Re: Snapping
Original-Nachricht Datum: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 09:36:11 -0400 Von: Henry Tjernlund henrytjernl...@gmail.com An: user-list@light.realsoft3d.com Betreff: Re: Snapping I can't seem to begin new threads, so I will have to ask some new questions in old threads. I can´t tell you what to do to get the other channels you want, but if you want to start a thread in this list, you should only have to send an email to the list - just writing a normal email to user-list@light.realsoft3d.com. I can´t see why this should not be working for you; or do new emails not appear on the list although you have send them? Then the only possibility would seem to be the lists server filtering out your emails; something I´ve never heard before. I´m a little confused... -- Neu: GMX Doppel-FLAT mit Internet-Flatrate + Telefon-Flatrate für nur 19,99 Euro/mtl.!* http://portal.gmx.net/de/go/dsl02
Re: Snapping
Hey Henry, Re starting a new message / thread at the Userlist just make sure your FROM email address is the one you used to join the list in the first place. This might / might not be the issue, just was in my brain when you mentioned your problem. To ask questions live, another alternative is the Realsoft 3D Chat ( IRC ). You can access this at: QUAKEnet server channel: #realsoft3d The app I use on my PC to get at IRC is mIRC: http://www.mirc.com/ Best time seems to be after Tea 6/7pm on GMT. I am in there always as bobthe3Dbuilder :D - Though sometimes there in spirit and not actually if I need to go to customer land or ZZZ. Best idea is log in and hang out - leave the app open. Cheers Aidan ( Ireland ) 2009/8/5 Henry Tjernlund henrytjernl...@gmail.com I can't seem to begin new threads, so I will have to ask some new questions in old threads. Here is one. I would like to view different channels (like Reflection) in the viewport. Can this be done? I have tried several ways but I can't seem to get anything but the standard render. -- -- Henry Tjernlund http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/browse.php?username=henrytj http://www.modelmayhem.com/HenryTjernlund http://imdb.com/name/nm2519729/ http://www.myspace.com/henrytj http://henrytj.deviantart.com/
Re: Snapping
Thanks. This time it worked, but I swear that I tried all kinds of finger dance combinations, including the one you described here and the results always seemed to have some offset distance to them. I have also noticed that RS sometimes starts behaving oddly and it needs to be closed and started again. Like one time it would render the view quickly, but when it got to the bottom-right last box it seemed to calculate something endlessly, even though there was no geometry there. Hi Henry, Sorry I didn't reply earlier, it's always nice to see a new user on this list ! It's always advisable to be careful when RS is rendering to the screen with all cores... sometimes I mishit the Cancel button and click something from the toolbar and RS seems to freeze :( In most of the cases it's still rendering, but the result won't show up until it's finished! I understand your frustration, but after a while you learn to live with it, find some walkarounds and use RS in really productive ways. This is a power horse, but some of it is a bit under the hood ;) But I have ridden this horse for so long now that I find other 3d software weird and hard to get used to. A good RS sesion can be furiously fast if it's 'in your fingers'! And I am still not used to the two step file save mechanism. I am certain on more than one occasion I changed the name of the file (like from Teacup-Test-1B to Teacup-Test-1C, only to find several saves later that it seemed to never have actually taken the name change and I clobbered the last good save of 1B. It seems I have to change the name in the windows dialog box and click on Save in that interface, then I have to also click on OK in the next outer RS interface too. I guess I'm not used to having to tell programs twice to save a file before it actually does it. Yes, this needs some attention from RS. Especially if you mix part of different projects! Also a couple times it seemed I did something and the next thing I knew is that the view of my scene was upside down. The one time the last thing I did before this happened was to create a new level (what I tend to think of as a file folder) and I am used to other programs where it automatically assumes you want to name the level/folder and I start typing a name. So maybe it took what I typed as some keyboard shortcut command (which is yet another reason I don't like keyboard shortcuts.) Sometimes when I am writing fiction and furiously typing, some other program will pop-up a box and it takes my typing as an answer to what it was asking, and it does something that I may not have wanted it to do. Of course that kind of stuff happened to me too - when you think you are typing a word, you give a chain of commands! Nothing to worry about and certainly not something specific to RS I think. I would recommend having a look at VSL, one of Realsoft3d's strongest assets! Good luck, I hope you can overcome these initial hurdles... save often! -Mark Heuymans
Re: Snapping
