Affordable good rendering software

I am an amateur boatdesigner that can handle autocad but wants to create a pretty picture. What is good rendering and affordable (multihull) design software ? And where can I get it second hand ?

Johan

 

You can search this forum, but I think Rhino is better than AutoCAD for hull design, and then you can use Flamingo as a renderer. For low cost yacht design programs (including multihull?) try out NavalDesigner and Prolines.

 

Check out TouchCAD, which combines good hull fairing abilities, lots of modeling power and at an affordable price.

This 14 meter cat was 100% designed and modelled in TouchCAD:
http://www.boatdesign.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1521


www.touchcad.com

 

Rhino will be your best bet, use rhinoman, BMRT2.6 or 3Delight you will have a "free renderer" very capable and probably better than flamingo (image quality), do not use flamingo renderer, if you are looking for "cheap" alternatives, Blender and GMAX w/milkshape3D (Gmax Free, Milkshape to get your model out of GMAX), this will do what you want, it will take some time to learn them but...."free" is unbeatable (except milkshape3D), do a search on the internet about this programs there is a lot of resources.

if you decide to invest some money , then:

Rhino3D/Rhinoman
XSI foundation (killer option)
Look for Carrara V2 in the internet (I pay for it $85 dlls) and after few jobs I upgrade to Carrara V4 pro

and have a look at Shade 7 standard.

good luck