Author Topic: 3D studio max (Read 1126 times)

Daff · « **Reply #15 on:** May 08, 2003, 05:00:59 AM »

"Having just done extensive research in the various 3d software programs I would rank them as follows:

1. Lightwave
2. Cinema 4d
3. Maya and XSi (tie)
4. 3DSMax "

Maybe for home-use, but for professionals, Maya is currently on top of the foodchain, with XSI 2nd and LW & 3DSMax in a distant 3rd. Cinema4D doesnt even appear on the radar

.

What is your daughter studying and what does she want to build with 3D?. If it's just for fancy buttons and stuff for a webpage, go with one of the free packages..Even 3DSMax would be a major overkill for that.

Daff

takeda · « **Reply #16 on:** May 08, 2003, 06:38:20 AM »

cgtalk, argh...

go to cgtalk,
see all the awesome stuff people post there,
go home, make my own stuff,
go to cgtalk, get frustrated because my stuff sucks,
delete my stuff,
go to cgtalk...
rinse and repeat.

Thats the though life of the hobbyist no-skill 3D aficionado. I have to remind myself all the time that the guy who did Gollum for LOTR:TTT posts there.

I'm mostly ditching my non so kosher Max copy for the free Wings3D [http://www.wings3d.com] which I find easier to get into. Doesn't do animation, but I don't need that while my modelling and texturing are still sucking.

Daff · « **Reply #17 on:** May 08, 2003, 07:17:43 AM »

" the guy who did Gollum for LOTR:TTT posts there. "

The guy?..there's 3 people alone just working on his bloody hair

Daff

Furious · « **Reply #18 on:** May 08, 2003, 04:16:54 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Daff
"...
1. Lightwave
2. Cinema 4d
3. Maya and XSi (tie)
4. 3DSMax "

Maybe for home-use, but for professionals, Maya is currently on top of the foodchain, with XSI 2nd and LW & 3DSMax in a distant 3rd. Cinema4D doesnt even appear on the radar ...

I would strongly disagree with your "home-use" comment.

I do, however agree that Maya is the macdaddy when it comes to animation, but I found all but XSi to be much better in the modeling department. I don't need to do complex animations. The modeling and rendering are most important to me. LW is the best package, imho, for this.

Not to be a Maxon shill, but C4D is starting to see some use in Hollywood and v8 is a much improved peice of software. Well worth checking out. I very much like the object viewer and structure manager features.

Daff · « **Reply #19 on:** May 08, 2003, 07:10:35 PM »

Lightwave got a decent modeller and a so-so renderer.
XSI, I believe is now using the same toolset as Mirai for modelling and Maya is using a similar approach. XSI's nurbs modeller still sucks, although it's come along way since version1 (Which I was beta-testing and couldnt believe that they released..made WW2OL seem like a complete product ).
(Mirai is an awesome modeller, but quirky to use).
The 'Hollywood uses it' is used by any of the smaller packages and what it really means is that they need something cheap and cheerful for doing pre-viz.

Daff

Sixpence · « **Reply #20 on:** May 08, 2003, 07:18:13 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Major_Hans
I use a free 3D animation software program called Anim8or.

http://www.anim8or.com

Check it out.

This seems to do alot of what 3d studio max does. Although she wants 3dsm, I am hoping she gives this a shot.

Been playin with it myself:)

MrCoffee · « **Reply #21 on:** May 08, 2003, 08:05:16 PM »

I've done some 3D modelling myself. I would say that unless you are more serious about getting into it, 3D studio may be a bit overkill. 3D Studio is very powerfull and was designed for industrial graphics and animation creation. Its not the best/easiest model creation software but its real power lies in its vast array of after market plugins that are both powerfull and expensive and it has an excellant rendering engine. I would rank it in the tops for 3D animation creation software. Its not easy to learn all of its features but once you do, its well worth it. Its threaded meaning you can render one pixel per CPU on an MP system or if you have a network of PCs running 3D Studio, you can batch off or share the load of the rendering process to the networked PCs. I forget how many nodes but its alot (been a while). Course, the most well known OS for this sort of stuff is SGI's IRIX which runs Alias WaveFront, Softimage, NewTek LightWave, etc... What Hollywood uses on the big screen movies.

On the PC Platform you can obtain a free personal learning edition of Maya from their website. I've never used Maya so no comment on its capabilities but it ranks with 3D Studio and is very powerfull. Then theres Gmax from Discreet same makers of 3D Studio and its free. Its one step down in terms of output quality compared to 3DStudio but is great for gamers and amateur modellers, animators. Its GUI and model creation tools are very similar to 3D Studio. I dont think it allows for aftermarket plugin features. As for as a good 3D modelling tool you might want to also try Rhino3d, also known as a NURBS modeller (like clay modeller). Rhino3d is good, downloadable, check it out. Theres also Blender from Discreet. I've never used Blender before but it looks very powerfull. Goto have lotsa tools for the right job .)

Basically you need a good 3D modeller (Gmax). Then you may want a good NURBS (clay) modeller (Blender or Rhino3d) for making stuff like faces etc... Gmax has a basic renderer engine. For something better get 3D Studio or Maya. For even better output quality images or films, buy expensive after market plugins for 3D Studio like lens flares, explosion effects, you name it they have it out there.

At this point you might want to look up renderman for fun. Do people even still use renderman, think mini D does. Ask him. They used a similar engine for the Toy Story movies as they use in the Renderman engine.

Daff · « **Reply #22 on:** May 08, 2003, 08:34:25 PM »

" Course, the OS most well known for this sort of stuff is SGI's IRIX which runs Alias WaveFront, Softimage, NewTek LightWave, etc... What Hollywood uses on the big screen movies. "

Actually, many studios are now using Linux, running on Intel CPU's. I got an Octane on my desk as well, but rarely ever use it.
SGI does still produce dedicated rendermachines, but they might also be Linux. (I just send stuff off to the renderwall and dont really interact with it).

"Do people even still use renderman"

Yes,PR-Renderman is still the industry standard, although it's facing increasing competition from Mental Ray. Both have similar features, but on the same note, they are only really useful if you know how to write shaders.

Daff
Creature Technical Director, RTOK.

MrCoffee · « **Reply #23 on:** May 08, 2003, 08:41:48 PM »

Thats interesting daff. I was a 3D hobbyist but not too much these days. Takes so much time. Last version of 3D Studio I used was ver 2.x

Linux will take over the world someday. That I dont mind but then I really do liked those SGIs.

Torque · « **Reply #24 on:** May 09, 2003, 02:36:33 PM »

VTC has the cheapest 3D Max training CD it's $100 US and pretty much covers the vast array of basic tools and contains seven hours of realtime QT movies, they're based in Britian.

People sell used copies of Max in 3D forums quite often or you can get it off Kazza to see if it suits your needs and then buy the retail student version later.

Wlfgng · « **Reply #25 on:** May 09, 2003, 03:13:59 PM »

3D studio mask is NOT a simple paint program.
it works hand in hand with autocad to create 3d models from architecture to manufacturing to whatever...
very accurate, can do mass modeling studies, etc.

to be really good at AutoCAD or StudioMAX you need a lot of training and years of use. you can get by with less but if you want to get good be prepared to spend a LOT of time.

The thing is that you can get as accurate as eight decimal places when it comes to building things in 3d that will be built in real life.

btw, heya Torque !!!
long time no see and thanks for the awesome squad logo thinige !