[mtripoli]

With all the 3D printing technologies out there I'm getting the urge to make some stuff. I have Lightwave (though haven't used it for many years). My everyday tool is Solidworks (which I'm quite expert with) given that I do mostly electronic/mechanical stuff. Can anyone suggest a poly modeler that is "easy" to use? One of my frustrations with these things is the tool set seems to be so limited (whatever that means). I haven't looked at any of them in probably more than 5 years. I can't say specifically what I want it for; I may want to use Poser to pull in a skeleton model or something - who knows. I don't mind putting in the effort to learn a new tool, but on the other hand I don't have time to spend a year "pulling points around". Maybe one that has a more "CAD" like tool palette? All suggestions appreciated.

Thanks!

[hatts]

Coming from SW you are a prime candidate for sub-d modeling, especially if you don't to mess with learning poly modeling.

If you're not already aware, sub-d (subdivision) modeling is basically pushing and pulling a primitive geometric "cage" which controls and auto-smooths an underlying mesh. It's a very logical way to get smooth, complicated surfaces with lightweight and manageable user input. It has a sort of hybrid feel between NURBS and poly modeling...it's not micromanaging vertices and worrying about poly counts, but it's also not strict spline-based rigidity either, it's a happy medium.

Look into the SW plugins "Power Surfacing" ($$$) or TSplines($$), or the programs modo ($$$) or Silo($).

If you try it and don't like it, you could always switch to a slightly more expressive NURBS modeler, like Rhino or MoI.

[mtripoli]

Thanks Hatts. I bought both Silo and Moi years ago; never got the hang of them. As I recall, I didn't like Moi for some reason. I don't know that I spent enough time with Silo. If I can dig up my serial number and registration I could have a go at V2.

I checked out Power Surfacing http://www.npowersoftware.com/PowerSurf ... rview.html I watched the "ring" video and it looks like exactly what I'm looking for. The demo's however are for 2012 and 2013; I'm still on 2010.

[SandroS]

you could have a look at Bonzai3D or FormZ. the interface is a bit clunky but the modelling tools are excellent. i'm thinking of picking up a copy of B3D for myself to use as a 'plugin' for modo. technically, i guess it's not really a poly modeller but the way the tools work make it a cross between nurbs and poly modelling which may suit you.

subD modelling is great, but a lot of times you have to fiddle for hours to achieve the simplest of shapes especially with hard surface (e.g. indents on curved surfaces).

[mtripoli]

After watching the demo videos of nPowers Power Surfacing I'm hooked. I wish I could justify just buying it, however 99.99% of the things I do I would never use it. It's gone on my "wish list".

[hatts]

After watching the demo videos of nPowers Power Surfacing I'm hooked. I wish I could justify just buying it, however 99.99% of the things I do I would never use it. It's gone on my "wish list".

You and me both...

[Sebastien Bernard]

+1 with sandro Form Z is a really powerfull tool.

[dmeyer]

A lot of people are into Modo. I might give it a shot with all the new stuff in 701.

[Sebastien Bernard]

Modo is great for designing objects but from my experience with it it is not really suitable
for big architecture projects with a lot of object it is really hard to get a propper snaping and
and the texture object management is really strange. On the other hand it really has some
very nice modeling tools...

[jespi]

Hi,

I'm also interested in FormZ. Does any of you have experience with big sized files in FormZ, I mean, big projects?. I've been using Rhino for many years, but I think that for architectural modeling FormZ is better suited than Rhino. I would appreciate any insight you are willing to share.

Thanks,
josé

[Sebastien Bernard]

Hallo Jespi ,

I have been working with FZ for about 12years now and I feel that's it is really suited for big projects with a lot of elements
with a really good snaping accuracy and a solid administration part like a CAD program...
You might check what I mean on my web all the projects there are made in FZ.

[jespi]

Thanks Sebastien. This is very good news because I really enjoy modeling in FormZ, it's a clever mixture between SketchUp and Rhino. I've watched your portfolio, very good works, I specially like the black and white ones in Geneva. Do you render inside FormZ or export to modo or whatever?.

Thanks a lot for your reply,

josé

[Sebastien Bernard]

That is the downside of FZ forget about rendering with it ... I usually organize my workflow modeling in FZ and rendering from the studio.
I tend not to work with the plug in but that is my method.. I like to organize my light texture and camera in Maxwell FZ is now for me the modeling
software and no more... I found it really good for archviz because it really is a 3D cad program... I work with an older version of it and I have just tried the FZ7
demo it is a bit different but quite good..

Enjoy it ..

[jespi]

No software is perfect, isn't it?. It's not a big deal to me, I usually use C4D as my scene and render manager. Dealing with heavy polygon data as trees or hight detailed furniture is something I try to avoid in cad like applications like Rhino, SketchUp and seems the same for FormZ.

I'll let you know my impressions about FormZ. Thanks again for your help and have a nice day.

josé

[Sebastien Bernard]

You too.
Sébastien