Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => Arts & Talents => Topic started by: Stryke 9 on February 18, 2003, 05:12:09 pm

Title: Software
Post by: Stryke 9 on February 18, 2003, 05:12:09 pm

I need a comparison of software real quick. And no, I don't give a **** which ones people think are good and bad. Specifically, I wanna know what Maya and Softimage can and can't do well, and whether their design is more along the object-based lines of MAX or the modal **** Lightwave does, or if they're designed for scratch meshes.

Title: Software
Post by: Carl on February 18, 2003, 05:29:02 pm

anything any of those can do, lightwave can do better.

Title: Software
Post by: Stryke 9 on February 18, 2003, 06:26:47 pm

Problem is, I can use Lightwave about as well as a chicken can use a rotary phone. The "modal" thing just drives me nuts, and it's not from lack of trying that I've given up. I still use it as a renderer, occasionally, since I can handle the textures, Hypervoxels, and hair **** fairly well, but the modeler's hell.

Thus, I'm looking for alternatives. I can't afford MAX and the warez versions don't work on my oversecured system. Ray Dream and Carrara are very nice, but they have limitations and I can't get into the three or four millions of polys with them. Same with most everything else. I need something top-of-the-line, I need one I can find a cheap version of (all but MAX), and I need one I can use (not Lightwave or anything like it).

Title: Software
Post by: wEvil on February 18, 2003, 06:41:49 pm

Quote

Originally posted by Carl
anything any of those can do, lightwave can do better.

lets see your evidence?

Both Maya and Soft take ALOT of patience to learn - these are programs that dont put everything in with nice presets.  You can get better results and far more control far more intuitively with so called top-of-the-range packages, but if you want to learn them quick - forget it.

Title: Software
Post by: Nico on February 19, 2003, 05:38:42 am

Quote

Originally posted by wEvil


lets see your evidence?

Both Maya and Soft take ALOT of patience to learn - these are programs that dont put everything in with nice presets.  You can get better results and far more control far more intuitively with so called top-of-the-range packages, but if you want to learn them quick - forget it.

don't pay attention, he said that just to piss people off :p
you can but he has never tried any of those.

Title: Software
Post by: Ryx on February 19, 2003, 07:27:23 am

Choosing the Right 3D Application and Total Solution for you... (http://zaon.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=299) :yes:

Title: Software
Post by: Nico on February 19, 2003, 08:06:42 am

oh, I know that post :D
btw, check the whole forum, lots of nice ship meshes there.
I used to post at Zaon, but got little feedback, so I gave up.

Title: Software
Post by: wEvil on February 19, 2003, 08:13:46 am

unfortunately I disagree with his evaluation of Mental Ray on several points - and there IS a reason why Brazil isn't part of large studio pipelines.  Its a capable renderer but compared to mental ray?  pfft.

You can connect XSI to renderman via exporting the dotXSI file - apparently animal logic have written a plugin but considering the enourmous amount of integration XSI has with mental ray you don't even need PRman.  I just dont see why he raves about PRman so much - its not very powerful without a team of TD's working on bits and peices behind the scenes.

Title: Software
Post by: Nico on February 19, 2003, 09:11:48 am

well, the thing about renderers is that it's even more a question of tastes than the modeler. Coz it determinates the look of the actual render. Zaondude LOVES brazil, for exemple.

Title: Software
Post by: Ryx on February 19, 2003, 10:18:08 am

Quote

Originally posted by venom2506
oh, I know that post :D
btw, check the whole forum, lots of nice ship meshes there.
I used to post at Zaon, but got little feedback, so I gave up.

Yeah, I love those ships. Makes me go :eek2: :eek:  and then :(  at my own skillz. :blah: