3d Modeling... your prefence?

[illusion88]

All right, i have a few bucks and I was looking at a top of the line 3d modeling software. Now I dont know much about 3d rendering but I would like to get the best there is. I know of a few, like Bryce, 3d Studio Max and Light wave. Wich one do you like? Which 3d modeling program do you think is the best? I am sure there are more out there...

 

[arigato]

Maya is a good but expensive choice.

 

[kazeakuma]

Softimage XSI is my choice, but probably way too much. Lightwave I used to like until they changed the interface. Max is ok for the price and the interface isn't too bad. Personally I hate Maya because a 3 yr old child could have made a better interface (just my opinion). It's good but I couldn't stand it. Bryce is not a real 3d tool, more of a landscape tool. It does that well but that's about all it does.

 

[Phuz]

Maya doesn't even make my top 2.

Lightwave or 3dsm 4.
I'd go with 3DSM4 because its more pratical and there is more leaning support for it.

 

[DanFungus]

Maya.
nothing better than it, and i wouldn't take anything less.
Maya Personal Edition will be coming out in a couple months, and it's FREE!
But, Maya is the best.

 

[yobarman]

Maya is definately the best 3d program out, but it's got a steep learning curve. I use rhino3d for modeling and 3D Studio Max for Rendering. I always liked Rhino because it's a great modeler, and incredibly easy to use. Very fun too and great interface. 3D studio is a good all around program, but it's definately not the best.


Don't bother with Bryce, it's not even a modeler.

 

[illusion88]

<< Maya is definately the best 3d program out, but it's got a steep learning curve. I use rhino3d for modeling and 3D Studio Max for Rendering. I always liked Rhino because it's a great modeler, and incredibly easy to use. Very fun too and great interface. 3D studio is a good all around program, but it's definately not the best.


Don't bother with Bryce, it's not even a modeler. >>



So what would be a top notch Rendering program?

 

[arigato]

Renderman is good.

 

[notfred]

Best modeller - Maya
best Renderer - RenderMan Pro


I hope by "a few bucks" you meant: "about $50k".

 

[illusion88]

<< I hope by "a few bucks" you meant: "about $50k". >>



yeah i was thinking somewhere around there...

 

[Electrode]

I've been using Maya for awhile (got 3.0 unlimited dirt cheap at a .com auction) and I like it. It's gonna take a long time to figure it out completely, but I still like it.

 

[Phuz]

aahah. Notfred that is sooo poor.

Maya seems to be a buzzword around here.

 

[kgraeme]

I prefer women for my 3D models. Heck, they're fine in 2D as well.

 

[yobarman]

There are a couple rendering engines for a lot of the programs out there. Brazil and Arnold are both amazing renderers.

I'm not familiar with Maya rendering. I really haven't used to the program that much, but i hear it's the best for animation. But Renderman is way outdated. It's a couple of years old and they're coming out with new engines that just blow renderman out of the water.

 

[DanFungus]

<< << I hope by "a few bucks" you meant: "about $50k". >>



yeah i was thinking somewhere around there... >>


It is around $8000 for the program, and then some for semi-annual/annual licenses.

 

[wetkleenex]

<< Maya is a good but expensive choice. >>



uh....if you want expensive, try Pro/E, sometime.

and steep learning curve...not much steeper than Pro/E....

edit:btw...PTC sucks!

 

[Azraele]

I like Bryce. It's made some advances in the latest version with the metaballs to play with. Combine bryce with other programs like Poser and photoshop and you can get some really cool stuff.

 

[jjones]

I agree with Maya or 3DSMax. Brazil is an awesome renderer. Visit this 3D forum if you want to talk to some more folks about it. I play around with 3DSMax and Brazil a bit but nothing too serious like some of the peeps on that forum.

 

[illusion88]

<< I like Bryce. It's made some advances in the latest version with the metaballs to play with. Combine bryce with other programs like Poser and photoshop and you can get some really cool stuff. >>



Yeah i have seen really good stuff with bryce and poser. At my school, the computer arts class or something (it may be a video arts) does Bryce w/ poser at the last semister. I have seen some really good stuff come out of there. Im trying to bargin with the sys adim (I used to work for him last year, practicaly ran the show for him the lazy bum) to loan me a copy of the two so I could fool around with them. But I started to do some reasearch and found there are better programs out there. Im a real photoshop wiz, but want to get into some 3d stuff...

Hey JJones, thanks for that link.

BTW:would you guys say that 3ds is like photoshop in its ease to learn and just general publicity? And would you agree that Maya is more professional? Like UNIX to Windows?

 

[yobarman]

It's like comparing apples to oranges. Max really isn't exactly the beginer's program. Maya is the professional program out there. along with renderman and others. Any program can be easy to use if you just sit down and read the book and do all the tutorials.