Yes, I'm aware that Vray isn't a modeling program. I should have asked separate questions for rendering and modeling. I just wanted to get a sense of what people on this forum are interested in as a 'next buy'. I would trust the opinions on this forum over any other source of information.

I'm going to download a trial of Modo next week although I'd like to know when 401 is coming out because that version does seem to be something like a possible game changer. It might be wise to wait and do a trial after 401 is released.

For some reason I thought Rhino was one of the $3500 programs. So I learned something useful by asking this question. I'll take a look at it.

I'm a stair builder so my modeling needs are rather simple but I'm spending some time modeling more imaginative stairs than usual and enjoying it quite a bit so I want to use this economic down time to take on some extra skills.

Thanks for the input.

I'm curious - if you had $1000 to spend (I know that's a bit unrealistic in this economy) on a new modeling program or a new rendering program what would be your first choice - Modo? Bonzai? Vray? Hypershot?

GiveAwayOfTheDay has a nice little program today that allows you to organize your desktop icons in many different ways and also allows you to hide them all until you hover over them with your mouse. Now I have an empty desktop - no icons at all - just my most recent SketchUp model. If I hover the mouse over the middle of the screen the icons show.

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/

Bert - I make stairs and I would consider your drawings to be as much information as anyone would need to build accurately. In fact more often than not we're working with much less information. A question - which was more satisfying to you - modeling the object in the computer or actually building it?

DirtySailor - beautiful house. Can I ask where it's located? The extended eaves makes me think it's in the South West someplace where the shade from the eaves would be desirable. Great work.

My Spacebar doesn't deselect - disappointed.
But orient faces is news to me and will be very helpful.
Thanks.

Thanks for the Move tip. Never noticed that before

I learn a program until it suits my immediate needs and then I don't learn anything more until I have to. I've been using AutoCAD for 6 or 7 years but because my needs haven't changed too much, my learning hasn't increased. I'm much faster now, but I'm faster doing things in the same way I've always done them - which may not be the best way.

I've used SketchUp for a number of years to make quick 3D sketches for my shop assistant but what with the Collapse my business is down(and out)so I'm using this time to generate full models of some of my stairs for a website. I've never done that before and I've never rendered anything. So I'm being forced to learn new things. I guess that's the silver lining. Saying duh! is a good thing.

Thanks, I'll try that.
The Bernoulli spirals that can be made with this plugin would be useful to a stair builder.