How hard is it to learn modelling in cinema 4d?
The interface on blender is tricky as hell, I hope cinema 4d's is cleaner.
Traveller 3d models?
- Thread starter The Thing
- Start date
The interface on blender is tricky as hell, I hope cinema 4d's is cleaner.
BetterThanLife
SOC-14 1K
I do seem to remember mentioning that about Blender.
Cinema 4D is not cheap. (Though it can produce beautiful work.) Andrew is the expert on it.The last day of Daz3D's Hexagon sale is today. Otherwise you might try Wings3d but I can't find docs on it. Note that all 3D software is going to have a learning curve, some are steeper than others.
Since I have Hex 2 and Carrara 5 I never bothered to mess with Wings3D so I can't give you much information about it except that it does work and there are a few people that say it does pretty well and is easier to learn than using Blender. My next modeler is likely to be Lightwave. (As Hex and Carrara do have some limitations that Lightwave doesn't and Lightwave's render engine is one of the best in the industry. (And it is under a grand.)
BetterThanLife
SOC-14 1K
I am going to break it down by Price. My apologies if I missed someone's favorite application. Further I restricted this list to software that has general modeling capability. (Leaving out things like Bryce, Poser, Vue and Daz|Studio which can do some modeling but are not really designed to do modeling.)
As you can see 3D modeling can get quite expensive. Note that in the under $200 category you will probably want an additional program to render your creation.
Of these I have or have had Blender (Can't stand the interface.), Shade LE (Can't stand the interface.), Hex 2 (Use it for modeling), Carrara 5 (Upgraded to Pro), Carrara 5 Pro (Use it for everything but modeling but if I didn't have Hex I would use it for that as well.). I have demoed Lightwave (Like it), and 3DS Max (Think it is overpriced.). For someone starting out I do recommend Hex 2 (Especially if you can get it at <$50) as a modeler and for a beginner with 3D applications I highly recommend Carrara. (It gives you the most bang for your buck and is more than just an entry level 3D program but is at an entry level price.)
Free:
Wings3D
Blender (More than just a modeler)
Less than $200:
Silo ($109)
Hexagon 2 (Currently $2 or $32, regular Price $149)
Shade LE (Now called Standard $199.)
Less than $1000; Generally not restricted to just modeling.
Carrara 5 Standard ($175 (Platinum Club), $205 if you shop right or $249)*
Carrara 5 Pro ($385 (PC), $414(Shop right) or $549 full price)*
Amapi 7.5 ($750)
Ligthwave 9 ($895 (though you can usually catch a sale and save $100-$200))
Cinema 4D (Basic Version) ($895)
Shade 8 Professional ($900)
Rhino (modeler only) ($995)
Greater than $1000. Many require plug-ins and can run you in excess of $10,000.
Autodesk Maya ($1995 or $7995 plus plug-ins)
XSI ($1995 or $6995)
Cinema 4D, XL, Studio, to adding all plug-ins ($2195, $3495, with plug-ins can reportedly exceed $10,000)
Autodesk 3DS Max ($3495 +Plug-ins which can reportedly exceed $10,000)
Many of these packages do have educational pricing for teachers and students with restrictions on them, these are not those prices.
Also note that for some of these modelers you will also need or desire separate UV mapping software and a paint program for texturing.
*Daz3D has an interesting pricing policy which for big ticket items means you never have to pay full price. Their platinum Club membership which costs $29.95 to join for a month will give you 30% off Daz products. (Plus some other benefits.) So the low price is for those that are members, the mid price includes an initial month of membership and the high price is the full price.
As you can see 3D modeling can get quite expensive. Note that in the under $200 category you will probably want an additional program to render your creation.
Of these I have or have had Blender (Can't stand the interface.), Shade LE (Can't stand the interface.), Hex 2 (Use it for modeling), Carrara 5 (Upgraded to Pro), Carrara 5 Pro (Use it for everything but modeling but if I didn't have Hex I would use it for that as well.). I have demoed Lightwave (Like it), and 3DS Max (Think it is overpriced.). For someone starting out I do recommend Hex 2 (Especially if you can get it at <$50) as a modeler and for a beginner with 3D applications I highly recommend Carrara. (It gives you the most bang for your buck and is more than just an entry level 3D program but is at an entry level price.)
Free:
Wings3D
Blender (More than just a modeler)
Less than $200:
Silo ($109)
Hexagon 2 (Currently $2 or $32, regular Price $149)
Shade LE (Now called Standard $199.)
Less than $1000; Generally not restricted to just modeling.
Carrara 5 Standard ($175 (Platinum Club), $205 if you shop right or $249)*
Carrara 5 Pro ($385 (PC), $414(Shop right) or $549 full price)*
Amapi 7.5 ($750)
Ligthwave 9 ($895 (though you can usually catch a sale and save $100-$200))
Cinema 4D (Basic Version) ($895)
Shade 8 Professional ($900)
Rhino (modeler only) ($995)
Greater than $1000. Many require plug-ins and can run you in excess of $10,000.
Autodesk Maya ($1995 or $7995 plus plug-ins)
XSI ($1995 or $6995)
Cinema 4D, XL, Studio, to adding all plug-ins ($2195, $3495, with plug-ins can reportedly exceed $10,000)
Autodesk 3DS Max ($3495 +Plug-ins which can reportedly exceed $10,000)
Many of these packages do have educational pricing for teachers and students with restrictions on them, these are not those prices.
