what software should i buy... - Polyloop

tonymax · 6th March 2007, 22:09

hi,

would jut like to say, what a great forum this is,

But i would like to ask you guys, as i respect your decision highly, what other package should i get,

im torn between lightwave 9 and xsi 6 foundation.

Ive looked at all the threads on here reagrding teis but with new versions out, i was wondering if there were any new opinions.

im trying the trial versions and i like both, i find the modeller in xsi easy to use, the renderer unusual but once you get into it gets easier..

but no hair, dynamics a little bit iffy but apparently good character animation features ,the best some would say.

but i like lightwave, the modeler ,although a separate entity, seems well thought out, but the hub a bit of a misnomer as it causes lots of crashes.

the renderer however is coming on leaps and bounds, although not mental ray, some of the new shaders coming out have me creamin.... the new dielectric shaders look great, the glass looks even better than modo. adn fprime a breat addon, when they sort it out for the latest version of LW. and an extra expense.

character animation not so good, need messiah to improve this.

Im a hobbyist, who likes to play, so will not be a rembrandt amonst you guys who are amazing, but i want to create good photo realistic animations, and get into character animation later..

so it seems xsi is winning so far, but was wondering anything else i should know or be aware of...

thanks for any help, and sorry as this is asked a lot on these forums...

Tony

bwtr · 7th March 2007, 02:00

Because of all the recent carry ons about apps, yesterday I had a good look at the current new version of FREE Blender. Looked at the 11 great demo movies. And, WOW did the 3D Painting (yes) tutorial. OK it's a bit different in the way of the UI but, at the cost, with all it has, I think it's now my must learn app!

mmoir · 7th March 2007, 02:53

Bwtr,

I am going to try and learn blender as well, could you point me to the Painting tutorial you were talking about .

Thanks
Mike

bwtr · 7th March 2007, 04:32

At the Blender site there are 11 videos of the features in the current version.

When you go to the wiki Manual (or via the Help) there is a section "Vertex Paint"--I suggest you print out the 6 or seven pages to make it easier to follow. (And print out the "Quick Start" and Manual/The Vital Functions.

You will need LOTS of slow, careful patience! (I gather one will grasp Blenders workings and it becomes more instinctive--well I hope!)

bwtr · 7th March 2007, 04:41

As a PS, I can't imagine needing any better Displacement Painting than that available in Blender either.

Carrara for the good easy fun stuff! Blender for the detail complex stuff!

Grendel · 7th March 2007, 05:00

I never got the hang of lightwave and their CA tools need a little work, I use XSI and mental ray and the CA tools are top notch. But lightwave is good as well and I would recomend you to pick whichever one your more comfortable with.

juanmanuel · 7th March 2007, 06:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grendel

I never got the hang of lightwave and their CA tools need a little work, I use XSI and mental ray and the CA tools are top notch. But lightwave is good as well and I would recomend you to pick whichever one your more comfortable with.

I agree completely. No use of an application being officially cool if you just don't find it logical or intuitive, go for what you feel most confortable with.

tonymax · 7th March 2007, 19:46

Hi,

thanks for all your replies,

i dont get on with blender at all, if they revamp the interface,as most people have a problem with it i will give it a go.. someone said somewhere maybe v3 will give us this new interface..

im heading for XSi at the moment, modelling is easier, the interface very intuative for me, and has great shders and mental ray...

carrara has gone 2 quiet for my liking, and i dont think i want to carry on with what is a great package, just to find no future for it, (I bought carrara and hex then T**s p with daz straight away) i have a habit of buying software that goes boom when i get it. i know this will get some, but carrara doe snot have any current support, which we all need...

i also want to move to the next level, professional package, i knoe i dont need all the tools yet, but they are there, if i need em...

LW is cool, and nearly bought it, it was so cheap as you can upgrade from carrara with a companion upgrade for$495

but i am liking the xsi workflow more and more...

thanks for all your help and ideas

Tony

Dann-O · 8th March 2007, 12:07

Lightwave and XSI are quite competitive. I use Messiah and model in what I am comfortable with. Blender defiatly is a must learn app now with all the features and the mesh painting I have seen from it are excellent. I need a new comp that has the right stuff to run a mesh painting app.

