Hexagon 2!!!

[JakalDesign]

One big difference that I noticed between Silo and Hex is that the brush is accualy displayed while painting on the mesh in Hex. All I noticed in Silo was the standard pointer.

I am thrilled about Hex 2 and have already purchased the upgrade. Cant wait to work with it!

[AlainK]

Originally Posted by WillBellJr

Well Eovia claims April so unless Nevercenter pulls a fast one, we'll be displacement painting (sans ZBrush) in a coupla weeks!

In my book, Hex is ahead right now (based on the existing lines toolsets and dynamic geometry) since both will have displacement painting and UV editing...

Whats to be seen is the quality of the upcoming toolsets and how streamlined are the workflows of the tools with each package.

Based on looking at the videos, Hex also seems to be way more ready for release than Silo...

-Will

I have long observed a trend, at least in the competing group of companies with the same specific 3d application and intentions. The big difference I see is that Hexagon is European based and the others are US based. You could see the distinction right there. Europe is the home of open source where programmers abound. 3D is a very competitive market. US companies need millions of dollars to come up even with a quarter of the objective. The only way they could keep the intented release date is to outsource part of their work load. But they don't. Americans are aghast even with the mention of the word "outsource". So I don't see Hexagon being overtaken when it comes to features. They simply had the human resource to do it. Of course, there's also the element of luck. It happened that Amapi developers got it right with Hexagon. I figured if they got it right with the first version, then logically the second version must be significantly better. That's why I never looked for another apps NO MATTER what good things they say about them. Hexagon will develop faster than the competing products. Just my 2 cents.

[WillBellJr]

Never quite looked at it like that before - based on the culture of the different countries...

Granted, in Silo's defense, I believe (I could be wrong) that the Silo team is smaller than Eovia's, I'm sure that's a tangible. I agree about the outsourcing though...

I don't know why, but I didn't expect this for Hex I actually couldn't imagine what they could add for v2 but again, I was certainly pleasantly surprised seeing the info today!

Hell, Eovia may have even topped Modo with this update; the painting may not be as "powerful" (maybe it is) but unless I've missed the planned feature set, Modo WON'T have displacement painting in v2??

I guess the next state of the art for modelers will be displacement painting / sculpting - seems everyone is going that way - ZBrush started it all (well to a >decent degree< - there was Amorphium and others, but they were mostly hoakey when it came to implementation) but Pixologic is taking way too long to advance to their next level - they may be surpassed because most folks want a "regular" polygon workflow anyway - ZBrush's weirds ways will be easily forgotten by most except for the few elite ZB masters...

It's definitely a great time right now for 3D artists!

-Will

[AlainK]

I wasn't surprised at all. I knew it's coming. And how quick it will be. Too bad Lux and Nevercenter weren't able to release theirs first despite the fact that they made their announcements long before Hexagon 1 was released.

Even Blender is developing fast. Why? Human resource is the key. It's not that EU is better than the US. The contributors are in armies of coders.

[sadot]

Dreams Come True !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Senyac]

I have zbrush 2 but the UI and learning curve is hard so i model in Hex and displace paint in zbrush , no more with Hex 2 on the way
Looks like my Zbrush may be for sale soon ,
I cant get the handle on the whole 2d/3d thing with zbrush
alot of the time i click the wrong tool and my 3d model has become a 2d image
Im so excited Hex 2 is coming out with the tool set it will come with I think it will become one of the most powerfull and most talked about 3d modelling programs around

[efflux]

Yes, I notice nearly all my software is European developed. Even Logic Pro (music). Owned by Mac but German developed. I suppose it's cool to be able to support European or open source software. Blender is a great program.

Personally, I think the present version of Hexagon is better than the present Silo and that is reflected in price. However Modo seems a different matter.

Modo 201 is going to have displacement painting and it is going to have an extremely good rendering engine with global illumination along with some other major improvements. I am learning Modo and initially it is not too easy but once you understand the work methods it is excellent in speed of workflow. 201 will improve this further. All I have to say is that Eovia have a big challenge to entice buyers who are tempted to spend more on Modo. Modo will become more expensive as features get added because it is eventually going to be a full modelling, rendering and animation package. This may take it too far out of the Hexagon price area for it to be a competing product.

