Free 3D Programs from Daz 3D

I posted about this in another thread but thought I'd give everyone a heads up. If you are interested in making and rendering 3D models and elements for your films, Daz 3D is giving away 3 of its core programs for free for a limited time

Hexagon 2 ( 3D Modeling program ) http://www.daz3d.com...ails/?item=4222

Daz Studio 4 Pro ( 3D posing and animation ) http://www.daz3d.com...ils/?item=13176

Bryce 7 Pro ( 3D Modeling, Rendering and Animation ) http://www.daz3d.com...ils/?item=11034

Not top of the line programs, but the price is right.

This from Daz 3D

OFFER EXTENDED

Due to an absolutely astonishing response
from 3D ART enthusiasts everywhere, DAZ IS EXTENDING
this offer through March 31, 2012!!!

FREE 3D Software Suite

Why on earth are is Daz giving away software, some of the software cost a few hundred dollars. I cant figure the angel out?

Because they make most of their money selling models and other add-ons for the programs. Daz3D is primarily a content provider.

You get kool free programs, don';t question it, don't try to make sense of it, just grab the kool free programs.

Why on earth are is Daz giving away software, some of the software cost a few hundred dollars. I cant figure the angel out?

The angle is that Blender is killing them off.

Daz's basic Studio program used to be free, it was free for a long time. You only paid for the advanced version. Now till the end of March they are offering the pro version for free.

When I bought Hex it was $1.99. Bryce... I bought version 3 and I have been getting free upgrades ever since lol. Just before this promotion started I won a copy of Bryce 7 Pro that I gave away since I already had a copy.

Thanks man, can I use Hexagon to put CGI vehicles into my films?

Hexagon is a dedicated modeling program. You could create your ships in Hexagon ( quite easily and quickly too, its very easy to learn ) but once you make them you would need to export them to another program to animate and render them. On the bright side, you could import them into either Daz Studio 4 or Bryce ( both also free right now ) for animation and rendering. Or you could render them in some other program like Vue, Carrara, Poser, etc.

But yes, if you want to model custom space ships for your films than Hexagon would be an awesome tool to have.

If you don't want to bother with learning to model, paint and rig in 3D, Daz also has a ton of models for sale that can be animated and rendered in Daz Studio 4, there are also tons of sites with free models that can be used in either Bryce or Studio 4.

Honestly, I find Poser to be the better program for incorporating renders with live footage. I think its a bit more advanced in that way than Studio. But Studio is free.

And Vue would be the even better choice, since Vue was used on such films as Pirates of the Caribbean, Avatar, etc. But Vue is more expensive and harder to learn. I won my copy of Vue 9 in an art contest. I also won the last 3 versions of Poser, Bryce 7 Pro, Daz Studio Advanced, Zbrush, Filter Forge etc etc etc

I stopped buying software, I just win stuff... Well, I did buy HitFilm Ultimate, when they had the contest, I didn't have a computer beefy enough to run the demo. So I bought that and then built a computer to run it.

Blender is to hard to use for me. I did not like it

never tried Blender, just down loaded it... it looks interesting

Blender is to hard to use for me. I did not like it

Me too. I can't get used to the nomenclature and keyboard methods of working. It's a very odd interface for me.

But I have seen some tremendous stuff made with Blender.

Can I use Daz 3d to actually put models into my films?

Would they be trackable?

Thanks!

Daz Studio does not have tracking... yet. I've been talking to the folks at Daz and I have told them that tracking is a much needed feature, so maybe in a coming version it will have it, but right now, no.

There is an add on for Poser Pro 2010 that adds tracking through the use of PFHoe, and Poser can use most models sold by Daz. Bryce 7 also does not have tracking at this time.

But if you are doing flying objects or space scenes etc, you might get by with out tracking.

Also remember that HF Ultimate does have 2D tracking, so possibly you could use that as a work around.

Okay. You've been a big help, can you by any chance make a tutorial on this subject. I know its a lot to ask for but it would be much appreciated.

Thanks

errrrr well to be completely honest, i'm not a huge fan of Daz Studio. Some people use it and love it. I began working in 3D with Bryce, and later moved on to Poser ( this was before Studio even existed ). Since Bryce, Carrara and Poser were once all made by the same company, they all shared a similar interface, so transitioning from Bryce to the other 2 programs was fairly easy. Studio has a very different interface and I find it a bit clunky and awkward to work in. Also for film making I think Poser has some advantages over Studio. The major advantage Studio has right now is price, its just hard to beat free.

My recommendation would be, grab Studio now while its free, try it out, if you like working in a 3D graphics program and feel its something you really want to do, then look into getting Poser. But if you want a Daz Studio based tutorial, I am in no way qualified to do one as I don't have much experience in that program. I will be getting PFHoe in a couple days and then I will be doing a lot of stuff combining Poser with video footage, so I will be posting quite a bit on that.

Here are a few images I did a while back, this is a combination of Poser, Video, and FX Lab Pro. these are just stills but you can get the idea. Since I had no tracking back then, when ever I was going to be adding effects to a shot I locked my camera down on a tripod, so all my effects shots were very static, no camera movement. Its one way of working around the lack of tracking, but it gets old in a hurry. It becomes very noticeable that every time there is an effects shot the camera stops moving. I tried to get around that a little by adding camera moves in editing. I'd just zoom in or out in the frames or pan slightly side to side. But it still wasn't the best. Luckily most of what I shoot is sort of in the style of 50's and 60's sci-fi and horror films so I can get away with that sort of thing a little. I am really looking forward to getting PFHoe so I can get my camera off the damn tripod. Finally I can add effects and not have the camera locked in place.

But anyway here is an image sequence I did last year.

Well, as you say the price is right, but man I forgot how much I hate the Bryce interface

For me Bryce is just not as good as Vue for landscapes. Vue is easier to get into and works well with Daz and Poser.

I still can't believe they've given Daz Pro away free this month. It's a fantastic giveaway

I tried to get it, but it's been hours and they haven't sent me my confirmation email, so I can't log it.

I tried to get it, but it's been hours and they haven't sent me my confirmation email, so I can't log it.

that is odd, they are doing some site maintenance right now, maybe that has slowed things down, check your spam folder as well