I've tried Blender. Really hated the interface but I hear they have improved it some. I would suggest NURBANA a freeware NURBS based modeler but it appears to be gone now.

Blenderwars seems to have some good links too and they have a list of pluggins for the GIMP program you described.

http://www.blenderwars.com/content.php?module=download

I have never tried it, mainly because I was given a copy of Photoshop when I bought Premiere, and I already owned Paint Shop 5. I have seen another freeware 2D graphics program. Its called Dogwaffle and it boasts some pretty impressive features for a freeware graphics designer. Here's that site.

http://www.squirreldome.com/cyberop.htm

Technically you can do glow effects in any paint program that supports video, you really don't have to have After Effects. However I would gather After Effects is probably easier to make glow effects on video without doing conversions to a paint file and so on. Probably more automated. I gotta sit down and use it one day and see, there should be some sort of filter.

Omega.User Wrote:I have after effects and already know how I will do the glow effects. All I need is a camera and a suit. If you don't get Blender you can got through these tutorials. Presently, I am doing them to. BlenderTuts Those are some pretty cool sites you showed. I may just go back to them some time.

Yeah, unfortunately not ALL the links still work but its nice to know there are resources for those financially strapped. I just remembered another 3D program which does deserve a plug and has been around as long as Blender, if not longer. Its DoGA, a japanese created freeware 3D modeling and animation program. Its also gone through alot of iterations so alot of the features are better than the past versions, but I personally haven't used it.

http://www.doga.co.jp/english/

I don't have Premiere, but I'm interested. I may get Premier or something similar some day, and would like to be prepared I'm always interested in learning more about how people come up with Tron-like effects.

PS - Thanks for the links Omega.User. I've downloaded and am trying to figure out Blender. Ahhhh, gotta love learning curves. Why can't we just download the info into our brains like in Matrix?

Traahn Wrote:I don't have Premiere, but I'm interested. I may get Premier or something similar some day, and would like to be prepared I'm always interested in learning more about how people come up with Tron-like effects. PS - Thanks for the links Omega.User. I've downloaded and am trying to figure out Blender. Ahhhh, gotta love learning curves. Why can't we just download the info into our brains like in Matrix?

If we could just download the info and be infused with knowledge, where would the fun and challenge be?

Thanks OnlySolutions! And thanks Omega... I hadn't visited the BlenderTuts before. I'll check it out. Also, good point regarding the IcoSphere; I know what you're saying. i accidentally started pulling sections of the sphere out to make peaks like Bit Although the Bit connection didn't hit me until you said that. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

IsoLine - The fun and challenge for me would be CREATING! I love to be able to use my knowledge and experience to make things or to fix problems. Thus, the fun for me would be making a 3D animation.

I have lots of ideas I'd like to do, but take DEdit for example. I've gone through the tutorials and stuff, but it's still a chore trying to figure things out or use things effectively (occlusion, AI routines, skyboxes, etc.). I'd rather just have all the knowledge at my fingertips so I could go to town building myself a new Tron 2.0 level.

Although I do derive pleasure and reward from learning new things and walking through tutorials, for the most part I'd rather not waste time on that portion of things (if I had a choice).