modeling program?

[Micke™]

I do not intend to model cars for any games or so, just high res still images/video.

Is there any program that's easier than others to model in?

See that people use's zmod others use 3dsmax and a few uses rhinoceros.


Anyone?

[GranTurismo]

people also Usa Maya but i use Maya 3d max and bryce 3d sometimes to model cars

[Micke™]

Originally Posted by GranTurismo

people also Usa Maya but i use Maya 3d max and bryce 3d sometimes to model cars

Maya is as common as 3dsmax, thats why i didnt mentioned it.

but which is the most preferable when modeling?

[SuB-ZeuZ]

3DS Max if you like polymodeling or Rhinoceros if you like Nurbs
I prefer polymodeling :wink:

[GranTurismo]

a and 3d max maybe sister's(or borthers) in program but i been hearing by thousands and thousands of people that Maya was easier to learn then 3d max because there's more metienance needed in 3D Max then Maya

[Micke™]

Originally Posted by SuB-ZeuZ

3DS Max if you like polymodeling or Rhinoceros if you like Nurbs
I prefer polymodeling :wink:

ok. the NURBS thing i think i have read something about it, it's more suitable for "organic" stuff (cars, humans etc)?

[SuB-ZeuZ]

Nurbs isnt only for "organic" stuff, if you know how to use it, you can use nurbs for everything, i use 3DS Max for making the car body, and i use Rhino to make the rims, much easier then in Max

[pauljs75]

If you're cheap (like me) you can find some pretty good freeware modelers.

Wings3D is an excellent poly modeler, which has a quick learning curve and an intuitive interface (better than most the stuff people pay $$$ for in that regard.) I'm the most familiar with this one. It also features a basic UV mapping feature, and exports readily to commonly used model formats (.3ds, .obj, .vrml)

Anim8or has a modeler, but it's quirky. It does some nice rendering and animation though. Likewise it can import and export to common 3d formats.

Blender is another one I've heard of (some people like it, but I've never used it), and there's Metasequioa (ditto.)

www.wings3d.com
www.anim8or.com
www.blender.org
www.metasequoia.org

Hopefully the links should work and send you to the respective sites. If not, try looking up the programs on a search engine. I'm pretty well experienced with Wings, if you have any questions feel free to ask. Dunno much about the others though.

[Juhan]

Lightwave 7.5c = the best polymodeler

i have tryed to learn maya, 3dsm and zmodeler, lightwave is the easyest, and gives the best results, also it has a really great renderer.
i suggest you to try it.
the main pluses are that modeler and layout are two seperate programs, gives you much more free space on interface, also i like that the interface is text based, no fancy pictures, you don't have to riddle "hmm, gee, i wonder what that button with the fancy picture on it does :roll:

[NightEye]

I 100% agree with Juhan
LW is sooooo much better

[SupaCharged]

anyone used softimage XSI??? what do you think of it???

[belithug]

Do U think that real car designers use POLYS for modeling?(with all respect to game modeling).Try MAYA's NURBS.Now I'm learning(making PORSCHE 996 GT3(2000.) and hopefuly U'll C mu first model 4 a month or so.

[jagranger]

To answer the last question, professional car design studios often use Alias Autostudio software. This is pretty much the industry standard.

Rhino is also widely used, but this is for more general (transport) design purposes.

Programs like Catia and Pro Engineer are used for developing production components and subassemblies.

There are some manufacturers who prefer not to use the computer as a styling aide, such as BMW. At BMW, all the pre-styling is done with the hand and then later fed into the computer. This also includes 1:1 clay modelling, where only the basic shape is milled by CAD/CAM. The clay is later 'styled' by hand and the finished model is then fed into the computer by laser. I've heard that Yamaha also work this way.

[The_Hizouse]

Just go with one of the big name programs (MAYA, 3DS MAX, LIGHTWAVE, RHINO, ECT.) and learn as much as you can. Become an expert in that one program instead of being ok in all of them.

[pizzopelato]

Originally Posted by The_Hizouse

Become an expert in that one program instead of being ok in all of them.

yes this is right but you have to choose the right program that work fine and has all the necessary tools.. and if you are a rookie, you don't know which is the "right" program... so.. I suggest a chart: usability, easy of use, texturing, rendering, mesh.. and so on for every program used..
...
...
I'm a rookie.. I use zmod but I have understand that is incomplete for reflection scenes.. or I don't be able to full use it??!?!?