OK, I guess there may be answers to this all through the forum but I'm too lazy to look. So I'll just throw this out...

I have tried just about every kind of art here on Heromorph except 3D. I would like to give it a try, but money is tight. Can someone recommend an easy way to get started in 3D, that won't cost me arms and legs in case I end up not liking it?

Thanks,

-w

how does free sound!!!

Daz Studio is a free alternative to poser. you can find it here. http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/software/studio/-/?

Personally I like poser more as I find it easier to use but daz Studio's will work for you, it comes with some nice free content but you can also find free content thru out the Daz Site.

http://free.daz3d.com/free_weekly/archive_list.php

http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/shop/itemdetails/-/?item=1558&cat=3

http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/shop/itemdetails/-/?item=2866&spmeta=ab

http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/shop/itemdetails/-/?item=3101&spmeta=ab

also you can check out our own 3d freebie section as we now have quite a few downloads.

Also renderosity has a massive content freebie section both one that is Daz specific http://www.renderosity.com/mod/freestuff/index.php?section_id=28

and one that for poser. (note only 90% of poser products work in daz with out daz specific files)
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/freestuff/index.php?section_id=1

other freebie places I visit regularly are http://www.contentparadise.com/us/user/search.php?free=1
http://www.runtimedna.com/
and of course what wasmith would be complete with out Dr who Freebies http://www.vanishingpoint.biz/freestuff.asp?ClassificationID=8

I started with Daz.. I didn't get it at first. I strongly recommend you read some tutorials and walk thru's. I moved onto Poser because it is a much more user friendly program IMHO but Daz should give you an idea if you will like this sort of art or not.

Thanks for the great reply Winterhawk, I'll check all that out. Free sounds really good!

hey, just so you know, with the current version of Daz/Studio, it pretty much gives the same result as poser 7.

i use Daz/Studio almost exclusively, except when i'm messing with other 3d programs.

If your are not fussy about having the latest and greatest version of a program, someone claiming to be e-frontiers has been selling shrink-wrapped copies Poser 5, Shade 7, Shade 7 LE on e-bay for a few months. The listings run for about a week at a time and may be bundled together with a book or another program.

Here is a search link for the seller:
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZe_frontier_america_incQQhtZ-1

Maybe there is a cheaper/better place to find older versions of Poser.

Look what I found...Looks like you get still get bryce 5 for free Also for those of you that don't have him or her Hiro 3 and V3 are free again as well,

Isn't free good.
I haven't tried any of the below downloads myself.

http://www.download.com/DAZ-Productions/3260-20_4-6286136.html

well enjoy bryce 5 and M3, A3, H3, & V3.

hope those work for you.

i know the hiro/aiko/micheal thing works, as i just used it a few weeks ago. and i'm sure that the bryce 5 thing is the same bryce 5 i have, so it might work too.