Zbrush is a fantastic program but I think we will see those features appearing in other apps leaving Zbrush way too specialized.

It's a good time for new developments in modeling software but not so good to try to work out which program to go with and spend money on and do you need to spend any money at all? It seems Blender is developing at an astonishing rate.

[Senyac]

I dont think Hex will become a rendering / animation application , thats what Carrara is for Hex is more a modelling companion for Carrara
I have both Hex and Carrara and they work well together
SO if you compare Modo with Carrara/Hex combo the Carrara/hex combo is still cheaper than Modo
,I have been watching the Modo site and was thinking of buying it ,
but not anymore with the new version of Hexagon on the horizon
I have Carrara 5 pro and Hex and the combination is more powerful and has more tool sets Carrara has a terain modeller , Trees , particle system , a great and fast render engine and so much more that I cant see being in modo for the time being ,
I think the main advantage with Modo is if your a Maya or lightwave user
Thats what I think anyway

[mon_stdnt]

With the new fetures Hexangon 2 is bringing to the table image what Carrara 6 will bring. Makes sick with anxiety

[efflux]

OK, fair deal Eovia. I'm just looking at the new features of Hexagon 2. Looks like a major upgrade. I may yet buy Modo and use both.

I tried Carrara. I didn't really get into the guts of it but I know I won't use it. It's easy, powerful and does a lot for you but it's not for me. I noticed the terrain generator. I use Mojoworld and sometimes Terragen so any terrain generation would have to be pretty awesome for me to use it. I've also used Vue d'Esprit but never upgraded to 5. It has this impressive eco system material thing. My problem is finding a whole workflow where all thes elements come together. I'm almost certain that Blender will be my main app for building scenes to render or animate and Modo Lightwave format imports into Blender perfectly. Blender has a particle system now and radiosity. It renders quite fast and some modelling capability has been improved but it's a poor in this area. There is also a material node editor in development. I've tried an early build of that and it's pretty good.

[Corndog]

despite all the new features and bling bling.. This one really makes me smile

Full support of dual-screen
Nice work eovia I love what you have done

[Nate Owens]

Question about displacement modeling.

After using the displacement modeling, will those effects export into an .obj file or .3ds file for rendering in other programs? (How about an .stl or vrml file for 3d print use?)

This version is HOT! HOT! HOT!

[TheRetiredSailor]

Originally Posted by Nate Owens

Question about displacement modeling.

After using the displacement modeling, will those effects export into an .obj file or .3ds file for rendering in other programs? (How about an .stl or vrml file for 3d print use?)

This version is HOT! HOT! HOT!

I must agree with the gentleman from South Carolina, this coming version is very HOT indeed. There are several features in here that I am looking forward to. Thomas, I hope that you are telling those at the office how excited everyone is.

Good job and keep up the good work.

[bwtr]

Efflux. Until you have realy tried Carrara5Pro, and, if you are following the various thread information in relation to the potentials in Carrara6, I suggest you are really missing out on the REALLY BEST value for money 3D App ever.

[Thomas]

The office will read/is reading as me
Nate: you will be able to export the collapsed geometry in STL, then, you will be able to do your 3DPrints ;)

[JakalDesign]

I dont know if this was asked before... but will the sculpting and brush tools be compatable with symetry?

[Thomas]

JakalDesign: Yes, of course

[steama]

HEX 2! WOW! Looks like I won't be getting zbrush.

[JakalDesign]

Thank god!..

[BluesDragon]

Questions on the cool new features in Hexagaon 2.

I am assuming all the new cool displacement and texturing stuff in Hexagon 2 will need to be rendered in another app since H2 doesn't have a built in renderer.

Will the meshes created by H2 be able to be exported out to modo/lightwave format and rendered in apps like modo 201 with it's new render engine (when it finally gets released) or will I have to pony up MORE cash to get Carrara just for the renderer?

What other current apps/formats will H2 be able to export out to to do the rendering properly?

Can the procedural textures and UV templates be exported out to JPG/PNG/EPS format files?

How will models I create for Poser and DAZ Studio and export out to OBJ format render in those apps? (i'm thinking they won't be compatible)

Thanks in advance.

Steve