Should I get back into FormZ?

[Tarchitect]

I last used FormZ in 2004 and still have many project files modelled in FormZ. In order to extract any information, I have to export the files out of FormZ into another program to render or to render in FormZ itself again. Ever since v3.9.5, the program has many bugs. I haven't used the latest version, but consider opting out for a better 3D application. What should I use? FormZ doesn't seem to be popular anymore for Architectural modeling.

 

By the way, if I were to use a single 3D software, which one is the most time-effective and most powerful?

[Horhe]

By the way, if I were to use a single 3D software, which one is the most time-effective and most powerful?

 

The time taken to finish a project depends on how proficient a person is in a specific 3D application. If you additionally take into account pricing, well thats a whole different story.

[jackb602]

I last used FormZ in 2004 and still have many project files modelled in FormZ. In order to extract any information, I have to export the files out of FormZ into another program to render or to render in FormZ itself again. Ever since v3.9.5, the program has many bugs. I haven't used the latest version, but consider opting out for a better 3D application. What should I use? FormZ doesn't seem to be popular anymore for Architectural modeling.

 

By the way, if I were to use a single 3D software, which one is the most time-effective and most powerful?

 

 

FormZ, while outdated in many ways, remains a powerful and capable modeler. If you want a single app however, FormZ is a poor choice, and updating from 3.9.5 to the current version will cost at least $600. I use a combination of FormZ 4.1.4 and Cinema 4D 10.5, and I'm very happy with it.

 

Jack

[Antisthenes]

By the way, if I were to use a single 3D software, which one is the most time-effective and most powerful?

 

 

that is an easy one to answer

[Sketchrender]

I left formz in 2005 and never looked back.

I used it for 6 years, and liked it, but the rendering was not good enough.

i have said this before.

Look up the top guys in the industry, see what they are using , and go with that.

 

I did it , and have found that one single package dose it all.

 

MAX..............expensive but worth it.

[Frosty]

As Jack, I'm a long time user of FormZ with C4D. I started with FormZ 2.9 and C4D 5.2.

 

Although I still believe it to a very strong architectural modeler, I was ready to drop FormZ around 4.0 due to stability issues. The version I use at work now, 6.1, is a major improvement but not perfect. It still crashes once or twice a day. C4D on the other hand, the pillar of stability that it has always been, crashes once every few months.

 

If Autodesys added a few key features to FormZ, I think it could be a one stop shop for me.

 

1) A real texture/light/render engine. Vray or Final Render built in. Lightworks has been crap since day 1.

2) A real orbit tool like every other 3D app in the industry. Why is this one so hard?

3) Stability - it still suffers.

4) Instancing

[Giovanni Scocchera]

4) Instancing

 

What about symbols?

Not the same thing?

 

Ciao, Gio

[BrianKitts]

What about symbols?

Not the same thing?

 

as long as you stay in FormZ....yes it's the same thing. They are the basic premise of instancing that you can create one object copy it multiple times and it doesn't eat as much memory in the file data since they are references to the initial object.

 

Difference with formZ is that all your symbols have to be created, placed in a library and the library file has to be kept track of with your working file. With 3dsmax the geometry is all together in one file and easy to edit. FormZ, editing symbols isn't something I remember being that easy.

 

Biggest thing I didn't like about formZ symbols back when I used the application is that the instancing drops when you export to other programs (we exported to max for rendering with vray) so once the symbol instancing is dropped, you're right back to where you started regarding memory usage.

[Giovanni Scocchera]

Got it.

I still remember 10 years ago a nice model fully built on symbols, when I lost the library! :mad:

 

Ciao, Gio

[Richard Rush]

Difference with formZ is that all your symbols have to be created, placed in a library and the library file has to be kept track of with your working file. With 3dsmax the geometry is all together in one file and easy to edit. FormZ, editing symbols isn't something I remember being that easy.

 

FormZ also has clones which gets around some issues with using symbols. The biggest issue I always had with symbols was editing their Surface Styles - awkward when the style is also used by some non-symbol objects. Clones all stay in the main project file, so managing Surface Styles is easy. So, I use clones for repetitive objects that are unique to a project.

 

I still find symbols useful for entourage objects, such as cars and people, that I have set up in symbol libraries.

