Maya vs 3DS Max
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- unknown
i'm primarily looking for ease of use and good export for PS and/or illustrator. i'm not really concerned with the power of the program so much. is one easier to learn than the other or are the both pretty difficult to tackle?
- unfittoprint0
You can now use plasma plugin form discreet to render the output in vector format like Flash's swf or Illustrator files.
I never used Maya (heard good things about it), I've always worked with MAX. Easy to use basic stuff (primitives, basic modelling, simple texturing), although you have to read and train a bit to become familiar with the more advanced stuff.
- monoblanco0
Maya used to be more intimidating than MAX.
today, just like with FLASH, you get some sweet HTML files that will get you rolling in no time.
Maya is $2k.
I'm definately bias.
- robotron3k0
Maya for characters or delicate industrial design, 3DS for everything else, and 3DS is a bit easier to use and cool vector output in swf...
- unknown0
3DS is a bit easier to use and cool vector output in swf...
great! thats what i like to hear!
- mbr0
It depends on what you're looking for. Max cannot render in vector format (I believe you can export the wireframe as an .ai, but cannot render a Hidden Line) without a plugin. I've never seen an export option in Max for .swg. Plasma can, though, and it you don't need pretty renderings it's only about $700 or so (never used it, but it looks pretty cool). Swift 3D is a cheaper way for vector stuff (and supports Max .3DS files)
Assuming you are going to 'buy' it, there are much cheaper ways to do it (and much easier) than Maya (which is considerably harder than Max, esp. to render) or Max. Look at Cinema 4D XL, you can buy it in pieces and avoid paying for parts that you won't use (like dynamics). It's supposed to be easy to learn, too.
- twooh0
it doesnt matter, they do the same things and have the same results.
max is just very useful for webstuff nowadays seeing how discreet is marketing a bit towards a web market.
max can do just as much as maya can, only maya comes packaged with more options.
- silver0
please post som nice sites wich have used 3D from max or maya...
- slim0
I use Maya and love! just takes up heaps of time -- not a pro you see ;)
Some nice selections of work--
and
- silver0
what I meant was sites that use flash made with maya or max... thanks
- monoblanco0
portals:
http://www.highend3d.com
http://www.raph.commy one of my fav. MAX artists:
http://www.3d-io.com/more artists at:
http://www.highend3d.com/artists…
- mbr0
Actually, unless you count the Mental Ray bundled with Maya, Max comes with more options (Reactor, Global Illumination, Radiosity).
You wouldn't be able to tell what was used for the web because it would look the same.
And the above posts are correct, it always comes down to the artist, not the software.If you are only doing vector work and really basic renderings, go with Plasma (Maya and Max are way overkill). It's got some pretty sweet features for web stuff. It's the only product like it.
Thomas Suurland uses Final Render for many of his renderings, if you are wondering how he gets some sweet images (that, and he's damn good). It's a GI plugin for Max (Maya is much less flexible when it comes to adding plugins, which can be a big issue).
- phlojonaut0
Maya is by far the better of the two...
it's significantly more stabile, aallot more powefull, and it alos offers swf support trough plugins....
I hate MAX myself..... I never end up just closing the app, it always crashes on me, corupts the scene file, i turn off the computer spit at the monitor, punch walls....
but it can be allot easier to learn, has great primitives support, better default renderer, and better swf integration...overall, for a multimedia person, i'd say go with Maya, it's the industry leader, and now cheaper than max...
if all you care for is web stuff, and some small print... go max... just remember to save ALLLLLLOOOOOOTTTTTT and save many copies.... and I hope small annoying things don't bother you.... cause max is full of it.....
like for example: what the fuck is the point of the 12 different kinds of pivots and all that other bullshit.... and 45 different ways of rottating the views.... and who the hell decided that it's a good idea to let you rotate in every view...... grrrrrrrrrrrrrr
i have a very peculair.... love/hate or hate/hat realtionship with max.....
i hate most things about it.... but then there are those certain things that are easy and good..... like making a star :)peace
- mbr0
phlojonaut - I see you do, indeed, have some issues with Max. I use Max on 3 computers daily and I haven't had it crash in at least the last several months (and I'll leave things rendering for days). Must be your version.
The rest is preference. We could go on about how the material editor in Maya is far from intuitive, or how Maya is better for character animations, etc., etc.
Maya is the industry standard for high end animation and effects, but Max has many more users and is the standard for games and architecture (that's me). Oh, and there are a million more books on Max : ) Both are making way in entering the other markets.Always remember, though, that you can do anything with any 3D package, you just have to know how.
- unknown0
that was by FAR the funniest post i have ever read!
- twooh0
but Gnomon makes dvd tutorials for maya which is REALLLLLLLY helpful.
max does indeed have more plugins, but again, maya maya has much more packaged into it....but we can always argue what is better than what.........let not argue over it..........the arguments always end up nowhere and you can always view them at cgtalk.
i like using maya now though since my school really pushes it.
- mbr0
Heh heh! Yeah, but 3D Buzz has 4 CDs of video tutorials for Max that are free! Beat that one.
Oh, wait, there's ones for Maya, too. Shit, there's one's for XSI, and, and, Houdini, and PHP, and Photoshop, now we're in for a discussion! Heh, but there's more for Max ; )!
- pr20
3d apps are the only ones nowdays that you will actually have to sit down and learn (that and Avid Xpress Dv...). Personaly i preffe Houdini -- it has an amaezing "tree" structure at it's core -- a bit scary at firs but if you have a good teacher. Man that software is sooo great. The only bad thing is that you will hardly find it on Kazaa. Played a bit with Maya as well and have to say that Maya doesn't compare to Houdini. Although be warned that without someone to help you at first you will be so lost with Houdini.
- illroot0
We have to remember, it's not that software that does the work, it's the person behind it. There are people out there that can make FormZ outshine Maya. For those of you 3D people out there, you know what i'm talking about. or you damn well should!
I personally use Max5 and XSI, both have their good and bad points. If you want simple shit, go with Max or if you want simpler, go with Plasma.
- unknown0
ok, i got plasma last night. its seems alot like swift. not really what im looking for. im not interested in using this 3d for flash. i can use swift for that. plasma is pretty cool though, but does it export with transparent backgrounds? i can only find it to export in .bmp, .png, .jpg, .swf, .avi, .tif and NONE of them export with transparent bg's.
- Jamesh0
maya.