Animate Images with Carrara 6

This 3D program enables you to crate a complete 3D environment with modelers, preset textures, shaders and realistic rendering

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Carrara 6 is a 3D application package designed for creative artists and film makers to create 3D modeling, texturing, rendering and animating them.

Carrara is a DAZ product, so you can use DAZ 3D models like Victoria, Michael, Aiko, Millennium Dragon, etc. Some of its features include, polygonal modeling, landscaping, vegetation, texturing and photo realistic or non photo realistic rendering.

However, you can also give a new look and feel to the already exciting animation, landscape, modeling and rendering with its various features like illustration. Here are some samples of all that you can do with this application.

For installing Carrara application, your system needs 512 Mb RAM and 700 Mhz speed for Macintosh. For Windows, you need Pentium III Processor, 700 Mhz speed and 512 MB RAM.

Using the Puppet tool you can stretch images to create an animated or motion character. Let's check how this tool can be used through the following screenshots that show you the sequence of creating smoke in motion (in yellow color to increase visibility):

Create a new file, click on 'Scene Size', select size and then click on 'Empty Scene'. The size of the Scene affects the camera speed and rendering precision	Select the 'Vertex Object' icon or go to >Insert >Vertex Object and click on the workplace. You can see the above Window. Now you are in a modeling room

From the 'Shape Drop Down' list, select Cone and place to the workplace. Decrease the polygon count by pressing +/- or change the Object Definition value	Straighten the Cone and select the mid-row lines with 'Move' tool. Pick up the Scale tool and drag the selected row outward. Apply the same procedure to the top-row also

Click on 'Move' tool and select any extruded polygon. Change to side view for better visibility. Press 'Shift' key and select the alternative polygons of the same row	Now, you are going to play with the 'Extrusion' tool. Change to top view and select the 'Dynamic Extrusion' tool. Click on any selected polygon and drag outwards

You have to reduce the thickness of the extruded area. Bring the Cone straight and pick the 'Scale' tool from the tool box. Select the extruded area and drag it down little bit	Go back to 'Dynamic Extrusion' tool; drag outwards the selected polygon little more. If you aren't happy with the shape, repeat the same procedure

	S
Make the 'Soft Set' box on and select the any extruded area. Pick the rotate tool; rotate the selected area. Repeat the same procedure to shape all other extruded areas	Finally, select all objects and apply 'Smooth' for subdivision. Change the modeling value to 2 and render value to 4. Pick up the 'Texture' tool and apply your desired texture

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