Makehuman

I am so excited, the new release of Makehuman is out. it’s still in Alpha pretty much but this program promises big things.

Dedalo-3d.com:

MakeHuman © is completely free, innovative and professional software for the modelling of 3-Dimensional characters. The features that make this software unique are the new Tetra-parametric GUI © components and the Natural Pose System ©, for advanced muscular simulation.
Using MakeHuman a photorealistic character can be modeled in less than 2 minutes; MakeHuman is released under an Open Source Licence, and is available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

I use human modelling engines when I really want to play with a pose or lighting. Usually I use Poser because it’s the standard, but it runs like a dog and I find that it’s gravity is off. it seems to ascribe more to comic book and computer game females rather than real ones and the anatomy is quite different. well, it’s really non existent – it’s surface driven rather than anatomically driven – which means that all the changes occur on the basic skin level (including some massive splintering of the textures if you try a flexible range of motion). there are some very nice light filters and so on but I don’t think it justifies the cost, or the enormous time cost in running it.

Already with Makehuman there are notable changes- when you alter one body part everything else moves as well. so if an arm is lifted the breast changes shape. if a form is twisted the muscles underneath correspond. it’s really outstanding to see. the smart controls for age, sex and weight are also brilliant as the figure and fat/muscle placement changes depending on gender or age. it’s also faster by a long shot. and free. and mac compatible. it’s still being tested and there are some bobbles but it’s already impressed the socks off me.