Just wondering if it's going to work with my new copy of Carrara 3, I bought Thor back when it came out. I'm wondering is there going to be an update, or will my old version work with the new Carrara.. I'd hate to let a $60.00 plugin go to waste... And it's such a fun plugin to boot,. thanks kaom

i waiting for an update too,thor is very cool.

I heard from someone asking me to clone the functionality that Zenstar told him that they will not be updating Thor to C3. I'm not sure how accurate that is though, I didn't talk to Mike Pogue directly.

Regards,
Eric Winemiller
Digital Carvers Guild
3D plug-ins for Carrara
http://digitalcarversguild.com

Thanks, At least I can still use it in v2.1 when I need it. But man would it be nice to have that in v3, with all those nice rendering features... I'd like to see Thor rendered using the NPR render engine... I really hope they update it, but there's no mention of Carrara 3 on their site, and it looks like it hasn't been updated or changed since 2002...Is that something you could do Eric? Are you saying you could make a way to make Thor work in 3? thanks kaom

kaom,

No I can't make a c2 plug-in work in C3, but I could create something new. Someone asked me to create something that did the same thing as Thor, however it's probably not something I'd do. Converting a primitive plug-in from C2 to C3 is a half hour job, tops. If Zenstar hasn't done it, it's probably because it just doesn't sell anymore or it's more hassle than it's worth to process the upgrade for the existing customers.

I wouldn't build a new different lightning plug-in because if Zenstar wanted to, they could recompile Thor, release it and there goes the market. I would have wasted all that research and coding time when I could have used it improving one my existing products or coming up with something completely new. If you folks are really interested in seeing one in C3, bugging Zenstar to convert it is probably the best bet.

Regards,
Eric Winemiller
Digital Carvers Guild
3D plug-ins for Carrara
http://digitalcarversguild.com

Thanks Eric, I will be contacting Zenstar.. I hope other Thor users do the same... God I wish I would of learned C++ and Visual Basic when I had the chance.... Half an hour? Damn.... How long does it take you from concept to finish to create a plugin Eric? Is it something an average intelligent person could learn? Or is it a programming nightmare for the inexperienced? thanks kaom

kaom, Depends on the plug-in, how complicated, how much code can I steal from other stuff I've done. Anything Grooves probably took months (though not full time, I have a day job). Apply Shader to Selected Items took two hours because I could steal most of the code from other things I've done. Some shaders have been a 15 minute job. I think nearly anyone who wants to do it, can do it. You probably aren't going to be building a new renderer right away, but shaders are pretty easy and a good place to start. Knowing C++, COM, and some general math is helpful and of course if you've got questions we're always happy to help. Regards, Eric Winemiller Digital Carvers Guild 3D plug-ins for Carrara http://digitalcarversguild.com

Since I'd be starting form scratch and would not have code to steal from, I'm guessing it would be a serious venture... So uh...Where would I begin as far as making shaders, I'd love to learn, I've always wanted to make my own shaders anyways... Are you talking about creating the Carrara .cbr files? You've sparked my curiosoity, now I really want to make a shader and learn the ways of the Carrara Jedi masters such as yourself...One question, is it the same way litst created the Real World Metals Shaders? Or am I talking apples to oranges here? thanks kaom

Eric, Will my version of Anything Groves work in v3 or will i have to buy a new one? kaom

the upgrades are free. i will use particle illusion or winimages to fake the lightning stuff but i will bother zenstar too.

kaom,

As daigoro said, just go to the DCG site and download Anything Grooves for C3. There is no cost to upgrade. Here's the links:

Carrara 3.0
PC
http://digitalcarversguild.com/downloads/c3/anythinggrooves.zip
Mac OS9
http://digitalcarversguild.com/downloads/c3/anythinggroovesos9.sit
Mac OSX
http://digitalcarversguild.com/downloads/c3/anythinggroovesosx.sit

Regards,
Eric Winemiller
Digital Carvers Guild
3D plug-ins for Carrara
http://digitalcarversguild.com

Cool, thanks... I'm glad you updated it for 3. You make some cool plugins.. I want to buy them all, as $$$$ allows.. And I really do want to learn how t go about making plugins.. thanks kaom