Great hexagon interface modifications.

[efflux]

Trogwart you have improved Hexagon.

Hopefully somebody from Hexagon can take note here.

And yes, everyone talks about Modo. I haven't tried it but it looks good. Hexagon can be better.

It's very logical. It makes common sense for the mouse to be able to control our view without additional key commands because we are moving around the object all the time. Ideally I'd like the middle button to control pivoting but since I'm on a Mac, I can't do this because middle button function doesn't work with Hexagon. This leads on to another point. It would be nice if we were able to edit the mouse command assignments ourselves.

The loop selection hack is good as well.

[-ash-]

Just a quick note about middle mouse buttons. I do not have a middle mouse button because I use a tablet all the time due to repetitive strain injury (RSI) in my right wrist. I cannot use a mouse for more than about an hour before it is too painfull.

I get worried when people ask for middle mouse button stuff. I have the same problem with scroll wheel controls as well.

However, there is no problem as long as there are keyboard modifiers to use with the mouse as well. At the moment there is no keyboard modifier to use for zoom, only keyboard shortcuts. I must rememeber to put this in the feature requests - in fact I'll do it now

[Jolran]

This guy has confidence! I like it!
I've tried the Modo demo a little and its all good. But I like Hexagon better. Simpler and
faster. Remember with to many tools being able to do the same things, the learning curve is longer.

[MagicRubber]

Have you guys tried out silo. Other than not having some features that hexagon has you can fully customise your mouse and keys and such...

I think every 3d software deserves freedom like that. Especialy hexagon

Cheers.

[MilesW]

Originally Posted by shaunmckinnon

What's this about?

Originally Posted by Trogwart

Its looks like eovia dont care about hexagon's destiny at all! How they planed to sell it without advertisement?

Shaun,

I read this as "how are they planning to sell copies of it without promoting (developing) it?"...



Miles

[efflux]

In Blender I have full control of pivot and zoom with the mouse. I like this. These are probably the most commonly used actions when modeling. There is no need for additional key stokes with these.

My worry is that Hexagon along with Silo and a few other modelers are going to be completely overshadowed by Modo. I understand what Trogwart means about surrendering to Modo. Modo is of course a lot more expensive but look at the awesome features coming for that programs next release - very soon. It is a massive force to be reckoned with. Advanced rendering and material features are coming. With Eovia you need two programs, Hexagon and Carrera. Put together, More expensive than Modo. At the moment I believe the best modeling tools are dedicated programs such as Silo, Hexagon and presently Modo but Modo is about to change that completely. The next version of Modo will not yet have animation but that will come as well. If the price stays the same or does not dramatically rise, Modo will be insurmountable. If you order Modo now you get the rendering and materials capabilities of the next version at this price.

[Couerl]

Nuts...

[Nichod]

Shoot. Hmm. I think someone's math is wrong. I remember it being $299 or so for Hexagon 1.0 and Carrara 5 Standard. Hmm. Modo is how much right now? And deals like that come from Eovia often. Modo is just another application. It has its place, but Hexagon and Carrara are definetly no slouches either, and I hardly see Modo overshadowing Silo, Hexagon, etc. As Steve says....NUTS.

[AlainK]

As I've said in the other thread, I'd rather use Wings3d even if Modo is free. ;-)
Never really understood why an SDS modeler could be that complicated. For one, Modo doesn't have Hexagon line tools. It doesn't even have NURBS. I just don't know what's so special about it. Carrara has plants and trees and mountains ;-) something Modo 201 doesn't have.

Have you even seen Hexagon's THICKNESS tool? I really thought it's just used for surfaces. Then I discovered it's also applicable to LINES or CURVES. How easy it is to form cables or wires that snake all over the place! You can even adjust the profile and the size in the tool properties.

[efflux]

OK, I suppose Eovia have a very good deal on where Carrera Pro and Hexagon can be purchased together and it's not much more than Modo. It's probably the best deal going for the features you get.

Hexagon has a powerful tool set, no doubt about that with any easy workflow. That's why I like it. My plan was to use Hexagon as my modeler and various other tools for rendering. I use Blender. I also use a program called Mojoworld.

