Am I the only one who uses XSI?? should i switch?

[Marko_JJ]

My school has taught me with softimage xsi v 4... I was wondering if its worth looking into any other 3d programs since im almost out of school and i need to get a lisence pretty quick here... ANY IDEAS???

 

-Mark J

[jvlive]

well, as what they all say, software is just a tool its still up to the artist how he uses it. but, yes, its good to look into other 3d programs. why dont you download trial versions of the different softwares you're lookin at and try them yourself? also, you should know what programs are being used at the industry you're targeting (once you get out o' school) e.g. maya for film, 3dsmax/viz for architecture.

[3dp]

NO

 

more work for us maxers mayers vizwizzers

 

serious though if that your tool and your happy then stick with it it not the size but how you use it

 

i went with max after little bits of lightwave and softimage simply because it had native dwg import not something i regret but seeing some of the guys demo xsi (which is nicer to look at in my mind) modelling hmmm maybe

[mbr]

I've thought about switching to XSI because of the cost of Max. Just upgrading cost more than new copies of XSI! But I'll probably stick with Max, at least until the plugin renderers have standalone versions.

 

XSI does look much better than Max or Maya (both of which look 10 years old, imho). That's something when you stare at menues all day.

 

I'd stick with it, but might start playing with Max. Most likely, the switch won't be too difficult unless you are trying complex things.

 

I'd like to see more people switching to XSI, and give Autodesk a clear messgae that their pricing and lack of options is monopolistic abuse.

[bricklyne]

I've thought about switching to XSI because of the cost of Max. Just upgrading cost more than new copies of XSI! But I'll probably stick with Max, at least until the plugin renderers have standalone versions.

 

XSI does look much better than Max or Maya (both of which look 10 years old, imho). That's something when you stare at menues all day.

 

I'd stick with it, but might start playing with Max. Most likely, the switch won't be too difficult unless you are trying complex things.

 

I'd like to see more people switching to XSI, and give Autodesk a clear messgae that their pricing and lack of options is monopolistic abuse.

 

 

.........that's like hoping to see more people switch from AutoCAD to Vectorworks because it's dual platform and cheaper, and because Autodesk needs to get the message that their upgrade licensing policies are draconian and exploitative.. Just isn't going to happen.

 

Still, their (Autodesk's) prevalence in the 3D visualisation and modelling fields is not nearly as over-dominating or complete as it is in the CAD and architectural/mech. design industries. So maybe there exists an opening for another player to eat into their market share. If only Maya were not too focused on the film CG and FX industry and if Cinema4D , XSI and the rest had larger marketing budgets, that might have been a more realistic hope.

 

Here is where I believe Lightwave dropped the ball, big time, in the mid-to-late nineties when the gap between themselves and Max was not as large as it is now, and they failed to capitalize on the then burgeoning 3D viz industry was just beginning to take off.

[IC]

.........Lightwave dropped the ball, big time, in the mid-to-late nineties when the gap between themselves and Max was not as large as it is now, and they failed to capitalize on the then burgeoning 3D viz industry was just beginning to take off.

 

I'd agree with that (although not so sure about the gap reference-at that time LightWave had radiosity, caustics, HDRI, Hypervoxels etc) Max really only bettered it in Character Animation.

What Newtek capitalised on instead was the burgeoning TV effects market. They rested on their laurels when everybody started using LW for that.

 

But the upshoot is that the LW developers left to work on Modo and I think in a while that's going to be the software to beat.

 

With regard to XSI-why switch if you're happy with it? The only problem I meet through not using Max/Viz is if I'm only doing the modelling or the rendering. Converting files can be tricky, especially in XSI.

[Marko_JJ]

I guess ill stick with xsi for now... Maxwell's rendering addon is coming out for it soon which makes the sexiest renders ever. Id like to look into that when i get the cash for it. If id switch to anything itd be 3dmax.

[Marko_JJ]

thx for the help!

[ihabkal]

switch. It's an order!

[IC]

Great advice Ihab.

Care to elaborate? Or are you just out to confuse someone who's looking for direction?

[Sketchrender]

I switched to 3d studio max 7,.

I bought xsi 4.0, and tried it, the cheap version, and after switching to max I found they are very alike, in most ways.

The reason I switched was the same reason you are asking, there are not enough people using it for arc viz, and there for no replies were coming from the forums , here or even the mian xsibase website.

I really like the programme, and it is so cheap, but when it comes to architectural work , not enough has been done, and also the faxc that dwg's and dxf's are not nativly importable, which even maya has now, this is a serious oversite on softimages part, they will loose customers.

 

Well, that's my view I would love switch at a later stage, for the price alone, it is worth it, but mark my words you will be alone in your learning of the programme to a great extent.

 

Max is fantastic i love it now, but it is too expensive for what it is, if xsi can retail for the price it dose at the lower end why can't max, even introduce a scaled down version to get people on the ladder.

 

phil

[IC]

Max is fantastic i love it now, but it is too expensive for what it is, if xsi can retail for the price it dose at the lower end why can't max, even introduce a scaled down version to get people on the ladder.

