Maya Vs. 3D Studio Max

[kjamx]

Can't decide on which one I should buy.

I would design many stuff from Fantazy Environments to Unrealistic Characters for games and open up my Design Studio.

*(my dream come true).

[gerbick]

maya has the free PLE personal learning edition and you can request a demo from discreet for 3ds max.

I say try them.

or search this forum. this has been asked repeatedly over the last few years.

[Sasocki]

Well, sence i havent answered this yet i think i'll give it a shot.

Maya tends to be concidered more artistic and if you get realy good and often find your self working with maby characters then it woul probibly be the way to go. 3DS on the other hand is more mathmatical and is often used to work with other programs (games) because it has a larger library of plugins to work for it.

After you've taken that into concideration look at the price. The latest version version of 3DS (max 6) is 3,495.00 of there website. The latest... most expencive version of maya (unlimited 5) is 6,999.00 of there site and the not so... expencive version (5 complete) is 1,999.00 off there site.

Now im assuming the price doesnt mater much to you because you are getting it from a school store or something with a discount.

One other softwear i would mention to you is Cenima4D, which would beter suit you if your not looking too much into real profesional high end 3D. Now im not saying Cenima isnt profesional but the people who seem to know whhat there doing alwase have something to say about it (but you know they cant say they got there softwear for less then 600$ ) Now if you are looking to go more proffesional with that softwear then you might find you self spending more like 1,000.00 because there are a whole bunch of expencive (yet powerful) addons you can get for it. Cheak it out at www.maxon.net

this repky typed with only one hand. (i broke the other one )

[kjamx]

.. why thankx Sasocki!

I will give Cinema 4D a good look but I think in the end I will go with 3D studio max and then may later I will get Maya.

I heard that there is not toomuch that difers from the two Maya & 3D Max!..


PS

Sorry about your hand man hope u get better soon.

[Vatcher]

it seems in all these software wars no one ever mentions Softimage XSI, softimage just released news of version 4.0 which comes in a variety of sweet deals such as:

educational (permanent license) : $295
fundamentals version : $1995
essentials version : $3995
advanced version : $8995

not to mention XSI is one of the 3 high-end 3d software packages and is making a way up to becoming one of the best, I would highly recomend trying this software as well

www.softimage.com

[kjamx]

Originally posted by Vatcher
it seems in all these software wars no one ever mentions Softimage XSI, softimage just released news of version 4.0 which comes in a variety of sweet deals such as:

educational (permanent license) : $295
fundamentals version : $1995
essentials version : $3995
advanced version : $8995

not to mention XSI is one of the 3 high-end 3d software packages and is making a way up to becoming one of the best, I would highly recomend trying this software as well

www.softimage.com

..yes thanks I have definitly have taken a look at Softimage specially since they have included a copy of their software on the HL2 game for the XBOX and I got to tell you is looking pretty decent, but the advanced licence, "advanced version : $8995", is kinda steep for it..is more than Maya..am I wrong?

[Sasocki]

Well, i would also keep in mind that prices can very depending on the licence you get. Also theres the whole thing were you can get differnt versions depending on what you want to do. I think you realy need to keep in mind that if your not making the next finding nemo or toy story 2 then you probibly wont need the super expecive versions.

One last thing to keep in mind, education of the sofwear. One specific reason why i like Cenima is because its the first good 3d softwear that i've actualy been able to learn how to use. If you plan on using the manuals and tutorials that come with the softwear then prepare your self for a whole lot of reading. Also when i had tryed to learn 3ds i often found my self getting lost. (for instance they'd tell you to click one button out of the 200 other buttons that exist in the tool bars, or click a button that doesnt even show up on your screen because the tool bar is soo long that half of it doesnt show up.) and then theres the maya tutorials. I got the PLE version and read 200 pages of literature that didnt even realy talk about the program it self. (i gave up) The cenima tutorials on the other hand i have gotten through, and although i am still reading, i have found little to no trouble working with it.

