In order to use complex 3d models in your opengl programs you first have to create in using CAD programs such as 3D Studio Max or GMax. If you already know how to do this skip this tutorial and read how to export the geometry data in a standard format you can parse in C and how to import the model in OpenGL . For this we will be using a free library called GLM that comes with glut source distribution in the example folder.

Probably the most used and most professional is 3D Studio Max (latest version is 2009). Now don't expect it to be free, so if you are not very much into the modeling part and prefer to focus on coding start with GMax. GMax is a stripped down version of an older 3D Studio Max. If you compare the interfaces 99% of the options and dialogs are identical. What was removed from 3ds to turn it into GMax? Well....rendering....lights....stuff you don't need if you work for game development. Offline rendering is for movies and commercials, not for programming. To show us it's more game oriented it also looks cooler (grafics are game style :))

What's the downside? Well work on GMax has been discontinued for a long time so old 3ds bugs were never corrected. It lacks the newest additions of 3D Studio Max (like connect and bridge commands, proboolean operations, nurbs). It's also got some issues with Vista (nothing that you can't correct). On the top of that is a bit harder to export things from it....but we will over come that!

You can get GMAX from http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax. You might need to register there to get a serial.

If you are on Windows Vista you need to fix a little "bug". This goes for both GMAX and for older versions of 3D Studio Max:

right click on the shortcut (either from the desktop or from the start menu), go to properties, Compatibility and set compatibility mode to Windows XP sp2, then check the disable desktop composition option.

I'm not going to explain or make tutorials on how to do 3D modeling. It's an art in itself. There are people out there that do it for a living. Programming skills are not required....just talent...lots of talent. You might want to do some modeling tutorials (for GMax you'll find some on the site you downloaded it) and for 3DStudio all over the net.

And by the way....there are tons of sites that offer collections of free 3d models. A google search on free 3d models would be the place I'd start with. Same goes for textures.