6th March 2007, 22:09	#1 (permalink)
tonymax NURBS Booleans are your friend Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 122	what software should i buy... hi, would jut like to say, what a great forum this is, But i would like to ask you guys, as i respect your decision highly, what other package should i get, im torn between lightwave 9 and xsi 6 foundation. Ive looked at all the threads on here reagrding teis but with new versions out, i was wondering if there were any new opinions. im trying the trial versions and i like both, i find the modeller in xsi easy to use, the renderer unusual but once you get into it gets easier.. but no hair, dynamics a little bit iffy but apparently good character animation features ,the best some would say. but i like lightwave, the modeler ,although a separate entity, seems well thought out, but the hub a bit of a misnomer as it causes lots of crashes. the renderer however is coming on leaps and bounds, although not mental ray, some of the new shaders coming out have me creamin.... the new dielectric shaders look great, the glass looks even better than modo. adn fprime a breat addon, when they sort it out for the latest version of LW. and an extra expense. character animation not so good, need messiah to improve this. Im a hobbyist, who likes to play, so will not be a rembrandt amonst you guys who are amazing, but i want to create good photo realistic animations, and get into character animation later.. so it seems xsi is winning so far, but was wondering anything else i should know or be aware of... thanks for any help, and sorry as this is asked a lot on these forums... Tony

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7th March 2007, 02:00	#2 (permalink)
bwtr Brian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: South Australia Posts: 2,094	Because of all the recent carry ons about apps, yesterday I had a good look at the current new version of FREE Blender. Looked at the 11 great demo movies. And, WOW did the 3D Painting (yes) tutorial. OK it's a bit different in the way of the UI but, at the cost, with all it has, I think it's now my must learn app!

7th March 2007, 02:53	#3 (permalink)
mmoir Vertex Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 24	Bwtr, I am going to try and learn blender as well, could you point me to the Painting tutorial you were talking about . Thanks Mike

7th March 2007, 04:32	#4 (permalink)
bwtr Brian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: South Australia Posts: 2,094	At the Blender site there are 11 videos of the features in the current version. When you go to the wiki Manual (or via the Help) there is a section "Vertex Paint"--I suggest you print out the 6 or seven pages to make it easier to follow. (And print out the "Quick Start" and Manual/The Vital Functions. You will need LOTS of slow, careful patience! (I gather one will grasp Blenders workings and it becomes more instinctive--well I hope!)

7th March 2007, 04:41	#5 (permalink)
bwtr Brian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: South Australia Posts: 2,094	As a PS, I can't imagine needing any better Displacement Painting than that available in Blender either. Carrara for the good easy fun stuff! Blender for the detail complex stuff!

7th March 2007, 05:00	#6 (permalink)
Grendel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 1,262	I never got the hang of lightwave and their CA tools need a little work, I use XSI and mental ray and the CA tools are top notch. But lightwave is good as well and I would recomend you to pick whichever one your more comfortable with.

7th March 2007, 19:46	#8 (permalink)
tonymax NURBS Booleans are your friend Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 122	Hi, thanks for all your replies, i dont get on with blender at all, if they revamp the interface,as most people have a problem with it i will give it a go.. someone said somewhere maybe v3 will give us this new interface.. im heading for XSi at the moment, modelling is easier, the interface very intuative for me, and has great shders and mental ray... carrara has gone 2 quiet for my liking, and i dont think i want to carry on with what is a great package, just to find no future for it, (I bought carrara and hex then T**s p with daz straight away) i have a habit of buying software that goes boom when i get it. i know this will get some, but carrara doe snot have any current support, which we all need... i also want to move to the next level, professional package, i knoe i dont need all the tools yet, but they are there, if i need em... LW is cool, and nearly bought it, it was so cheap as you can upgrade from carrara with a companion upgrade for$495 but i am liking the xsi workflow more and more... thanks for all your help and ideas Tony

8th March 2007, 12:07	#9 (permalink)
Dann-O AKA Monkey King Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Erie Pennsylvania Posts: 173	Lightwave and XSI are quite competitive. I use Messiah and model in what I am comfortable with. Blender defiatly is a must learn app now with all the features and the mesh painting I have seen from it are excellent. I need a new comp that has the right stuff to run a mesh painting app.