However you just need to look at what is coming with Modo to see that they are on a mission to conquer 3D. The latest info on the Modo forum from the developers shows what is going to become an awesome modeling and rendering environment. It lacks some features but what is being shown is very impressive. The core of what is being laid down shows a very powerful application being born. I predict now, that Modo will become the most popular 3D app there is. The competition are going to find it very hard. Unless Modo increase prices dramatically. Then that may damage it's progess. Modo is the most efficient program I have used in sheer speed of processes. It looks like the new renderer will be ultra efficient as well. I initially used Hexagon on a PC and it was OK. A few bugs and minor problems but I've moved to a Mac and Modo rockets compared to Hexagon which has been a bit slouchy in comparison to say the least.

Anyone considering a good modeling program is going to Look at Silo, Hexagon and Modo. Silo is very cheap so in a different category. That leaves Hexagon and Modo. Hexagon is better value, that's why I bought it but with the impending release of Modo 201 everything will change. Modo will be way out front, believe me, and it would be a real shame if Hexagon is left behind.

I'm not posting these messages to slag Hexagon off. I bought it, like it and use it but there is serious competition arriving that will stream many potential Hexagon users away. I might even end up getting rid of Hexagon and use Modo and never post here again because I won't care but I don't want to write Hexagon off.

[Couerl]

Modo is not the next coming of Christ or anything, it's a fine application and people who use it like it, but that's true with almost any software. We are by nature always biased toward "our" software that we use and that's just a trait of humanity and there's nothing wrong with it. As for the sky falling for Hexagon or Silo or anything, I very much doubt it. There's a lot of room in the market for diversity and no one application will ever likely dominate any time in the near future. Professionals will always have several applications around to increase their own arsenal in the graphics industry and beleive it or not, lots of guys like Modo and hexagon and Silo and that's just great!
I've always found it pointless to say this app is better or that one is the best because the minute you say it, something new hits the shelf and wow, it maybe has some neat tricks too! It's like a basketball game, always going back and forth and guys who win usually only win by a point or two and then lose the next day again so don't worry about Modo taking over the 3d world, I don't care if it turns me into the Michelangelo of 3d, it will never replace the need for diversity and that my good friend is the key.

[AlainK]

You know, when it comes to SDS modeling all you really need is Wings3d. I've seen hundreds of complicated models done with it. So I usually look at modeling by the models I want to create. Can they be done in Wings3d? They apparently can. But I need some extra like Hexagon's line tools.

If I ever need another modeler, it would be Rhino. But it's out my pocket's reach at the moment. I think Rhino 4 will be released before the end of this year.

[Couerl]

I would love to own Rhino for nurbs and precise curve handling and rebuild functions for things like boat hulls and objects that need geometric calculus applied for exact ID modeling, but ya, it's spendy and like C4d or Max if you want any plugs you are going to pay dearly for them. Plugs for Carrara are fairly priced for "Joe middle class" usually and that is a good thing for everyone.

As far as wings goes, I look at it like this, you can cut branches from a tree with a machete, but do you really want to? I'd rather do it with a chainsaw and that's Hexagon or Silo or Modo etc.. Not saying anything bad about it, it just is what it is.

[AlainK]

I really don't see Wings3d as a machete but another chainsaw with a different brand. There are a lot of figures and shapes that could be done faster with it than with those pricey ones. I'm still using it, in fact. I just can't wean myself off it's selections tools, flatten, and a host of seemingly simple but powerful features. I can see why Puzzled Paul, an engineer, never use other apps other than Wings3d. Although free, it is a high-end application.

http://p212.ezboard.com/fnendowingsm...cID=1785.topic

No, I'm not the one who did these. Just the kind of models I wanted to do. One thing that Wings3d is short on, though, is edge modeling. It excels in box modeling. Yeah, I'm taking back what I said about Modo. I'm sure it also excels in some modeling application. The developers won't spend that much time without any groundbreaking tools in it. However, I'm also sure Hexagon 2 people will outsmart them again.

My first shot at 3d using Blender 2.3 about two yrs. ago
http://img57.imageshack.us/my.php?im...emember3gr.jpg

First shot at Hexagon+Carrara5
http://img230.imageshack.us/my.php?image=doc067ak.jpg
Btw, this is supposed to be a modified invention of a candle-generated pot for aromatic liquid potpourri I envisioned for my sister who loves to cook, but doesn't like the negative comments of people around who are critical of the after smell. She runs out of candles a lot.

