Anbody used any 3d modeling software, and if so what kind and how do you like it.
I use pro/e 2001 at work and don't like it much. :shoothead
The reason I ask is because I wanted to know if anyone had modeled and thing for there cars.
I have used 3D studio VIZ/MAX and they are pretty much limitless. Although VIZ is geared towards architecture, with the free flow of objects you can create any model you want and animate it into a movie any way you want. It is about a $1300.00 program though. I personally have only used it for structures/buildings. I am sure there are other programs that assist in modeling automotive objects.
Pro/e is geared toward automotive but it is hard to use at times.
We use it here at work to model parts for Caterpiller tractors and a few other things.
This is the way I feal at the end of the night after work all the time :shoothead
Rwolf made up a 3D 83-86 Cougar model for GTAIII...
Do you know what program he used on it. I was wanting to do some cosmetic changes to the car without actually doing them to see if I liked it first.
Hey Jason, are you an Architect? I'm studying Architecture at the University of Nebraska and use 3d VIZ along with Sketch up for 3d. Neither one is very practical for much besides structures though, especially Sketch-up.
You might want to check out Solid Works. Most people love Pro E, so I'm surprised you don't like it.
I think the general opinion around the office is the same, no realy likes it.
We have problems with it crashing because it and windows fights for memory.
If you are doing small things its ok, but if you try and open an entire engine assembly "GOOD LUCK".
I work at Konrad Marine and we use Solidworks 2005. I learned pro e 2001 in school with all the pull downs but I have Pro e wildfire on my home computer and it is almost identical to solidworks wich is much more icon based. But in my opinion I would say pro e is more powerful but solidwork is just about as good but much cheaper to lisence. I can solid model just about anything but have not got into surfaces much and thats where pro e is suppose to excel.
SSX, I am not an Architect. I do all of the detailing of buildings. Basically take the rough design given to me and find problems and make it work. I am also the IT manager. Most of our architects use sketchup to design with and then I can import it into CAD and use it to start wall sections and such.
I have mainly heard of Pro-E in my area also. But I don't know much about that field.
Slamedcat, what kind of pc's you guys got. We found that if you don't spend about $5000.00 (about $1200 on the video card) on a pc you can't effeciently do heavy duty renderings. I don't know what kind of setup you guys got in your office, but maybe you could get just one for a work station and use it for the heavy stuff.
I used 3D studio Max. Also those mesh/wire frames for the backgrounds on Erics site are from my Cougar model ;)
This is a example of a rended one
http://www.deviantart.com/view/11582056/
We run IBM IntelliStation Z Pro
3.06GHz
2GB ram
windows 2000
our rendering horse was dual 3.6ghz processors setup as hyperthread, 2gb ram, $1200.00 nvidia video card (can't remember model #), 70 gb-15,000 rpm raid hard drives. It rocks. It cost right at 5 grand. Nothing we use touches it. It can be rendering and running multiple other programs with no problem. I am not familiar with the IBM you mentioned. I don't get into pc models and names, I just look at the spec sheet to see what's inside.
We liked ar unix computers better. They didn't crash as often, but when they did they would do it right. I would shut the entire thing down.
Here is some thing I did real quick here at work.
Cool, you could do that kind of thing pretty easily in VIZ, but it's prob. faster in pro-e.