3d Modeling / Animation programs - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Cervantes · 06-16-2004, 12:34 PM

What is the best 3d modeling program on the market today?
I'm thinking about investing (they are seriously expensive) in a package but I want the best if I'm going to spend that much money on something.
I've run 3dstudio MAX 6 a litle while but it was only a 30 day trial and buying it for over $3000 doesn't feel right if i'm not sure it is among the best programs.. I've heard about another really good program, Maya 6 and it's supposed to cost less than half of what 3dsMAX costs but I have never seen it in action.. Any ideas anyone?

saltfish · 06-16-2004, 01:23 PM

I love 3DSMax6, Lightwave is great, I've never gotten the hang of Maya.

If you're a student I know many universities can get price-breaks.

-SF

Cervantes · 06-17-2004, 12:03 AM

Ok. Sounds good, I have to ask my teachers about it, it would be great if i could get a hold of a student license.. Thanx for the tip saltfish.

skyfire · 06-17-2004, 09:09 AM

Theres a few really good programs out there. Max, Lightwave, Maya, and others. All are great apps. Depending on what your wantin to do, its a matter or preference as to which would be best for you.

Max has been traditionally aimed at game development work, it doesnt see alot of use in mainstream film production. Dont misunderstand, its still a great app and has lots of good tools. When coupled with an aftermarket render system like Brazil, or now Mental Ray incorporated into V6, really allows you to do more with it.

Lightwave has become very popular and is bein used for film production, more as a modeling tool versus an animation and rendering app, but meh. LW takes an unusual approach to its program. Theres actually 2 apps with it. One is modeler and the other is layout. It takes some gettin used for some poeple, but once u get familiar with it, it really does seem to help the workflow.

Maya is another great app, that sees failry regular use in film work at this point. Its modeling tools are excellent, with great particle systems and rendering options. From what I understand, Maya has a steep learning curve on it, all these apps do, but Maya seems to be more so.

Bim · 06-17-2004, 10:20 AM

I use max all the time, It's a great program. I used to like MAYA for its modeling tools, and mostly its simple vieport movements. But since the realese of max 5, max practly cloned most of MAYAs best assests. I have to say 3DS Max is the way to go. MAYA is a close second. MAYA does have a hard learning curve, but since i had my Max skills it wasnt that bad. I was very impresed by the simplicty of MAYAs Rigging setup. Much eaiser then max, and animation in MAYA was alot better to. I just being a modeler tho, i never really needed to animate. So max was always top.

Cervantes · 06-17-2004, 12:08 PM

Hmm.. This is hard to decide, I have a couple of friends who worked with Maya and they say at about the same thing but none of them has ever used MAX on any higher level.

I'm still unsure. I liked the interface and ease of modeling in MAX but noone around me know how to use it to any higher level. They all use Maya.. I looked at the Maya PLE (Personal Learning Edition) Which was Maya 5 and it felt a bit odd.

If i choose MAX I have the interface I like but noone to ask questions. If I choose Maya I have a couple of friends who is more than happy to help but in a program I'm yet unsure of since I haven't tried the latest version.

I'll have to sleep on this decition.

Thanx for the input, I really appreciate it!

macsrule · 07-08-2004, 11:31 AM

Depends on what you want to do with it. An inexpensive way to create 3D scenes is with Bryce. You can go an get Maya Personal Learning Edition for free from Alias http://www.alias.com/eng/products-se...e/index.shtml;$sessionid$VVMPAE4NV5IZNQCLCWSCFEWAJMK0KIV0

06-16-2004, 12:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cervantes Psycho Location: Above you	3d Modeling / Animation programs What is the best 3d modeling program on the market today? I'm thinking about investing (they are seriously expensive) in a package but I want the best if I'm going to spend that much money on something. I've run 3dstudio MAX 6 a litle while but it was only a 30 day trial and buying it for over $3000 doesn't feel right if i'm not sure it is among the best programs.. I've heard about another really good program, Maya 6 and it's supposed to cost less than half of what 3dsMAX costs but I have never seen it in action.. Any ideas anyone? __________________ - "Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned.." - "Religions take everything that your DNA naturally wants to do to survive and pro-create and makes it wrong." - "There is only one absolute truth and that is that there is only one absolute truth."

