Making the switch from Cinema 4D

[robertnutter]

Hi all,

 

I've been really hesitant about posting this here. Not least because I know it's bound to have been asked before, but also because it may be a bit of a stupid question and perhaps should even be posted in the Cinema 4D forum. Nonetheless, other places like creative cow and CGtalk havn't helped much so I feel I have no other choice but to annoy you fine folks with it. Sorry in advance...

 

Anyway, I primarily visualise historical structures which tends to involve a lot of detailed modelling; it also means I have to make 98% of all the assets I use. This is ofset by the fact my clients (museums etc) tend to be more willing than most to give me extra time. However, I've been trying to make the switch to 3DS from C4D for little over a year now (in part thanks to what I've gleaned from this forum about it), but it takes me so long to produce anything with it, I simply can't afford to use it. I've tried so hard to make it work for me; but even simple things like modelling a chair or wall panel ends with me bending over backwards trying to use the simplest of tools. Perhaps it's just me being really closed-minded, but I just cannot get comfortable with how the program works. Don't get me wrong, I understand *how* to use it; ie where everything is and what it does and how to use the indiviudal things etc, but when it comes to doing it in practice, I feel like it takes me 4 hours to do something I could've done in 4 minutes flat with Cinema 4D. Even following tutorials ends with me wondering why I just used certain tools to do things I'd use other tools for. Then I'm reminded that most of you probably use it everyday for infinitely more complicated projects, so the problem is clearly sitting in the chair. Practice and experience is the obvious answer here I know, but I just feel myself getting increasingly confused about why certain things work and others don't, a feeling which gets worse the more I try to use it.

 

So does anyone have experience of having made this switch? Or perhaps making the opposite switch, who can offer me insight into what I may be missing/not quite getting? I understand I don't *need* to use 3DS as I get some amazing results from Cinema on a regular basis, but I feel it'd be a very useful string in my bow. I also feel very stupid not understanding it.

 

NB: I realise I've posted about a somewhat similar post here before, but that was in my introduction thread which I'd feel bad digging up after almost a year. I also feel my problem is slightly different now.

Edited January 28, 2017 by robertnutter

[Ernest Burden III]

...I get some amazing results from Cinema on a regular basis...

 

I am trying to understand why you want to switch. Yes, most (meaning almost all) arch-viz work is done with MAX, but if you have work and happy clients with whatever you want to use, keep going. I use Cinema4D every day. There is a 'Lite' version of C4D bundled as the 3D for After Effect, which itself is very widely used.

 

What will not switching cost you (meaning lost work or future job opportunities) vs. what will switching cost you (new software licenses and downtime re-learning and less billable hours while getting to be as fast in Max as Cinema)?

[robertnutter]

Thanks for the response!

 

I believe that switching will eventually cost me opportunities. I'm trying to edge my way into working f/t for a studio and am very aware that comfort using 3DS could mean the difference between me and another candidate ie, somebody who knows the pipeline better than I would, making them more desirable (this may just be my naivety talking though, as I already have an extremly weak online presence; something I'm now working on fixing). Finances aside, switching would cost me a lot of self-confidence. I know this because of how uneasy 3DS can make me feel whenever I try doing anything with it, and I think that's only something that'll go away with a lot of time and experience...which as you point out, I cannot easily afford.

 

So it's a tough one. I know good work will always mean more than the tools used to make it, but sometimes I feel like I'm in a very small minority, which may not be a good thing for my career prospects. My specialism is niche enough already!

Edited January 28, 2017 by robertnutter