[Burnum]

I'm trying to find the ultimate modeler to recommend for replacement of SketchUp. SketchUp is fun and easy in some ways, but a pain in so many others. Like the fact that it's a surface modeler and once you choose how many sides a rounded thing has, you are stuck with it. Or how it just doesn't do textures well at all. <shiver>

Problem is, the owner of the company I'm working with is the Primary designer, and he only knows SketchUp right now.

A solid modeler like Bonzai3d (I hope to see a beta of bonzai3d soon! FormZ mixed with Sketchup could be nice for the person I work with!), FormZ, Rhino, something that lets you change the mesh density would be great. It also has to have great UV Unwrapping tools. I have to say i'm not impressed with Studio's UV tools, at least not when you try to work with them on imported SketchUp models. Simple things like adjust to model, just make a mess... why does it choose to make a cylindrical map 10x bigger and offset from the center in some totally odd place not even around a model??

Ultimately using UV tools in Studio seems like extra work I shouldn't need to worry about, and less productive, should I need to replace a model with a new version. (where I would end up need to set up UVs in studio again rather than just have them already)

[yanada]

"It Sounds Like Modo"

[petrol]

First of all , what do you want to do? organic modeling or very geometric modeling?

Im working with Rhino 4 , nurbs modeler , very nice tool for what i need to do...but forget about organic modeling with Rhino (yes i know there's Tsplines plugin...).In other words if you want to use only one sofware choose Maya , you'll find both organic (polygons, subdivis) and powerfull nurbs tools inside.Im only talking about what i use to work , rigging and texturing are unknow to me.Try Maya PLE (Personal learning Edition) this is not so hard to learn...

[Bubbaloo]

I highly recommend Max. It has a great Maxwell plugin and you have total control over your modelling. There are other great modelling softwares out there but none that work so well with Maxwell. The Max plugin is usually the first to get updated. Max has easy to learn uv functions.

[Josephus Holt]

Burnum...what are you modeling?

[Maximus3D]

I will vote for Modo, it's a allround tool which is very powerful and so much cheaper than the big dinosaurs like 3dsmax and Maya. If you don't wanna use Modo then the newly released Cinema4D r11 is a real good choice!

/ Max

[Burnum]

Oops what I'm modeling would be important to know.

I expect to be modeling more mechanical things than organic. And I don't expect to be doing complex animation, jut still virtual photography of product design ideas and stuff for marketing imagery etc.

Light fixtures and stuff, and some architectural environments to contain them at times.

[Burnum]

Is there a Modo Maxwell plugin someplace?
I don't see one.

looks like a nice package though. Look like very nice UV tools!

[Brett Morgan]

A little birdie told me there is one in beta testing, check the wishlist forum, I'm totally hanging out for an official announcement.

B

[Luca_Studioaltieri]

3ds max is highly supported by maxwell. if you go for max, remember to install latest hotfixes and delete "AutoCamMax.gup" in stdplug directory, to correct 2009 version bug related to viewports.

i worked with all most popular 3d software (except modo) and for my work area 3dsmax is the final choice.

[Bubbaloo]

*hijack alert*

delete "AutoCamMax.gup" in stdplug directory

What is that? I haven't done that.

Max 2009 has been the most stable version I have used. I started with Max 8.

Seriously, if you want a 3d modeller that is a good industry standard, then Max is the one. Most large places that don't use proprietary software use Max. If you learn Max, you increase your own "marketability". Of course, the more programs you are efficient at, the more marketable you are also...

[Luca_Studioaltieri]

*hijack alert*

delete "AutoCamMax.gup" in stdplug directory

What is that? I haven't done that.

Max 2009 has been the most stable version I have used. I started with Max 8.

A 'good' number of customers have some trouble (in my case all licenses in my 2 pc.. . ), due to hw compatibility with steering whell and viewcube features. This cause 3dsmax2009 to very often crash while panning in viewports (corrected with hot fixes) ...... and automatically switch top viewport as a top-perspective-viewport when (sometimes) selecting objects in other viewports.

In autodesk forum i found this latest workaround for who hotfixes did not fully work... and now works! no more crashes



edit: i started with 3dstudio r3 for Ms.DOS

[Bubbaloo]

Ok, thanks for the info. Man, I HATE the steering wheel. Tha's the first thing I disabled! I like the viewcube, though.

[mtripoli]

Oops what I'm modeling would be important to know.

I expect to be modeling more mechanical things than organic. And I don't expect to be doing complex animation, jut still virtual photography of product design ideas and stuff for marketing imagery etc.

Light fixtures and stuff, and some architectural environments to contain them at times.

Solidworks... plugin works very well (easy to use)...

[deflix]

DONT USE MAX or you will regret it. The main problem with max is Autodesk who are the software equivilant to enron. They will fleece you for every penny in your pocket, provide no free support and expect you to continuosly pay for meaningless upgrades which are not backward compatible. The software hasnt be properly upgraded for about 10 years and is plagued with instability and unacceptable issues with basic functionality.If youre about to learn a new package you are priviledged and have the pick of the crop, although please under no circumstances use Autodesks products wherever possible.....consider that a friendly warning!