1. placing 3d-objects,
   
2. giving those objects materials (or textures),
   
3. adjusting the lighting conditions,
   
4. aiming the camera and rendering either a still (-image) or an animation.

The screenshot might illustrate it a bit:

So lets start with the objects that are placed on the table top (...in the scene)
Modelling
Either the objects are build within the program itself (that can also texture them and render the scene),
or they are built somewhere else or by someone else.
The objects have 3 dimensions (and usually, volume)
and so they differ from each viewpoint you look at them.
Sculpting shapes in clay is a neat metaphore.

During the "genesis" of your scene-creation, you can "translate" these objects in any or all
of the 3 dimensions: X, Y and Z:
scale, rotate and move them to position them excactly there where you want.

thumbnailrender	size/           scale	rotate	move
choose  different viewpoints perspective, top, left, right, front, back		these trees are built from primitives: spheres, cones, cylinders	the	perspective view   fish (selected) is a mesh imported from another program.

( a screenshot from Bryce)

Some programs excell in building objects/models,
that are made up from points in "space" (vertices), lines connecting those points (edges)
and surfaces between any 3 or 4 connected vertices (faces).
You either start from primitives (basic geometric shapes) like:
cubes, spheres, cones, cylinders, tubes, piramids, torusses, planes, etc.
or draw (poly-)lines that can be extruded, lathed, beveled, swept or tipped

Each of these 3d shapes can be altered/translated in various ways in the modelling program:
by (predifined) modifiers, or by just, moving, scaling and/or rotating, individual or groups of faces/edges or vertices.

Texturing
After constructing the shapes (or meshes) the next step is giving the different parts a unique surface-color,
so they can be given (other) unique textures or materials in the rendering program you plan to use.
Finally exporting them in a 3D-format (*.3ds. *.obj, etc) to import them into your
rendering program.

cameraview shaded	frontview wireframe
topview wireframe	rightview wireframe

( a screenshot from Truespace: 4 viewslayout)

and the final render using shadow and raytracing

Some of the programs I use:
- Bryce 4.1, mainly a landscape rendering program, used for stills and animations.
A good raytracer and "easy" to use as it starts up with a scene that contains a sun, atmosphere and an infinite plane
For modelling objects
- trueSpace3.2, (I upgraded to version 5.2)
(TrueSpace, originally priced at $595, is now yours for free.
This is the full working version--nothing removed or crippled, no time limits or watermarks.
Features include: Powerful point editing, smoothing, sweeping, and deformation tools;
Amazing metaballs and plastiform tools to create organic shapes; multiple spot, local, and infinite lights;
Full physics simulation engine; Bones, skinning and inverse kinematics for character animation.
A large number of file import and export formats add to the flexibility and compatibility with other programs.
Output formats include rendered stills, animation, or VRML.
A very active community provides support and interaction.
Large selections of 3rd party plug-ins provide extra capabilities.
Note: Registration for an unlock code is required, please visit the developer Web site.
- OpenFx
- sPatch and HamaPatch
- Poser for modelling human bodies
- Plant Studio, guess what for.
(OpenFx, sPatch, HamaPatch and Plant Studio are freeware modelling programs)

To add a few more I experiment with from time to time:
- Amapi3D
- Art of Illusion
- ayam
- Anim8or
- Blender
- Breeze Designer
- DeleD
- Draw3D
- k3d
- MetasequoiaLE
- ppModeler
- Terragen
- Teddy (and Alice)
- Wings
- WorldBuilder Pro 2.3
Most of them are freeware and the ones I think are really interresting are linked.


An animation rendering in Bryce using the original scenefile from a few years ago.
The still is at: http://members.home.nl/rouweler/night05.html