3rd party software

[Markfuscius]

Here's a quick question that'll probably spin a few brain wheels as well.
Let's say I don't personally like 3dsMax for modelling, and I have a nice program to build most of my models in. I can export them as .dxf's, so that's not a problem.
The question is: am I allowed to use other programs (i.e. LightWave, Maya (which I can't afford, and neither can our team)) to build models/animate?
Either way, I'm probably gonna animate in 3ds, cuz the keyframe and curve animation tools just plan r0xx0r.

Thanks guys!
^_^

[Kyle Fenton]

This topic has popped up many times, so I would suggest that you peer down, and there are discussions on 3rd Party software. And to answer your question, you can use 3rd Party Software. But 3d Studio Max should be the primary animating software per se. You can use something like Inventor and AutoCAD for modeling. However you can use other software like Maya, Bryce 5 (the best for landscaping), Cinema 4d. You will also need an image editor like Photoshop, and a video editor like Final Cut Pro (If you have Combustion, It will look good, but its expensive and will have very little effect).
Since Autodesk presents this award, it is in your best interest to use as much Autodesk/kinitex/discreet software. You of course will have to list your use of 3rd party apps when you submit your animation.

[dlavery]

From FRCTECH2002 earlier today:

From:$@# "frcengineers" <frcengineers@y...>
Date:$@# Mon$@#Jan$@#28,$@#2002$@# 5:01 pm
Subject:$@# Re: Animation

--- In FRCtech2002@y..., "montyp29420" <montyp29420@y...> wrote:
> Must we use the 3d studio max software to produce the animation? Our
> school has another animation program that our students are already
> familiar with using

Since the criteria for judging the award and comparing your submission to other teams' are based specifically on the use of 3ds max and other Autodesk software components, yes, 3ds max must be used. The judging process can't support submissions from other programs because the judges will not have time to learn the capabilities of the other programs, to accurately judge your submission.
-M4

Based on this, I would interpret it to mean NO alternative modellers or rendering engines such as Maya, Lightwave, etc. despite what people may have said in earlier posts. Has anyone received any OFFICIAL information (ie. not guesses or inferences from non-FIRST or non-Autodesk sources) that would indicate that third-party tools (other than plug-ins) may be used?

-dave

[Kyle Fenton]

How the heck can they tell if it is done in Maya or other non-autodesk software. It is all a big movie file (.AVI).

[Zeinin]

Originally posted by Kyle Fenton
How the heck can they tell if it is done in Maya or other non-autodesk software. It is all a big movie file (.AVI).

well its hella easy to tell if it was done in max! the max default render has a very plastic "look" to it. although, with proper tecnique, you can pull off some really good stuff with it that dosent look so "fake". so i bet you ted boardman could tell what something was done with. but there is no real way to "prove" it
.

[Nate Smith]

Originally posted by Kyle Fenton
How the heck can they tell if it is done in Maya or other non-autodesk software. It is all a big movie file (.AVI).

This is one of those areas where Gracious Professionalism comes into play. Yes, there may be ways to mask the fact that you actually did not use the Autodesk software, but this is only because they're not having you send the actual 3dsmax file. I personally think, however, that part of the challenge with the Animation competition, as well as the robot itself, is that for the most part, all teams are working with the same materials. Each team may have their own frame(3dsmax plugins, photoshop for textures, etc.) but it all comes together with a common set of motors and controls(the 3dsmax software). Not the best analogy, I'm sure, but you should be able to get the idea...

[tjrage_25]

well its hella easy to tell if it was done in max! the max default render has a very plastic "look" to it.

That's if you use max's default renderer. You can get other free renderers like VRay.

Looks nothing like the default renderer.

[BrainCore]

There is no way of telling which software you used if you don't use the default renderer. Mental Ray, Renderman, etc... have separate connection programs to convert maya files, max files, etc... to the renderers format. Unless they ask for the source files, you're safe. Then again, I don't know why anyone would want to use another software package for modeling, except maybe Maya's NURBS. 3dsmax is pretty overall for modelig, and its subdivision modeling features are close enough to Mayas. BTW, Mark: Maya also has different interpolations...

I'd say the only time 3rd party software comes in is for textures(Photoshop), compositing/editing(Premiere/Combustion), and 3dsmax plug-ins. Would they care if we used Brazil? Vray? Shaghair? Those things are very noticeable. Would we get disqualified? I don't think Photoshop or Premiere will pose a problem since they have never asked about it in previous years and will probably not notice it during the animation.