Also note that for some of these modelers you will also need or desire separate UV mapping software and a paint program for texturing.
*Daz3D has an interesting pricing policy which for big ticket items means you never have to pay full price. Their platinum Club membership which costs $29.95 to join for a month will give you 30% off Daz products. (Plus some other benefits.) So the low price is for those that are members, the mid price includes an initial month of membership and the high price is the full price.
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Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
C4D is *very* easy to use. It's famous for it.
If you want to try it out, you can download a demo version: http://www.maxoncomputer.com/download_demo.asp
If you qualify, Renderosity have a great deal on an older version: http://market.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/index.php?ViewProduct=20245&TopID=10626.10633.
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
Other 3d software:
Anim8or $FREE http://www.anim8or.com/
TrueSpace $395+ http://www.caligari.com
Strata 3D CX 5 $695 http://www.strata.com
Anim8or $FREE http://www.anim8or.com/
TrueSpace $395+ http://www.caligari.com
Strata 3D CX 5 $695 http://www.strata.com
BetterThanLife
SOC-14 1K
I knew I didn't have everything on the list I made.
BTW you can get the entire Strata Suite for $995 right now.
Caligari has been in the 3D business almost as long as NewTek (makers of Lightwave), I can't believe I forgot about them.
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
TS used to have a *horrible* interface, but I think they've finally updated it.
BetterThanLife
SOC-14 1K
Then your Dad had an early version of Lightwave as well. Lightwave came with the Video Toaster back then. In fact for the longest time it was the only way to get Lightwave.
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
BTW, here's Scarecrow's Suleiman. It was designed for use in Celestia, but it's just a .3ds model.
http://www.traveller3d.com/suleiman.zip
http://www.traveller3d.com/suleiman.zip
BetterThanLife
SOC-14 1K
Scarecrow
SOC-14 1K
Yeah, as it was designed to render in realtime it's game level detail so you might want to keep it in the background if you're doing renders and such
Crow
I've been playing with blender, it runs better with python installed, even tho I'm not crazy about adding anything named "python" to my computer.
I've been plagued with outdated or hard to download tutorials, such as a promising one that was supposed to tell me how to render and texture a vase only to find it was outdated and my version of blender didn't have some of the tile files it needed.
Despite these annoyances I have been learning and have made an object more complex than a basic scout, partially by accident but I have learned. I believe eventually I can do some decent models on blender, tho would like to try cinema4d based on andy's hearty recommendations.
I've been plagued with outdated or hard to download tutorials, such as a promising one that was supposed to tell me how to render and texture a vase only to find it was outdated and my version of blender didn't have some of the tile files it needed.
Despite these annoyances I have been learning and have made an object more complex than a basic scout, partially by accident but I have learned. I believe eventually I can do some decent models on blender, tho would like to try cinema4d based on andy's hearty recommendations.
Another free modeller which is in beta and is VERY easy to use (and looks good for 'hard modelling') is Moment of Inspiration (or MOI) I have only dabbled with MOI, but I have liked what I have seen.
I use Silo (which I love for its ease of use). Silo 2 is currently free to download as it's in open beta. You may want to try giving it a go. The community is friendly and helpful too.
Ravs
I use Silo (which I love for its ease of use). Silo 2 is currently free to download as it's in open beta. You may want to try giving it a go. The community is friendly and helpful too.
Ravs
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
Yeah, as it was designed to render in realtime it's game level detail so you might want to keep it in the background if you're doing renders and such
Crow
It looks pretty good even up close. It's almost like you do this kind of thing for a living...
Kharum1
SOC-12
BTW Carrara just went on sale at Daz3D, including a free upgrade to Carrara 6 when it comes out later this year. ($223 for non-Platinum Club members for Pro.) This is definitely my favorite 3D application. Lots of power little cost.
Really, how much different is it from Hexagon? I'm on the fence about purchasing it.
Kharum1
BetterThanLife
SOC-14 1K
Carrara is not just a modeler. It is a full blown general 3D application. It has modeling, animation tools, excellent lighting and rendering. To get close to Carrara Pro's capabilities you would need to buy Poser, Vue Infinite, and Hex.
Those three have a couple of things that Carrara 5 Pro doesn't have (but not much and unlikely to have more than Carrara 6 Pro will have). On the other hand Carrara 5 Pro also has some features that even those three combined don't have.
Those three have a couple of things that Carrara 5 Pro doesn't have (but not much and unlikely to have more than Carrara 6 Pro will have). On the other hand Carrara 5 Pro also has some features that even those three combined don't have.
BetterThanLife
SOC-14 1K
From those that have used both, I have heard that the Carrara render engine is more stable than the Vue 6 one. Carrara's lighting is better, it has a good physics engine, and it works as if those three programs were actually one program. (Without the foibles of transferring from one to another.) Further Carrara integrates well with the tools you already have.
For example of things that Carrara has that the other three don't have. Carrara has a Spline Modeler, an excellent particle generator, sound synchronization for animation, VET and FBX export and a few other minor toys.
How much use you get out of Carrara would depends on what you are actually planning on doing with it. Try the demo. the sale is on until the 14th of August, you have time. C6's dynamic cloth and dynamic hair will likely be a major improvement over what is available in Poser. (Cloth simulation is based on the Optitex cloth engine. I would think that Carrara would be better for space animations than Vue, especially with the Particle generator in Carrara for explosions and other combat effects.