06-17-2004, 12:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Cervantes Psycho Location: Above you	Ok. Sounds good, I have to ask my teachers about it, it would be great if i could get a hold of a student license.. Thanx for the tip saltfish. __________________ - "Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned.." - "Religions take everything that your DNA naturally wants to do to survive and pro-create and makes it wrong." - "There is only one absolute truth and that is that there is only one absolute truth."

06-17-2004, 09:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
skyfire Tilted	Theres a few really good programs out there. Max, Lightwave, Maya, and others. All are great apps. Depending on what your wantin to do, its a matter or preference as to which would be best for you. Max has been traditionally aimed at game development work, it doesnt see alot of use in mainstream film production. Dont misunderstand, its still a great app and has lots of good tools. When coupled with an aftermarket render system like Brazil, or now Mental Ray incorporated into V6, really allows you to do more with it. Lightwave has become very popular and is bein used for film production, more as a modeling tool versus an animation and rendering app, but meh. LW takes an unusual approach to its program. Theres actually 2 apps with it. One is modeler and the other is layout. It takes some gettin used for some poeple, but once u get familiar with it, it really does seem to help the workflow. Maya is another great app, that sees failry regular use in film work at this point. Its modeling tools are excellent, with great particle systems and rendering options. From what I understand, Maya has a steep learning curve on it, all these apps do, but Maya seems to be more so. Last edited by skyfire; 06-17-2004 at 09:12 AM..

06-17-2004, 10:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
Bim Crazy Location: Onett, EagleLand	I use max all the time, It's a great program. I used to like MAYA for its modeling tools, and mostly its simple vieport movements. But since the realese of max 5, max practly cloned most of MAYAs best assests. I have to say 3DS Max is the way to go. MAYA is a close second. MAYA does have a hard learning curve, but since i had my Max skills it wasnt that bad. I was very impresed by the simplicty of MAYAs Rigging setup. Much eaiser then max, and animation in MAYA was alot better to. I just being a modeler tho, i never really needed to animate. So max was always top. __________________ "If you stay here too long, you'll end up frying your brain. Yes, you will. No, you will...not. Yesno, you will won't." -Guy in Moonside

06-17-2004, 12:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cervantes Psycho Location: Above you	Hmm.. This is hard to decide, I have a couple of friends who worked with Maya and they say at about the same thing but none of them has ever used MAX on any higher level. I'm still unsure. I liked the interface and ease of modeling in MAX but noone around me know how to use it to any higher level. They all use Maya.. I looked at the Maya PLE (Personal Learning Edition) Which was Maya 5 and it felt a bit odd. If i choose MAX I have the interface I like but noone to ask questions. If I choose Maya I have a couple of friends who is more than happy to help but in a program I'm yet unsure of since I haven't tried the latest version. I'll have to sleep on this decition. Thanx for the input, I really appreciate it! __________________ - "Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned.." - "Religions take everything that your DNA naturally wants to do to survive and pro-create and makes it wrong." - "There is only one absolute truth and that is that there is only one absolute truth."

06-16-2004, 01:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
saltfish !?!No hay pantalones!?! Location: Indian-no-place	I love 3DSMax6, Lightwave is great, I've never gotten the hang of Maya. If you're a student I know many universities can get price-breaks. -SF

07-08-2004, 11:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
macsrule Upright	Depends on what you want to do with it. An inexpensive way to create 3D scenes is with Bryce. You can go an get Maya Personal Learning Edition for free from Alias http://www.alias.com/eng/products-se...e/index.shtml;$sessionid$VVMPAE4NV5IZNQCLCWSCFEWAJMK0KIV0 __________________ The reason I recommend Macintosh is because it will solve 90% of winblows users frustrations.