Henry Tjernlund wrote: Now whenever I try out a program, I aw well aware of how the interface helps or hinders its use. The makers of RS might be brilliant at figuring out the mathematics of making the program do something. But the interface is not quite up to than same standard. And in the market place, that can be a deciding factor. That's brilliant, I approve. Software should be designed like old school videogames. Why Super Mario Bross 1 is the best game ever? The gameplay is fantastic and there is only 2 buttons. Today stupid game designers all suffers from a mental obsession that they cannot resist : must use all buttons. If a keyboard had 1 000 buttons they would use them all. I think the future is in the user interface, already RS can do everything imaginable. A shortcut is supposed to be a shortcut, not the only way to do something. In that area the only software that does not require shortcuts for normal operation is Strata3D. But just rotating a view is never easy. Here is my wish list for RS : simplify user interface. Jean-Sebastien Perron www.CombadZ.com (keyboard is not used in combadz at all)
Re: Snapping
Hi Henry and Fredrik, yes exactly ... nobody is upset here. I think Fredrik did understood very well what I wanted to say. There have been already some discussions on the betalist concerning the toolbar. It's already totally overcrowded. Such overcrouded that you had to scroll the toolbar. If it comes to modelling only a good workflow is needed. That's for my point of view really given with RS. The interface doesn't look really modern. No way I really see your point. I also tried Bryce and Poser. That's software for 3D beginners and also usefull if you need fast results and have a parsimonious customer. Anything else I found both extremely boring. But if you look for advanced 3D software it is impossible to put all in the interface. You've to learn the software. Really not a bit upset here only an other opinion. Cheers Boris - Original Message - From: fre...@gmail.com To: user-list@light.realsoft3d.com Sent: Saturday, August 01, 2009 6:53 PM Subject: Re: Snapping Hi. I don't think anyone was upset. ;-) I am guessing, but I think that the point Boris was making was that when using a software regularly, after learning to use it, the keyboard short cuts are essential for an efficient and productive work flow. For learning, navigating menues and toolbars could be easier than to memorise stuff, but not necessarily - having to switch between different toolbars for performing simple tasks such as snapping to a point sounds very much annoying to me. Returning to the original topic, what is it exactly that you are trying to do? To move a curve so that the end point is located on a point of another curve, select the curve, start a move action using the m-key or the move tool in the Transformation toolbar. Then hold the comma key and left mouse button down as you drag a rectangle around the point on the curve you want to move. Then release the left mouse button, change view if necessary and then hold the comma key and left mouse button down again as you drag a rectangle over the target point. Regardless of how the views were aligned, the two curves should now intersect at the last selected point. At least it does when I try it. I currently have v6, but this has been the same at least since v4.5 if I am not mistaken. 2009/8/1 Henry Tjernlund henrytjernl...@gmail.com: i'm sorry if I upset people with my criticism of RS. I don't mean to be harsh. But when I spend half an hour trying to get things to snap, and can't, its frustrating. The other teacher I mentioned was not (my) teacher, but a fellow teacher. He taught full time for his whole career. (He's retired now.) I taught part-time for 11 years myself. I learned a lot from him, and in that learning I would have to disagree. Teaching someone how to use a program is not about speed typing. Its about concepts and understanding why you are doing what you are being shown. In the single course we had for 3D graphics and Animation, we used Bryce. I was simple and easy and students quickly got results for little effort. I doubt that any of them went on to use Bryce in a career. But the point was to whet their appetite and give them an idea what it is about. We had one 4-month course that met only twice a week to cover enough material so that the student would know if that was something that they wanted to invest more education in (at another school that taught the subject in more depth.) I myself am dyslexic and have even switched to a Dvorak keyboard layout. It turned out not to help as much with spelling errors, as I had hoped, but since doing that I have never experienced the arm/wrist/hand fatigue as I used to with QWERTY. Many keyboard shortcuts are geared toward QWERTY so some are actually more difficult in Dvorak. But I also write fiction so the avoidance of arm strain is good for me. And back the the teaching. Versions ago in Photoshop some of the tools used to require keyboard finger gymnastics. Then they put those same options as icons up in the option's bar for that tool. That speeded teaching. Before that I had to walk around and help almost half the students to figure out the finder dance. When the options were available as icons, the number of raised-hand interruptions dropped noticeably. Now whenever I try out a program, I aw well aware of how the interface helps or hinders its use. The makers of RS might be brilliant at figuring out the mathematics of making the program do something. But the interface is not quite up to than same standard. And in the market place, that can be a deciding factor. -- -- Henry Tjernlund http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/browse.php?username=henrytj http://www.modelmayhem.com/HenryTjernlund http://imdb.com/name/nm2519729/ http://www.myspace.com/henrytj http://henrytj.deviantart.com/
