Marko_JJ

My school has taught me with softimage xsi v 4... I was wondering if its worth looking into any other 3d programs since im almost out of school and i need to get a lisence pretty quick here... ANY IDEAS???

-Mark J

jvlive

well, as what they all say, software is just a tool its still up to the artist how he uses it. but, yes, its good to look into other 3d programs. why dont you download trial versions of the different softwares you're lookin at and try them yourself? also, you should know what programs are being used at the industry you're targeting (once you get out o' school) e.g. maya for film, 3dsmax/viz for architecture.

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3dp

NO

more work for us maxers mayers vizwizzers

serious though if that your tool and your happy then stick with it it not the size but how you use it

i went with max after little bits of lightwave and softimage simply because it had native dwg import not something i regret but seeing some of the guys demo xsi (which is nicer to look at in my mind) modelling hmmm maybe

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mbr

I've thought about switching to XSI because of the cost of Max. Just upgrading cost more than new copies of XSI! But I'll probably stick with Max, at least until the plugin renderers have standalone versions.

XSI does look much better than Max or Maya (both of which look 10 years old, imho). That's something when you stare at menues all day.

I'd stick with it, but might start playing with Max. Most likely, the switch won't be too difficult unless you are trying complex things.

I'd like to see more people switching to XSI, and give Autodesk a clear messgae that their pricing and lack of options is monopolistic abuse.

bricklyne

.........that's like hoping to see more people switch from AutoCAD to Vectorworks because it's dual platform and cheaper, and because Autodesk needs to get the message that their upgrade licensing policies are draconian and exploitative.. Just isn't going to happen.

Still, their (Autodesk's) prevalence in the 3D visualisation and modelling fields is not nearly as over-dominating or complete as it is in the CAD and architectural/mech. design industries. So maybe there exists an opening for another player to eat into their market share. If only Maya were not too focused on the film CG and FX industry and if Cinema4D , XSI and the rest had larger marketing budgets, that might have been a more realistic hope.

Here is where I believe Lightwave dropped the ball, big time, in the mid-to-late nineties when the gap between themselves and Max was not as large as it is now, and they failed to capitalize on the then burgeoning 3D viz industry was just beginning to take off.

IC

I'd agree with that (although not so sure about the gap reference-at that time LightWave had radiosity, caustics, HDRI, Hypervoxels etc) Max really only bettered it in Character Animation.
What Newtek capitalised on instead was the burgeoning TV effects market. They rested on their laurels when everybody started using LW for that.

But the upshoot is that the LW developers left to work on Modo and I think in a while that's going to be the software to beat.

With regard to XSI-why switch if you're happy with it? The only problem I meet through not using Max/Viz is if I'm only doing the modelling or the rendering. Converting files can be tricky, especially in XSI.

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Marko_JJ

I guess ill stick with xsi for now... Maxwell's rendering addon is coming out for it soon which makes the sexiest renders ever. Id like to look into that when i get the cash for it. If id switch to anything itd be 3dmax.

Marko_JJ

thx for the help!

ihabkal

switch. It's an order!

IC

Great advice Ihab.
Care to elaborate? Or are you just out to confuse someone who's looking for direction?

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