In simple if you are going to go 3ds or maya you might want to consider taking a class somewear. Ofcorse if your still in collage then this shouldnt be too much of a problem, or if your just one of those magic people who's minds seem to click faster then there mouses and the softwear just natraly comes to them you over time you should be good.

[kjamx]

Originally posted by Sasocki
Well, i would also keep in mind that prices can very depending on the licence you get. Also theres the whole thing were you can get differnt versions depending on what you want to do. I think you realy need to keep in mind that if your not making the next finding nemo or toy story 2 then you probibly wont need the super expecive versions.

One last thing to keep in mind, education of the sofwear. One specific reason why i like Cenima is because its the first good 3d softwear that i've actualy been able to learn how to use. If you plan on using the manuals and tutorials that come with the softwear then prepare your self for a whole lot of reading. Also when i had tryed to learn 3ds i often found my self getting lost. (for instance they'd tell you to click one button out of the 200 other buttons that exist in the tool bars, or click a button that doesnt even show up on your screen because the tool bar is soo long that half of it doesnt show up.) and then theres the maya tutorials. I got the PLE version and read 200 pages of literature that didnt even realy talk about the program it self. (i gave up) The cenima tutorials on the other hand i have gotten through, and although i am still reading, i have found little to no trouble working with it.

In simple if you are going to go 3ds or maya you might want to consider taking a class somewear. Ofcorse if your still in collage then this shouldnt be too much of a problem, or if your just one of those magic people who's minds seem to click faster then there mouses and the softwear just natraly comes to them you over time you should be good.

..yeah I am like learning as I go on trying the software and thankx for your advice on Cnema 4D. I have a copy of the software that a friend gave me for learning purposes I will give that a better look. Meanwhile, I am considering acquiring the Gnomon Bundle lessons on Maya which acording to many people are pretty good. In addition, I have gotten like 5 books on 3DS and like you said, it gets kinda loose when explaining the lessons. However, I find myself to be a really fast learner; I have bought a copy of Swift 3D and I got with it pretty quick; the engine is amaizing and I can wait for ver 4. But like you and I know there is only so much you can do in Swift and I have liek a million ideas on what to create with a better high end 3D platform.

[Johnny Shiro]

Maya is the strongest package which people use to create effects that mindblows you like The Matrix Series, Lord Of The Rings etc etc.
You can use it for anything, games,movies,design concepts ..whatever ..it is really outstanding.

What i dont like about Lightwave is that there is a program for rendering, modelling ..not a complete package ..

[dpvtank]

Originally posted by Johnny Shiro
Maya is the strongest package which people use to create effects that mindblows you like The Matrix Series, Lord Of The Rings etc etc.
You can use it for anything, games,movies,design concepts ..whatever ..it is really outstanding.

What i dont like about Lightwave is that there is a program for rendering, modelling ..not a complete package ..

that is one of the most [for a lack of a better word] stupidest comments I have ever heard.

OH OH OH OH! LOLERZ! MY 3D APPZZ ROXCHORZ! IT TWSA USED IN LOTR! OMG!!!! LOL!!!111!!

Seriously. That is one of the stupidest thing I have heard. THat's right. Using the application that WETA digital used to make LOTR gives you also magical powers to make something like they did. And mind you, you also magically get the talent to write millions of scripts, tons of custom shaders, and magical integration with Renderman. And ofcourse, since WETA used Maya for LOTR, it also gives us the sheer talent and skill that the artists there have.

That's right. That just makes soo much sense.

If you ever meet people who use Lightwave, you will find that the seperate modeller is one of the biggest advantages to using Lightwave.

Gnomon lessons are good. But they can be long and sort of boring sometimes. Be prepared to read some stuff. Since not everything will make sense to the newbie.

ANd unless you have $2150.00 USD to blow, getting Gnomon titles are not worth it. I must say though, if you know some of the basic stuff before watching the DVD's, the gnomon vids are awesome and you definately learn a lot.

But why are you even bothering if you are sticking with Cinema 4d?

