YAFRAY free raytracing

yet another free raytracer for MACOS X, Windows and Linux

"YafRay is a powerful raytracer, under the LGPL license. It enables you to create fantastic images and animations of a photorealistic quality."

render features:
Full Global Ilumination
Skydome Ilumination
HDRI Ilumination
Caustics
Real DOF
Glossy/Blurry reflections

flexibility:
Modular Framework
Integration in 3dsuites via plugin
Platform Independent
Standa-lone render engine
Distributed and multithread render

yafray.org

blenderart magazine

in its second issue, blenderart-mag comes with 60 pages plenty of tutorials and articles related to the open-source 3D software.

blenderart-mag

blender 2.41 released

"Blender is the open source software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, interactive creation and playback. Available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License."( blender.org )

in this release, big improvements for interactive 3D content, physics engine, sculpting tools, addition of GLSL shaders, and more.


blender

free ZBrush Tutorials

digitaltutors.com, best known for its Maya Tutorials is offering free ZBrush learning video.

ZBrush Essentials:
Reposing Zbrush Models in Maya

siggraph videos at archive.org

archive.org is the greatest online repository of free media. U can download plenty of siggraph videos there ( almost all are dated of 2001 edition ).

the link

wings 3d

wings3d is a free Subdivision modeler.
It supports the following formats:

* Nendo (NDO)
* 3D Studio (3DS)
* Wavefront (OBJ)
* VRML (WRL)
* Renderware (RWX)
* FBX (on Windows and Mac OS X)
* Yafray
* Toxic

Several tutorials are available on the site as well.

free terragen tutorials

terragen is an outstanding free software "capable of photorealistic results for professional landscape visualisation, special effects, art and recreation."

I found six free tutorials at 3d-palace.

tutorials link

space-graphics.com web site

Looking for good maps for planet rendering? This amazing site, space-graphics.com in its own description:

* Texture maps, suitable for 2D and 3D post processing.
* LightWave and/or Terragen compatible meshes and terrains.
* Freeware images and wallpapers, large size royalty free stock images
with instant purchase and delivery.

earth tutorial at scifi-meshes

scifi-meshes.com is an amazing site for everyone that likes scifi and 3D. Tons of tutorials, meshes and WIPS. The forums are good and u can exchange a lot of information about using 3dApps in scifi production.

This tutorial is 3dsmax oriented, but it worth a look if u use other 3dapp ( requires free registration ).

link