Poser (software)
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Poser is a three-dimensional modelling and animation program for the home computer user. It uses a subset of the Alias object (OBJ) file format natively and a text-based markup for content-files. This customizability has helped draw a large number of people to the program. As Poser does not allow for original modelling of objects except in the simplest of senses, a community of merchant/artists creating, buying, and selling content for the program has sprung into existence.
Poser is marketed as a human and animal figure posing and animation tool, although other articulate models as well as "props" can be easily animated. Poser comes with libraries of human, animal, and robot figures, poses, hair pieces, props, hand gestures, and facial expressions. Facial expressions are implemented through the use of morphs, which are also used in many models to allow customizing of body and other features.
Poser 1 was released in 1995 by artist and programmer Larry Weinberg, who created it as a replacement for wooden mannequins used by artists. Poser 2 was released in 1996, Poser 3, with a new user interface, in 1998, and Poser 4 in 1999. Poser was owned by MetaCreations until its collapse and the sale of Poser to Curious Labs (now e Frontier) during version 4. An expansion called Poser 4 Pro Pack was released in 2001, allowing new features, such as implementation of Python scripting, custom figure rigging, and the ability to host Poser scenes in 3ds max, Lightwave 3d, and Cinema 4D. Poser used a phong shading render until the implementation of a raytracer called Firefly in Poser 5. By summer of 2003, Poser was in its 5th version for both Windows and Macintosh platforms, though some controversy surrounds whether or not version 5 was ready for release at that time. The current version (as of May 2005) is 6.
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Links
Official
- e Frontier America (http://www.e-frontier.com)
- Content Paradise (http://www.contentparadise.com/): e Frontier store
Community
- Renderosity (http://www.renderosity.com):Forums and art galleries
- Renderotica (http://www.renderotica.com):Adult themed Poser art
- DAZ3d website (http://www.daz3d.com)
- PoserPros website (http://poserpros.daz3d.com)
- Animotions website (http://www.animotions.com)
- Zygote Media Group website (http://www.zygote.com/)
- 3D Commune website (http://www.3dcommune.com)
- 3-D Arena website (http://www.3-darena.com)Several forums and art galleries including Poser
Other
- Jolly (http://www.getjolly.com/)
- Vanishing Point (http://www.vanishingpoint.biz/): SF and military related products
- Sixus1 media (http://www.sixus1.com/):Cthulhu related products
- Radio Free Ironbear Forum/Cooperative Blog (http://www.xfx-3d.com/rfi_jump.mp)
- Tom Miller's Poser newsblog (http://www.sparkchaser.net) Gossip blog updated regularlyde:Poser