[S-99]

Hey, i was curious, since i wanted to try to get into some modelling. Since i don't have a job yet, and am pretty bored till i get hired. I've scoured this forum for what people use, and i haven't found a definitive answer to that.
So, what would be the best for somebody just starting out, or rather isn't too difficult to use.

[jr2]

And the price you're willing to pay was...?

[S-99]

The ones that are free thank you. I know blender is opensource, and i know some other ones had a free release of an older version and so on.

[Black Wolf]

It's free to obtain GMax AFAIK (Though I think they've oficially discontiuned support for it). GMax is a stripped out version of 3ds Max (all you relly lose is the renderer and ability to export as .3ds, but you can export into other file formats which can be converted).

Alternately, there are places you can obtain 3ds max in a freelikemp3sarefree sorta style. Either way, the interface is the same and it's very easy to use once you get over the initial small hump, plus there are more tuts on the net for Max than probably nay other 3d program.

[Nuke]

if the software is free just use them all. i find that when using free apps, you often need to use a bunch of them, one might be good at modeling but then uv might be done better in another app and so on.

along similar lines, whats a good modeling program for linux?

[S-99]

The only modelling program i  know of for linux is blender. It's for windows also, but, that seems to be one that has a huge hump to it.

[Mars]

Blender is okay, it just has a difficult user interface.

[Axem]

I use Wings3D. It's also got a pretty good UV mapper. It may not have all the fancy features of Blender or 3DSMax, but it's pretty easy to use.

[WeatherOp]

Yep, Wings is a very good one.

[S-99]

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll check out wings and 3dsmax

[redsniper]

Don't let Blender scare you. It takes a while to get the hang of, but once you do you can do some awesome stuff with it.

[S-99]

I'll work my way up to blender Besides, i'll have to figure out what uv mapping is and stuff, i know what poly's are though

[Dave2040]

One of the best and easiest modelling programm that I know is Cinema 4d from Maxon.
But unfortunately it's a very expensive one... 

[At]

I like Carrara, myself.  But then, that's all I've really used :P

Being a mac (*gasp!*) user, I never really had the option of 3DS.  That and we had Carrara for the longest time, so I got used to that.

And sometime, I'm going to learn LW... But that one is also really expensive.  Carrara, on the other hand, cheap.  Relatively.

I actually got a slightly stripped down version of Cinema 4D (CE 6) with this one magazine.  But I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to distribute it. :P
About the only thing I can say I like about C4D is the volumetric light stuff.  That's fun, though not really relevant to modeling...

But do try out the free stuff before springing for a commercial program.  You might surprise your self.  And if all else fails, you've at least gotten your feet wet in modeling...

[Flipside]

I use Lightwave, it's pretty much second nature to me now, it has some awesome UVing tools I like the fact they keep the Modeller and the Renderer as seperate programs, it means each program is dedicated to one type of thing without trying to be jack of all trades, or covering the screen in options

[S-99]

yeah, sweetness, i'll check out cinema4d too

[Dave2040]

But I think, the best free modelling programm is Blender...

[Mars]

Isn't there a Mac version for 3DS?

[AlphaOne]

Umm i'm not much of a moddler in fact the only thing i made was made using truespace a free program. Actualy and older version. And the "thing" i made was sort of strange people couldnt make heads or tails over it. But like someone said before you will at least get your feet wet in modeling.

That diesnt mean i wont keep tring to come up with some good shapes and stuf. Also since TrueSpace is the only program I have for 3dmodeling at this moment and people said its adequate for modeling. And since I dont have any major projects in mind I'm going to start to learn about this program and get a grasp of what it is to actualy do modeling then go around looking for some other program.

So in the end mi advice is this go around looking for something free at first then go comercial.

[Colonol Dekker]

TS is really easy to get used to, I started back in the days with V2.x, 3.4 is free at the moment. 5+ can be a bit confusing to the new starters but if you go to a classic layout through the panels then you can manipulate with less confusion. TOP TIP!! right click on the white arrow selection tool to open up the co-ordinates manager, One of the most use ful things, this gives you fine control over most points on an object.

<SUPPLIMENTAL>Die shivan die!!
Then jumps into his apple stealth pie and goes of to war.What a brave lad....what a brave lad say the ladies in red.</SUPPLIMENTAL>
Is that new Alphaone cos i  laughed hot coffee out my nose at work just now and i am slight red with embarrassment.