Need advice on 3d software

I've been wanting to start making my own sculpies. I have experience with 3d Studio Max but have an older version that, I've been told, can't produce the files needed to import into SL. I checked out Blender but the user interface is so different I'm not wanting to get into it.

I'm actually considering updating my 3dSM (expensive, I know) but want to be sure first that the files I produce will be accepted by SL. Can anyone confirm this? Anyone else out there using 3d Studio Max to prepare content for SL?

Max 8 and up works great with SL. And you can even get a plugin called "Sculptie GenMax" (or something like that). It works well.

If you can afford to upgrade, I suggest you do. If you want to keep up with the Jones you have to have at least version 8.

Any version of max since render to texture was added (not sure what version that was) that will support Abu's sculpty shader (which I think should be compatible pretty far back) will work fine for sculpties. You can find a matlib with the shader here: /8/e5/182461/5.html#post1695133
To use it, create a base object with the correct topology and UV mapping (plane, uncapped cylinder, loft object, sphere) and sculpt it into the model you want (without changing the topology), apply Abu's shader, then bake a sculpt map with render to texture.

If you want to use the projection method for dealing with arbitrary meshes (that don't have the correct UV mapping or topology for a sculpty) you'll need Max 8 or higher. 8 is when the projection modifier was added. You can find that method detailed here: http://home.comcast.net/~pixelforgeltd/Tutorial.htm

I'm not sure what versions of Max SculptGen supports. It works differently than Abu's shader and generates a sculpt map based on the xyz position of each vertex. Search this forum for posts about it.

Heh, the Jones's have left me in the dust, it seems, I just have version 6. Looks like I'd have to pay the full $3000+ to be able to use it for SL. *groan*

Can anyone recommend another, cheaper, 3D program that has a similar interface as 3d Studio Max (or at least not as different as Blender) that I can use to make sculpies for Second Life?

Max 6 should be able to use the shader method. All you need is RGB Multiplyand Gradient Ramp. If I remember correctly, you should also be able to use RGB Multiply and Fall-Off. You won't get uber precise sculpties and you'll have to consider UVs rather carefully, but can save you the money.

If you really want, I can throw up some uber detailed instructions on how to make the shader yourself in Max.

This should give you an idea of the shader:

http://tech-slop.serveit.org/wiki/index.php?title=Sculptie_Shader_for_3DS_Max

Other than: Max, Maya, Blender, SculptiePaint, and Wings 3D...I don't know any fully streamlined (none are really) 3d applications. Maybe Zbrush for certain aspects?

There really isn't a cream-dream program yet...other than Max and Maya, I'd say the rest are all going to be shoty at best (comparably that is).

There are other cool 3d applications to look into which are cheaper than the 'big dogs'...but they aren't going to be a nice, powerful, friendly, or set up to export sculpties.

If you can't afford a good program, use Blender. If you can afford *cough* a top choice...go with Max or Maya (I think Max 8 & 9 are set up more for SL than Maya is).

I'd say if you don't wanna spend the money for Max (Or maya..but meh), then go with Blender. I had the same qualms originally, refused to use it because the interface is so famously evil.. but now that I've learned it I love it, and its more capable than anything else in it's price range (Free lol)

Bah, maybe I will give Blender another chance. I have it installed and when I couldn't figure out how to make a cube after 5 minutes I just closed it. I found these tutorials on you tube (super3boy) - sounds like he's 12 years old. I guess if he could figure it out I can

The best instructions/tutorial for Blender I've found is on wikibooks, called 'Blender 3d: Noob to Pro'

Absolutely lovely

Took me a lot longer than you to give it a proper chance. I spent a few years occasionally checking on Blender's interface to see if it was "usable" yet. Then I came across a forum post with very well reasoned thoughts on why it wouldn't change much (Wish I could find it again). That gave me a push to actually learn the interface rather than waiting for it to change, and my only regret was not learning it sooner.

It's one of the reasons I tend to leap to defend Blender's interface when people call it terrible now. Making up for the times I called it terrible

Once you learn it, there are still some things you'll want to see improved, but on the whole it's a very good way of working with the massive amounts of data a 3D program has to cope with.

I'd recommend the Blender Basics video tutorials from http://blenderunderground.com to get past the initial learning curve.