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3ds max alternatives?
Does anybody use any alternatives to 3ds max? As much as I enjoy the professional graphics programs everybody loves, they don't work on Linux and I don't like switching to Windows whenever I want to use it.
I've started using the GIMP and blender, both very capable programs, but it's totally different interfaces. Blender has some fancy features that even max doesn't have, like fluid simulations (takes forever) and a built-in game engine. |
Re: 3ds max alternatives?
I tried blender once, never did really get into it. It didn't really make sense for me to switch over just for a few features I'd never use (fluid simulation being a fine example). From what I've seen, if you get good at it, blender can be a wonderful tool. Still, I can't see a free project ever outdistancing a commercial product of max's scale. Results are important, but so is ease of use... blender doesn't seem to provide that.
All that being said, I wouldn't be anywhere right now without anim8or. It's evolved greatly ever since I used it last (there are finally shadows :)) but it was invaluable in building up my skills before I even knew what FIRST or 3ds max was. Hardly a max alternative though :D |
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I tried Blender when I heard about it on TechTv (long time ago) and didn't like it, it just didn't have the simplicity of power that 3dsm has. One that I had long before 3dsm was MilkShape, I used to to make Halo mods a long time ago, and that was one of the chain of events that made me want to be an animator.
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I used to play with Cinema 4D Release 9 studio alot, when I got 3ds max, I thought the layout was so much harder on max. I really like Cinema 4D, it had everything you could want, but max is just an industry standard, so I forced myself to move over to it instead.
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It'd be interesting to see the results of the Orange Project once it's available. Perhaps not Pixar quality, but I'm betting it's close.
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BTW, has anybody here actually bought a real commercial license of max, instead of using bootleg copies or the school's educational licenses? Last time I checked, 3ds max 8 was $3.5K. For $3.5K, I would be willing to learn a new interface.
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try wings3d its pretty good
i'll update when i find a link -matt |
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Bryce is great for landscapes, but can be used for everything.
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Having never worked with blender I can't offer opinions on it. However, when I was on animation last year we manged to make an animation after squandering half the time, having zero experience, and only one computer, a Dell that didn't even meet the minimum requirements. This year I didn't work on the animation, but the guy who did a lot of it used blender, and since you have to do the final render in 3ds MAX, almost didn't get it in because he hadn't noticed that MAX 8 had some weird installation requirements. The animation had more complexity than last year (we had walking things), but due to the need to switch it into MAX at the last minute and a few other problems, it ended up looking rather weird and nonsensical. So, IMHO, use MAX, because you have to for the competition's final render.
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First off, Max is my baby... It's what I learned on and what I'm sticking too, However:
Blender, even though it is quite confusing at first (to a max user) is wonderful for making organics. Maya7 is a powerful 3d application that has pretty much all the quirks of max, and a few of it's own... overall the only disappointing thing about it is the material aspect, as it is kind of rudimentary. Lightwave is just as effective as Max in most cases, however if you already know max there is no reason to switch. Also... Quote:
If you are talking about videogames, Max brings home the gold every time, but if you are talking about hollywood, Maya is catching up, although still not the industry standard, here check this out: Quote:
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As far as industry standards go, from a teacher of both at a local tech school: it depends on what the employees know.
What he said was that even though you see a "Made in Max" or "Maya", the actual end product was often a fusion of work from both programs, or even others. People in industry are often doing just modeling, or just texturing, and as a result, you can have quite a bit of freedom in choosing your own software to use. I for one think that Maya is far easier to box model in, though I like Max for pretty much everything else. (Granted, I haven't done much in Maya other than modeling and texturing...). I have also heard Max is better for animation. Again, though something is "done in Max", doesn't mean that only Max was used. (The guy I talked to said Halo was mostly done in Maya, and I've also heard it was mostly done in Max. Doesn't matter really, Autodesk owns 'em both now!) |
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Blender is still free.
Wings3d can't compare with any of these programs. |
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So, with all that is being said, can you use Lightwave to do the animation for the competition or is it illegal?
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I think you have to use 3ds max, but i would have to check the rules. It would be nice if we could use blender though.
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Blender is really nice, and with each release it just keeps getting better.
Of course, every release is still free, and teams can burn copies for their members and hand them out for people to take home and use. I think that's really important. These 3d programs are all very complex, and the freedom to install it at home and take the time to learn to use it is priceless. I do remember reading that FIRST animations must be done in max, but Blender does offer many import and export modules which should facilitate moving things between programs. Teams should definitely put Blender in their toolboxes. It works very well, and it's free. Why not? Another good one is Inkscape for vector (svg) drawing. Very nice. |
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(I know this is a little off topic, but I didn't want to open a new thread for it)
I am curious to know if Maya will be supplied with the autodesk software bundle this year. To the best of my knowledge, in past years Maya was not allowed to be used in AVA entries. Now that Maya was bought by Autodesk, they might allow it and even provide it in the software bundle they send teams each year. If anyone has information about this I would greatly appreciate it. |
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mayby he just dosent like windows.........i currently have windows on my laptop but im seriousely thinking about switching to fedora core or ubuntu. the only reason im not is they dont have inventor for linux.........
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You should try Anim8or, its a decent program AND its exports alot of different types of files, so you could make someting and export it to 3ds later or you could export to gmax or something else
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Or perhaps you can try Solidworks. Been using the student version for nearly 4 years! Latest version is 2005 i think and other than all the features like metal bending, forming, shaping, etc, theres a photo-renderer in it which outputs near-realistic renders when you specify the appropriate materials.
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