<strong>I must be the only person on Earth who hates the 3D MAX/Lightwave/Cinema 4D interface. Cinema 4D does double damage by throwing a Windows interface all into one Mac "parent" window though, right down to the menubar (a total waste of screen real estate).
All of them also have very poor control over the actual measurements of the objects and are a pain in the ass to change the measurements. This is coming from an architecture point of view though. I want absolute control over dimensions, especially relative to other edges, not a center of gravity. They can all do that, just not well.
Raydream...bless it. Slow as hell. Version 5 was slow too! It just crawled like a lame dog on my old Powermac...no open gl...no hardware acceleration...sleeep....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZzz
Cararra looked like too little too late after the implosion of Metacreations.
The Cinema interface looks alot better with Aqua on it. That's the first time I've actually seen the Aqua interface on it. Not bad.
BuonRotto, you're not alone in disliking the 'Windows X' grey and boxy interface styles of the big apps. I'm not fond of them overly either. Makes me feel like I'm using windows or something...
Lightwave still has an Amiga over hang...with flat Amiga buttons...
Chief offender for me is Xsi. Grey box 'heaven/hell'. Lightwave doesn't seem to do any better (a very powerful all in one solution dying for an interface revamp!) and Max...fussy also...but at least it had tabs at the top...where I could tell which was which. But then there are loads of other bits within bits...in no time? You're lost...
Problem with 3D apps is that there is so much in the programs. Thousands of features. How do you make that accessible?
Still, having looked at Poser's interface and the Kai ones...there's no reason interfaces can't be fun, well organised and easy to use. (Though some may argue Kai's interfaces were eclectic...I think they were really innovative...how many 3D apps do you see where the interface is basically the same? The 'Windows' from 'hell' look...)
Yeah, at least Bryce and Poser were fun to use for me...and easy to get into...to play with. Very hard to 'play' with the high end apps. The 'high end' apps tend to get lost in their functionality and 'cleverness'...you almost have to be a scientist first in order to use them. This irks me somewhat.
Having seen Maya's interface in action...I'm quite impressed with its 'workflow'. It's a real 'get out of your face' interface. 'Bang' get what you need...bang...it disappears again. More Mac like in that respect. Just call up a 'floating' menu and make it go away again. I like that...so it doesn't have to take up screen real estate...
Then there's Truespace. A great mid range program that you can pick up in no time at all. A really simple interface. Even I picked it up in 20 minutes. Though, of late...even that seems to be getting more complicated as the greater functionality is pressed upon it.
Ultimately...it does come down to what you prefer.
More power to Leonis...he's very happy with his choice!
Which tool, Cinema4D R8 XL or Lightwave 7.5, is more powerful? Are there any clear differences between their feature set or is more of a subjective thing?
It's fair to say there isn't that much to choose from 4D to LW to Max to Maya or Xsi give or take.
LW or 4D. Either would make an excellent choice.
It's down to preference. Download demos of both and see which...
...you...'get into'.
I tried Xsi. Hated it. Would I spend £4 K on it?
No-ope.
I got Lightwave 6 for £995. With free upgrades to 7.5. I can't complain.
You can buy the core of Cinema 4d very cheaply.
Not bad either.
Fact is...you can do great work in any of them. It's all about quality of ideas and skill at end of the day. I've seen Truespace work better than some Lightwave or Cinema or Max work. Suck and see.
Download some of these new 'try out' demos from Lightwave and Maya. Called 'learning editions. Leave 'watermarks' in your final renders. But gives you chance to try 'em, right?
Try downloading the demo' of Truespace 6. You may be surprised. Nice support material on Caligari's website.
There's so many free demos of Vue, True, LW, Maya, Cinema etc...what's stopping you from trying before you buy?
[quote]There's so many free demos of Vue, True, LW, Maya, Cinema etc...what's stopping you from trying before you buy? <hr></blockquote>
Hehe, maybe the 150MB or so that each of them are?
It took ages to download Maya PLE, even on broadband. But you're right, there is no reason not to be able to make an informed decision about any of them (especially now that LW has gone demo-tastic). I personally can't get into anything else after using C4D.
(And I think being able to download a demo of C4D long before LW or Maya, didn't hurt Cinema's climb up the 3D ladder.)
Comments
<strong>I must be the only person on Earth who hates the 3D MAX/Lightwave/Cinema 4D interface. Cinema 4D does double damage by throwing a Windows interface all into one Mac "parent" window though, right down to the menubar (a total waste of screen real estate).
All of them also have very poor control over the actual measurements of the objects and are a pain in the ass to change the measurements. This is coming from an architecture point of view though. I want absolute control over dimensions, especially relative to other edges, not a center of gravity. They can all do that, just not well.
[ 07-28-2002: Message edited by: BuonRotto ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well. Comes to interface. Starting version 6.3 Cinema provides an aqua interface
I don't like the default layout either. Here's my own layout
As for control. Now R8 has the realtime attribute control just like 3D MAX.....this is a god send.
You are not alone. I too hate 3D MAX as an app.
