How do I make the Batman spin?

[Ken Berry]

Terry -- AFAIK, Xara3D does not import *.3ds files. As far as I can see, it will only import graphics done in a sister graphics application Xara Xtreme, plus windows metafiles (.wmf) and *.web files. And again, as far as I cannot see the *.3ds extension in the long list of formats that Xtreme can import... Which programs produce .3ds files, by the way?

[Terry Stetler]

*.3ds = 3D Studio, perhaps the closest thing to a universal 3D exchange format.

3D Studio was the predecessor to Autodesks 3D Studio MAX, which itself is one of todays premiere 3D programs next to Maya (*.ma), SoftImage (*.xsi), Lightwave (*.lwo) and Wavefront (*.obj).

Basically it's a major selling point for a 3D program to support *.3ds files because far more than its share of free and commercial objects are in *.3ds format.

There are converters, but direct support is far, far better.

[Rich2Putt]

There is a much easier 3D program called Xara 3D which I bought a few months ago. Costs about $50. It is not as sophisticated as Cool 3d, but you can still do some pretty amazing things with it, and again produce some amazing titles, which is what I mainly use it for. Like Cool 3D, you can also apply photos as textures and then make the whole thing spin or make other movements.

Best of all, Xara 3D is miles faster than Cool 3D (which in itself is miles faster than Production Studio) in rendering the final products. Xara 3D, for instance, will take only a few seconds to render a 10 or 12 second .AVI title, while Cool 3D will take 20 minutes or more, and Production Studio sometimes more than an hour!

Ken,

Thanks for the info on Xara3D. I downloaded the trial version yesterday & within 15 min I made a nice 3D title. So much easier then Cool 3D.

I may spend the $50 USA dollars on it.

[Ken Berry]

Good. That's been my experience also. Even though it may not be able to import 3d produced in mainstream products, it can still produce the type of file which VS can see. And that is what I was after in the first place... FWIW, when I bought it, it took only 6 days to arrive in Australia from the UK, and that's a looooong way. Not bad, I thought...

[Rich2Putt]

Good. That's been my experience also. Even though it may not be able to import 3d produced in mainstream products, it can still produce the type of file which VS can see. And that is what I was after in the first place... FWIW, when I bought it, it took only 6 days to arrive in Australia from the UK, and that's a looooong way. Not bad, I thought...

Hi Ken,

OT........Since trying the trial version of Xara 3D, the system crashes 5 of 6 times I attempt to export the file to .AVI. These are the step I take:
1) Open project
2) File Export Animation
3) Save To AVI
4) Pop up box appears
5) Choose AVI options
6) Once I click on AVI options, the screen freezes.

I know this isn't the site for Xara assistance, but no more on Xara after this comment......

Thanks........

[Ken Berry]

There is in fact a Xara 3D forum at http://www.talkgraphics.com/forumdisplay.php?f=18 And its rather like this one -- very helpful, though I tend to burn with envy as some of the experts post their 3D products which are awesome in the original sense of the word.

Otherwise, I am not sure what to say about your problem. I take the same steps all the time. The only thing I can think of may be the AVI options you choose. I always make sure it produces an Uncompressed AVI. May be large, but it always works. I also make sure it is True Colour, full size PAL and the right fps for PAL... You would, of course, need to adjust it for NTSC...