Inkwolf
11-26-2006, 12:46 PM
Rather than start a new thread every time I hear about a cool deal, I thought it might be a good idea to post this thread, and anyone who likes can add links and reviews to it. I am not up to the challenge of reviewing, say, Maya Free Learning Edition, so please, anyone, feel free to hop in and post about free programs you've tried or are using.
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CB Model Pro, Mac and Win, Free Beta verson. (http://www.cbmodelpro.com/index.html)
Here's an easy and free way to get your 3D modelling started: CB Model Pro (http://www.cbmodelpro.com/index.html) has to be one of the easiest, most intuitive organic modelling programs ever made. I first ran across it after trying out the company's commercial children's modelling program, Cosmic Blobs (http://www.cosmicblobs.com/).(On Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Blobs-Lab-Deluxe-Version/dp/B000IXWPOS/sr=8-1/qid=1164574168/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-2443048-3668132?ie=UTF8&s=software)) After e-mailing the creators with a question about the possibility of exporting to other programs, they informed me about their beta of CB Pro. It has all the simplicity of the children's program, with a clearly-labelled user interface. (Cosmic Blobs GUI is 'fun,' completely graphical, and semi-incomprehensible) To see a demo of how the children's version works, check out this tutorial movie. (http://www.cosmicblobs.com/tutorial/fish/intro/intro.html) (CB Pro does not include the animation capabilities.)
CB Pro's greatest weakness is probably the inability to import files. It also lacks many of the capabilities and shortcuts veteran modellers are used to.
It's greatest strength is no doubt its ease of use. A manual is available to download, but it's easy to pick up quite a bit by simply watching some of the Cosmic Blobs demo movies online, and poking around.
It also has a simple (and equally easy) built-in program that allows you to paint or to apply imported images directly onto the model. (I am running the program on a CPU considerably below the system requirements, and the amount of lag in the paint section is much more noticeable than in the modelling section. Still, it works--don't be afraid to try it out on an older system.)
Models can be exported in OBJ, VRML, and 3Dxml files, for animation or scene rendering in other programs.
You will need to register the program to use it for more than two weeks, but registration is free while CB Model Pro is in Beta development!
If, like me, the high learning curve of a full-featured modelling program has scared you off in the past, this may be your chance to get started playing with 3D. Or at least have some fun modelling!
-----------------------------------------
CB Model Pro, Mac and Win, Free Beta verson. (http://www.cbmodelpro.com/index.html)
Here's an easy and free way to get your 3D modelling started: CB Model Pro (http://www.cbmodelpro.com/index.html) has to be one of the easiest, most intuitive organic modelling programs ever made. I first ran across it after trying out the company's commercial children's modelling program, Cosmic Blobs (http://www.cosmicblobs.com/).(On Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Blobs-Lab-Deluxe-Version/dp/B000IXWPOS/sr=8-1/qid=1164574168/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-2443048-3668132?ie=UTF8&s=software)) After e-mailing the creators with a question about the possibility of exporting to other programs, they informed me about their beta of CB Pro. It has all the simplicity of the children's program, with a clearly-labelled user interface. (Cosmic Blobs GUI is 'fun,' completely graphical, and semi-incomprehensible) To see a demo of how the children's version works, check out this tutorial movie. (http://www.cosmicblobs.com/tutorial/fish/intro/intro.html) (CB Pro does not include the animation capabilities.)
CB Pro's greatest weakness is probably the inability to import files. It also lacks many of the capabilities and shortcuts veteran modellers are used to.
It's greatest strength is no doubt its ease of use. A manual is available to download, but it's easy to pick up quite a bit by simply watching some of the Cosmic Blobs demo movies online, and poking around.
It also has a simple (and equally easy) built-in program that allows you to paint or to apply imported images directly onto the model. (I am running the program on a CPU considerably below the system requirements, and the amount of lag in the paint section is much more noticeable than in the modelling section. Still, it works--don't be afraid to try it out on an older system.)
Models can be exported in OBJ, VRML, and 3Dxml files, for animation or scene rendering in other programs.
You will need to register the program to use it for more than two weeks, but registration is free while CB Model Pro is in Beta development!
If, like me, the high learning curve of a full-featured modelling program has scared you off in the past, this may be your chance to get started playing with 3D. Or at least have some fun modelling!