JG3D

http://archive3d.net/ http://www.3dmodelfree.com/ http://tf3dm.com/ http://www.creativecrash.com/ https://clara.io https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/ http://www.thepixellab.net/freebies http://3dsky.org/ There are some free 3D models on  http://www.cgtrader.com/ , like this detailed microscope: Available here:  http://www.cgtrader.com/free-3d-models/science-medical/lab-equipment/microscope--6 And of course  http://www.turbosquid.com/ , if you look hard enough you might find some surprisingly good 3d models amongst the lower quality stuff.

This is my 3D interpretation of Zakumi, the 2010 Fifa football world cup mascot. Modelled with 3ds max 2010, rendered with V-Ray 1.5 SP3a

This VrayScatter video is woven from the fabric of awesome! VrayScatter Demo from Alde on Vimeo . And here are some handy VrayScatter tutorials (13 of them!) on mentalscatter.com: http://www.mentalscatter.com/tutblog/?cat=3&paged=2 VRayScatter 2.5.5 is a plugin for Autodesk 3ds max 2010 and VRay The key features are: Generation and scattering massive arrays of VRayProxy by surfaces Capability of creation huge amount of objects in array Quick rendertime generation of objects with optimized RAM management Random transformations (scale, rotation) of objects in array Distribution of objects based on bitmaps or procedural maps Scaling of objects based on bitmaps or procedural maps Realtime viewport preview of objects placement Support of animated VRayProxy Different types of viewport preview of objects Special procedural map the VRayScatterTexture 64-bit support

How cool is this? Autodesk Sketchbook mobile is a layer-based sketching application for your Apple® iPhone® or Apple iPod touch®. And it's only $2.99 at the http://www.itunes.com/appstore/ More info here Watch a YouTube demo here

Here is a simple video tutorial that I made on making frosted glass with V-Ray and Autodesk 3ds Max. Please note that there are many ways to make frosted glass (sometimes called sandblasted glass), with V-Ray, and this is just one of them! Video tutorial on making frosted glass with V-Ray from JG3D on Vimeo .

Autodesk has released Service Pack 1 for 3ds Max Design 2010, which you can download here: SP1 It includes a number of fixes that are meant improve overall speed and stability. For me personally, I think the most important one is the Bitmap Pager fix, because there was an issue with this when using bitmaps larger than 1000px x 1000px in size, which is something I quite often need to do.

I have a fondness for old cars, so I love it when a fellow 3D modeller shows their appreciation for a classic car by modelling it in 3D. Check out these beautiful 3D renderings of a MK 1 ford Escort RS and a Ford 105E Anglia by DM Multimedia My Mom's first car was a red and white Ford Anlia 105E :) These cars where modelled in Autodesk 3ds max and rendered with Mental Ray. There are also a whole lot of handy 3D car modelling tutorials on the Dm Multimedia site, here Thanks to my brutjie Ant for the link :)

I am just loving this self-commissioned 3D concept for a new Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Lars Martensson ( http://www.3dluvr.com/grid/ ) created this (modelled with Autodesk 3ds max and rendered with V-Ray). I love the way he's created a whole new design aesthetic for Subaru, with hints of a typical 80's wedge shape at the rear, a la Lancia Monte Carlo/Honda Civic CRX, integrated with a totally fresh, muscular snout. It's just awesome: It just makes the current WRX STI look lame:

Ok, let me get this out of the way first - I am still using 3ds Max 2008. Autodesk would like me to be using Max 2010 by now, even though its only March 2009, but I couldn't be arsed. One of the things I hated about using Max 2008 for the first time was the "new" object selection box. (Select by name, H on the keyboard) If you have many objects in your scene (And even if you don't have that many), it is incredibly sloooooow. Very annoying when all you are trying to do is select an object from a list. So, the best thing to do is to revert back to the "old" object selection box. This is how you do it: Go to this ini file: C:\Documents and Settings\ >\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\3dsmax\2008 - 64bit\enu\defaults\MAX\CurrentDefaults.ini where > is your windows user name and change: [Scene Explorer] SelectByNameUsesSceneExplorer=1 to: [Scene Explorer] SelectByNameUsesSceneExplorer=0 Thanks to V-Ray Forum user dbibb for this trick!

Chaosgroup has released V-Ray 1.5 SP3 today. ( link ) WTF - a free upgrade? Yes, and they made the software better too, with new features that we, the users asked for, and the upgrade is free for anyone who has ever bought V-Ray in the past. Now that's service and if only Autodesk would learn from this. V-Ray 1.5 Service Pack 3 is compatible with Autodesk 3ds Max 6.xx/7.xx/8.xx/9.xx/2008/2009 as well as Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2009. Both 32-bit and 64-bit OS are supported. New features included: - VRayFastSSS2 sub-surface scattering material - Linear Workflow - Mesh-based lights - V-Ray light material as direct light - V-Ray Fog environmental effect - Vector Displacement - Import Proxy as mesh - Support for Max Arch & Design materials - Region Rendering directly in VFB Some renders courtesy of V-Ray developer and all-round-nice-guy Vlado, while SP3 was in development, just to give you an idea: