Poser

[ThomasCarter]

Has anyone used this program?



I got it off a friend for use as a 3d character design program thing, but found that it is the best reference tool ever.

You basically just pull up a full 3d model of a person. You can change their height, weight, face etc and pose them however you want. Put in crazy angles, clothes etc. You can also change the lighting for shading and colouring etc. If you ever need an incredibly specific reference, then this program is god...

...

Never used it for 3d design though...

[Fink]

I have Poser 5. It's pretty damned useful although I haven't exactly mastered the many functions. I don't like the lighting & camera controls so much so I often export stuff into 3DS Max because I'm more comfortable there.

I use it for roughing out shots, scenes, etc.. and I've used it in some of my 3D design stuff where there's anatomically-critical elements on some machine or other (eg: setting up the seat/controls/etc on a motorcycle or exo-suit).

Also pretty handy for figure drawing (which I guess is Poser's purpose, yeah?) as I'm making the transition from pixel to paper and I'm kinda weak in that area. I'm training myself to work without a 'net, so to speak. I'm more working along roughing out compositional stuff with various tools and hand-rendering the look I want.

[Egofreaky]

Do you require good knowledge of 3D programs to use it? Or can 3D nuffnuffs like me grab it, make dummies do stuff, and print that out as a reference point without too much hassle?

[Fink]

[Nate Soehardi]

[Fink]

[ThomasCarter]

Oh yeah, tools are handy but do relatively squat, especially in contrast with time and practice.

Poser does not make you good. Not at all...Not even a little bit...

As a reference tool however, I highly recommend it...

[Egofreaky]

[maggie]

[Fink]

[Nate Soehardi]

[maggie]

[Nate Soehardi]

[Egofreaky]

[ChrisWahl]

Some freebies for anyone considering using Poser...

Daz Studios have always supplied the best human figures for use in Poser, with their Victoria and Michael characters. They are now offering the base characters free and also have a free Beta program similar to Poser available on their website-

www.daz3d.com

Note- you have to register, and to download the figures also requires a credit card (even though they are free, they're still 'purchased' through their checkout system, but no money is deducted from your card.)

Worth checking out.