[KillMeNow]

what your opinions people?

My favs Lightwave

[Thorn]

Lightwave...

[Shrike]

I have much more experience with 3ds MAX.

[NeoHunter]

3D Studio Max is my favourite so far. Used Maya before but I didn't use it much, so not much experience in it. But its tools are fun to use.

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"Be flakked or be square!"

[Fineus]

Personally LW looks better (interface wise) and appears to be more recognised (and better for rendering), so that'd be my choice.

[The Avenger]

modeling - 3ds

renders - lw

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 http://www.avengershome.co.uk" TARGET=_blank>http://www.themodplace.co.uk

http://www.avengershome.co.uk

[wEvil]

3D studio MAX has one of the best poly modellers around and also has a very good materials/shaders editor.

For rendering i use a 3dsmax/Mentalray combination..usually ill do the geometry in mentalray as the kind of scenes i use make the scanline renderer stand still.  For glow effects ill then re-render the elements in MAX scanline and composite them using Digital Fusion (like abode premier but far better...faster)

Softimage XSI is the nads for charecter animation and it has SEAMLESS integration with mentalray.  If you can get your head round the texturing projections and the rendertree (it uses a node-based flow chart to make materials) you can do sublime scenes.  It takes of learning however.

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Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown, but it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and ***** slap them upside the head.

[Vertigo1]

This is a debate that could go on until the end of time.  It all has to do with personal preference.  Personally, I use 3dsmax and it suits my needs just fine.  Does everything I want it to do, and more.

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"You know you've played Freespace too much when you're driving along trying to use countermeasures to shake off pursuing highway police." - Top Gun

"Oh and Kazan - you have some nice rocks" - Thunder

Material Defender Studios

[aldo_14]

Blender.... value for money  

Or a program I used ages ago called simply 3d - used it to make footie stadiums.  Really easy, although not particularly powerful.  

[KillMeNow]

its funny i been hanging around some of the real 3d artist forums - general consensus is lightwave is easier to learn than max and is the best poly modeler but lacks certain features - max is considered to be a terrible renderer and a steep learning curve but and lacks some of the features of lightwave but has the others lightwave lacks  maya well i admit i not found a maya board but everyone seems to think maya sucks - far to steep learning curve worse renderer than max by a long shot and buggy as hell but if you know what your doing a very capable peice of kit indeed - they were teh main players but cnema 4d or somethign like that and softimage got mentions too

i got to admit i got max and lightwave and max its got a terrible interface - lightwave is very simple once you under one or two rules and its also the most capable package out of the box -  and it has a top grade renderer

but all this is kinda influenced by my personal preference but i thik thats a fair assesment

[jonskowitz]

I've noticed none of the Truespace programs made the cut  

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I told you that It would be done by November, well, mostly anyway...

[Thorn]

I wonder why?
*cough*crapUI*cough*

[Vertigo1]

To be honest, I found the 3dsmax interface pretty easy to learn.  Then again, I have been known to be a fast learner when it comes to learning how to use software. (seriously)

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"You know you've played Freespace too much when you're driving along trying to use countermeasures to shake off pursuing highway police." - Top Gun

"Oh and Kazan - you have some nice rocks" - Thunder

Material Defender Studios

[deep_eyes]

 

Originally posted by Thorn:
Lightwave...

how big (megs) is the lightwave program? if anything where can i gain a copy other than the w-are-z sites in the world free or not? just curious before i go warez hunting...



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New Project Leader of the New Dawn Resolution Project in conjuction with the Metal Siren Network and staff member of The Eden Project.

The Metal Siren Network: Freespace 2: New Dawn Resolution - The Eden Project

[LAW ENFORCER]

MD-2389: what about word?  

How do you all afford these programs?
 

[LAW ENFORCER]

Any of you know what I can do with Amapi 4.5?

[Bobboau]

I like TS's UI better than 3DS, TS is just got Kay-rApy UV manipulation, and kills your mesh if it gets a hole.

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Bobboau, bringing you products that work.............. in theory

[jonskowitz]

yeah, what he said.

[LAW ENFORCER]

What DID he say?

[Carl]

TS is the easiest to use. LW is the best renderer.