Re: Underwater scene complex???

Any 3D application is going to have a steep learning curve...how long did it take you to become skilled with After Effects? It'll be similar in difficulty.

Most of the 3D modeling programs out there (above the entry level) are capable of converting DEM data to a surface. I believe LightWave does it with a plugin.

There's a couple of terrain modelers out there that are specifically optimized for making landscapes. One of the best known is World Construction Set. There's a freeware one called Terragen...I don't think it will do what you want, but it's worth downloading just to play with.

If this is a one-time project, I'd hire a modeler to do the job. It will be cheaper and faster than buying the software and learning how to do it yourself.



Regards,
Doug Graham