3d apps
- Started
- Last post
- 40 Responses
- phojekt0
maya for modelling - cinema 4d for rendering.
- pagepapa0
i use Lightwave and ..it is hard to learn .. so is maya.. but the nice thng about ligfhtwave is the support groups loaclly and on yahoo groups ..every problem i have ever needed an answer for they provided appropriate and proffesional assistance.. There ae some heavy hitters on these groups.. I really likeMaya but went for Lightwave for the support (free) and also that there is a huge community willing to help.. Maya is an industry standard and everyone has until recently paid dearly (10,000)to use and belong.. That group is not so willing to give up their secrets.. whereas lightwave started on the amiga and is kind of a grass roots robust program that people seem to want to share resources.. Very important on Sunday before a deadline and you cant find the answer in the manual.. Its what also makes NT a great resource.. try ...http://groups.yahoo.com/group... or the LW3d discussion group
The 7.5 download at Newtek's site should work as a demo without the dongle.. Thats the only drawback that stupid key sticking out of my laptop... but thats true of several programs..
if you have the scratch get Maya and Lightwave.. cant go wrong with that comboi personally use FormZ as my quick modeller as i know this prog well and LW for compositong scenes and rendering. It can do some of what aftereffects/ combustion can do.. its not point and shoot but once weeked it is amazing.
also peep this travelling road show/ instruction ..
www.LearnLightWave.com
- phojekt0
pagepapa - with lightwave - do u think its better having a modeller then u switch into this scene/render thing...?
- intoxicated0
Great thread. Just want to add that I like Pov_ray, it's a nice little renderer that you create but writing CODE. I like it for simple shapes and forms, usually for logo design in 3D.
- o0o0
pov_ray is free, right? So you can model w/code? Can you model visually also?
I've used Blender 3d... what's the best 3d app for someone without the cash?
- pagepapa0
I like to model in Formz then tweek in LW.. just quicker to get some pieces.. when you make model changesin LW the scene updates in layout .. its very cool.. i really like the ability to customize my work flow in LW.. the modeler in LW which i do use as well is built in you just switch the programs with a button or Fkey.. separate but fully integated progs .. both interfaces are customizable..
i prefer to model my beginings in Formz..its a bit more graphic based ( the toolset) and that helps in the early stages for me.. I am also ussing Archicad for architecture models.. then into formZ to clean them up a bit and tehm out to LW for the big bang .
I am hoping that as my skillset improes with LW i can skip FormZ and creat all my models in LW.. with all the programs it can be hard sometimes to remember the differences and the commands..
I look at the images form LW users and I see an infinite realm of possibilities.. I am hooked.
- mbr0
Hey there pagepapa -
I like to model in Form-Z as well, and only model a little in Max. It's quick for the architecture stuff and Max is great for the rendering.Do you have work online?
- preston0
My .02:
I began getting serious about 3d with Truespace on my old PC. I got really fast with it, and the interface is the best in terms of learning-curve in my opinion. Anyways, fast-forward, I got my Mac. I've tried to get into Lightwave, but haven't had any luck... I spent some time and money on it last year, but nothing has come of it. I may check out Maya. Basically I'm looking for something that has a really intuitive, tangible interface, but havent had any luck
- pagepapa0
June 1
muma.org, pagedot.com, lequeu.com all at once ...one big launch for my company, personal website and pet project...
no previews just yet .. i will post a link in the coming weeks.. email me if you want to sneek peek... architectural work mostly..
- pagepapa0
mbr
nice work.. website scripts didnt work forr me in Safari but thats not new for Safari..beta stuff
I use a similar technique of transperent people for my handd and computer renderings.. Are all your renders from Max... I am hoping to get the 2d to translate to 3d more seemlessly. Archicad doesnt quite do it yet.. I have a lot of time invested in the 2d drawing aspects of Archicad.. Do you attach materials in Formz, Max or Autocad( i assume since you use Max you use Autocad) I am curious as to what you take from program to program..
in relation to the original thread.. Formz works in classic (well ) until the next go round (v.4) , Lightwave has 95%parity ( my figure) on MacOSX, doesnt take mac truetype fonts but does take PC TTF(7.x) andd some really great 3rd party plugins are windows only.
- Merlin0
anyone knows where to find a trial version of lightwave
- mbr0
Damn! Lost the post!
Let's see...most renderings are Max, some of the older ones are Form-Z. I've had problems with fonts in Form-Z, too.
My designs (architecture and graphics) are on my site DESIGN > ARCHITECTURE, GRAPHICS, etc.
also,
http://www.mbrstudios.com/compet…I'd love to see some of your work, too. Lightwave has always looked good, but I need Max for all it's plugins (RPC, Final Render/Brazil/VRay, etc.).
Workflow:
1. Clean up DWG file in Acad
2. Import DWG into Form-Z, build model, export as a DWG
3. Import the DWG into Max, add lighting, materials, camera movement, etc.Sorry about the site. I consider myself a web designer, but certainly would never argue for my technical skills ;-)!
I am beginning working on a site for my (and my business partner's) architecture and design work, to try to separate from the renderings of other peoples designs. It'll be a while, though.
- pagepapa0
merlin: try
http://www.newtek.com/discovery.…
You can also download the7.x file form newtek's site in eh dnld section. It will act as a demo without a hardware key. If you purchase Dan Alban's book Inside Lightwave 7
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obido…( there is a copy on the cd) the book is some 4 inches thick and looks like homers epic tome but is the best 'how to' for the progarm out there..plus you can email Dan and he does respond.. if you get the book you wont regret it.
- Merlin0
Thanks pagepapa just filled in the form on newtek and i will get a cd from them.
- rizon0
I've been using cinema for a while now, and came to the conclusion that for rendering it is really nice (render with hdr images) but for modelling it is not serious enough. You don't have sufficient controls to affect your deformers, hypernurbs, etc. To do some random organic shapes it doesn't matter... I just started with lightwave and it rocks! much more control over what you are doing. But it's alot heavier to learn...
- CyBrainX0
I have a Lightwave question about the demo. I downloaded the version 7 demo last year to learn while I was out of work. It still works fine and I never paid a cent. What, if anything would I have gotten if I paid the full price?
- sumatra0
i would go with lightwave.Itis a solid performer overall, nice modelling, feature packaged material editor & superb renderer.
Maya implementation sucks in Mac.besides what's better, most important thing is to test 'em to see whose interface really suits you, the one that makes you feel allright, usually there are 2 interface categories, the XSI/lightwave & Max/Maya one, see 4 yourself.
- mbr0
I must admit that the interface for Lightwave and XSI looks soo much better (nice, soft colors) than max or maya. The maya icons have to be the worst.
- Merlin0
So Lightwave it will be. waiting for the demo