Re: Snapping
Just got back to RS after a couple weeks away. Still having problems with snapping. I was going through one manual and using the pen tool to make a sweep surface with curves. (One profile, on path, I guess.) I decided after making the surface that i wanted to snap the two curves together at their starting point. No matter what I did (5 key, comma key, etc) I could not get them to snap in 3D. They would snap in 2D but be horrible off in the projection. What am I doing wrong? BTW, why didn't RS simply put snapping options in a tool options bar? One fellow teacher I knew didn't like it when software maker required you to memorize what he called finger gymnastics. What is so difficult about making a snap tool bar with options? I'm dyslexic (yes, I am actually dyslexic which is why interfaces make a big difference for me) enough to have to try and memorize 10 different special (no other way to access the feature) keyboard commands for 10 different programs who's makers think that theirs is the only program that you use. -- -- Henry Tjernlund http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/browse.php?username=henrytj http://www.modelmayhem.com/HenryTjernlund http://imdb.com/name/nm2519729/ http://www.myspace.com/henrytj http://henrytj.deviantart.com/
Re: Snapping
Shade a very expensive 3D software I once loved, use an unusual technique for point snapping to other point from other object. Simply select the desination point and press the Memory button then select the point to be moved to that location then press Apply button. It's not the fastest method but it is very precise. Jean-Sebastien Perron www.NeuroWorld.ws Henry Tjernlund wrote: Just got back to RS after a couple weeks away. Still having problems with snapping. I was going through one manual and using the pen tool to make a sweep surface with curves. (One profile, on path, I guess.) I decided after making the surface that i wanted to snap the two curves together at their starting point. No matter what I did (5 key, comma key, etc) I could not get them to snap in 3D. They would snap in 2D but be horrible off in the projection. What am I doing wrong? BTW, why didn't RS simply put snapping options in a tool options bar? One fellow teacher I knew didn't like it when software maker required you to memorize what he called finger gymnastics. What is so difficult about making a snap tool bar with options? I'm dyslexic (yes, I am actually dyslexic which is why interfaces make a big difference for me) enough to have to try and memorize 10 different special (no other way to access the feature) keyboard commands for 10 different programs who's makers think that theirs is the only program that you use.
Re: Snapping
Hi Henry, I'd have a discussion with your teacher. For working productive and good with your software you've to be a virtuso on the keyboard and the mouse or use a different input advices no matter of the used software. It's like typeing blind with 10 fingers. If you need snapping you would have to activate the wished options in the tool bar. I can't see the difference instead to swapping to 2d projection. Also the menu is already totally overloaded. To continue the discussion with your teacher: At work I've to feed a databank with a lot of information. My most complain is that I can't work here consistently with the keyboard. I've to switch very often to the mouse which is very time consumming. All this theory of that you've to get it all with the mouse in the menu is based on the idea to give beginners a good step in the software but it's not a bit productive. cheers Boris - Original Message - From: Henry Tjernlund henrytjernl...@gmail.com To: user-list@light.realsoft3d.com Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 12:40 PM Subject: Re: Snapping Just got back to RS after a couple weeks away. Still having problems with snapping. I was going through one manual and using the pen tool to make a sweep surface with curves. (One profile, on path, I guess.) I decided after making the surface that i wanted to snap the two curves together at their starting point. No matter what I did (5 key, comma key, etc) I could not get them to snap in 3D. They would snap in 2D but be horrible off in the projection. What am I doing wrong? BTW, why didn't RS simply put snapping options in a tool options bar? One fellow teacher I knew didn't like it when software maker required you to memorize what he called finger gymnastics. What is so difficult about making a snap tool bar with options? I'm dyslexic (yes, I am actually dyslexic which is why interfaces make a big difference for me) enough to have to try and memorize 10 different special (no other way to access the feature) keyboard commands for 10 different programs who's makers think that theirs is the only program that you use. -- -- Henry Tjernlund http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/browse.php?username=henrytj http://www.modelmayhem.com/HenryTjernlund http://imdb.com/name/nm2519729/ http://www.myspace.com/henrytj http://henrytj.deviantart.com/
Re: Snapping
