I am a 3ds max user...I am looking for a modeling program to use in conjunction with max, so I downloaded the demo for testing, but it seems that as the exporters from image modeler to max are not included in the demo version, it is impossible to test, therefore I am unable to evaluate the program prior to purchase...maybe the exporters should be made available or the other alternative is to bite the bullet and purchase Photomodeler as they include the exporters. By the way, the trial version I downloaded was 3.5.2 and the download page states that its a full version trial..obviously not!

I'd like to have clarification on this item before I spend time testing out either of the demo versions I have access to:
 
- the 15-day trial version that came with dvgarage.com's Photogrammetry Brain Dump (also advertised as being "fully functional" )
 
- the who-knows-how-many-day trial version that is available under your site, under DOWNLOADS
 
I intended to test the process of bringing IM models and textures into ElectricImage Universe, probably via Lightwave file formats. Also, I wanted to work with these models (and textures) once exported to see how many unforseen complications typicaly arise from this process, especially in renderings.
 
If the MAX export ability is disabled in the demo, I'm thinking it's a good chance that ALL the exports are disabled.
 
Can someone from Realviz please tell me if this will work or not on the demo? Also, how long does the downloadable demo continue to function?
 
Thanks mucho in advance.

Hello,
 
  All demo versions of IM have exports disabled for security/piracy reasons. You can only save in the nativ (rzi) file format...
 
The 15day trial version of dvgarage used an external application (eAladin) that is no longuer used. The actual demo version is regularly updated, with a time bomb.
 
Those informations were only specified in the "welcome" screen (About), but we will put more information on the web site too.
Sorry, for not been clear enough.
 
We will also try to find a better solution for the next version of IM (Gecko).
 
Thanks,
 
Stef

Well, it seems that Realviz is going to loose a lot of customers. Trial periods are fine for testing purposes, but to remove the full capabilities of the program during this time (ie. Exports) seems to be commercial suicide, especially with the large amounts of money involved in Software purchases. To buy an expensive program on the off-chance that it will achieve the results you are looking for is too much of a gamble.

Okay, so this was almost three years ago that I had asked about exports, and received my answer...
 
Perhaps things have changed since then? I don't know how long 4.x has been out, but I'm hoping that they have offered up a trial version since then with a functioning export.
 
Can someone from RealVIZ please answer? Again, I don't want to spend a bunch of time on this if I can't actually see what the exported models and textures are going to look like -- and verify that they actually work as advertised in my favorite 3D apps...
 
 BTW, I have had several opportunities to sell clients on the technology in ImageModeler over the years, and the fact that I have not been able to export in trial software has been the one thing that has prevented me from making a recommendation in your favor. This would have likely resulted in several sales, perhaps dozens, for you on this product. I'm not expecting that this type of number is going to cause you to start doing cartwheels from excitement, but if it's happening with me, then it's a fair bet that it's happening with a lot of other people, too. Just a thought...
 
Looking forward to hearing the answer on this one...
 
Thanks in advance for your time!

Hello Samuel,
 
  Under certain conditions, it is possible to get evaluation versions of our products. For more informations, one might contact sales@realviz.com.
 
  I will add, in the forum first, and later on the IM web site, examples of exported files, so that anyone can check what he will get in his tool (objects, points, cameras, textures ,... ) and how ...
This is already the case for VTour, where you can get a maya and a collada generated file (inside the kmz file).
(see http://imagemodeler.realviz.com/pr [...] tsnew.php)
 
Hope it helps,
 
Stef

 
Stef,
 
Thanks for getting back to me on this. Apparently, someone was kind enough to forward my email (originally sent to support@realviz.com) to  Julien Piercourt, who is currently helping me in that regard.
 

 
I'm sure that will helpful to a great many prospective users out there. Unfortunately, I do not have Maya, nor collada -- neither of which format is supported for import into the apps I do have. I currently have modo for modeling and still rendering, and ElectricImage Universe for animation. As you can imagine, I'm a little wary of files generated for Lightwave, which end up being read by another app aside from Lightwave (even if it IS written by the original Lightwave guys ) for tweaking of the model, then perhaps even imported into yet another app for animation. There are many places in this process for things to go terribly wrong, and I would hate for the delivery of a project -- or my reputation with a client -- to suffer as a result of some unforeseen tragedy...
 
Also, in case Stephane Negri hasn't already filled you in about me, I tend to push these apps to extremes a bit more than the typical user So whether it has to do with the insane number of images I throw at it; or the fact that I might try to coax it into exporting multiple bracketed sets of textures, so as to create HDRIs from them; or the complexity of the models; or the fact that I was thinking of passing modeling data back and forth -- round trip -- between ImageModeler, into modo, and back into ImageModeler again, several times over; all of these are situations in which the success or failure of this process cannot really be determined by looking at someone else's exported models.
 
But it looks like Julien is going to take care of me with the evaluation, so I'll be able to torture your app and see what happens
 
Thanks again for your speedy reply!