"Is Carrara worth buying?" - Your views please! by PhilW
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Hi All, I've not posted much recently but I'm still alive and kicking. This is for two reasons, I've been working on images for the sleeve and booklet for the next album by my band Manning, and also I've been playing with the trial version of Carrara.
I had tried earlier or cut-down versions of Carrara before and hadn't been too impressed, but I have seen some remarkable work done by Carrara artists recently and have been pleasantly suprised by this latest version. This picture is the first I have done entirely in Carrara - not perfect but not bad considering I haven't really looked at the manual!
So my big question to all users of Carrara is - given that I already have Poser 7 and Vue 6 Studio - is it worth investing more money in Carrara?
I can see advantages - it reads Poser content (are there issues with this?) and has a quality renderer with good indirect light. But there are things missing (e.g. cloth sim) and it would be yet another app to learn. So all views really welcomed on this.
Thanks for looking and for your feedback - have a great week! Phil

Comments (45)
A very classy image (better viewed lagre). Great skin tex & lighting. The answers to those questions would be interseting
Well for me, and this isn't a criticism of this image, I think your Vue images similar to this look much better, just my view!!! This is nice also!
Don't know too much about Carrara, but I think your image speaks for itself. Super.......
Hmmm hard question i dont know much about carrara i havnt tried it but your image is amazing the lighting looks fantastic superb work hugs lou x
I do not know anything about Carrara - the application that is. I happen to know Carrara in Tuscany quite well ;-)) - but I do like what you did with it here. The light is amazing with its subtle effects. Sorry I can't help you.
Wow! I love close-ups. (5)
You did very good pic! EXT work! 5
This is good work, I had a look on your previous images with Vue, and cant really see a reason to invest money in carrara, but I´m not a pro...
It´s a lovely and cool portrait! Fantastic
This is a lovely image. I have Carrara and Vue 6 Infinite. I've only tried Carrara a couple of times. I've never really done anything worth showing in it. Not that it isn't a good program ... I've seen some really beautiful work done in Carrara but I'm more comfortable with Vue (I started with a free version of Vue 4 d'esprit) and I like what I can do with it. I think its much more a personal preference than anything thing else. Both seem very good programs. Honestly if you have Vue already unless you have the cash to spare I'd stick with it.
awesome render..... :)
very nice well done~!
Awesome portrait and lady!
I have Carrara Express that I picked up (very inexpensively) during Daz's big sale. I did a couple of quick renders and it seems OK. However, I have too much time invested in Vue Esprit to make the switch. Anyway, super render Phil. I'm sure you'll make the right decision for you.
As someone who has both I can tell you Vue to me is the superior product. Since I got Vue Cararra has been gathering dust on my computer.
I've got copies of Carrara and Vue Easel, and I'm really liking the images I can get out of the cut down version of Vue. One thing Carrara has going for it, it can create files in .obj format and export them. My version of view can't do that. If your looking to create objects and export them to other software packages, then this might be something to consider.
Awesom work . I have Carrara6 Pro, I don't use it.
Wonderful image and work, Excellent well done..
I use an older version of Carrara for making morphs for V4, her clothing, and some associated models that are then rendered in Poser7. I always thought of Carrara as more of a model builder's software package than a rendering software, but I think DAZ wants to push it as a rendering package now too. A lot of DAZ's recent release are for Carrara only. Some of them are pretty amazing. It might be nice to have just one package that does it all, but I can not say whether the latest version accomplishes that yet or not. Maybe you should also post the question in the forums...5 stars from me on the image....
Impressive render. I do not use Carrara but all that I have seen and heard about it is that it offers allot of very nice features and the render is very nice in addition to supporting landscaping and a great many other features. As Mark above said DAZ is starting to release some very nice Crrara only items.
Great render!!!!!
awesome render!! gorgeous character too :D sorry i cant comment on Carrara :(
Carrara is Great!!!And your ArtWork is fantastic with this software!!!
beautiful portrait! fantastic work!
I´m not so shure I will buy Carrara - but I see often very realistic renders - The Price from Vue to Carrara ? better ? Just in moment I work and play with Vue 6 Studio - for me Phil - Vue is for me sufficient - it´s my Hobby and I have fun to create Pictures with my one style - the Perfection is not my way - Hey but my Friend - I like all your works and this one looks - wow - ok :)
Stunning work!
I wish I could add my two cents worth on this discussion, but I've just started out with DAZ and still learning it. Great image though!
Yes Phil...Carrara is great software!! I think there is not big issues, allthough I'm not sure...Ask Akulla, he is carrara master...and I think Cjoe used to work with it a lot. I have little experience, and I like it a lot...but those guys know much more I'm sure... And this is very nice render!!
Nice portrait!!!!
I never got on with Poser but I moved to Carrara from Bryce and Daz Studo and never looked back; of all the listed applications, Carrara is the best all rounder. Vue can do great things but you can create rigged figures with morphs from scratch in Carrara, I dont think you can do that with Vue. A lovely portrait