[Thomas]

Modo and Hexagon are not in the same category, and Eovia don't want it. Modo is a great software, with powerfull tools. Hexagon too. Both have common tools and specific tools (try to find dynamical geometry and surfaces tools in Modo ?)
But you will see that next release of Hexagon have some features that Modo 2 have (and vice versa.. I just saw that they annonce copy on support.. damn ! (but it seems better than Hexagon one ))

[efflux]

I know you can use thickness on lines and that's a cool tool but it is possible to do the same thing with tools such as curve extrude in other software like Modo. This is of course a slower method but Modo has a tool coming that will do the same as Hexagon.

Yes, I know dynamic geometry could be very useful. I've not really utilized it, probably because other applications I use don't have it so I follow the same working methods in Hexagon.

I've learnt Hexagon and been through a whole host of other apps but not really had time to seriously delve deeply into modeling yet. I hope to do that soon. I have however learnt a lot from using all these different programs by finding out all the differences between them. The only 3D software that I have spent extensive time on is Mojoworld which builds fractal planets.

I'm looking for software that I can have a real passion for. Hexagon hasn't quite done that yet although it's tools have impressed me a lot. Maybe I need to work in it some more.

I've spent a lot of time on music production, going from one program to another over the years which has wasted a lot of my time but now I almost exclusively use Logic Pro which I love. This means I am mastering that program fully and getting more out of it rather than jumping between loads of apps. I think Jumping between two main apps for similar jobs is OK but not when it gets to four or five.

Hexagon's tools are well thought out for fast work.

Hexagon's best features are probably the line tools. You can do a hell of lot in Hexagon with these.

My main gripe at the moment with Hexagon is actually general sluggishness, notably with the UI. It was fine on PC but definitely worse on the Mac and buggy. Maybe dymamic geometry hogs resources but turning it off changes nothing for me. I have found that other apps, especially Modo and Silo or even Blender can open models with many times more polygons than Hexagon and still seem to not be struggling. Hexagon struggles to even open big models. Not that you would always want to work on these in Hexagon. I'm just wondering why this is.

I remember trying Modo a while back and found it difficult to learn but having looked back now, I see immense power in Modo. Scripting that allows huge additions to Modo's capabilities. Modo also performs very fast.

Programs need to find a market area. I'm just wondering how Hexagon is going to grow. For example, I am kind of making the assumption that it will never have rendering capability since Eovia will concentrate that in Carrera. The problem is, I now see that Modo, like, Hexagon and Silo or even Wings 3D, has made big strides in making a better modeling program but Modo are going to bung the whole works in. Materials, rendering and then animation. Materials and rendering coming soon and to a very high level.

I also agree that Wings 3D is a excellent program but with limited tools. What is there is very very good. The selection process is extremely cool.

[efflux]

I might download a demo of Carrara and see what kind of partner to Hexagon that would make. Who knows when Modo will get to adding animation. I'll not be into animation at first but I don't want to start on a program that will ultimately disallow this. Although Blender has the capabilities to do a whole lot now it is not very user friendly.

[Couerl]

It never hurts to try demos out, I've been using Carrara since the end of version 2 and the upgrade path has been a good friend to my bank account, by the time the next version comes out I have just finished learning all the new features of the old one and now learning Hexagon for the last year I have had to double my studying to keep up. They're developing it faster than I can learn it almost and that to me is impressive. No other software I own can boast that... I bet if you use it every day even the demo will run out before you can use everything.
Steven

[efflux]

Yes, Carrara seems brilliant value. Although Modo is actually quite cheap, given that if you buy now you get the 201 version (pretty powerful) when it comes out, I have suspicions about Modos pricing. Upgrade costs are high. When they get further functionality sorted, have the user base and what they know is a very powerful program they might well start ramping the price up. At the end of the day Carrara is cheap enough not to worry about being locked into it's upgrade costs.

[-ash-]

Originally Posted by efflux

However you just need to look at what is coming with Modo to see that they are on a mission to conquer 3D. The latest info on the Modo forum from the developers shows what is going to become an awesome modeling and rendering environment.

I looked at Modo. After a couple of hours learning the interface did some of the tutorials. There is no doubt that there are some good things in this tool (falloffs for example) and I was tempted. But compared to Silo and Hexagon was too expensive and I could not justify thet cost for just a modeller.

Regarding what is coming I think I would rather wait till it is here then see what the reality is. I am confident that Eovia, Nevercenter, etc. will be working hard to keep their products competitive and my investment in their tools will not be wasted