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3D Modelling Apps for a Former Modeller?
capsteve asks: "I've gotten back into 3D modelling after YEARS of absence in the 3D scene, and I'm having some difficulty sorting out the chaff from the wheat. I cut my teeth on 3D back in college, learning a dead end system called Z-Grass then moving into Super3D and StrataVision, shortly thereafter. Recently, I've gotten back into doing 3D modelling using Blender, Wings, and a tiny bit of POVray and YAFray for rendering. I'm looking for an all around 3D modeller that has the ability to perform subdivision modelling, particle effects, and HDRI rendering (to name a few options), yet still have an intuitive interface. Also, my platform of choice is a Mac. I'm pretty happy working between Blender and Wings, but I wonder if there are others out there who've had experience with some commercial apps that would be comparable with the ones already mentioned?"
"I'm not opposed to working between several apps, but I think in order to really get my skill up to snuff, I need to settle on a single one. I'd love to get Maya or Cinema 4D, but i think my wife would kill me, and I was wondering if some of the entry level apps (like Silo or Modo) would help me build my skills up to the point where i could migrate to a Maya/Cinema at a later date? Any thoughts?"
Blender was a good pick. The developers are doing a good job of maturing it to a professional level app for any type of content (including film). It's the only other modelling app I have installed or ever use since I found the grail... When it comes down to it, I'm a Maya guy (big bullet to bite $$$). I can't really see myself going back to anything else after I started using it. It is a complete package with versatility that is unmatched. Whatever you do, try Maya last or you'll end up begging your wife until she lets you blow that $2500 :D.
Please ignore the guy who posted the crack and torrent to Maya - especially if you ever plan to do serious work. When you show/submit/release what you create, Alias may very well come asking how you ended up with Maya and have no license for it on record (I've seen it happen now and it's ugly). It's a good feeling to say that "this was created with Maya and Photoshop" without looking over your shoulder. People are usually genuinely impressed that you have a Maya license. It makes you look a bit more professional. Conversly, saying that "I can't tell you" or some other vague excuse for how you created your work makes you look more foolish than mysterious.
Good luck. Nice to have you back.
US Democracy:The best person for the job (among These pre-selected choices...)
Despite what many fools here seem to say, OS X is a valid and growing platform for 3D content creation.
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Lightwave and Maya have both had native versions since the pre-OS X days, and while both were a bit slow out the gate with their OS X versions, both are current and feature complete.
I personally prefer LIghtwave, but I have yet to get a license of my own for an OS X ready version. Having used other workstations for both Maya and Lightwave I can say that they are both stable and fast.
As someone else pointed out Linux is gaining ground very fast in content creation and nowhere is it gaining faster than in 3D. I think this is because 3D users are the most technically minded of creative users, with the possible exception of Digital Compositors. (I'd argue that anyway.) Again Maya is leading the pack. Lightwave has a render client, but no modeling or layout.
As to Blender, I am never happy with it. The guys keep improving it and it is a good tool, but I see it as comparable to things like Truespace. You are definitely stepping up if you move to either LW or Maya.
I don't know modo, but I am trying it NOW. It seems quite promising.
Best of luck
Oh, and as to the aforementioned fools, please read my
Don't post innacurate information
If you do, I swear by my pretty floral bonnet I will end you.
For everyone who uses Blender, take a look at the BURP project. It's a distributed computing project that runs on BOINC. BURP aims to develop a publicly distributed system for rendering 3D animations. Eventually, the goal is for people to be able to submit work for rendering, though they're not that far yet. The code is still in development, so workunits are just to clean bugs out of the system right now.