Hi Bjur, this is in response to your post, but not necessarily directed at you (despite that I quote you).
Usually I'm completely worthless for giving tech advice to others. But the planets have alined, and this time I think I can be helpful.
At least this may be of use to someone
Personally, I got very sick of searching for answers, but only finding worthless info.
For example I see this one all the time:
Q) "What soft is right for me. Which is best?"
A) "You have to try them all, they are all different. You need to find what works best for you".
Thats crap. They are all essentially the same. Only UI and tool sets vary, really. The principals of animation and modeling are the same regardless of what software you use.
But what does change is the cost and amount of instruction available.
Also, who has time to learn them all? You cant just try them, you have to learn them.
The real question is, "how long will it take to learn a software, and how much will it cost me?"
Because the big packages will all do most (if not all) of what you really need.
QuoteThing or problem is, there are no "best" softwares for all tasks.
That is true (I find), but its only true because all software sucks. In 50 years it may be better, but I will be dead by then (probably).
So then its really a question of what kind of pain in the ass we are willing to endure for our work. How much will it cost, and how long will it take.
Well, what kind of support do you have? If you have a question, is it as simple as just asking the guy next to you, or will you have to go on line and find the answers your self? Because some software is much better supported than others.
I think that there are some nicer softwares than what I have access to, but does that mean I could have learned them, even if I could afford them?
Quotethe question is what do you want to achieve or what do you want to do in all CG/digital wise?
What you are aiming for/at (CGI 3D still arts, Games, VFX, animation)?
Is it just your hobby or do you plan a carrier in the CGI industries?
Yes this is an important question! It took me a while to find an answer for my self. I had to learn as best I could what CG and VFX really is, first, before I could know the answer for my self.
As for me, I want to do two things in CG/vfx:
1) make independent films, and shorts. So for me, I need a full package.
2) Use CG/vfx in my non traditional printing/printmaking. <--This is why I first got Terragen2. And also why I first needed to learn modeling.
So now it is a question of $$money$$. As usual!
What can you afford in the first place, and what software is used in the field? But more importantly, what software is used at the place your likely to work?
All the big packages are used somewhere, right? Well yes, of course. Hollywood and the hollywoods of each nation are going to use all that stuff.
But most CG/VFX jobs are not in the entertainment capitals. And this does not even take into account proprietary software we have never heard of.
The bulk of the available jobs are in smaller markets and not even necessarily "entertainment" based.
And they don't pay $100,000 a year, not even close.
So If your adding debt to the cost of your education/mortgage/car payment/cost of living, for software and hardware. Then that could be a real big problem. Especially in todays economy. And lets face it, things are not going to be better again, for a long time, if ever.
Maya = $3,675.
3D Max = $3,675.
softimage = $3,145.
MODO 701=$1,495.
Cinema 4D Studio = 3,519
Houdini = 4,495.00
Blender = $0.
Professional computer workstation $2,000-8,000 and even much more (home render farm?=$$$$)
Then there is Mari, Nuke, Smoke, PS, After Effects, Mudbox, Z-brush and so on. All the plug-ins. And the special software for fire and water and the rest; Real Flow, FumeFX ect. $$$$$$$$$
Oh yeah, don't forget trees and plants. $900-$1500
If you buy all the things you need for one workflow/pipeline, assuming you already have a PC, your still looking at thousands of dollars + the cost of training and support.
Student license/ learning additionsI believe you can get all the big packages for a significantly reduced price. However, nearly all of those come with real big strings attached. Some of the strings are render limitations, yearly renewals, limited functionality, and for this you still have to pay$$$ And *most* require a student ID card.
The one exception I found is Autodesk.
No fee, no limitation, no render restrictions, no cost. And you don't need a campus/student ID. Its open to pretty much everyone. Just don't use it to make money, until you paid them their share.
By contrast Houdini (student HD) is $100 a year, and has render restrictions. So forget about using it in a printed portfolio. Training? Yes, but not much.
Also, where is Houdini used? Why learn it if you'll never get a job that uses it? Are you sure your going to be working on major films and advertising? Government contracts?
C4D (Student) $279 for 18months (some restrictions?) A possible good choice. But far and away, AutoDesk has the most free/low cost training available. Much much more than C4d or any of the others.
Do you really want to sit there and figure out everything by your self? Or do you want to make progress by benefiting from the experience of others, and get a job?
Free and low cost trainingAs I said Autodesk products have the most training available. Between Google, Youtube, and Digital Tutors (and a few other trainers) Something like 80% of all the online material available supportsMaya and 3D max.
From what I have seen, only Photoshop is better supported for tutorials (there is literally a photoshop tut for everything now)
furthermore, if you learn Max or Maya, rest assured that so do most of the companies you could potentially find employment with. At the very least, if you can learn Maya, they may trust you as a trainee, to learn the soft they do use.
Im not saying I like Maya, or Autodesk, or digital tutors here. Im just saying that this is the path through the forest of despair that is the software industry, that I found, and that can work for anyone.
As for the notion of corporatism and monopoly as mentioned above. I care more about what happens when I flush the toilet than I do about these questions.
Where software is concerned, I only care if it will empower me to do what I want, if I can afford it, and if I can learn it.
Frankly speaking
A little monopoly may help things
... Standardization in the soft/CG/VFX industry is a mess.
Feel free to add or take away from anything I said. Its just where Im at, and how I got to my conclusions.
Hope this will help someone thinking about expanding outward from Terragen. I guess its a little strange to come to 3d through Terragen, rather than Terragen through one of the other 3D packages. But that how I got here.
Cheers.
