3D package suggestions

[Aaron2004]

Hello!

 

I have the rare and exciting opportunity to help a company set up their 3D visualization division for residential buildings. They have asked for a list of software that they would need to have, and I have these pieces of software in mind. I have experience with all of these to some extent, so I feel that I'm making a good educated decision. Does anybody here with experience in this field have any negative feedback about any of these for the residential market...or have any other suggestions?

 

1. VertexBD (This is the design software that they are going to buy either way. It creates plans along with a 3D model)

 

2. Photoshop....Elements or Full Version?

 

3. Viz 2005

 

4. Quest 3D

 

If I am sufficient with MAX 6.0, Viz isn't different, is it? As far as I know, it's MAX without character studio, particles, bones..ect.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I want to be wisely equiped so I don't have to buy more software because of an uniformed puchase, but at the same time I don't want to buy expensive software that isn't needed. I just want to be efficient.

 

 

Thank you!

 

Aaron

[STRAT]

you seem to have answered ur own questions. usually it's CAD, 3dApp and post image editor.

 

for cad choose whatever pleases you, personally i'm an acad man

for a 3d app max is spot on. (and yes, like Viz only with a few extra bells and whistles) personally i'm a C4D man.

i for image processing, photoshop is usually the big boy to opt for. i use both full and elements, and the basic noticable difference is that elements is a few hundred bucks cheaper.

quest3d? personally wouldn't touch it with a barge poll, but hey, thats just my choice. anything extra cant do any harm.

[GeraldH]

They may be happy with the Lightworks based rendering module available with the Vertex software..after spending 15 grand for Vertex...it is something to consider.

Are you going through the Argos group in Bedford, Mass.?...if so tell them Gerald Hightower says hello.

Good luck with Vertex...I'm having a blast.

[Aaron2004]

Strat: Thanks for the advice....I have made a walkthrough in Quest3D and it seeme to work nice....really nice..once I learned it. It's not going to be a main part of the production process, so we will see where it goes.

 

 

Gerald:

I don't know who they are buying it through. I learned it here at Purdue in Indiana and our copy is kind of watered down, and therefor doesn't have a very good renderer. Do you have any links to images done 100% in this renderer?

 

Thanks for the advice!

 

Aaron

[GeraldH]

Check out the Vertex and Argos websites...I recall links to users work, galleries and their online demo.