Neverside

3dsm6 has a trial version...

for modelling there is wings3d which is a opensource program with much of the functionality of Mirai. depending if you care to use things commercially or just want to learn, there are free educational versions of Maya and Houdini. those programs are super highend though. Another free open source program is k-3D

http://www.wings3d.com/
http://k3d.sourceforge.net/
http://www.alias.com/eng/products-services/maya/maya_ple/index.shtml
http://www.sidefx.com/products/apprentice/

hope that helps

I got Maya Learning Edition...I still have to figure out how to use it though...So confusing...Could anyone put me in the right direction as to how to use it? :S

___________________

[URL=www.fusionxcel.tsx.org:b780938846][/URL:b780938846]

anim8or.
of all the freeware software, the forums are the best. (in my opinion)

its somewhat primitive, but once you get into it, its a VERY powerful software. the modeling system blows wings3D out of the water, heres a sample of what the rendering can do with the proper adjustments to lighting.

also supports bump mapping, enviromental mapping. even has a bicubic rendering filter, also does alpha rendering, and much more.
anim8or is a great steping stone if you want to learn something more advanced. and the learn curve is low, so you should be able to pick it up in less than a month and a half of hard work.

___________________

Signature Suspended as it is in violation with the signature rules

Maya 5 LE just came out, its the learning edition (hence LE). This version has all the capabilities of Maya it just adds a water mark to your renders so you cant use them professionally, so if ur looking for a good professional program to learn in this is one.

___________________

QQ.mONSTER