Vector / Bitmap to 3d (and cool!)

[squiggs1982]

Evening all,

Ok, I'm struggling to find what I want here, although I'm fairly sure it must be relatively common.

I have vector and bitmap images of countries of the world and I want to take these and change them into 3d images for a powerpoint presentation.

I'm not saying that I want to add relief, or anything like that, simply take what is essentially a silhouette of, for example, the UK and turn it into a 3d shape. Preferably this 3d shape would have a texture or properties (possibly look like glass or something) and it would be even better if I could manipulate it on an axis.

I don't want to spend a lot of money (preferably, such a program would be free or near as - I'm Scottish, remember! ) but I'm sure you guys will come up with the goods that google can't. You always have in the past!

Thanks in advance!
Squiggs

[Matth]

You could have a go with this:
http://www.blender.org/
It's pretty high octane though, just slapping a bit of texture on may be a disproportionate amount of effort

[squiggs1982]

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the reply.

I was hoping there was something out there a bit like xara 3d, but that could handle graphics too. Blender looks as if it would do the job, but I'd probably have to get fairly involved - was looking for a quick and dirty approach, really!

I'm sure that I used to have a program on my Amiga that did it, so was hoping that as time has progressed, so would the applications. Can be Windows or Mac, but I'm a bit simple, so simple is best!

Cheers
squiggs

[Matth]

http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/sof...us/default.asp - Ok, another freebie for the less advanced - or upgrade to Impactplus 4 for £9.99