Maya I think is much easier to learn modeling and much easier to model giving you better control. 3d Studio Max has character Studio which is the “best” biped driven system on the market and has been for quite some time now.

It’s always god to know rigging via joints but CS is really nice to have.

It all depends on what you feel comfortable with. Most of the software out is owned by Adobe, which owns Autodesk. So files are mostly compatible with other adobe software. FBX expoter is amazing bcuz you can keep your animation and your textures in the model.

I would recommend Maya, then Max then the other software packages C4D and others if you have the money. If not then Blender.

Thank you
Flash Igre

Thank you
Flash Igre

http://pv3d.org/

How do I get a model into Flash (I'm using Away3D) with its textures? After gaining a lot of ground using MilkShape 3D, I ended up switching to Misfit Model 3D, which was a lot easier for me to figure out this time around.

I have my first model ready to go. It has a low amount of triangles and it uses two PNG graphics for the texture. However, I can't get the texture to show in Flash. I can export as an .obj file and see no texture, and I can't export as an .md2 file because it says my model is not compatible. I can try and import my model into another program (like Blender) to get it into a better format, but which format works best? I really need to keep the textures.

Thank you again! It's starting to become really fun to work with … I just need to figure out this last step to my workflow.

I got really far today using MilkShape 3D. I ran up against a few features I couldn't use because I hadn't purchased the software, and somehow I ended up trying Misfit Model 3D again. After finding some of the same features I had enjoyed in MilkShape,

Have fun!

I'm sure these features are in Blender somewhere? SketchUp is easy to use, but I found the texturing awful to use. I think you just saved the day for my current project and I. Thank you!

Once I'm more versed in MilkShape, Cinema4D or Blender I guess it might make sense to spend $3500 on an AutoDesk project, but I'm guessing that would make the biggest difference if I was doing film? I would imagine that the quality, filters and effects for 3DS Max or Maya might be more complete than Blender, since movies like Dreamworks are produced using the software.

Along those lines, do you know if RenderMan is it's own software, or does it augment some of these other packages?

Well Maya and 3DSMax if you can swing it, but hopefully Autodesk will do something like UDK and greatly lower prices. Unless you have about 5k you are going to have to get by with Blender, Cinema4D or something like that. It is all the same when it comes down to it but some tools are better than others. I actually have Maya and use Blender alot because the tools and extending it is easier with Python. Maya scripting now also supports it but blender is just something I like/use due to previous mod experience.

Well there really is no great easy 3d program that just makes sense like FlashDevelop compared to others. There is a market there and don't expect the bigs to change anytime soon for more usability because Autodesk owns them all. They could win big like that but they need competition to do so. Blender is not very user friendly, but it is powerful when you learn it. It is no easy ramp up like Unity3D is. MilkShape and maybe Cinema4D are bigger in low poly, game development type circles.

From Blender you can export out to AS3 directly (http://www.rozengain.com/blog/2008/01/02/export...) or to COLLADA. That supports all flash 3d engines.

But if you are looking for anything over 2000 polys and with hardware rendering (most machines have a DX7 capable card now why not use it?) then Unity3D, Torque3D, maybe even Director (which is the biggest Adobe fail for leaving this in 2004) etc are going to work best. Even for 2D hardware acceleration helps.

I'm a Flash developer and I want a serious 3D modeling program. Which should I choose?

Yes, I know that Blender and Google SketchUp are both free, but I don't just want something that “works” … I want a great solution. You can buy a bike at Wal-Mart that “works”, but it just doesn't hold a candle to a bike from a bike shop. Is Blender really a great solution, or should I look into 3D Studio Max, or Maya, or … ?

As far as Actionscript goes, moving to FlashDevelop changed my whole life … it is worlds ahead of the Flash IDE, and still much better than FlexBuilder in my opinion. I'm looking to try and figure out the same type of solution for 3D modeling, because its currently a huge pain or near impossible for me right now.

Lastly (as a bonus question), would anyone have experience with what type of model format translates well to Flash (Away3D)?

I'm interested in Unity 3D but I know I need to get this modeling question out of the way before I do.

Thanks!