Free 3d program: Blender

[Neomega]

Hi all:

I wish I had seen results of models made in OpenFX 2 years ago. Then I would have bothered to learn it along, long time ago.

But I also must say, allthough there is no Civ III tutorial, (yet), this free program, http://www.blender.org/ looks like it is much more live, supported, and powerful than Open FX

I don't mean to create an exodus from OpenFX, but I think, if you are just getting started in modelling, or like me, in animation, this might be the better freeware program to start learning on. OpenFX will work fine for Civ III, but I have a feeling it's capabilities are limited.

http://www.ibiblio.org/bvidtute/

A link to 13 almost half hour video tutorials

I haven't seen anyone mention using Blender, but it looks really good.

So I guess this thread is to serve two purposes:

If you have used Blender, and found it to be trouble, please speak up.

I am going to update this thread as I explore Blender.


EDIT: 08/19/04
Civ IV will be using the Gamebryo engine, which uses either 3dds max or Maya, both of which are prohibitively expensive programs. It is possible neither Open FX or Blender will be able to be compatible!

I also should add it uses python for plug-ins and such, the same scripting language that Civ IV will be using for it's scenario script editor.

NEW 07/01/04

Two years ago I began modding Civ III, and my roomate at the time was like, "why are you spending so much time doing that", and I says, "because I want to".

I have spent 2 years honing my skills specifically for Civ III, but have learned alot in the process, but a lot of the skills were wasted (good for Civ III, and that's about it).

It also got me a couple months ago from the sales department to a special project department, that has to do with 3d modeling.

Civ IV will be coming out, but I noticed quite a few people getting bitten by the modding bug. It is very addictive, you may find yourself still doing it in two years.

The reason why I am pointing out blender is, it may behoove you to start learning on a more powerful program than open FX.

I personally plan on getting a new computer to run blender, I can tell it is really, really good, especially for free. So if you have a good graphics card, please check it out.

 

[kulade]

Looks promising.

 

[Neomega]

Well:

I have SiS for a video card, aka onboard video. Blender does not like my computer too well... may be time for an upgrade to a computer with a video card.

They say on their website that NVidia graphics cards function with Blender superbly.

 

[muffins]

Yay! I've got a NVidia 3D video card!

I'll probably try blender out sometime next week

 

[MarineCorps]

Hmmm, what kind of formats can this thing use?

 

[Neomega]

It says it will take .wrl and .DXF.

.DXF is pretty universal, and most programs, (including openFX and Rhino, can convert any file to DXF.

Basically, if you had a 3ds file, you would need to convert it to DXF first, which is pretty easy.

But My work computer, (I am on lunch) is a 2700 with 512 RAM and a 128 GFX card... ATI I think... even so, Blender is running great on it.

I can tell, it is built for speed of creation, and has a steep learning curve due to it's dexterity.

 

[MarineCorps]

Actually I have been looking for a free 3d program that does Lightwave models since thats all I have.

 

[Dease]

Woah! that image on the "about blender" is amazing! if I could ever do something like that It'd be amazing!!!
EDIT: WOW! only 3.2mb thats tiny compared to openfx

 

[vbraun]

Playing around with it led me to a crappy sword:

It looks promising though

 

[muffins]

EDIT: WOW! only 3.2mb thats tiny compared to openfx

hmmm ... only 3.2mb? The question that comes to mind is what are you not getting that you do get from OpenFX. OpenFX comes with a load of cool tools and effects Just look at page 5 of my Leman Russ tank unit preview thread and see a tank melt into a puddle of goo to see what I mean

 

[Dease]

From just looking in the program it seems A LOT more integrated and complex than openfx. I'm sure if you took the time to learn the program it would be more powerful than openfx but I'll stick with OFX cause I like it

BTW muffins check out my arquebusier thread i need a bit of help with the textures

 

[vbraun]

Its better for the poor people that are stuck with dial-up

 

[Dease]

Its better for the poor people that are stuck with dial-up

Openfx can come in a 10mb file if you want to dl for ~1hour although the 40mb file comes with lots of cool stuff

 

[MarineCorps]

Openfx can come in a 10mb file if you want to dl for ~1hour although the 40mb file comes with lots of cool stuff

Actually its more like two hours. damn aol. damn dial up.

 

[ASA Dragon]

To help out with Blender, there is a guide book available. I found one used through Amazon for around $10. It's called "The Official Blender 2.0 Guide", and in case you don't want to spend time downloading the program (for whatever reason ...) it comes with a disk that has the program on it. I can't compare it to OpenFX, but it is on par with a variety of other free 3D programs. I am just getting started with this program, and a couple of others (GMAX, POV-Ray, Bryce5, etc.), and using it as instructional for when I eventually get 3DSMax, Poser, and Rhino.

 

[turgotZ]

If you are interested in learning Blender here is the link to the free users guide
http://www.blender.org/modules/documentation/htmlI/
and the reference guide
http://www.blender.org/modules/documentation/htmlII/

 

[muffins]

Openfx can come in a 10mb file if you want to dl for ~1hour although the 40mb file comes with lots of cool stuff

I downloaded the 20mb version ... what cool stuff am I missing out on??

 

[Dease]

From openfx.org -

The full binary distribution, complete with sample models, animations and textures is around 44 megabytes

to be more precise it comes with 26 folders of free models with many in each (i'd guess ~100 total but some are useless) ~10 animations, as for texture i'm not sure if they mean plugins or maps but I have 43 texture plugins, and 20 texture maps
This is probably why open fx is much bigger than blender since it has lots of models, and also because it's 13 programs

 

[vbraun]

I have never used OpenFX but i know that Blender is a lot easier then POV-Ray I ve been playing around with it looking at some tutorials and got this futristic ship:

Edit: Wrong pic fixed

 

[Neomega]

Not bad Vbraun. The store I went to didn't have any AMD 3200 Bartons in stock, , or an Nvidia Quadro graphics card, so I have to wait for my lunch breaks to continue to learn blender for a week or so, until they come in and I have a fat rendering machine.

It concerns me there is no undo, so it seems that would make learning even more difficult, but build a good habit of saving very often. Because rhino eval had a limited number of saves, I will have to break the habit of not saving until done modeling.

I am still experimenting with Open FX also, and finding it a little frustrating, especially when it comes to selecting vertices, but I am spoiled with the simplicity of Rhino.