3DMax Or Maya?

So with this new prim tool coming, which 3rd party software would be best to learn?

3DMax or Maya?

Which would work better for this and SL?

3ds max and Maya are very hard programs to learn, though if you really are committed go for learning them, they are really great programs but rather frustrating to learn. I am not posting this to discourage you or anything just saying so you know alittle bit about them before you spend the massive amount of money on getting one or the other.
Though what I suggest is Maya.

You should check out the Maya website, I'm pretty sure you can download Maya Learning Edition for free. It won't let you save or export anything and all your renders will have be watermarked, but it's great for learning and getting used to it.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=7695485

I've used both in the past, I personaly think Maya is a much easier tool to use once you get into it.

Vale

Blender is free - it's also quite a b*tch to learn and I've been told by people used to professional 3d apps that the interface is very non-intuitive for them too. But hey, can't beat that 0 USD price tag and the Lindens have announced they hope having an exporter for it too.

Yeah, I've tried Blender a few times, it's a really great tool and everything you're likely to need is there. But my god, it's so quirky. It really would take a huge effort to get into Blender I think, but that might be just because I'm used to other programms.

Vale

Thanks for the info. i have used 3DMax before a couple of years ago however never really got into it too much. Took a look at the interface and felt like I needed to read a book really think to even learn my way around the interface but it sounds like I need to learn one or the other now so time to jump in

I'm trying to learn Maya now and omg, it's hard! But I'm commited to learn so eventually I'll get it.

Mandy C

If you're a K-12 (elementary, middle/intermediate/junior, high school) student, attending higher education institutions or a teacher/instructor of said schools, you can buy discounted, education versions of 3DSMax or Maya. Education versions are identical to the commercial version but they cannot be used for commercial for-profit purposes (less ye risk be sued off ye britches).

If you're willing to go this (legal) route, I direct you to Studica.com (CA state residents have to pay tax) or JourneyEd.com (TX residents have to pay tax). 3DSMax Ed. ver. is about $370 USD and Maya Ed. ver. is about $380 USD on either site.

Any of the big name 3D modeling/rendering software really does require a bit of time and commitment to learn. For me, it was time, commitment and money. Paid $800 for a 3D modeling course to cover an elective. I really got into it and paid $600 (at the time) for an educational version of 3DSMax 5. Even though I didn't learn all of the ins and outs of the program in the end, the class taught me the basics of modeling, texturing, rendering and animation. To me, it was well worth the money (software + class = $1400).

3DSMax is the most widely used 3D software globally with Maya behind it so there are tons of resources and tutorials out there on the internet and in books to help you learn. It can be quite a steep learning curve if you're a total noob. There are many concepts, tools, parameters, and functions you need to know before you can even start building something more complex than a simple box. I found it much easier to learn in a classroom with an instructor than by myself and a book. After that, getting into other 3D packages, such as Maya and Cinema 4D, was like a walk in a park (yellowstone national park ). Your results may vary.

Both software packages are equally difficult to learn if you don't already know how to use a 3D modeling program (w/ the exception of Blender3D, naming conventions and workflow are worlds apart from either 3DSMax or Maya).

At the very least, you could probably use a raster image editor like Photoshop to create custom sculpted prims once sculpted prims become implemented. You might want to read the Second Life Wiki on how sculpted prims work. The only thing you need to upload to SL for these prims is an RGB color image. From there SL converts color pixels into instructions to form a 3d object (provided the file format is the same SL currently utilizes for all of it's textures or one that Photoshop supports).

But as for being the better (easier) method, any 3D software could fill that role. From there, it's all about the extent of your 3D modeling skills and imagination.

There was also mention that they will be working on a basic sculpting tool in the viewer, so if simplicity is what you seek, perhaps you would want to hold off until that happens.

i prefer using 3d max (for 5 years now), but to be honest, the games industry is switching to maya or allready has. so maybe maya is the right thing to go for. (if you have 7k us$ for the unlimited version)

also LL only has a maya exporter for their new prims

Which ever one they used to make the Normal map for the new sculpt prim. Personally I like 3DS Max. I grew up on the old Dos version when it was 3D studios. They really can do the same things they just have different ways of doing them. I have tried both and to me Max just seemed more intuitive.

What I am wondering is what the specific format of the saved file to be brought into SL is? I have and use Strata Studio and might well be able to save to the correct format even though it is not Maya or 3DSM.

Shuddering at the thought of learning yet another 3D app

I don't know what the file format is, but as far as I'm aware LL are actually developing the exporters for Maya, 3DS Max and Blender, so it may be a proprietary format. I doubt, however, that they'll keep the format specification a secret, so one of two things will happen.

Either you'll be able to work in Strata, export as a file Blender can read, import into Blender, then export the file for SL from Blender.

Or someone will eventually get round to writing an exporter for Strata.




http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Sculpted_Prims

I think both Maya & 3DSM (sounds kinda kinky) are kinda tough to pick up and pretty unnecessary IMHO. all you need know how to do is

#1 make sculpties
#2 make animations

now I have been a character animator for 8 yrs and Im for the opinion that instead of wasting time and ultimately feeling frustrated picking up these professional software, (plus $$).

invest more time into the only 2 aspects you need to know:

Modeling & Animation.

and you can easily do that with free software ie blender etc.

as for animation: as long as our software can export motion to BHV well, also helps if the software comes with a dope sheet.
it make animating more efficient and fun. brush up on skills, NOT software...you don't need a pilot's license to ride a bike- get a good bike and learn some stunts!!

Master modeling & animating skills don't let the software own you!

I use 3dsmax. i personally find it easy to use and have been using it for close to 4 years now. it is also abit easyer to use than maya more powerfull too imho.

Regards Vala