i'm sorry if I upset people with my criticism of RS. I don't mean to be harsh. But when I spend half an hour trying to get things to snap, and can't, its frustrating. The other teacher I mentioned was not (my) teacher, but a fellow teacher. He taught full time for his whole career. (He's retired now.) I taught part-time for 11 years myself. I learned a lot from him, and in that learning I would have to disagree. Teaching someone how to use a program is not about speed typing. Its about concepts and understanding why you are doing what you are being shown. In the single course we had for 3D graphics and Animation, we used Bryce. I was simple and easy and students quickly got results for little effort. I doubt that any of them went on to use Bryce in a career. But the point was to whet their appetite and give them an idea what it is about. We had one 4-month course that met only twice a week to cover enough material so that the student would know if that was something that they wanted to invest more education in (at another school that taught the subject in more depth.) I myself am dyslexic and have even switched to a Dvorak keyboard layout. It turned out not to help as much with spelling errors, as I had hoped, but since doing that I have never experienced the arm/wrist/hand fatigue as I used to with QWERTY. Many keyboard shortcuts are geared toward QWERTY so some are actually more difficult in Dvorak. But I also write fiction so the avoidance of arm strain is good for me. And back the the teaching. Versions ago in Photoshop some of the tools used to require keyboard finger gymnastics. Then they put those same options as icons up in the option's bar for that tool. That speeded teaching. Before that I had to walk around and help almost half the students to figure out the finder dance. When the options were available as icons, the number of raised-hand interruptions dropped noticeably. Now whenever I try out a program, I aw well aware of how the interface helps or hinders its use. The makers of RS might be brilliant at figuring out the mathematics of making the program do something. But the interface is not quite up to than same standard. And in the market place, that can be a deciding factor. -- -- Henry Tjernlund http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/browse.php?username=henrytj http://www.modelmayhem.com/HenryTjernlund http://imdb.com/name/nm2519729/ http://www.myspace.com/henrytj http://henrytj.deviantart.com/
RE: Snapping
Hi Henry, I work a lot with C4D and I can't confirm Maxon has a bad attitude. When I meat a real problem that I can't solve with the help of regular fora I always get an answer from Maxon within a day. But there might be a difference in their approach towards users that bought the latest version instead of users working with older ones. I can imagine they don't like to answer to old bugs all the time when these bugs have been solved in later versions. Arjo. -Oorspronkelijk bericht- Van: owner-l...@light.realsoft3d.com [mailto:owner-l...@light.realsoft3d.com] Namens Henry Tjernlund Verzonden: donderdag 9 juli 2009 23:56 Aan: user-list@light.realsoft3d.com Onderwerp: Re: Snapping Thanks. I hope that I can keep track of all that. I have used other software. The ones I like is where the interface is easy and consistent. For me, the interface can really make a big difference in how well I use the program. So far my favorite is Cinema 4D, though my version is an older one (R8) that I got on academic discount when I was teaching a few years ago. C4D used to be very nice to their user base, but now (like so many other program makers, once they achieve success) they have gone all rock-star with their attitude. I also have Rhino (v3) and Vue 4 Desprit. In every program I seem to find strengths and weaknesses. Like I said, for me the interface seems critical and I have to admit, that having played with RS for only a couple weeks since buying the magazine (3D World) that it may be a little too non-standard and counter intuitive for me. But I'll keep trying at it. -- -- Henry Tjernlund http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/browse.php?username=henrytj http://www.modelmayhem.com/HenryTjernlund http://imdb.com/name/nm2519729/ http://www.myspace.com/henrytj http://henrytj.deviantart.com/
Re: Snapping
I'm not talking about Maxon's (Cinema 4D) tech support. I'm sure that its great. I'm talking about their corporate attitude toward students, faculty, and hobbyist. Years ago Maxon (like RealSoft won) used to be agressive about getting their software into the hands of new users. They re-released their old version 6 as 6CE (or maybe 6SE) at something like 1/10th its original price. They promoted this in magazines like 3D World much like RealSoft did just this last month. Their academic version had a single price of about $250 and the license didn't expire. Now they are different. Maxon's lowest academic price is only for full time students/faculty who are using C4D. Otherwise its about double that price. ($500 starts to get pretty prohibitive.) Also the license of the latest academic version of C4D expires after a couple years. (which makes it more costly for non-traditional students that are in a slower part-time student situation, as they have to pay to renew the license.) Maxon no longer re-releases old versions to hobbyists like I am now. They've now achieve a level of