it has a game engine build in so you can at some point create games with it, and it also has a build in non-linear movie editor. I read an article where they interviewed one of the team leaders for Blender and he said that a lot of people use Blender just the non-linear movie editor. If you use AS you will need a movie editor to compile all the clips together. Blender is 100% FREE so the price is right.

One disclaimer I have to make at this point. I don't have or have ever used Blender so all my information on this product is from other users and reviews. I don't have any personal experience with it. I can say that most people speak very positive about it.

If you do decide on Blender I can direct you to place that has cheap training videos for it.

I'll put my 2 cents in....

Blender. Blender. Blender.
The learning curve is huge, however, when you start to "get" it, you will love it.

I have used Maya and other 3d software. I actually went to school for it (really doesn't mean much, It was taught by teachers, not professional modelers/animators).

The best thing to do is:

Download it
Install it
Go to www.blenderunderground.com Watch the 5 video series. (Probably one of the best free learning sites on the subject.)

And last but not least, allow yourself at least 3 months to be comfortable with the program. You'll start pulling your hair out with frustration often>>>BE AWARE OF THIS.

The interface may not look at cool as Maya / 3d Max or the other major contenders, but it is just as powerful.

Good luck.

Peace,
Found M

Blender has A LOT of features. Learning to make the mesh is one thing. Then adding material and textures is another. Then compositing nodes is like a whole rendering program in itself. Not to mention the collision, soft body, game engine..... But it's true. Once you get it you feel like a god in your own little universe where you even control the laws of physics!
Mwah ha ha ha!!!

My problem is with the .mtl materials file. I was told not to move it or else it loses it's link to the obj file. But regardless of what I do all my meshes are naked when I import them to AS or PS.
But it is fine from beginning to render. I may use PS to create materials & tweak UV maps to import into blender but it stays the main program.