Looking for a cheap 3D pictures tool

[trooper]

Maybe I'm dreaming, but I'm looking for a free 3D tool (old Version or small free software) in order to create a new shipset (Fed up with 2D designs, it takes really TOO MUCH time !!!)

Any software name I could find ?

[Gandalph]

Most people hear use Doga and you can find a link to that in the "Must See..." sticky thread at the top of the forum.

[pathfinder]

I use DOGA. It's shareware ($40 USD for registered Version). DOGA L3 has a built in render and sizing, so making a set is fairly simple.

There are others which other folks will probably post here. All have pros and cons.

web site for DOGA:

http://www.doga.co.jp/english/

[Ed Kolis]

A few more:

Povray (freeware) - A powerful raytracer with lots and lots of features, the only problem is that it doesn't have any sort of GUI so you have to design everything in a C++-like scripting language. www.povray.org

Moray (shareware, $80?) - A graphical "front-end" for Povray which supports most of Povray's features. Powerful but has a steep learning curve (on the other hand it's no Blender!) Trial period is not enforced so you can use it as long as you like, and the shareware Version is not missing any features. An animation plugin is available. www.stmuc.com/~moray

Art of Illusion (freeware) - A Java-based raytracer and modeller that has some interesting features, such as "procedural textures" (defined by mathematical function that can vary over space and time). Includes built-in animation support. However these procedural textures are rather confusing if you don't understand functions, and the program, being Java-based, does not support the standard "double-click on a file, launch the application" feature. www.artofillusion.org

Blender (freeware) - Formerly a major commercial raytracer/modeller, Blender was recently released as freeware. I downloaded it and couldn't make heads or tails of it - anyone have a clue? (Can't remember the URL but try looking it up on Google)

[trooper]

I 'm trying Doga, it seems quite simple to use.
Just one thing I can't do : printing a single bitmap (like a flag or a serial number) on an object. (I'm just able to use textures as "tiles").

[Gryphin]

Trooper.
Display > Rendering
Click on the upper left hand cornor of the rendering
Choose > Copy this picture to Clipboard
Paste it into Paint or another program.

[pathfinder]

OT: Ed Kolis:

link to blender: http://www.blender3d.org/

looks sorta like Moray to me...

[trooper]

Originally posted by Gryphin:
Trooper.
Display > Rendering
Click on the upper left hand cornor of the rendering
Choose > Copy this picture to Clipboard
Paste it into Paint or another program.

that means it is impossible to perform with Doga... Too bad.

Very good soft indeed, I'm quite proud of my first creation...

[Slick]

Trooper, those look GREAT!

Slick.

[trooper]

I'm seeing better what we can do (and not do) with Doga. One think annoys me : in multiple objects scenes, all objects are all messed up when saved, and it is hard to move an object without moving half a douzain of others...
Is it because of the free Version ?