Putting water into a digital glass.
Waiter ... © Robin Wood 1998 Closeup View

I'm going to show you two ways to do this, using the two 3D applications I used most when I was asked this question: Ray Dream Studio 5, and Infini-D 4.0, both by MetaCreations. The same basic concepts will probably work in whatever application you are using. I am assuming here that you are familiar enough with the program that you know how to make a basic lathed spline-form object with two different cross sections. If you don't, please check it out in your User's Guide.

Click the link below to access the answer in the format you prefer.

Do you want instructions for Infini-D Text Only; Infini-D with Diagrams; Ray Dream Text Only or Ray Dream with Diagrams? Diagrams, of course, take lots longer; but I think they also convey more information. The choice is yours!

As with any other programs, Ray Dream Studio and Infini-D each have their own strengths and weaknesses. I like the glows and light effects better in Infini-D, and I find it easier to get the shading effects I want. I also far prefer the procedural wood grain there, and you can use templates in the modeling windows, which makes modeling complex stuff a lot easier.

Ray Dream Studio has better shadows, though; especially shadows through transparent (or semi-transparent) objects. And because of the extensions available you can do a lot of things in Ray Dream (ranging from fire and sky effects through printing AutoStereograms and Anaglyphs (those funky pictures that you have to look at through 3D glasses)) that simply cannot be done in Infini-D.

So you basically "pays your money, and takes your choice." Which program I use for a specific picture depends in large part on what is the most important to me. If you ask me, as many have, "Which one is better?" I have to reply, "For what?"

At this point, I tend to use Strata Studio Pro more than any other program, because it has radiosity, which makes things look much more realistic.

For a more in-depth review of the various applications, see the "Reviews" section, coming soon to your left.

In all cases, the names of the various software applications, hardware devices, and analog mediums are registered to their respective owners.

If you have a question, write to me and ask it!

Everything on this site is copyright © Robin Wood; all rights reserved. Please do not use anything without permission. To get permission, write to Robin, and explain what you intend to use it for.