CompuServe Messages

I'm going to repost this, because someone moved the thread I was jumping in on to a totally different area (that *I* certainly don't frequent). I've tried the freeware metaballs modeler posted here, and while the metaballs concept is interesting, I have a real problem trying to actually control the development of a model. Can anyone comment on just how easily you can model (IYHO, of course) with the MetaReyes product? Here's the comment on the posted nude: >The image is direct render output without further retouch.The whole model is >included with MetaReyes 2.0 as an example. It took 6 hours to model. Now, I'm sure an artist like Jose' can probably model in 6 hours what I might NEVER be able to model — I don't pretend that any product will give me that kind of talent. But I AM curious on just what kind of hoops he had to jump through to get to there. Putting and controlling 120 spheres to get anything other than a mess might seem a herculean task. It looks like the sample image has the metaballs in different colors — or is this simple what it looks like in the 3D editor before you run your routine on it. If so, I can't see how you could possible visualize what you're doing while you're modeling. And assuming I can handle the modeler, what I am primarily interested in is creating meshes I can then deform with Bones Pro. Do I understand it right that the MetaReyes product is some kind of AXP routine that can only model during Keyframing (and thus preclude creating a mesh I can work with in the 3D editor)? Is there some kind of equivilent Snapshot command, or is it more like the Skin routine? And, finally, is this yet another dongle protected program? I'm having to ask this each and every time (no matter how many routines I end up buying, people someone think I'm not honest. Amazing), but my general policy is going to be not to buy dongle stuff irregardless of how wonderful it is. Thanks for any info you anyone can provide. What with 3D Paint, TSE and Danny's modeler, I have to make some hard money decisions soon.