You’ve obviously not tried Reallusion iClone 3.0 Pro.

Like you, I have tried many pieces of 3D animation software and been disheartened by each and every one. In fact I’d come to the conclusion you just couldn’t do 3D animation software on a budget. iClone 3.0 Pro proved me wrong.

This software is quick to install and quick to master (which is greatly helped by the addition of a manual and shortcuts poster within the software box) and full of surprises.

You start off in the editing section. This section is described as allowing users to

set the stage with 3D actors, record or import voices for automatic lip-sync and facial animation, select and edit props, add rich scenery and atmosphere with special FX, select and edit actor motion with IK/FK, and frame their shots with multiple fixed and animated cameras

It sounds impressive. It also sounds like the kind of thing you read on other software and then discover means you can change next to nothing.

With iClone 3.0 Pro, what sounds impressive is impressive. Within minutes you can have changed the look and style of 3D actors into something completely different from what they first were. You’ve also dropped in in scenery that blends with the actors perfectly and recorded your own voices for the characters.

So the Edit mode works, and works well but in order to get stunning 3D animation the Director’s mode has to work just as well.

Does the Director Mode Live Up to Expectations?

The simple answer is yes. This really is a piece of software that delivers. I was expecting to be able to do the minimal in this section, but just like in the Edit mode I had full control. I was the puppeteer controlling the actors and what I wanted was what I got.

Is iClone 3.0 Pro for everyone?

Usually when I come across something that impresses me so much it’s a piece of software that has a very definite niche. iClone 3.0 Pro is different. It’s different because it’s a bit of software that’s accessible to people on some many different levels.

If you’re new to 3D animation and film-making, iClone 3.0 Pro is the software for you. It’s easy to get started with and soon instils confidence in you.

If you’re experienced in 3D animation and film-making iClone 3.0 Pro is still going to have more than enough to satisfy you as you use more advance and indepth features to create truly mind-blowing animation.

Want to order a copy of iClone 3.0 Pro for yourself? Ordering is easy and only a click away at Amazon where it’s available for £100.99.

This amazing series of software brings together the interactive control of videogames with sophisticated filmmaking tools to create an extraordinary piece of software table to produce 3D animation quickly and cheapily. It is therefore no surprise it’s quickly become indispensable to seasoned pros, educational institutions and filmmakers.

“Using a major application for pre-visualization is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. The answer to this problem is software like iClone; these real-time engines are based on the same graphics technology familiar to game players.” Commented Alan Marques, Instructor, London Film Academy and Member, Visual Effects Society (Credits include “GoldenEye”/Werner Herzog’s “Invincible”)

So what has iClone 3.0 brought to the mix? Well this version sets a whole new standard for dynamic directing in real-time filmmaking with the dual-engine environment allowing Directing and Editing to become too seperate features.

The Editing mode allows you to set the stage, record voices, add scenery and control motion. The Direction mode allows you to bring then bring them to life and create some very impressive 3D animation.

This really is an extraordinary piece of software which I hope lives up the hype and I’ll be able to tell you if it does when I get a copy when iClone 3.0 hits the shelves in September when it will be available direct from Reallusion, PC World or Amazon.

When I got sent a copy of iClone 2 Studio to review I have to admit I wasn’t the most excited I’ve ever been about a piece of software.

This was because iClone 2 Studio is a 3D animation studio piece of software.

Now don’t get me wrong it’s got nothing to do with the animation part, that I found very exciting.

It was the software part.

Now over my many years of using the computer I have tried to use a lot of these 3d animation pieces of software and the same thing has always happened.

I give up after half an hour because I just can’t work out how to make them do anything (and that’s even with reading the manual).

So as you can imagine I wasn’t really expecting much from this piece of software either but guess what - within 45 minutes I had actually produced an animation sequence, saved it and got it to play.

Now that left me seriously impressed.

So what was it like to use?

Well it was a complete and utter pleasure to use. This software allows you to create characters from a selection of body types, create an environment, light it, add effects, movements and even position the camera that films it all.

I tested this with my other half and we had a lot of fun testing out all the different animations we could apply to the models and were really impressed by the realism concerning the movements in the animation,
*although it can’t be denied it does have a cartoony element to it). The Clonecloth feature which allows a normal of clothing options was also another feature that impressed us.

Now I won’t lie and say that this is going to suit advanced animators because it won’t. The features they will want will be more advanced and they would want to be able to manipulate a lot more in terms of the models and the environment. This, though, isn’t something you should expect for a piece of software that costs just under £100.

I, personally, was impressed that this software had all the features it did for the price tag and wouldn’t have thought it expensive for what it does if it was double the price. If it was that price though I think iClone 2 Studio would not be as accessible in monetary terms as it is in ease of use and this has been recognised by Reallusion who created an amazing piece of software that allows everyone to enter the world of 3D animation and start their climb up the ladder to 3D animation stardom.

If it sounds like the kind of software you’re looking for you can pick up a copy for £99.98 at Amazon.