New User, First Question, Etc

[LaFrance]

Hi All,

 

I just wanted to drop an introductory line rather than my usual lurking.

My name is Brian LaFrance. I don't work in the arch viz biz, but in animation

and visual fx doing lighting, compositing, look dev. However, I am mostly

interested in the creation of digital environments, and this community seems

to share that interest. So, without getting too wordy...

 

Terrain generators and trees. I am looking seriously at Vue as it seems a great terrain

layout tool. But, I will mostly want to render in max and maya using Brazil and Mental Ray

respectively. I have downloaded a trial of Vue, but, alas, all the export functions are disabled.

Can anyone with some experience comment on moving data between these?more to the point:

from vue to max/maya. general workflow issues to specific technical hurdles.

also

setting up a forest for a still image can be very different from setting up a forest for a number

of shots. Any comments/tricks/tips learned about doing levels of detail with trees, etc. in

relation to vue->max/maya would also be greatly appreciated.

 

Glad to be aboard,

 

and

 

thanks for any info

 

Brian