Yes I have.
I used Caligari's programs heavily for +/- 6 years (From 1997-2003). Since then I have tried the new version trials, but have not *yet* found a viable reason for purchasing.
Currently, I use a combination of Sketchup Pro, and, believe it or not- milkshape and blender.
Milkshape is quite frankly, incredible at exporting & converting formats. I don't use it for modeling,
but there's quite a few *very* in depth step by step tutorials for character and building creation
in it. I have found and seen Milkshape in use everywhere from Industrial Design companies, to
professional 3D game studios.
While some would argue for 3DStudio Max, my arguements against it are:
**Very very poor importing capabilities
**Horrible texture map reading
** Mindblowingly broken yearly support/licensing fees... Don't get me started on that one ;-)
On the same token, my arguements *for* 3DStudio, are:
** Great animation tools
** Rapid rendering and video creation
** Tons of insane, raw, horsepower.
** Huge community that's actually helpful.
My arguements for Caligari's products are:
** Wicked cool interface
** Fast, fairly easy to understand software
** Good animation abilities
** Best of industry example files (in my opinion)
** Does nothing either exceptionally well or badly
Arguements against Caligari:
** Mediocre community that behaves more like a sony/360/etc. fanboys, as opposed to making
any sort of valid points, or contributions.
** Horrible support 1/2 the time- EXCEPTIONAL support the other 1/2.
** Does nothing either exceptionally well or badly-no this isn't a mistake being on 2ce.
-----------
So what's my current 'pipeline' for art creation?
Easy.
Sketchup to LithUnwrap, LithUnwrap to Milkshape (to apply permanently the textures), Milkshape to in-game engine.