[ 07-29-2002: Message edited by: Leonis ]</p>
[ 07-29-2002: Message edited by: Leonis ]</p>
Raydream...bless it. Slow as hell. Version 5 was slow too! It just crawled like a lame dog on my old Powermac...no open gl...no hardware acceleration...sleeep....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZzz
Cararra looked like too little too late after the implosion of Metacreations.
The Cinema interface looks alot better with Aqua on it. That's the first time I've actually seen the Aqua interface on it. Not bad.
BuonRotto, you're not alone in disliking the 'Windows X' grey and boxy interface styles of the big apps. I'm not fond of them overly either. Makes me feel like I'm using windows or something...
Lightwave still has an Amiga over hang...with flat Amiga buttons...
Chief offender for me is Xsi. Grey box 'heaven/hell'. Lightwave doesn't seem to do any better (a very powerful all in one solution dying for an interface revamp!) and Max...fussy also...but at least it had tabs at the top...where I could tell which was which. But then there are loads of other bits within bits...in no time? You're lost...
Problem with 3D apps is that there is so much in the programs. Thousands of features. How do you make that accessible?
Still, having looked at Poser's interface and the Kai ones...there's no reason interfaces can't be fun, well organised and easy to use. (Though some may argue Kai's interfaces were eclectic...I think they were really innovative...how many 3D apps do you see where the interface is basically the same? The 'Windows' from 'hell' look...)
Yeah, at least Bryce and Poser were fun to use for me...and easy to get into...to play with. Very hard to 'play' with the high end apps. The 'high end' apps tend to get lost in their functionality and 'cleverness'...you almost have to be a scientist first in order to use them. This irks me somewhat.
Having seen Maya's interface in action...I'm quite impressed with its 'workflow'. It's a real 'get out of your face' interface. 'Bang' get what you need...bang...it disappears again. More Mac like in that respect. Just call up a 'floating' menu and make it go away again. I like that...so it doesn't have to take up screen real estate...
Then there's Truespace. A great mid range program that you can pick up in no time at all. A really simple interface. Even I picked it up in 20 minutes.
Ultimately...it does come down to what you prefer.
More power to Leonis...he's very happy with his choice!
Lemon Bon Bon
Seriously, even a person has the most powerful tool but if his skill sucks he still makes sh!t.
I haven't really practice anything for a loooooooooong time....guess I need to do it desperately.....
Don't want people to come and say I make sh!t.
No matter how powerful the app is if the way it works doesn't fit to your "style" it's bullsh!t.
Feature wise they both are very close. YOu will have to try their demos to give yourself a final conclusion
LW or 4D. Either would make an excellent choice.
It's down to preference. Download demos of both and see which...
...you...'get into'.
I tried Xsi. Hated it. Would I spend £4 K on it?
No-ope.
I got Lightwave 6 for £995. With free upgrades to 7.5. I can't complain.
You can buy the core of Cinema 4d very cheaply.
Not bad either.
Fact is...you can do great work in any of them. It's all about quality of ideas and skill at end of the day. I've seen Truespace work better than some Lightwave or Cinema or Max work. Suck and see.
Download some of these new 'try out' demos from Lightwave and Maya. Called 'learning editions. Leave 'watermarks' in your final renders. But gives you chance to try 'em, right?
Try downloading the demo' of Truespace 6. You may be surprised. Nice support material on Caligari's website.
There's so many free demos of Vue, True, LW, Maya, Cinema etc...what's stopping you from trying before you buy?
Lemon Bon Bon
Hehe, maybe the 150MB or so that each of them are?
It took ages to download Maya PLE, even on broadband. But you're right, there is no reason not to be able to make an informed decision about any of them (especially now that LW has gone demo-tastic). I personally can't get into anything else after using C4D.
(And I think being able to download a demo of C4D long before LW or Maya, didn't hurt Cinema's climb up the 3D ladder.)
Do you use 3rd party models or textures (such as Dosch Design stuff)?
Are they worth the (comaratively little) money?
What would you recommend?
<strong>Leonis
Do you use 3rd party models or textures (such as Dosch Design stuff)?
Are they worth the (comaratively little) money?
What would you recommend?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Textures.....well. I always either:
1) Start from scratch
-or-
2) Find them from my stock photo library
Buying 3D texture library is a really big waste of money IMO.
As for models....I mostly create them on my own
I too am somewhat mad about the pricing.
In contrast, Lightwave's upgrade prices make a lot of sense.
OpenGL accleration is STUNNING! Editor speed is getting very close to Lightwave and sometimes Maya
I talked to couple of beta testers. They said the program and CDs are ready........they are just waiting for the documentations to complete
[ 10-21-2002: Message edited by: Leonis ]</p>
I've been reading about people testing C4D8 for just over a week now. It sounds like a very nice update.
Gotta mention that I can view animation in almost realtime right in the editor with my GeForce 4 Ti card equipped SlowSilver (tm)
PC with nVidia card - Yes
PC with ATI card - No
All Macs - NO <--------bummer
[ 10-22-2002: Message edited by: Leonis ]</p>
Shippment starts this Wednesday.
Fu*king finally!