Darwinbots Forum
General => Off Topic => Topic started by: PurpleYouko on November 08, 2005, 11:16:55 AM
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Anyone know where I can get an extremely cheap (preferably free) download of 3D Studio Max?
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Apart from less-than-conventional (if you know what I mean ;) ) ways it's rather hard to get a cheap version. They also give out student licenses...but you're no student, are you? :)
Maybe you can buy it secondhand somewhere...
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Are you sure you need that particular program, or just 3D modelling software in general.
I seem to remember some freeware 3D modeller. I can dig up a link for it if you're interested.
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I have spent hours searching for 3d moddelling software. I even downloaded half a dozen different free packages.
Trouble is that I need it to kick out a 3d landscape file in 3DS Max format so that it can be loaded in by another program (which only accepts that format) :angry:
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how about using a converter?
this is free:
http://synapses.mcg.edu/tools/xroads/xroads.stm (http://synapses.mcg.edu/tools/xroads/xroads.stm)
and will convert between many formats ...
reads obj, vrml 1.0, cob, raw, dxf, 3ds and more ...
writes 3ds, which is what you want I guess ... and more.
it's old, 1998, but has been a workhorse all along and
is still talked about by the raytrace crowd whenever the
subject of converters comes up.
and/or:
Wings3D:
http://www.wings3d.com/ (http://www.wings3d.com/)
will import NDO, 3DS, OBJ, AI ...
and export NDO, 3DS, OBJ, WRL, RWX ... and more
there's a forum where you can ask whatever ...
http://p212.ezboard.com/bnendowingsmirai (http://p212.ezboard.com/bnendowingsmirai)
and certainly some of the geeks there can steer you to what\
you need to have if Wings doesn't do it for you.
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The Wings3D sounds familiar to me, so I've heard of it before...
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Or, if it's really urgent, you can always ask me to convert something (because I own 3ds max5 :) )
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Maya offers a free "learning" version of its software. (Maya is the professional standard for everything but game modelling, and that only beacuse it's way over powered for those needs.)
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list of graphic resources ... modelers, converters, editors ... etc:
http://www.oyonale.com/ressources/english/tools.htm (http://www.oyonale.com/ressources/english/tools.htm)
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I found another system that works apparently just as well. And it is open source and completely free.
It's called Blender (http://www.blender3d.org/cms/Home.2.0.html)
It also puts out files in a format that I can use. All I need to do now is learn how to use it. :D
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I found another system that works apparently just as well. And it is open source and completely free.
It's called Blender (http://www.blender3d.org/cms/Home.2.0.html)
It also puts out files in a format that I can use. All I need to do now is learn how to use it. :D
Blender is ok I guess ...
but why you would want to have to go into a new system
when you could simply use a converter or existing program ...
to load in whatever format you already have ...
and convert/save it as 3DS?
or is it 3DX?
I've got Blender, Rhino, and even a pretty flash version of Maya ...
but I don't find much use for them ...
other then checking our Maya's particle system ...
which is pretty cool.
I prefer POVray as it allows me to directly control of the code ...
which is like a fine/vernier control to me.
doesn't save to 3DS tho ...
and there doesn't seem to be any .pov to 3ds coverters either.
I certainly have no desire to go that direction tho ...
seeing as I can convert from 3ds or almost any format to .pov so ...
I got all I need.
what have you been using as a modeler anyway?
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Blender is ok I guess ...
but why you would want to have to go into a new system
when you could simply use a converter or existing program ...
to load in whatever format you already have ...
and convert/save it as 3DS?
or is it 3DX?
Therein lies the problem.
I don't have any files to convert. I have to make them first and I need a program to do that with. I don't have one at the moment.
Blender fits the bill for both making the 3d files and saving them in a usable format.
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Therein lies the problem.
I don't have any files to convert. I have to make them first and I need a program to do that with. I don't have one at the moment.
all I was suggesting is ...
there are many modelers ...
and there are converters to alter them to 3DS or whatever you need.
let me know what you think of Blender.
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all I was suggesting is ...
there are many modelers ...
and there are converters to alter them to 3DS or whatever you need.
Understood. The thing is that Blender is FREE and all the others that I have checked out have cost a lot of green stuff.
3ds max would be my first choice but it costs hundreds of dollars.
I have a learning version of Maya. It is great but it leaves dirty great watermarks on everything that it exports.
Blender looks like it will be able to do everything that I need. It also seems relatively easy to get decent results from it, judging by the couple of hours I spent going through the online tutorial.
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Modelling software is as much an art form as modelling itself. Different programs have different work flows that work for different people. Glad you found one that suited you and your wallet PY ;)