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software comparison?

DekeDeke Posts: 1,631
edited December 1969 in New Users

I'm trying to learn more about various modeling and animation software. I know Maya and CInema 4D are high-end programs with steep learning curve. How do more consumer friendly programs compare? I'm getting the hang of Daz and wonder how it compares to Carrera and iClone by Realusion.

Comments

  • Dream CutterDream Cutter Posts: 1,223
    edited December 1969

    Ease of use is not dependent on the grade, infact some professional grade software is simpler and less capable than some of these products. Also what ends up being a challenge to someone is highly dependent on the operation they are trying to accomplish and their experience. For instance ZBrush is a highly capable 3D modeling and sculpting software that is highly intuitive to digital artists, but the interface would drive someone with CAD modeling experience nuts because its so counterintuitive. It did for me although now I have the hang of it. Of the systems you mentioned, they do not all do the same thing however for animation IClone is by far the best and with its 3dExchange Pipeline add on probably the most simple and mabe even most versatile. However IClone like DS does not have complete mesh modeling from scratch, however you can assemble figures from mesh components. DAZ and Poser are fantastic for human form riging and posing. I think E-On Vue has the scenic animation and also the best integrated rendering engine of the consumer apps. Carrara for peeps that want a one app does it app pipeline, but I think DS + Hexagon + AniMate2 Graph is even better (IMO). Hexagon can be substituted by Wings3D, Sculptrix and many other capable mesh modeling apps, but you need something Poser, DS or Carrara to bring the mesh to life with a rigged mesh. Like Carrara Blender.org does it all and its free too. If animating for games if your thing, there many low poly modelers that are easy to use too., but thats another story. Cheers!

  • Leo ChenLeo Chen Posts: 697
    edited December 1969

    Dream Cutter said:
    Ease of use is not dependent on the grade, infact some professional grade software is simpler and less capable than some of these products. Also what ends up being a challenge to someone is highly dependent on the operation they are trying to accomplish and their experience. For instance ZBrush is a highly capable 3D modeling and sculpting software that is highly intuitive to digital artists, but the interface would drive someone with CAD modeling experience nuts because its so counterintuitive. It did for me although now I have the hang of it. Of the systems you mentioned, they do not all do the same thing however for animation IClone is by far the best and with its 3dExchange Pipeline add on probably the most simple and mabe even most versatile. However IClone like DS does not have complete mesh modeling from scratch, however you can assemble figures from mesh components. DAZ and Poser are fantastic for human form riging and posing. I think E-On Vue has the scenic animation and also the best integrated rendering engine of the consumer apps. Carrara for peeps that want a one app does it app pipeline, but I think DS + Hexagon + AniMate2 Graph is even better (IMO). Hexagon can be substituted by Wings3D, Sculptrix and many other capable mesh modeling apps, but you need something Poser, DS or Carrara to bring the mesh to life with a rigged mesh. Like Carrara Blender.org does it all and its free too. If animating for games if your thing, there many low poly modelers that are easy to use too., but thats another story. Cheers!

    Thank you for sharing.

  • DekeDeke Posts: 1,631
    edited December 1969

    Yes, thanks. Some programs I hadn't even heard of. I'm on a mac and didn't realize Iclone is PC only.

  • ReallusionReallusion Posts: 115
    edited December 1969

    Hello Dkutzera,

    I work for Reallusion so I could shine some light on the subject of iClone.

    Currently, iClone is only available for Windows PC but our company has been already considering creating future versions for Mac OS.
    What you can do is run iClone on bootcamp. I actually travel around making presentations with iClone on a MacBook PRO and usually have no problems running it on Bootcamp.

    I hope this helps!

  • That Other PersonaThat Other Persona Posts: 381
    edited December 1969

    enoc said:
    Hello Dkutzera,

    I work for Reallusion so I could shine some light on the subject of iClone.

    Currently, iClone is only available for Windows PC but our company has been already considering creating future versions for Mac OS.
    What you can do is run iClone on bootcamp. I actually travel around making presentations with iClone on a MacBook PRO and usually have no problems running it on Bootcamp.

    I hope this helps!

    Hi. I'm a Mac Guy all the way and recently saw iClone when I discovered Daz and Carrara. It looks awesome. Just yesterday, I saw Crazy Talk Animator. Wow. Looks fun.

    I've been using ToonBoom apps for years and Anime Studio since last year. One reason I came to the 3D Daz and Carrara world was for easy content (I'm not that much of an artist!).

    Personally, I would prefer not having to install a virtual app or Windows and would be thrilled to get Mac versions of these apps (CTA and iClone).

    If you need a beta tester...

  • ReallusionReallusion Posts: 115
    edited December 2013

    Hi That Other Persona,

    I'm glad that you ask about CrazyTalk for Mac OS because last year we released CrazyTalk7 which is the first Mac OS application from Reallusion.
    We have already received many requests to port our other software into Mac. Its in our roadmaps but not sure on the dates. I actually just talked to one of our CT developers and it is confirmed that we will have a Mac version for CrazyTalk Animator 2. (This is due for mid-2014.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HQ-qIGt9KY

    I understand on not wanting to run a virtual machine on your Mac. But like I said, I run iClone on my MacBook and rarely have any issues with it. Our company is already working on iClone6, but I am not sure if there will be a Mac Os version. Now don't quote me on that, since there is still no official word. =)

    Post edited by Reallusion on
  • That Other PersonaThat Other Persona Posts: 381
    edited December 1969

    Awesome news!

  • SickleYieldSickleYield Posts: 7,639
    edited December 1969

    I use Blender and the GIMP for my 3d base modeling, UV mapping, and texturing. Both are free programs with Mac-friendly versions and HUGE feature sets. Blender absolutely does have a steep learning curve, and so does the GIMP if you learned on Photoshop first (it has no evil DRM and doesn't crash as often in recent versions, though). It doesn't do texture painting well enough for sophisticated hirez body texturing, but it's still much cheaper to use Blender plus 3dCoat, RealityPaint, and Zbrush combined than to get one pro license for Maya.

  • That Other PersonaThat Other Persona Posts: 381
    edited December 1969

    The Crazy Talk site now suggests that the Mac version is comign 2014... any idea of when?

  • mjc1016mjc1016 Posts: 15,001
    edited December 1969

    SickleYield said:
    I use Blender and the GIMP for my 3d base modeling, UV mapping, and texturing. Both are free programs with Mac-friendly versions and HUGE feature sets. Blender absolutely does have a steep learning curve, and so does the GIMP if you learned on Photoshop first (it has no evil DRM and doesn't crash as often in recent versions, though). It doesn't do texture painting well enough for sophisticated hirez body texturing, but it's still much cheaper to use Blender plus 3dCoat, RealityPaint, and Zbrush combined than to get one pro license for Maya.

    One of the great features of both GIMP and Blender...both are very extensible, by way of scripts and plug-ins. For example GIMP is able to take many Photoshop brushes (natively) and filters by way of an add-on. And there is a fork of GIMP that IS used in many major pipelines...Cinepaint.

  • TotteTotte Posts: 13,981
    edited December 1969

    dkutzera said:
    Yes, thanks. Some programs I hadn't even heard of. I'm on a mac and didn't realize Iclone is PC only.

    I must recommend Cheetah 3D if you are on Mac OS X, a pretty powerful program for the bucks.
    I use it for most of my modeling and UV-mapping. There are some pretty advanced javascript additions for it too.

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