I’ve been debating some time if I should upgrade Carrara 5 to the pro version. I have the standard version and with the sale going on at Daz making the upgrade about $200 I wonder if I should go ahead and upgrade. I’m a little tight on money due to starting school soon, but I could do it if the benefits of pro version are worth it.

If you plan on doing significant modeling or animation, the answer is yes. Otherwise, for just rendering and basic/semi advanced modeling, the standard is fine. Mark

So if I’m somewhat new to modeling and rendering is should probably just stick with the standard version the right?

In that case, it kind of depends on where you'd like to go. If you see yourself expanding and growing as your proficiency increases - then go pro. The difference in cost isn't really that great compared to the increased capabilties you get. And as an added bonus, you get an expanded learning curve1 ;)

Unless you really need Transposer (and it's pretty cool to import Poser animations) I'd wait and see how the new C6 vs C6Pro stacks up. Should be out in the fall..., and there are some questions what will happen with Transposer. My money is that DazStudio will import into C6 -- no extra plugin required.

The other reason to get Pro is the additional animation improvements. But I doubt as a student you'd have extra computers lying around idle for a render farm.... If you are not animating yet, I'd say hold off and wait. Another few months can't hurt.

If you can wait until the fall and see what C6 has in store (vs C6Pro -- we assume there will be a C6Pro), you could put a little of that money towards some useful plugins. ShaderOps and Veloute are just essential for complex procedural shaders.... AnythingGoos is probably essential for realism. Again, C6 or C6Pro might absorb some of the current plugins' capabilities....

Of course if you have extra money lying around get Pro -- you won't regret it, but don't do it based on features you might use some day. Daz will probably keep a similar upgrade path for C6 (similar price range anyway), so I'd say save your money now and wait to see what new features separate standard from Pro.

holly

Thank you for both for the info and opinions. I do believe that ill hold of on getting pro since I’m not up to the point where I would use the extra features yet and ill wait for Carrara 6 and maybe just upgrade it then. Thanks again

Attached Link: SNEAK PEEK - Carrara 6 New Features

>> If you can wait until the fall and see what C6 has in store (vs C6Pro -- we assume there will be a C6Pro), you could put a little of that money towards some useful plugins. ShaderOps and Veloute are just essential for complex procedural shaders.... AnythingGoos is probably essential for realism. Again, C6 or C6Pro might absorb some of the current plugins' capabilities....

You don't have to wait till fall ... DAZ has been previewing the new C6 Features and ... well ... you have to look at them to see why it's pretty exciting! And with the current "get C5 Now and Get C6 Free" it is kind of a no-brainer to upgrade to Pro if you want some growing room.

Poser users want to start reading at about page 42. ;-)

Anyone know if I upgrade from C5 to C5Pro now if I'll be elligible for the free upgrade to C6Pro or not?