[Richard Rush]

If Autodesys added a few key features to FormZ, I think it could be a one stop shop for me.

 

1) A real texture/light/render engine. Vray or Final Render built in. Lightworks has been crap since day 1.

2) A real orbit tool like every other 3D app in the industry. Why is this one so hard?

3) Stability - it still suffers.

4) Instancing

 

If FormZ had Vray built in I think it would be a contender for the best one-stop-shop available.

 

Actually, I have been using it as a one-stop-shop for many years, but not without much frustration with the LightWorks render engine. Why did I continue to use it, you ask? Well, I discussed that at length in another thread on this forum some time ago, so I won't go into again here. In hindsight my reasons may have been somewhat logic-challenged.

 

I'm always using the latest version of FormZ, and I will say the rendering has had significant improvement starting with version 6.5, which offered ambient occlusion, and final gather (with radiosity in a supporting role). So I'm a lot less frustrated.

 

There is a Maxwell plugin, which is reportedly well integrated, and works well. But I haven't bought into that due to the exceptionally long render times.

 

I guess I really should try out using C4D for rendering. I always assumed it would be very awkward to be continually exporting/importing from Z into C4D. My projects tend to evolve along the architect-client's design process, so there are many images generated along the way illustrating various design options and views.

 

Regarding stability: There were a few versions with major stability issues. This has improved a lot. And they have always been very good about releasing frequent patches. I actually completed a few projects with the Beta version of 6.5, and it was actually more stable than a few previous final releases. I'm on 6.6.1 now and it is fine, although that is not to say it never crashes.

[Frosty]

FormZ also has clones which gets around some issues with using symbols.

 

This sounds a lot closer to what most apps refer to as an instance. Can you explain how it works and what versions its available in. I don't think its in the versions I'm using.

[Richard Rush]

This sounds a lot closer to what most apps refer to as an instance. Can you explain how it works and what versions its available in. I don't think its in the versions I'm using.

 

Clones first appeared in version 5.0 of FormZ.

 

I don't know how instances work in other apps., but in Z basically, when you move/copy objects, you just check a box in Tool Options to make them clones. Then they are selectable individually or as a clone family. Clones respond to various operations performed on them, including booleans.

 

I've found that I really have to make an effort to remember that I'm working with clones in a project. It's all too easy to accidentally make clones, or to modify a clone while forgetting there is a whole family that will change also. It would be helpful if there were some visual marker on them (in wireframe) to indicate they are clones.

 

Here is a link to the version 5.0 Addendum that discusses clones:

 

ftp://ftp.formz.com/pub/formz/PDF_files/Documentation/English/formZ_5.0_Addendum.pdf

Edited November 20, 2008 by Richard Rush

[Frosty]

Well, shiver me timbers! I just learned something new!

 

That is just what I was looking for. I jumped from Z4.0.4 (my license) to Z6.1.2 at work and without manuals. I had no idea that little check-box was there and it does just what I need. It even exports all geometry!

 

I'll take instancing off my wish list now....but my other three stand as valid

[Richard Rush]

 

If Autodesys added a few key features to FormZ, I think it could be a one stop shop for me.

 

1) A real texture/light/render engine. Vray or Final Render built in. Lightworks has been crap since day 1.

2) A real orbit tool like every other 3D app in the industry. Why is this one so hard?

3) Stability - it still suffers.

4) Instancing

 

Regarding an orbit tool: Since I don't use other 3D apps I may not understand exactly what you mean, but (assuming you are on Windows) if you hold down the Ctrl key while dragging with the right mouse button, the view will rotate in all directions (that assumes you haven't assigned a custom key shortcut that would override that function). Does that do what you want? And I assume you are able to pan and zoom with the scroll button/wheel.

 

Sometimes the center of rotation may not be where you want it, in which case the "set view options" should help (right click on the Set view tool along the bottom of the window). Also, to set the center of interest, you can select an object and then double click with the scroll wheel while holding down the Ctrl key.

 

FormZ has received considerable criticism for its navigation functions, but it has improved, although I think the various options are confusing. Like a lot of things in Z, you don't know about them unless you dig into the manuals. Fortunately, now all the manuals are available as PDF's. Did you know that you can Shift/click on any tool and the full PDF manual will open and display the page for that tool?