How did you get started in 3D Graphics? Basically I got started as a hobby, my other main thing is I am a music composer and arranger, I have been doing that for many years now. I started out as a guitar player when I was very young and played in many bands...mainly progresive rock and blues, I also did a little study on flamenco and Indian Classical (sitar) music as well. Then I got more into arranging and writing and started a digital studio many years ago and went on from there writing and arranging everything from classical to metal to hip hop. But I could only spend so much time doing this daily, so I took up 3d modeling and computer art as a part time hobby (I did have a lot of formal airbrushing experience earlier on though.) My main 3d interest was sci fi and animation, but slowly I got more into modeling and building stuff. Then a few years back I became aware of Poser and the online community at Renderosity and that was such an amazing thing to me. So from then on 3d modeling has become an important part of my life. How long have you been working with 3D Graphics? About 5 years roughly now. Do you have any formal training? Not really...apart from conventional airbrushing, art always came naturally to me and I used to do murals in museums as a part time job when I was playing in bands.So 3d was a natural progression really. I bought Painter years ago when it was owned by Fractal Design (the good old days). Then Ray Dream Studio, Carrara and finally Amapi, plus plenty of other programs..but these where the main ones. Building and modeling in 3d is something I really love. What software do you use to develop your products? The most important products are Amapi 7, Painter, Poser 4&5, UV Mapper pro, Cr2 Edit (although I havent upgraded it yet). I have to say to anyone interested in modeling..check out Amapi 7. (BTW I have nothing to do with the manufacturers..Eovias). Amapi 7 still has a few bugs, but overall for the money it is really an AMAZING product!!! My newer products (not yet released) are being built in it. It is light years ahead of Amapi version 6 (it's a complete re write from scratch). You can model amazing things in it...so easily...I just love it. Ultimately it's made modeling more of a pleasure than a task these days. I also love Painter as well, I only use Photoshop a little bit now and then, thats nice also. But I personally prefer Painter becaause I love its brushes and versatility. Also Poser 5 is high on my list and it is much more stable now, there was a reluctance by many (understandably) to use it because the initial release was pretty darn buggy. But its pretty cool now and quite stable..so I use it a lot...I love the cloth room and the materials room as well!! The cloth room especially!!! The hair room is OK..but personally I still prefer the older trans mapped hair. How much time is required for product development? Some people seem to be able to whip products out, thats not for me though personally. I like to really spend a lot of time building and trying the product out over and over and also on a lot of occassions writing full on tutorials in pdf format, like in all my new dynamic clothes packs. So my products take a little time to build and may sometimes cost a little more, but people buy them because they know I care about them when I make them and for that reason they seem to sell very well. Many newer merchants take the approach that the best way to make sales is to sell at the lowest possible price, personally though I think that ultimately downgrades their products and the market place as well into a kind of 3d flea market. What they dont seem to get is that often people prefer to pay a little more for a product that has had the time and energy spent on it and in that way their money is well spent. I am not saying this is always the case... but its what I personally believe anyway, and it also reflects in the sales and feedback. Do you have any advice on how to get started selling 3D Products? Mainly ....do your homework before you release anything. Either sit at home and build stuff or paint stuff and get second opinions on it, be a harsh crtitc on yourself, otherwise others will do that job for you, and thats not always pleasant. Texture skins for characters always seem to sell well and there are many great texture makers like Byte Me OK, Magnet,Eowyn, Dalinise, Syyd and many others, there are also great modelers like Dark Whisper, Lady LittleFox, Spike, and the guy who built lifeform 387 (I think thats what it's called. All these people are amazingly talented, study their work and aspire to the very best you are capable of, dont just be driven by trying to make sales, that will ultimately fail. Rather do it as something you love to do and want to perfect, that is essentialy what an artist is, someone who strives for perfection in their creations regardless of what that creation actually is. Where does your inspiration come from when developing new products? Hmmm Thats difficult, basically I like a bit of a challenge, thats why I dont just keep making hair, even though it has been hugely successful for me. Total Hair for example has been on Renderosities best selling pages for 3 years now which is just incredible. But in spite of this I have been concentrating on building different products, like dynamic clothes, world kits and so on rather than just pumping out hair for a buck. I like to still be able to look back on a product a year or so later and feel it's something I am happy with as far as possible. But I have more hair on the boil and I really want to do a lot with my World Kit as well, it's a question of time really. How has Renderosity's on-line community played a role in regards to your products, friendships and learning? A real lot actually, unfortunately though I have very little time these days so I dont get on the forums that often of late, but they are a lot of fun and you can learn soo much from other people in the community. In all the time I have been at Renderosity I have only had pleasant and rewarding exchanges with the other people in the community, both fellow merchants, other members and customers as well. The staff at Renderosity are very very helpfull and nice people and so are the customers. I like the casual non demanding vibe at Renderosity and I believe this helps with creativity ultimately. Do you have any final words? Thank you to all my customers for continuing to buy my products, I will update all of them as I find time and I really appreciate your confidence in my products. Thank you to Clint, Jenny (both of them), Tammy and all the others at R'osity...you all do a very difficult job, yet you handle it so well. Personally I would be climbing the walls if I had to handle all the stuff you guys do. Thanks to all the artists and modelers at Renderosity...your work always inspires me. I am ultimately a fan of other artists and musicians and I like the humbling experience of admiring other peoples qualities and works that are so much better than my own. So thanks to you all. Cheers Harvey Mann