success and no longer try to attract new users the way that they did before. And here is my particular gripe with Maxon. I bought my academic version (as I was teaching at a community college back than and wanted to get the school to teach something more than just Bryce) and did so when the current version was R8. But it was shortly before the release of R8.5. There was an offer to upgrade for free to R8.5 when it was released. But at that time I was both teaching and being the primary caregiver for my elderly mother. I got the software, learned to use it well enough, liked it a lot, but failed to get the school to take interest in offering several courses in using it. When R8.5 came out I called AcademicSuperStore.com (where I bought the R8 version), but they said that I was wrong about any upgrade offer. I couldn't find my paperwork. But my mother's health was going downhill and I got busy with taking care of her. Years later (last year) I found the original shipping box that someone had used to put some of my mother's things in, and in the bottom of the box was the invoice and sure enough, right on the paperwork, it said free upgrade to R8.5. I called the AcademicSuperStore people and they said that the upgrade would have had to come from Maxon. I sent Maxon email and they said the upgrade offer would have been through AcademicSuperStore. I called the store again and argued with them, they finally admitted that yes, they were the ones to provide the upgrade, and should have back then, but will no longer honor the agreement as they could not, as they could no provide such an old version. I contacted Maxon and they had no interest in providing the upgrade offer either. They said that they had no copies of old versions. (Now, really, would not a company like Maxon keep archives of every old version they had?) Once admitting that I was entitled to the R8.5 version, all it would have taken was to someone to make me several discs from some archive and provide me with activation codes. But no, even though both parties finally admitted that I was entitled to the upgrade, neither would honor that. Henry On 7/10/09, Arjo Rozendaal arjo.rozend...@xs4all.nl wrote: Hi Henry, I work a lot with C4D and I can't confirm Maxon has a bad attitude. When I meat a real problem that I can't solve with the help of regular fora I always get an answer from Maxon within a day. But there might be a difference in their approach towards users that bought the latest version instead of users working with older ones. I can imagine they don't like to answer to old bugs all the time when these bugs have been solved in later versions. Arjo. -Oorspronkelijk bericht- Van: owner-l...@light.realsoft3d.com [mailto:owner-l...@light.realsoft3d.com] Namens Henry Tjernlund Verzonden: donderdag 9 juli 2009 23:56 Aan: user-list@light.realsoft3d.com Onderwerp: Re: Snapping Thanks. I hope that I can keep track of all that. I have used other software. The ones I like is where the interface is easy and consistent. For me, the interface can really make a big difference in how well I use the program. So far my favorite is Cinema 4D, though my version is an older one (R8) that I got on academic discount when I was teaching a few years ago. C4D used to be very nice to their user base, but now (like so many other program makers, once they achieve success) they have gone all rock-star with their attitude. I also have Rhino (v3) and Vue 4 Desprit. In every program I seem to find strengths and weaknesses. Like I said, for me the interface seems critical and I have to admit, that having played with RS for only a couple weeks since buying the magazine (3D World) that it may be a little too non-standard and counter intuitive for me. But I'll keep trying at it. -- -- Henry Tjernlund http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/browse.php?username
Re: Snapping
I had so many problems with software company in the past 10 years : ElectricImage -Being gang raped on the forum by other users -A company that does not implement basic functions into it's own software not to bother it's plug-ins maker friends. -A SDK that only work on a mac (no mention whatsoever when you buy the pc version) -Copying object does not copy all parameters (with an answer : wait for the next patch in 6 moths) Vue 4 -No tech support -No upgrade price from previous version _expression_ tools, e-onsoftware, now ... -The sofware change hand each year so the tech support don't care anymore PMG project messiah -Again, bukaki into my mouth from the user list for asking why the company never replied to my e-mails. -Copy does not copy all parameters -The company never ever replied to my e-mails (I have many different e-mails) Strata You buy a software that requires all the Adobe suite to function normally (and does not bother being compatible with gimp or inkscape). Most company don't even bother replying to my emails when you question the lack of a feature that is really important Mental ray -It's so difficult to get a tryout or just peek at the documentation -It's even more difficult to get a price on the bastard SitexGraphic Everytime change computer or reinstall windows I need to send them a request to reactivate my license. Vendor nation Buy a software today, the next day they release a new version without telling you yesterday and no there is no upgrade path Their phone number does not