Topic: Free modelling programs soon to be available.. plus website updates.

[atheorhaven]

You're reading this right..

If you're someone that hasn't meshed before and would like to give it a shot with no commitment, I've got something for you.

As I'm typing this, I'm just finishing the uploads to the FTP space of some of what I've played with in the past, and have downloaded to try in the future.

Here's currently what's going up there:

Amapi 3D - screenie -

anim8or - screenie -

Blender - screenie -

gmax - screenie -

Zmodeller - screenie -

This joins all the other stuff up there and should people a serious boost of choices for wanting to start playing around with a modelling program.  I'll update the page in a day or so to show the d/l links, but was also thinking of uploading all this to BattleClinic and a couple of other SFC sites to maximize the future ability to find these.

There is even going to be options for Mac and Linux users besides emulating Windows on those platforms..

So there you go guys.. hope this helps everyone out...

[Starforce2]

and these are all capable  of exporting to something that can be converted to sfc or max?

[Bonk]

Here's one that will export to max or PovRay and other formats:

Wings 3D

A sample product:
http://www.wings3d.com/gallery/xfighter.php

An awesome render of the Delta Flyer:
http://www.stratacafe.com/image_relief.asp?imageID=8918

[jayvt3]

Here's one that will export to max or PovRay and other formats:

Wings 3D

A sample product:
http://www.wings3d.com/gallery/xfighter.php

Guaranteed to blow your mind...

I could not believe the quality of the samples that were provided!!!!!!!
The one with the zebras was so realistic but then I bleww up the image and I noticed the flaw in the zebra's rump and leg to body ratio.  The other stuff, from the texture of the walls to the way the sunlight shone down was absolutely realistic.  The ones that really just blew my mind and fooled some of my co-workers was the rainy NYC image and the plastic links.  The texture of the automobiles and the water droplet lay out was truly spectacular.  Only draw back was I doo-doo'ed my pants when I saw the cost of purchase.

[Bonk]

Here's one that will export to max or PovRay and other formats:

Wings 3D

A sample product:
http://www.wings3d.com/gallery/xfighter.php

Guaranteed to blow your mind...

I could not believe the quality of the samples that were provided!!!!!!!
The one with the zebras was so realistic but then I bleww up the image and I noticed the flaw in the zebra's rump and leg to body ratio.  The other stuff, from the texture of the walls to the way the sunlight shone down was absolutely realistic.  The ones that really just blew my mind and fooled some of my co-workers was the rainy NYC image and the plastic links.  The texture of the automobiles and the water droplet lay out was truly spectacular.  Only draw back was I doo-doo'ed my pants when I saw the cost of purchase.

Wings 3D is free isn't it? The source is posted... where's you see those samples? (edit: ah, the POV-Ray samples...) POV-Ray is free too, the source is posted as well.

[Bonk]

Free 3D modelling programs links:
http://www.wings3d.com/
http://www.anim8or.com/
http://www.artofillusion.org/
http://www.blender3d.com/

[atheorhaven]

and these are all capable  of exporting to something that can be converted to sfc or max?

All of them can export to something that can be pulled into something to be converted to SFC.  gmax is the trickiest to get converted over, but it's been done.  I included it because the interface is close to 3dsmax, so it'd be not a bad trainer.  And, it's free.

I've personally played with Amapi, anim8or, Milkshape and Zmodeller.  I have a Daedelus roughly mapped out in Amapi, I used anim8or quite a bit to rough out my early meshes... it's great for that.  All of those can export directly to .3ds which can be pulled into 3dsmax or Milkshape.

All these should be good for what we want to do.  

Thanks for the link to Wings3D guys.. I'll add that in the section as well.  

[atheorhaven]

All right, they're up for download under my Tools section, which can be found here..

http://www.the-tcs.net/_hosted/atheorhaven/html/_sgg/m1m3s1_1.htm

I'm hoping that this should help to encourage new modellers to spring out of the woodwork. 

[atheorhaven]

Okay, as well as updating the Tools section of the website, I've finally updated the Trek ships section of the site as well to include some of what's been uploaded.  At least all the SFC 2 stuff is up to date. 

So, if you've been looking for something of mine in the past and didn't see it when you visited the site... check for it now, it may be listed now. 

(ps: is noone interested in the selection up on the site for modelling programs?  Things seemed negative on it so far...)

[Red_Green]

Awesome stuff, thanks.

[Bonk]

Three more:

OpenFX - (cool sample)
K3D
Pixicon

 

This is cool too: http://freshmeat.net/projects/fracplanet (for unix)

[intermech]

Z-modeller is a very nice program, not very buggy. You get alot for nothing. But I haven't had much luck importing or exporting with it. Its 3DS format does not work well with MilkShape, and the interface is difficult to learn, at least compared to MilkShape. GMAX is very much like 3D MAX, which is cool. I haven't had a chance to mess with it, but I know it is compatible with Quake III models, and so is MilkShape, maybe you can export as QIII from GMAX and then import that into MilkShape.

By the way, hi to every one, I miss being able to hit this forum as often as I used too, take care,

Interstellar Machine

[Greenvalv]

I'm hoping that this should help to encourage new modellers to spring out of the woodwork. 

Oh, as soon as I download this stuff and figure out how it works, about a dozen new unique ship ideas will be at sfc3files.com.
 
Does it include tutorials, cause I wouldn't have a clue where to start?

[atheorhaven]

Oh, as soon as I download this stuff and figure out how it works, about a dozen new unique ship ideas will be at sfc3files.com.
Does it include tutorials, cause I wouldn't have a clue where to start?

Some of them do.. some don't.. but the best idea?  After installing a program, check its "About" section.  They usually include a home URL, and if you check there.. you can usually find tutorials. 

Another suggestion.. check here for some generic ideas on modelling..

http://www.scifi-meshes.com/index.php?page=tutorials

And there's lots more sites.. I imagine that this thread will get a few more listed in it. 

[Chris Johnson]

Which of 'em all do you believe will be easiest for beginners?

[atheorhaven]

Which of 'em all do you believe will be easiest for beginners?

Of the ones I've played with?  Anim8or.  That's what I used to do my x-03 mesh, my TARDIS, and blocked out my Red Dwarf in.  Amapi 4.15 is more Bryce/Mac-like (and therefore more strange to me), but I blocked out a Daedulus in it, plus did a couple of others.  It's just weirder for me to work in, but selecting materials and shapes is easy enough.

But if you're looking to learn 3dsmax at any time, I'd try anim8or first, then Milkshape, then maybe gmax before you hit Max itself.  But anim8or and Amapi both export into .3ds that is readable in 3dsmax.  I have Zmodeller here on this machine as well.. just haven't played with it too much. 

[KBF-Kurok]

cool deal.

[wulf111]

I guess i took the hard route and jumped right into 3DSMAX althouhg i think im doing pretty well for a noob

[KBF-Kurok]

well since i  cant afford 3dmax is there a program  that will convert stuff from say wings3d to .mod. i can export to these formats if  it  helps .ndo,.3ds,.mdl, .eps, .obj, .nwx, .wrl.

[atheorhaven]

well since i  cant afford 3dmax is there a program  that will convert stuff from say wings3d to .mod. i can export to these formats if  it  helps .ndo,.3ds,.mdl, .eps, .obj, .nwx, .wrl.

.3ds is one of the standards, and was the defacto standard for Max.. way back when it was only 3D Studio (hence the .3ds extension).  Max nicely imports .3ds for the most part pretty easily.

Of the others, your next bets are .OBJ and .WRL.. and the others are probably all convertable, just it could get a bit funky doing so.