Ive used Milkshape for few years now and dont mind it, but I dont love it either. Fairly straightforward but can easily become a cluster****. I absolutely hate mapping textures for it, esp for heads. (was trying to make a guyver model the other day and almost tore my hair out mapping his face)
Messed around a little with softimage, not sure whether to immerse myself in it or not. Never used any other 3D program except maybe a CAD program at school years ago and SketchUp for some fun.
BTW there are far more paint programs out there than Photoshop =/ Talk about monopolising the marketplace. I prefer Fireworks myself.
What would one recommend as the better programs in terms of
- skinning? (not drawing the skin, but mapping it).
- 'moulding' shapes?
- Is there such a program where one could paint directy on the 'surface' of the model rather than wrap images around it? Like use a brush tool and paint over the model, rotate model, continue painting etc etc