3D Rendering Program

I need recommendations on a 3D rendering program for making custom images, etc. I've heard of Bryce 5 and 3DStudioMax?

Anyone like to recommend me something? Thanks.

Don't forget lightwave.

Can you give me any links?

For a beginner, Bryce rocks. As you get more skilled, 3DSM will work great. I have both, and I have yet to learn 3DSM.

I wish 3D design programs were as easy as Autodesk Inventor (CAD program). That program makes things really easy. If you could make something in there, then export it as something Bryce would read, I would be in heaven.

Last edited by kahrn on Fri Nov 25, 2005 4:22 am; edited 1 time in total

Well er..
Maya, Anim8or, 3dsmax, GMax..

[anim8or work of mine] (nothing great)

Blender3d is the \"best\" (being that it's the only one with so many features) free 3D animation application out there. Other than that, any Maya/Lightwave/3DS user will immediately hate it for it's \"innovative\" or \"we-just-had-to-be-different-lol\" interface.

Gmax is 3D Studio Max sans renderer, but it's no longer available.

Wings3D is quite a bit like Gmax, with no rendering capability and limited other capabilities.

Blender3D (retarded) is the most capable freeware 3D animation program, severly handicapped by an interface that was hopefully the result of a mentally retarded cat rather than a human being.

Anim8or is kinda cool. Never played with it, though I understand you can create some pretty neat stuff with it.

I, personally, like 3D Studio Max the most just because of the mass support it has. You can get freeware plugins for any version of Max, and there are scads of available tutorials online. Kicker is that it's about $4,000 or $800 for a student version. ;)

Blender is known to be one of the best .Give it a shot.