Modelling softwares and rendering engines

[Krisztian Gulyas]

What do you think about other modelling softwares? There are many products that (in the demo) look really promising. I only used Max, it is great, but sometimes I think maybe there's a better one, I just dont have time to get used to them and test them.

 

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Vray is the most widely used rendering engine, there are many other though. What do you think about vray, or do you use something else?

[salvador]

It all depends on what you do and what you feel comfortable with. I for one, have been using Sketchup (+ some plugins) to model pretty much everything and I simply feel more comfortable and faster with it. I used to do it all on Max, and years before, I modeled everything in AutoCAD. I still use Max for rendering, since the interoperability between SKP and Max is just great.

 

About render engines it's just the same story. I use V-Ray for all my stuff, a bit of Mental Ray and I'm considering acquiring a V-Ray license for SKP.

 

You have demo versions for all software, and some like Blender are just free. Trying one and another will set you on the right track for you.

[jordanp]

I've always used modo for modeling in the past. Very quick to learn and fun to use.

[andstef]

They all look great in the demo, and promise that you can do anything extremely easy. I found out that there are things that are very easy to do in some software and very hard to do in other (ex: organic modeling in sketchup vs rhino, or nurbs modeling in max vs rhino, instancing in max vs sketchup, parametric modeling in max vs rhino+grasshopper).

I don't think you can just take someone on their word that a certain software is the best. There are too many variables (for someone who does a lot of parametric modeling rhino would be best, for someone who does archviz max or c4d i guess).

Edited December 19, 2013 by andstef

[jordanp]

Well that's why product trials are so important. The best thing you can do is have a free, fully featured version for people to try. I actually think Luxology fails a bit here; their product has a free trial, but to get any of the (absolutely freaking amazing) tutorial videos, you have to pay an additional $30 fee, which is a big barrier to entry.

 

But you're right, any 3D app can do anything, it's just about degrees of difficulty. Sketchup is highly specialized towards the architectural world, but you can push it in the direction of being a traditional poly modeler. Rhino is actually terrible for parametric modeling, you'd want to use SolidWorks for that, but it has some basic functionality so you can get a few plugins and shove it in that direction.

 

Picking a 3D tool is a lot like choosing a lover; you're going to get some good and some bad, but the important thing is that you can see yourself building a lasting relationship with them going forward. It's a time-based decision as well as a decision about capabilities.