Freeware: http://www.blender.org

In my experience, easy-to-learn software and 3D programs that allow you to create custom intros which you are referring to...are mutually exclusive ideas. I suppose, after you learn it, it becomes easy-to-use?

Blender could do the things you are talking about.

Mike

There are a number of choices from $ to $$$$ each having different levels of ease/standard effects that may help

3d Album
Serif ImpactPlus
Ulead Cooll3D Production Studio
ACDsee Canvas may do some of the animations
Prodad Adorage (available as a Vegas plugin) vol 7 has an album effect and others
Boris RED/FX with some work (available as a plugin)

Hope that helps, PAW

THank you all for the advice!
I downloaded the trial version of cool 3D studio.. it really seems 'cool'!
now I will try with some of the others... thanks again for the help

You'll find a boatload of Cool3D projects on the site, this tool is great at twice the price. It's got several pre-built titles in it, you only need change the text to reflect yours.

What kind of 3D software do I need in addition to Vegas 6 in order to make ice-texture 3D text? I'm looking for something like the logo at the end of the new Narnia movie trailer.

For those who have not seen this logo (it is BEAUTIFUL) here is the link: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/narnia/ [Click on "View Trailer"]

I like these kinds of 3D ice textures in both graphics & video.

I also own Paint Shop Pro 8, if that helps. But I haven't been able to successfully imitate the ice texture (even in a simple still image) or the lighting effects. I suppose this is probably do to my lack of expensive software and years of experience...
--
Mike

Your last sentence sums it up nicely but sadly!
Even with decades od experience and expensive software these are the nemesis of CGI. Ref;ective surfaces are very difficult to get photo realistic, translucent objects such as glass and water extremely difficult to do, in fact I cannot say I've seen many that didn't scream 'CGI'.
The finish on the robot in I Robot was very good but probably it worked so well because there's no frame of reference for just what it should look like whereas ice or glass we see every day.
Bob.

> What kind of 3D software do I need in addition to Vegas 6 in order to make ice-texture 3D text?

I would use Cinema 4D. It’s not that hard to learn and it’s extremely powerful. I just created a sample ice texture 3D text in about 15 minutes for you to see what it can do (and I’m just learning the software so I’m not a pro at 3D by any means). You can see it here.

~jr