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#1

I was poking around for some reference images and came across this website:
http://www.dvgarage.com/

Couple of things to note here.

First and foremost - check out the “Observations” and “Critiques” links on the lower left side. These are great little quicktime movies with observations of every day (real world) objects and critques of other people’s 3D work. Excellent, Excellent stuff that will help you in any graphic work.

Second, they offer a “3D Toolkit” package for the mac or PC that is basically Electric Image 2.9 with a boat load of tutorials that take you through the entire process of 3D from model to render. The samples they offer look pretty nice. The kicker is that it is only $199 and offers an upgrade to Universe 3D 4.0 (the current version of the app) for $495. Which saves you about $300 off the regular price.

Electric Image, while not the easist to use or most powerful package, has been used in a LOT of production work - including the most recent Austin Powers movie. It is a top notch render engine that is blazingly fast when compared to the competition. Not long ago Electric Image was the package used in many major films.

While I’m a Lightwave user, I am seriously considering the $199 toolkit for the training materials alone - EI 2.9 is a bonus.

EDIT
I went looking for a review of the 3D Toolkit and found this interesting quote:

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> “I’ve been working on this for almost a year,” Lindsay, one of dvGarage’s founders and a former member of Industrial Light and Magic’s Rebel Mac Unit, said. “It will truly give 2D, broadcast, and budding artists a whole new access to learning 3D using an application that was used for Star Wars, Titan AE, Star Trek, Mission Impossible films, and more.”
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

the complete review: http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/0106/12.3dapp.shtml

and one more review http://www.3dny.org/news/dvgarage.phtml

#2

After watching some of his tutorial videos on ths site, I went and ordered the 3D Toolkit. He has a nice method of explaining step by step and his thought process as he does something. Quality training materials are priceless.

However, that’s not why I’m posting. Turns out the windows version is not $199 (that is for the Mac version) - it’s $229.

BUT

you get Amorphium Pro 1.2 free as well. Making this an even better value.

Amorphium is sort of like Zbrush - only not nearly as fast. I won’t say it’s not as easy to use because I only fired it up for about 20 minutes. (you download it immediately after placing your order) It was not very intuitive though :slight_smile:

The DV Garage site is absolutely one of the best resources I’ve seen. He covers some good ground on modeling, compositing, texturing and then some. A solid bookmark with fantastic info whether you are interested in his products or just interested in digital imagery.

#3

Really!!? I just brought 3D Toolkit two days ago and the Compositing Lab & Mapping Lab for my Design class! I must of overlooked the Animorph extra. Hmmm… better wait until the CD arrives … and better check the boss’s credit card reciept!
Thanks!

Upham :slight_smile:

Animorph-1 was given away on a Computer Arts Magazine some time ago.

#4

I tried it, nonproductive, and whenever I tried to open it, evil blue screen of death. Once again the stupidity of windows overpowers what surely was a good program. Wish I had Linux.

David

#5

by “tried”, I assume you are referring to the 3D Toolkit demo?

I fired it up with no problems on my WinXP machine, but in perusing the Electric Image forums about Universe3D - more then one person was having stability issues.

No big deal though. The site itself has a wealth of information available for free and, while I ordered the 3D toolkit myself, I really doubt I will be using the modeler/animator application that comes with it (EI 2.9) beyond the tutorials. I look at the application and the free copy of Amorphium as bonuses to add to my toolbox but the excellent training material is what I was really after.