To answer Soap, yeah I made the models/textures too.
@ShorterGFX, I was working on the whole thing last summer and a bit during December, but because of my classes (I'm a junior animation student), I've been unable to touch it really. I'll probably get much more of it done this coming summer, but sadly not before then.
edit: also, I just started a youtube channel where I'm posting some personal work, but I've also started to add mini Maya tutorials. So if you want, subscribe there and you could request some stuff too. So far I only have two and they're pertaining to setting up parts of a character, but I'm sure I'll have more - especially if there's a request for it.
I recommend everyone at least look into Maya. It is THE program to use (3ds max is better if you wanna work with NURBS a lot, though). Both programs are the staple of most animated movies and movie effects these days (though some movie companies use Pixar's Renderman to do the final rendering [see the creatures in LoTR]).
03-03-2010, 02:01 PM
cc.RadillacVIII
I want to try out 3D rendering, only images, not video yet, wich program do you recommend me to start of with. Keep in mind that I've never worked with any type of rendering program before.
Thanx!
03-03-2010, 06:00 PM
Ballinfolyf131
I have been to a conference about maya, Its a hell of a program, and like soap said it basically runs the 3d animation world now. Its looks very difficult after being at the conference, I personally have never tried it because it looks overwhelming, I might try this summer though when I can dedicate more time to practice it.
03-04-2010, 02:31 AM
Jack
I wouldn't necessarily say that Max is better for NURBS exactly ;) Both Maya and Max have a wide range of Polygon, NURBS, and Subdiv functionality.
As for what program is the program, I've been hearing that argument since I got into 3D. I picked my first copy of 3ds max when I was about 12. I'm 20 now, so I've been hearing that argument for awhile haha. Which 3D package out there is the best? Here's the answer: what works for you :)
It's all about what works for you personally. I've seen absolutely amazing things made in every program out there. It's the artist, not the program. They all have their unique workflows, UIs, plugins, scripts, etc. In the end, they all do essentially the same stuff. You'll have fanboys for each one, but they're really all the same.
I've done a short internship at a studio that did 90% of its stuff in C4D. It might not have been the greatest studio out there (hehe, it wasn't), but they did the job they had to do in C4D. They found that to suit them best. I've used Max and Maya fairly extensively and I've come to like Maya more just because of the smooth flow of how easily you access whatever you need to. Everything is insanely customizable and there's always 10 ways to do anything so you have a nice variety of options.
As for the industry, smaller studios often will have a few of the packages so they can play of each program's strengths. The bigger studios, at least film studios, will have the software but they do 95% of their work with in-house stuff that they create specifically for themselves. For example, Pixar's animation program is called Marionette and their renderer is Renderman (which they've released publicly).
In terms of the widely available software though, film/tv studios tend to lean towards Maya while game studios heavily lean towards Max. That isn't to say a film or game studio doesn't use XSI or something like that, but that's generally how it is. Epic games uses Max (along with Zbrush) to model, texture etc. I'm not sure what they use to rig the characters, but I'm fairly certain they animate in Maya. So they use both.
Woo! That was a little long-winded, sorry!
BOTTOM LINE: look around and use whatever 3D application works for you. They all have their minor strengths, but they all are capable of doing amazing stuff - that's up to you.
03-04-2010, 05:20 AM
cc.RadillacVIII
Thank you for that informative and well explained reply, appreciate it!
I will star by trying Maxon and Maya to see which is most appealing and easy to understand for me, and we will see which one I eventually will stick to in the future then.
Hope I can find some extra time for it in the near future.
