XnView Software

www.blender.org

Has anyone tried this out? Seems to be very competent and advanced, has many proffesional features and it looks good on the screenshots.

I haven't looked at Blender since the 90's. It is considerably improved! Not your most standard interface for 3-D modeling and animation, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Very powerful and flexible, if a bit arcane. Some lingering display crumbs on my system.

I highly recommend the video tutorials, especially the one introducing the interface. Lots of ideas for XnView in that...

Another inexpensive modeler for 3-D is Moray (not free, but not too expensive) which works with the POV-Ray renderer (free). POV-Ray output rivals the very best renderers.

Not free and out of topic... but I am quite amazed by the images made with Maxwell Render, especially since I am used to Photography. Check that real scene comparison!

Oliver_G wrote:Not free and out of topic... but I am quite amazed by the images made with Maxwell Render, especially since I am used to Photography. Check that real scene comparison!

I disagree...Blender is very free (i use it occasionally, a poor artist).

download links
http://blender.org/cms/Blender.31.0.html

If blender's renders are a little to unrealistic for you....try the yafray plugin...http://blender.org/cms/Yafray.51.0.html

and if you want the latest and greatest....here are a link to CVS builds
http://www.graphicall.org/builds/index.php

Also, there is a free alternative to the Maxwell renderer as well....called Indigo (and blender can export to this renderer as well).
http://indigorenderer.com/joomla/
and a link to their gallery
http://www.indigorenderer.com/joomla/in ... &Itemid=26

ayro wrote:I disagree...Blender is very free

My "not free and out of topic" was for my own comment on Maxwell Render, not about what had been previously said on Blender...

Thanks for those interesting links and info.

I tried some very basics, and it seems to be really cool. Interface has still lots to wish for I guess, but nevertheless for being a free tool its amazing.

Blender 2.43 released - New Website (18/Feb/2007)