Thanks for your help, everyone! And thanks, Frenchy, for posting those pictures. It shows off the capabilities beautifully.

I'm going to use both Cycles and SimLab. My work machine is Windows XP so it's nice to have a 32-bit solution with Cycles, but I have 64-bit at home so all is good.

-- Cody

Thx ;)

From this incredible artist! you can dowload hundreds of models here! https://www.patreon.com/600v

Models are really "donwloadable"! ;) Models By 600v - ixlrlxi - Rust Shake

With LightUp


With SimLab Composer Lite ;)

Just curious, why do you say, "Don't say Blender"?

The new version is a stunning upgrade interface wise.
It can import with ease Moi3D models.
I
It can render them without having to UV unwrap the models.

It has both the Cycles unbiased renderer AND the realtime photorealistic EEVEE renderer, which can do full 8K anti-aliased renders in only a few seconds and minutes of animation in under an hour.

And (shameless plug), l have a tutorial series that handholds you from never ever opening Blender to importing, adding materials, adding lighting, rendering and animation.

https://gum.co/EEVEE

Because I don't like Blender and I didn't want to waste anyone's time with suggesting Blender to me.

I found that the https://www.bforartists.de/ overhaul makes Blender way more approachable though.

-- Cody

Edit: I just wanted to clarify that my response is not intended to be snotty. Sometimes, being matter-of-fact doesn't translate well on the internet.

Bforartist against 2.80 ?

Advantages - Disadvantages ?

If you want a powerful GPU renderer for free, then Octane is free in Unity. MOI models import fine into Unity as obj.

I can't say for sure, Frenchy. I was able to accomplish more basic things on my own with bforartists, but my brain just does not compute Blender's ideology.

There are quite a lot of articles and videos that go over the differences though.

-- Cody

<< a powerful GPU renderer for free, then Octane is free in Unity

Cool trick! ;)

Also Octane is coming out with a free 2x GPU-limited option in Q1 2019. Very cool.

Blender 2.79: couldn't agree more. Very difficult to learn and use.
Blender 2.8: complete GUI overhaul. Very easy to learn and use. Plus with EEVEE, you can render and animate in realtime. Pretty good stuff.