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(url="http://"http://www.strata.com")www.strata.com(/url)
Download the demo and try it out...
ewan
------------------ (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/ewan/")Ewan's Lair(/url) | (url="http://"http://dreamwave.evula.net")Dreamwave(/url) | (url="http://"http://www.northernswamp.com")Northern Swamp(/url) | (url="http://"http://www.evula.com")EVula's Lair(/url) "In this world gone mad, we won't spank the monkey - the monkey will spank us!"
Is strata3D pro what you're talking about?
If so, thats cool... I have access to it (the benifits of being a uni student).
~A~
------------------ "How can I make it go faster?" -Me-
Quote
Originally posted by Azdara: **Is strata3D pro what you're talking about?
~A~**
Your Uni gets Strata!! Gah! Not fair! Ive got to go and speak to the head of computing...
Also, you said in Kyle's topic on the image gallery that you want some tips on using Strata. Just ask...
(This message has been edited by Jules (edited 05-21-2003).)
(quote)Originally posted by Evil_Spoonman: **I was just playing with your model last night, dude, this app is so cool. The bevel tool alone must have a whole cult. I got it free too, NFR, isn't that awsome... )
But it is easy to work with right out of the gate.
------------------ Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup. **
My future in 3D is aimed towards learning how to use lightwave & pixels.... does anyone know how to get any of these for free?
------------------ (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/infini_d_maniac/")Curufinwe Studios(/url) | (url="http://"http://www.pixels.net")Pixels 3D(/url) | (url="http://"http://www.apple.com")Apple(/url) (url="http://"http://www.dreamtheater.net")BEST PROG METAL BAND(/url)
There was a free version of Pixels available ages ago, but not anymore. Lightwave you cant get for free.
Im not a fan of pixels. It has a pretty good modeller, but the render engine sucks.
Originally posted by Jules: **Lightwave you cant get for free. **
Well, not without compromising your morals...
Joking!
(Hell I've seen lightwave, screw it, it's really complicated, I don't care if they made the nova ships with it, it's still friggin' complicated.)
(quote)Originally posted by Azdara: **Well, not without compromising your morals...:)
I find Lightwave to be very strait forward once you've gotten used to it.
------------------ The Evil Spoonman - I Am Everywhere, I Know All Albatross!!! "Life is to important to be taken seriously." "If there was such thing as normal, even the plauge would avoid it." - The Evil Spoonman **
Yeah? I've never seen Maya, and I've only seen LW briefly... but it had a grey background man... that's just too profesional for me. I can't deal with that, and it's just insane...
It would still be nice though...
(quote)Originally posted by Azdara: **Yeah? I've never seen Maya, and I've only seen LW briefly... but it had a grey background man... that's just too profesional for me. I can't deal with that, and it's just insane...
Just been playing with the modded version of Strata 3.5 base. Made a glow dome and rendered the Dark Swan with radiosity. Im pretty pleased with the results...
It was rendered at double the size and reduced for the pic you see. It doesnt have that cool graineyness that LW radiosity renderes have, but looks nicer than the standard ray-traced render anyway
-edit- This will probably be the only one I will do until I have something new to show off though seeing as it look 2.5 hours to render :eek: mutters/ stupid old pismo... -edit-
(This message has been edited by Jules (edited 05-23-2003).)
Originally posted by Azdara: **(Hell I've seen lightwave, screw it, it's really complicated, I don't care if they made the nova ships with it, it's still friggin' complicated.) **
Actually, in terms of modellers, Lightwave is very intuitive. I took SoftImage classes at school, and the layout is somewhat similar (though not totally), and it was very easy to start switching over. Granted, I'm not as good as Zombat, Weepul, Onyx, Sparky (and the list goes on...), I think that I'm beginning to get the hang of the program. Now I just need to keep practicing adding mesh detail, and texturing...
Matrix
------------------ "Nothing is fool-proof to a sufficiently talented fool."
(quote)Originally posted by Jules: **Just been playing with the modded version of Strata 3.5 base. Made a glow dome and rendered the Dark Swan with radiosity. Im pretty pleased with the results...
<snip>
------------------ Eat blazing electric death! (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/infernostudios/ept/")Unofficial EV and EVO Ports(/url): FC1 and Beta 2
(This message has been edited by SpacePirate (edited 05-24-2003).) **
(quote)Originally posted by SpacePirate: **Yeah, radiosity is nice, but it takes much longer than the raytracer. I have 3.8, and it has a pretty decent toon renderer as well... However, Jules, i just have to ask...
What did you use to get such fluid shapes? I've tried using Strata's reshape function, to little avail, (though I got it down with 2D bezier surfaces, then extrude...) and I have only taken a glance at meshwork. Your work never ceases to amaze me.
-edit- Im almost positive I could achiece similar results with the besier surface tools, though. It would take a LOT longer however. Meshwork is a great little program. If it had better smoothing functions, I would have made that ship in it, but Wings has better mesh smoothing functions. Believe it or not that whole ship was built up by deforming a single cube (although the black orb at the front was added in Strata). -edit-
------------------ (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/ewan/")Ewan's Lair(/url) | (url="http://"http://dreamwave.evula.net")Dreamwave(/url) | (url="http://"http://www.northernswamp.com")Northern Swamp(/url) | (url="http://"http://www.evula.com")EVula's Lair(/url)** "In this world gone mad, we won't spank the monkey - the monkey will spank us!"
