Firstly, go to the Windows Type Button and select User Preference. Next, in the User Preference panel, click on the Language and Font button (as shown below).

Next, click on International Fonts. Now, we need to select a Chinese font in order for the interface to display texts correctly. In the File select window, navigate to C:\Windows|Fonts. Select Mingliu.ttc. Load UI Font. This is as illustrated below.

Now, we need to indicate that the language is to be Simplified Chinese. By default English is used. Click on the Language menu and select Simplified Chinese. This is as shown below. You may also want to change the Font Size to fit your own preference.

Your Blender Interface should now be in Simplified Chinese.

That’s all for the article. Hope that it is of use to somebody.

Perhaps, you can try DoubleCAD XT.  As an ex-AutoCad user, I find DoubleCAD XT easy to understand and use. In fact, it seems that much of the AutoCAD commands (at command prompt) are in DoubleCAD XT as well. Using the process and commands learnt from AutoCAD usage, I was able to work on DoubleCAD without too much difficulties.

To be honest, I don’t use 2D CAD often. Nevertheless, on initial experimentation, DoubleCADXT seems pretty good. The importation of DWG files from other sources also seems fine.

There are actually 2 versions of DoubleCAD, namely XT and XT Pro. XT and free while XT Pro isn’t.

For download and more info, go to http://www.doublecad.com/.

Been searching on the net for Hexagon Tutorials. As you may know, Hexagon 2.2 is been given away free on the latest issue of 3D World Mag. More info here.

For getting one started, I found the series from VTC pretty good. As VTC is a commercial entity, it didn’t offer the complete set of video tutorials for free. However, I feel that the freely available ones are good for understanding Hexagon interface and basics.

>>> Here is the link to VTC’s set of Hexagon tutorials.

Another place that has good video tutorials for Hexagon is Geekatplay at http://www.geekatplay.com/hexagontutorials/

Besides the generic tutorials on Hexagon fundamentals, I also found other tutorials pertaining to specific  tasks.

Here they are:

1. 3D Paint and Unfolding – http://carrara.eek.jp/hex/uvunfold01.mov

2. Modelling a digital camera – http://files.polyloop.net/tutorials/Digital_Camera_Modeling_Grendel.zip

3. Modelling a Bicycle Wheel – http://www.iconway.com/bicycle_tire.mov

4. Modelling of a 3D Character ( image shown below) – http://forums.polyloop.net/hexagon-tutorials/5842-video-modeling-full-character-nierd.html

Hope that it is useful

Michael 4 is a highly detailed and realistic 3D model of a male figure. He, in his many poses, is as shown below. This version of Michael is significantly more realistic than previous versions. For one, he is distinctively more hairy.

There can be many uses for Michael. This digital slave can provide one with hours of posing fun. But he is much more than just a virtual toy.

For example, Michael 4 can add realism to many an Interior and Product Rendering. He can be used to give objects and spaces a correct sense of scale and proportion.

>>> Click here to get Michael digital male figure for free <<<

Michael 4 is fully compatible with DAZ Studio and Carrara version 6 or higher. He comes fully textured, rigged and can be posed in both 3D programs.

Please Note: If you do not own Carrara Pro 3D software, version 6 is available for free on certain magazines.

Click here for info on getting Carrara 6 free.

Have fun !

Inkscape is a free and open source 2D illustration program that is quite similar to Illustrator, Freehand and CorelDraw. I have used it and find is very nice for making 2D illustrations.

Inkscape can be used to render the 2D profile curves that are created in Rhino.

There are a few things to take note in order to use Inkscape successfully with Rhino3D.

1. Do 2D drawing in the Top View of Rhino’s 3D windows. This ensures that the curves will be correctly orientated when being imported into Inkscape.

2. The Rhino curves should ideally be joined to form closed curves, where appropriate. This will allow Inkscape to add fill (solid colored or graduated) to the enclosed area within the closed curve. I often use copy and paste to duplicate curves. The duplicated curves allow me to do trims without deleting the original curves. Once several curves have formed enclosed areas, they need to be joined using the Join command. Below shows 3 closed curves within Rhino environment.

Below is a screenshot of the same 3 curves that have been brought into Inkscape. To achieve the look as shown, the imported curves have been duplicated and filled with gradients.

3. Use WMF format to import the Rhino files into Inkscape. Although both Rhino and Inkscape support AI ( Adobe Illustrator) format, import into Inkscape using this format has been unsuccessful for me.

Well, that is all for this post. Hope that the information is useful.