Good Free 3d software package

[James Wright]

Hey all,

I was wondering if anyone knew of a halfway decent 3d package that you
can download for free (not pirated but distributed for free). I have
strata 3d, but it seems like most of the features I want (skinning, etc)
are in the modules you have to purchase. Mostly I'm looking for good
texture mapping, good organic modeling, and a VERY shallow learning
curve. Almost horizontal if you get my meaning.

Also does anyone have any good experiences with Strata 3d? Should I
stick with it? I'm on a budget, and an old Mac (G3'ed PM 6500) running
9.0.4. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks
Jim

[a.jonker]

In article <39A07C6C...@ix.netcom.com>, JD...@ix.netcom.com wrote:

>I was wondering if anyone knew of a halfway decent 3d package that you
>can download for free (not pirated but distributed for free). I have
>strata 3d, but it seems like most of the features I want (skinning, etc)
>are in the modules you have to purchase. Mostly I'm looking for good
>texture mapping, good organic modeling, and a VERY shallow learning
>curve. Almost horizontal if you get my meaning.

have a look for AMAPI. Earlier it was buyware, now it is shareware, or so
the rumour said.
http://www.staigerland.com/amapi/dehos/index.html
for some image samples.

ard

[Lynda B]

Strata 3D is great! You're lucky that you can download it for free. I paid
a lot of money for it a few years ago.

3D modelling is hard. Strata is as easy as it gets. If you don't want to
stick with it, do something else.

>
> I was wondering if anyone knew of a halfway decent 3d package that you
> can download for free (not pirated but distributed for free). I have
> strata 3d, but it seems like most of the features I want (skinning, etc)
> are in the modules you have to purchase. Mostly I'm looking for good
> texture mapping, good organic modeling, and a VERY shallow learning
> curve. Almost horizontal if you get my meaning.
>

[PrintConcepts]

in article B5DAC902.3950%lbo...@dukat.cs.wisc.edu, Lynda B at
lbo...@dukat.cs.wisc.edu wrote on 9/5/00 5:00 PM:

Thanks Lynda,

Have any samples of what you can do with it? (Website gallery anywhere?)

Does anyone have any other good suggestions?

Jim

[Mark Borok]

In article <B5DD60C8.7695%sen...@printconcepts.com>, PrintConcepts
<sen...@printconcepts.com> wrote:

There's a shareware program called Patchdance (www.patchdance.com) that's
almost free, has been in beta for a while and is geared towards organic
modeling. I never got very deep into it, so cannot say how good it is. It
won't render, but you can get free renderers (POV Ray, I think). Apart
from Strata, I don't think there's any package that does it all (model,
render, animate) for free. Maybe in the Linux world.

--Mark