What 3D program would you recommend?

[InCreator@Work]

Wow, Silo is really neat one.
Never seen anything so simple, yet powerful! before.
I definetly second the recommendation.

[stuh505]

yeah.  after having used max to model for a good 6 months, I switched over to silo...and I was producing my best modelling work in it on the same day after only following 1 tutorial.  that's is the amazing thing of subdivision modelling and why I recommend it so much.

i urge you to check out the topology brush too, it's pretty cool...and not found in any other program.  it can also be used as a way to simplify a mesh that is subdivided too much (for instance, ZBrush mesh).  here's an experiment I did with it:

http://www.silo3d.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=23585#23585

silo is still very much a fledgeling program, but its only going to get better and more stable

[Reptile]

I'm almost done with 'aquiring'' Cinema 4D, and cant find a decent place to learn the proper basics, video tutorials would be the most helpful. Silo doesnt look that good, if 3D Max & Cinema 4D is not that good at modeling why are all the pros using them?

[LimpingFish]

Cinema 4D is by far the best 3D package to learn the craft on. I did, and I'm dumb as a mule .

Blender scares me. I mean REALLY scares me! What is up with its interface?!

Possibly Carrera would suit a beginner...although I still say Cinema 4D.

Grab the demo version...

www.cinema4d.com

...and give it a try.

[stuh505]

Cinema 4D is by far the best 3D package to learn the craft on. I did, and I'm dumb as a mule .

When you say 'by far the best,' which other programs have you learned which you are comparing it to?

edit --

I haven't only played around in C4D very quickly, not enough time to get used to it...I remember being pretty perplexed by the UI but that's probably quick to get over...I will say that it seemed to have a very modern and well-programmed interface, much more so than archaic giants like Max and Maya.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned XSI...my personal feel is that it won't be long before it dominates the professional market over max or maya.  For that reason, I would suggest anyone with the money to put down for a 3D package to strongly consider XSI 4.2 Foundation (with limited version compared to the $7000 version), which is a miniscule $500...at the same price range as the "hobbyist" apps like LW and C4D.

[LimpingFish]

When you say 'by far the best,' which other programs have you learned which you are comparing it to?

TrueSpace 4.3, Carrera 2, Amapi 6 (modeller), RealSoft 3D 4, and other specialist programs like Poser, Vue D'Esprit, Terragen etc.

Cinema 4D, in my humble opinon, offers power and stability along with a gentle learning curve.

Also Cinema 4D 6 CE, it's only limitation being a 640x480 render output, was available for FREE! :oÃ,  Yes, FREE! You can keep your water-marked Maya and Max "Personal Editons"

I liked what I saw of XSI but I'd still go with C4D

EDIT: See here...
Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  http://homepage.eircom.net/~limpingfish/index.html
Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  ...to see the type of stuff I use C4D to do.

[Paper Carnival]

I'm surprised at how nobody mentioned anim8or yet. Its rendering sucks, but as for modelling it kicks butt. There have to be converters to popular 3d formats. And the best part, it's completely free.