3d learning, help me decide

N

Newman

Active member
ok, i know there's tons of questions and discussion about this,...i did a little bit of research and using Mac, it came down to maya and C4D.

i do a little bit of after effect vfx and motion graphic, but i want to step my game and learn a 3d package.

So the question is: i want to learn a 3d package and give it my soul, what package should i invest in?

keep in mind: - money is no object
- i'm not going to be doing ILM vfx at home, just a few motion graphic, particle, minor but believable vfx for music video and short films, etc


ok, your turn.....
 
I run MAYA on my system. Can't model to save my life. But I use it for it's fluids and particles features. Which are pretty much unparalleled. Though nothing tops RealFlow for water simulation.

I use Maya, Maya is used a lot. I guess it's personal choice. Never used C4D before.
 
Well, both of those programs are good, and have extensive training available,

That said, Cinema 4D has has a module called MoGraph, which is a tool set to help you create motion graphics, and is highly regarded in the industry. (http://www.maxon.net/pages/products/modules/mograph/mograph_e.html)

Personally I like lightwave, cause it's a good allrounder. it has a motion graphics content product calles 3D arsenal, but is really more templates, where the C4D mograph is a toolset.

lightwave is also very good with particles, but so are the other 3d Packages

- Derrick
 
I use a combination of C4D and Houdini. C4D is really easy to pick up if your new to 3D. It has a nice context sensitive help system & is awesome for quick and professional results. Houdini on the other hand requires quite a bit more to master but the rewards are definitely worth it. Eg. Unbelieveable dynamics, fluids & particles. Also everything is prodcedural so you can go back and tweak your project after the fact.
 
Maya is going to take much longer to learn, but C4D is still a great program just not as complex. Once you've learned it you won't want to switch to any other. Maya offers alot of different methods of modeling, lighting, etc.. and has lots of great features. It's really your choice.



Mattykins Got any of your work online, I'd like to see it ??



:)
 
Twocik23,

I don't right now. I'll have a website up by November and then by January I'll have the Visual Effects department up and running (including my demo real).

And to OP, whatever you chose - the ideas carry over from system to system - just with different ways of getting stuff done.

-Matt
 
From first-hand experience, I'd suggest Lightwave. It's a great package that will do everything you describe. Affordable, tons of tutes and community help on the web, "relatively" easy compared to Maya. You mentioned you don't want to be the next ILM so you don't need Maya. Too complicated for meduim-duty use.

From second-hand experience, go for Cinema 4D. Lots of folks here use it and post their work and it looks like a solid package.

Most packages have free trials. I'd suggest starting there...
 
I'm a great fan of Lightwave, but at this point you might want to look at a package called Modo, which is basically the Lightwave that the programmers and developers wanted to make, but were thwarted by management...

...money no object, I'd lean toward Maya. I have found that for my own purposes Lightwave does most everything I need done, but Maya is a more powerful tool (in terms of detail control), has more and better rendering options, and more professional cachet, which can be useful regardless of the actual job at hand.

You can teach yourself Lightwave. Teaching yourself Maya is much more difficult.
 
thank you all very much for the feedback,.... if i understand lightwave has better particle system than c4d? but how easy it is to learn? i think i just narrowed the choice to c4d vs lightwave....
xsi also looked fun but that's another story,....

anyway, kepp it coming guys....!
 
Lightwave's particle system - derived from Particle Storm - is the very essence of ease and fine control.

I'm not slamming anyone else's particle systems, but it's one of my more favorite things, in Lightwave.
 
Download the demo's and play with each.

On a personal note, I've never liked Lightwave's layout, and C4D is artist friendly and easy to use. I started on Maya so I know the other side too.
 
People seem to either really dig Lightwave's structure (like me) or really prefer the sort of 3DSMax/Maya-type interface setup.

Individual taste, plus what one learns on, I guess.
 
I will add that I started using lightwave very briefly before I made the switch to cinema and I would have to agree with oneinfiniteloop I hated the whole layout of lightwave.
 
Thank you all very much, now with that being said,... Once I get a good grip on cinema4d (yeah I decided to go with c4d), how easy or hard will it be switch to the big boys? (maya, Houdini, xsi, max)?


Your turn...
 
Max and C4d have a lot in common.
It was easier for me to learn C4D because I already had a basic understanding of max.
Actually c4d is one of the big boys; how big will depend on how big of a boy you are .
 
I'm silently waiting for Max and Maya to become one, hehe : imagine MayaMax or MaxMaya.


I say try C4D its come in leaps and bound, also I hear good things about Modo to, Maya yea steep learning curve but powerful.
 
Or YAMAMAX 3D :)
Not gonna happen , because the longer we dream about this the more money autodesk makes.
 
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