#Poser pro 2010 figures upgrade#
#Poser pro 2010 figures software#
#Poser pro 2010 figures trial#

While I will agree that a lot of Poser-created images are amateur in nature, you have to look at the “big picture”: since Poser is inexpensive, fairly easy to use, and doesn’t require a super-computer, it’s only natural that a wide variety of people would use the software.

#Poser pro 2010 figures software#

Many elitists also claim that Poser images show a distinct “amateur-ness”, which obviously means that the software itself is amateurish. Do they really mean that if I use an “unprofessional” software program, I can no longer call myself a “professional”? How’s that for circular logic? These elitists claim (usually with specious logic) that “professionals” don’t use Poser simply because it’s “unprofessional”.

For this discussion, I’ll be calling these “professionals” by the more-correct term of “elitists”, which will mean “people who look down on something for their own personal reasons”. These people tend to look down on the use of Poser simply because they don’t use it, don’t understand it, or more-often-than-not, because they just don’t like it. However, many people seem to think that Poser is “unprofessional” because of its low price, its low learning curve, and the “amateur-ness” of many images made by beginners. The learning curve for Poser is a lot less steep than that of more complex graphics programs. Poser’s low price (normally in the $250 range) and included content (models, clothing, poses, etc) allow almost anyone to quickly make digital images immediately after purchasing and installing the software. Poser Pro owners can get Poser 8 for the same price, although the changes in Poser 8 will be reflected in Poser Pro 2010, which is due out later in the year.Why do elitists look down on the use of Poser?Īs an introduction, Poser is a “3D Character and Scene Design” graphics software program created by Ghost Effects, then sold to and upgraded by MetaCreations, then sold to and upgraded by e-frontier, and then sold to and upgraded by Smith Micro (link opens in new window).

#Poser pro 2010 figures upgrade#

An upgrade to Poser 8, even for owners of the most recent release, costs $130 (£80) – more than half the cost of buying the package new. There's a sting in the tale for existing Poser owners, though. It'll be fascinating to see how Smith Micro builds on this solid foundation. It's more pleasant for regular users and more capable of good-quality renders with less fiddling. Smith Micro has taken the same approach in Poser 8 that Apple has taken with Snow Leopard: there are relatively few brand-new tools, but there's been lots of tuning up to make what's there easier for newcomers to get into. With overhauls above and below the surface, Poser 8 is a marked improvement over previous releases.

The coming months will determine their real value, as content merchants decide whether they want to use Ryan and Alyson for their latest character and clothing designs.

The emphasis on realism in Ryan and Alyson has mixed results: general proportions are good, but details such as the fold of the armpit area are unconvincing. Smith Micro has also created new figures: a male and a female, each in four racial variations.

#Poser pro 2010 figures trial#

Rendering is also improved, with indirect lighting adding detail to shadows that used to require lots of trial and error to achieve. Most tools feel more responsive, while the in-screen preview shows the effect of lights better, although it's still not accurate enough. The confidence projected through the new interface is reflected in Poser 8's technical changes. The feature is a bit sluggish in use, and a facility to add your own searchable descriptive tags to assets would make it more effective, but even this implementation is a clear move in the right direction. PREVIEW: Poser 8 features a brand-new sleek user interface with a much larger Preview window (Click here for high res version)Īt last, you can simply type in the name of the item you want, click Search, and choose it from a results list.