[gerbick]

dpvtank, be fair.

stating what the software can do is to either inspire or set a goal to which you can aspire to obtain.

simply put, it's a real statement that has some credibility. and notice that he didn't say everybody could make the Matrix out of the box.

despite your vitriol; you have a point. learning the 3d basics is the first and foremost thing to do. the rest, well, the programs are just the means. you have to figure out if you do have tendencies with the way you create - for instance, I just simply can not use patch modelling no matter how hard I try - and then decide the tool that best fits your natural workflow.

or find a way to work with a program naturally. my experience varies. I started on Lightwave 2.0 on the Amiga, then went to PowerAnimator on the SGI - which is the great-grandfather to Maya, basically. Then, I moved over to Softimage, but I picked up 3ds max r4 - then it ran on DOS - and sorta stayed there.

Now, I really can't use XSI that well, not as quickly as I can in Max. I'm a polygonal modeller. give me a square, a mesh, and I'll sub-divide all day.

but Maya, while being an elegant interface, it's just something I never could get into to. damn shame, it's an awesome program.

Cinema4D and Pixels3D (on the mac) just feel a lot like 3ds max/Plasma, so my skills moved over to them rather easily.

There are other esoteric 3D apps out there, like Rhino for instance - about the only program I can actually use NURBS with comfortably - and you see how the apps start to add up... but it all boils down to my tendency to stick to a creation style.

and 3ds max does it for me, personally.

All in all, dpvtank, I hope that was what you were trying to say.

If not, then feel free to correct me; sans venom. mmkay?

[Johnny Shiro]

Originally posted by dpvtank
that is one of the most [for a lack of a better word] stupidest comments I have ever heard.

OH OH OH OH! LOLERZ! MY 3D APPZZ ROXCHORZ! IT TWSA USED IN LOTR! OMG!!!! LOL!!!111!!

Seriously. That is one of the stupidest thing I have heard. THat's right. Using the application that WETA digital used to make LOTR gives you also magical powers to make something like they did. And mind you, you also magically get the talent to write millions of scripts, tons of custom shaders, and magical integration with Renderman. And ofcourse, since WETA used Maya for LOTR, it also gives us the sheer talent and skill that the artists there have.

That's right. That just makes soo much sense.

If you ever meet people who use Lightwave, you will find that the seperate modeller is one of the biggest advantages to using Lightwave.

Gnomon lessons are good. But they can be long and sort of boring sometimes. Be prepared to read some stuff. Since not everything will make sense to the newbie.

ANd unless you have $2150.00 USD to blow, getting Gnomon titles are not worth it. I must say though, if you know some of the basic stuff before watching the DVD's, the gnomon vids are awesome and you definately learn a lot.

But why are you even bothering if you are sticking with Cinema 4d?

ehm are you ok there buddy ? I think you really misunderstood my post i was only giving him examples of clients that has used Maya. Why i mentioned LOTR and The Matrix is i wanted to tell him how detailed modelling and physics you can achieve with Maya not "Learn Maya and you can achieve LOTR Art" Talent is Talent , Tools don`t work alone^.

Not worked much with Lightwave, been years since i used it..but when i tested different 3D Software the aspect of you have to open a window for rendering and one for modelling was TOO frustrating for my workflow. I really don`t care if some of your idiotic friends think it is the greatest, it doesn`t fit MY workflow .

This is a forum buddy, don`t ***** if someone has different opinions than you.

Have a nice day little one , talk 1337 talk in this forum again and i have to smack you !

[gerbick]

guys, keep it cool. there's no need to start a public flame war over opinions.

we all have our favorites.

bring back Alias Sketch! and Pixar Typestry dammit!

[dpvtank]

hey. Not trying to start a flame war. But I've seen many many threads where people recommended each other what application they can use based on what movies they have been used for [not on this forum].

This is extremely misleading for the beginner and I know I struggled with it when I started. I would rather make an aggresive comment so that he doesn't make the same mistakes I made then to censor everything.