Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

It's Photoshop. I used to--back in the '70s, make my living building such imaginary nonsense for ad agencies, but nowadays, Photoshop rules. It would have cost about $5K to build that back in '75 ('75 dollars, too--a lot of $$$). These days, a decent Photoshop jockey costs about $15.00/hour and could have it done in 3-4 hours.

Besides, it's only a Tele anyway
Photoshop is a decent way to try out different finishes, but it's hard to get a true representation. I tried gold guards & hated how it looked, but seeing real pics I think it looks great.

For realism on 3D objects, you need Alias:

http://www.alias.com/glb/eng/products-services/family_details.jsp?familyId=3900046

Thanks, Paul. I'll have to try that out.

Kevin, Alias is a fairly complex program, and if you're willing to invest the time and money to acquire the software and achieve proficiency, you will find it to be very rewarding, both personally and financially!

I want it bad...I need a marketability upgrade...

Wonder if my sister could buy it for me at the UC Irvine bookstore...

I've never had the chance to use Alias. One of the programs we use here extensively is Rhinoceros. Isn't that fairly similar?

We use Rhino where there's lots of surfaces involved and/or the need for photo-realism. It can export IGES files which we can then use with MasterCam to create tool paths.

I often also use Autocad along with Inventor for mechanical assemblies and this can be photo realistic as well, although I mainly use them for their engineering drawing and mechanical functions.

What are the prices on these programs?

Responding to John's queries:

I have always believed Rhino to be more intuitive that Alias, and Rhino has the reputation of being a more durable program. There is not as much capability to save (no history ) with Rhino.

Both are really good for organic surfaces. Alias is very frustrating for my students, but most fight through it. They learn Rhino as well, and it seems to have a steeper learning curve, but fewer features.

I must admit that I've not had time to get very far into either, although I have 18-year-old students who are whizzes!

Paul, Alias Studio Tool 2 lists at $1499.00 these days.

Ouch! That lets me out. I just dabble in this stuff & there's already plenty of folks in this (small) town who do this professionally.

I like scissors and paste.

You can take the man out of the kindergarten, but you can't, etc...

S & P does have its benefits--it goves one more $$$ to spend on Rickenbackers.

You're missing and important ingredient, John. A box of Crayola is on the gift list for when I 'swing down south' next year.

Wouldn't you just love to own this one?

Or indeed, any one of these other 'timeless classics'.....