 

phil

 

Isn't that what Viz is supposed to be?

(It's only 3 times the price of XSI)

[Sketchrender]

viz is 2500 euros if I am not mestaken, xsi the lower end with MR is 375 euros , thats what i am talking about.

 

phil

[ihabkal]

Great advice Ihab.

Care to elaborate? Or are you just out to confuse someone who's looking for direction?

I'm confusing myself too. I don't know anything about what I am writing right now, I just don't make sense to myself these days. I'm going to hit myself with a frying pan see if I can wake up...

 

I thought too many people told him the benefits of 3ds max and I just was joking with him playfully. hope that is not against your rules...

[IC]

I don't have any rules and neither do I have any authority to impose them. But I do try and make my posts polite and helpful.

 

He had already listened to all the advice and decided to stick with XSI. I just thought your post was a bit confusing coming when it did with no explanation.

 

p.s. can I borrow your frying pan? Might be quite helpful in the mornings.

[ihabkal]

oh I already broken it on my skull!

it's sad he wants to stick with XSI.

If you want to do architectural renderings max is the way because:

-History: you can change things anytime any way you want

-flexibility: any kind of architectural object can be modeled easily and changed on the fly if needed

-support for other software: every architect sends Autocad files. working with the original data keeps things precise

-ease of use: over 40000 registered users think it's easy to learn and use. In fact max has more users than all his competitors combined.

-plugins availibility from materials to renderers to modeling...the most plugins that were made for any package

-return of investment. you can do architectural projects faster than any other package, so you'll have more time to work on other projects or to go relax.

-the backing of a giant provider, Autodesk. It's true they ask for a lot of money, but they have the budget of a small country.

and many more....

 

 

A little story:

back in 1995 or so I was in college in Lebanon (the whole country was coming out of a 20 year civil war that killed 10% of the population) and a friend of mine had Softimage. I wanted so bad to learn it and work with it especially that it had great rendering capabiliies with mental ray and at that time I was using 3ds Dos version 4 on a 486 DX2 66 MHZ with 8GB ram and maybe 400MB hard drive. (before windows 95 became widely available). I was so jealous and frustrated, and I ended up sticking with 3ds Dos and later max... I thought I was going with a lower software with a bad renderer...

but look now, every packkage has the same exact features. mental ray is becoming the standarrd of all major players, and we have advanced so much in 10 years, it's unbelievable...!!!!!! THey all offer tools to skin a dog (I like cats) they're a little easier in some....

and through the years softimage was updated slooooowwwwly, and max advanced rapidly. yes they released a new version of softimage once every 3 years or more, including XSI, while max almost on a yearly basis...

 

boring isn't it?

[silviapalara]

I don't understand.

Of all the reasons listed to go with Max, which exactly doesn't XSI (or Maya for that matter) has? They are all great for modelling, lighting, and rendering.

Max has more plugins, I grant that, but most of them are for character rigging, fluid, hair and cloth simulation, particles etc. The only advantage I can see to switching to Max from XSI is if you want to use specific render engines, like Brazil, Vray, etc. But since XSI is well known for having one of the best integrations with Mental Ray, I have trouble seing why you would want to use other render engines.

I think you should use your time learning more about XSI and how to produce quality material very quickly with it, rather than starting from scratch with a new software.

Good luck!

[IC]

Silvia

It's all about people being stuck in their ways and forced into thinking that they NEED to use Max. Because so many think like that, it's become a vicious circle and even more difficult to break the mould.

 

Also, VRay has become the standard renderer(albeit for good reason) and everyone wants their images to look like the clean, perfect GI you get with VRay.

 

Maybe when you have more of the Maxwell type renderers (e.g. standalone VRay) things will really change.

[bricklyne]

Silvia

It's all about people being stuck in their ways and forced into thinking that they NEED to use Max. Because so many think like that, it's become a vicious circle and even more difficult to break the mould.

 

Also, VRay has become the standard renderer(albeit for good reason) and everyone wants their images to look like the clean, perfect GI you get with VRay.

 

Maybe when you have more of the Maxwell type renderers (e.g. standalone VRay) things will really change.

......are there still plans to produce a Vray standalone or is that just now an urban legend?

 

I always got the impression that Discreet/Autodesk weren't too thrilled with the idea of people who would otherwise switch to MAX for the sole purpose of using Vray

getting the option of being able to do render their models made in other software in Vray without having to go through MAX.

 

Somehow methinks Vray 1.5 (which was the supposed self-imposed deadline that Chaosgroup imposed on themselves for when to release the Standalone version) will never see the light of day. We'll instead keep getting Vray 1.4616, 1.4618, 1.46185, 1.461852, 1.4618521, 1.4618522 and so on and so forth as Vray 1.5 (and hence the standalone Version) gets further and further away from reality. Meanwhile, lost of would-be users are forced to have to buy 3DS MAX when and if they hope to ever get Vray renders despite the fact that they may never actually use any of Max's modelling tools.

 

But then again maybe its just me. Hopefully a Maxwell standalone might give Chaosgroup something to think about......we can only hope.