work in canada Codegear (formely borland) They sell a IDE (for programming) and compiler that is way much inferior to Microsoft Visual studio at a price no one can afford (while there is many free solution that does a better job) Softimage One day they are interested in amateur and small business the next day the are not SideFX Are you crazy, why would anyone be stupid enough to buy a software that expensive (and so ridiculously complex) when your competitors are much better at a cheaper price Carrara Carrara changed from hand of metacreation to eovia then to DAZ3d, Daz3D a company that is the equivalent of an X porn site. Impulse (imagine) -Simply disappear without leaving a trace Realsoft >From my experience Realsoft is the only company that will reply to all you e-mails, even answer the phone. The pricing is always fair, the upgrade price is also always fair. And the rs forum and list is very open to criticism. And there is no deadlock like so many other software maker (a bug that can kill your project) is solved right now. Realsoft is the absolute best company in the CG industry, you may not know but since the first version, RS has been pushing technologies always with surprising revolutions. Feel free to ask any questions. This list can also be used to share your views and news on anything CG. Jean-Sebastien Perron www.CombadZ.com
Re: Snapping
That IS quite an extensive list. Too bad these companies don't keep to their words, or are nicer to their user base. And glad that companies like RealSoft seem to do better at that. I am also glad to see that this list is not as harsh as others I have encountered where if you make the slightest disparaging comment you get attacked. The one other software that has a good user support base is Rhino. The only question I even asked that wasn't answered was how to make breasts. Now I explained that I didn't mean nude ones, but I was working on a buxom cartoon-ish character (clothed) and simply wanted to give her some cleavage. I still haven't finished that character model. Still working at teaching myself RS when I find the time. Even though I am unemployed, I am still quite busy. I am searching for some 3D program that I can learn to use and afford to keep upgraded. -- -- Henry Tjernlund http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/browse.php?username=henrytj http://www.modelmayhem.com/HenryTjernlund http://imdb.com/name/nm2519729/ http://www.myspace.com/henrytj http://henrytj.deviantart.com/
RE: Snapping
Hi Henry, This really doesn't sound like a nice story. I can imagine that this pissed you off completely. I hope you find all the things you need in Realsoft. It's a great tool with a lot of possibilities. But it will take some time to discover them all. btw C4D is still fighting for its position I think. They just offered the latest release 11 at 50% reduction. I guess a new version is coming soon. I'm afraid 3D companies have very difficult times nowadays. It really frightens me that Autodesk owns three major applications at the moment. Will we end up like in the OS war? I liked it much more when there were the Amiga and the Atari beside Windows and Mac. Arjo. -Oorspronkelijk bericht- Van: owner-l...@light.realsoft3d.com [mailto:owner-l...@light.realsoft3d.com] Namens Henry Tjernlund Verzonden: vrijdag 10 juli 2009 19:09 Aan: user-list@light.realsoft3d.com Onderwerp: Re: Snapping I'm not talking about Maxon's (Cinema 4D) tech support. I'm sure that its great. I'm talking about their corporate attitude toward students, faculty, and hobbyist. Years ago Maxon (like RealSoft won) used to be agressive about getting their software into the hands of new users. They re-released their old version 6 as 6CE (or maybe 6SE) at something like 1/10th its original price. They promoted this in magazines like 3D World much like RealSoft did just this last month. Their academic version had a single price of about $250 and the license didn't expire. Now they are different. Maxon's lowest academic price is only for full time students/faculty who are using C4D. Otherwise its about double that price. ($500 starts to get pretty prohibitive.) Also the license of the latest academic version of C4D expires after a couple years. (which makes it more costly for non-traditional students that are in a slower part-time student situation, as they have to pay to renew the license.) Maxon no longer re-releases old versions to hobbyists like I am now. They've now achieve a level of success and no longer try to attract new users the way that they did before.
Snapping
First time poster here (so I hope I am doing this correctly, most forums seem to have a web interface) and first time RS3D user (got the free offer of RS 5 in 3D World magazine. I am going through the HTML manual (I wish there was a PDF version) and trying to get the snapping to work. I can select the corner of a rectangle object okay, but it doesn't seem to snap to any other object (like another rectangle) in any way. Also, the materials in the one panel seem to disappear often. Also looking for more instructional tutorials. Seems the user support for RS is a little thin. Thanks, -- -- Henry Tjernlund http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/browse.php?username=henrytj http://www.modelmayhem.com/HenryTjernlund http://imdb.com/name/nm2519729/ http://www.myspace.com/henrytj http://henrytj.deviantart.com/