(This message has been edited by Jules (edited 05-24-2003).)
here's a cool one... (url="http://"http://www.wings3d.com")www.wings3d.com(/url) . I have to damit it is not very maniable, and the result is always quite far from satisfactory, but, it's better than nothing...
------------------ Cooldude
Originally posted by Cooldude: here's a cool one... www.wings3d.com . I have to damit it is not very maniable, and the result is always quite far from satisfactory, but, it's better than nothing...
I think it works fine - more than satisfactory. Dont blame the tools, blame the artist. All the ships Ive posted in this topic were modelled in Wings. Its a bit harder to understand than some other programs, but its ok once you get used to it The link to it has also been posted before (about twice I think). If you'd read the topic... Only joking.
Dont dismiss it as not very maniable until you try it...
At the risk of getting laughed at, does Bryce fit anywhere into this list? I tried making a ship in it this morning and gave up.. but then again, I have never been good with graphics programs (I can't even manage Photoshop very well..). I'd probably do ok with some other program if I ran through a tutorial and skimmed the manual, but I know just enough about Bryce to not be able to stand doing either
Can someone run through the list of which program does what and costs what again? I got very confused :frown:
-K
------------------ -- Art History = Cool! ...and yes, I'm odd. --
(This message has been edited by Kate (edited 05-25-2003).)
Hey look! A female... wow, everyone stop swearing, suck in that beer gut and all...
Um, basically bryce is (apparently) pretty good, some people can do great stuff with it, so thats not a bad start.
The main free programs are Mechanisto and Strata3D. Mechanisto is good, I used it for about two years, but recently changed to Strata because it has better rendering.
Strata 3D pro is like 200 bucks or something. For an example of what it can do check out some of SkyFox's suff, pretty damn impressive... I guess it's like Strata on steroids.
Lighwave is very powerfull, but costs $1000 plus, a lot less if you're a student, and everyone who has it is inssane for it, so I assume it's pretty good. You can get a demo of it, but I'm not sure where. Google search should do. You can also get a demo of Strata pro.
Maya is like top of the line, but really complicated and friggin expensive... forget it.
Others like pixels, wings and meshworks fit in somewhere, Jules can probably say more about them... and I probably left out a couple.
'sall, hope it helps.
Originally posted by Azdara: Hey look! A female... wow, everyone stop swearing, suck in that beer gut and all...
laugh
Originally posted by Azdara: Um, basically bryce is (apparently) pretty good, some people can do great stuff with it, so thats not a bad start.
Does this apply to Bryce 3 (what I have.. as opposed to 4 or whatever they've moved on to now..)? I'm not seeing any way to modify the basic shapes beyond Boolean, which is extremely irritating for making curves.. You could make ugly looking IDA frigate-type things, but nothing at all like Vell-os or Polaris ships..
Originally posted by Azdara: <snip>
Thanks much! I looked up Wings last night, but it requires Jaguar and I'm only on normal OS X.. Will look for the others. Thank you for the clarifications
Jules, your ships look really nice!
(quote)Originally posted by Azdara: **Hey look! A female... wow, everyone stop swearing, suck in that beer gut and all... Its what I made most of the ships on my site in.
Strata 3D Pro is actually about 800 bucks (495 accademic discount). Plus can be bought a lot cheaper (its about 200), although lacks some of the more advanced features.
(quote) Lighwave is very powerfull, but costs $1000 plus, a lot less if you're a student, and everyone who has it is inssane for it, so I assume it's pretty good. You can get a demo of it, but I'm not sure where. Google search should do. You can also get a demo of Strata pro.** (/quote)
Yeah, Lightwave is what I want next Its a superb program that a lot of great artists use. Hey, its what the ships in NOVA were created in for a start, not to mention graphics from other great games (such as the unreal series).
(quote) Others like pixels, wings and meshworks fit in somewhere, Jules can probably say more about them... and I probably left out a couple. (/quote)
Ok, Wings = good (but as you say you need Jaguar). Great for smooth and organic shapes. I use it a lot now, and am using it for the organic ships in Jager's TC
Meshwork is a good little point modelling application that allows for great manipulation of individual polygons. Its what I used to model the Rebel Corvette and Fighter on my site.
Ive used pixels a few times, but I never liked it. Its way too footery, and it has a really bad renderer. I would avoid it...
(quote)Originally posted by Kate: Does this apply to Bryce 3 (what I have.. as opposed to 4 or whatever they've moved on to now..)? I'm not seeing any way to modify the basic shapes beyond Boolean, which is extremely irritating for making curves.. You could make ugly looking IDA frigate-type things, but nothing at all like Vell-os or Polaris ships. (/quote)
As I said above, Bryce isnt that good for ships. Version 3 lacks some of the features in the newest version (5) which are useful for modelling ships (mainly metaballs). You could do modelling in 3rd party apps like Meshworks and import the models, but really, you would be best downloading Strata from me. Its better for modelling ships in general.
(quote) Jules, your ships look really nice! (/quote)
Thanks
(This message has been edited by Jules (edited 05-26-2003).)