From: Alex Czetwertynski <alex@disciplefilms.com>
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Subject: Re: [AE] [OT] 3D program discussion
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:47:54 -0700
In-Reply-To: <list-4654128@media-motion.tv>
To: "After Effects Mail List" <AE-List@media-motion.tv>
References: <list-4654128@media-motion.tv>
Message-Id: <29B40308-9FAC-45CF-AD02-E41428811E41@disciplefilms.com>


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If you are able to teach yourself Houdini and use it in production, you =
will never run out of work...The biggest problem Houdini shops have is =
scarcity of talent.
It will probably also be a very intellectually rewarding process....


On Mar 13, 2012, at 10:24 AM, Teddy Gage wrote:

> Hi guys just curious for some opinions - not looking to start any =
"which is best" flame fest, but a rational discourse on the current =
state of 3D tools many of you use in conjunction with AE.
>=20
> As a little background, I'm currently looking to pick up and teach =
myself a new program, but don't really want to invest hours of training =
into something I'll never use on an actual job. As a caveat, I would =
already consider myself an intermediate to strong Maya / Mental Ray =
user. Maybe it's all I need to know, but I have a new computer and I'm =
itching get some new software under my belt. I've started some of the =
basics of Cinema 4D, which seems to be a relative standard in terms of =
fast workflow and easier learning curve in motion graphics.=20
>=20
> My question is: what would be the best use of my time to begin picking =
up, or should I just further my investment in Maya?
>=20
> here's sort of a rundown of the current state of things as I see it. =
I'm sure I have some inaccurate preconceived notions
>=20
> Cinema 4d: easiest to use, fast workflow, something of a "standard" =
for motion graphics? Is it still being actively developed etc? Is it =
something every studio is using?
>=20
> Maya: used a lot in film / high end commercials - steeper learning =
curve but very flexible. shaders are complicated but powerful. Good =
dynamics engine=20
>=20
> 3dstudio max: used mostly for games / particles work?=20
>=20
> Houdini: largely programming / expression based workflow, shaders are =
a nightmare, most powerful rigging / muscles / particle system. learning =
curve is like a cliff (took two months of instruction, barely scratched =
the surface)
>=20
> XSI / softimage: don't know much about XSI, good particle systems?
>=20
> zbrush: specialized modeling, used a lot in games and creature design. =
confusing GUI (imo) and strange workflow. very fun to use though...
>=20
> blender: used it extensively five years ago, have seen some great work =
out of it. Very different paradigms, and was never very user-friendly.=20=

>=20
> again, I know the line is "whatever you can use to do the job" but I'm =
wondering what would make the most sense to be competitive and =
compatible with most studios as a freelancer. I'm sure there are things =
I'm overlooking as well.=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
> --=20
> Animator & Editor
> www.teddygage.com
> Brooklyn
>=20


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<html><head></head><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; =
-webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">If =
you are able to teach yourself Houdini and use it in production, you =
will never run out of work...The biggest problem Houdini shops have is =
scarcity of talent.<div>It will probably also be a very intellectually =
rewarding =
process....</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><div>On Mar 13, =
2012, at 10:24 AM, Teddy Gage wrote:</div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite">Hi guys =
just curious for some opinions - not looking to start any "which is =
best" flame fest, but a rational discourse on the current state of 3D =
tools many of you use in conjunction with AE.<div><br></div><div>As a =
little background, I'm currently looking to pick up and teach myself a =
new program, but don't really want to invest hours of training into =
something I'll never use on an actual job. As a caveat, I would already =
consider myself an intermediate to strong Maya / Mental Ray user. Maybe =
it's all I need to know, but I have a new computer and I'm itching get =
some new software under my belt. I've started some of the basics of =
Cinema 4D, which seems to be a relative standard in terms of fast =
workflow and easier learning curve in motion graphics.&nbsp;</div>

<div><br></div><div>My question is: what would be the best use of my =
time to begin picking up, or should I just further my investment in =
Maya?</div><div><br></div><div>here's sort of a rundown of the current =
state of things as I see it. I'm sure I have some inaccurate =
preconceived notions</div>

<div><br></div><div>Cinema 4d: easiest to use, fast workflow, something =
of a "standard" for motion graphics? Is it still being actively =
developed etc? Is it something every studio is =
using?</div><div><br></div>
<div>
Maya: used a lot in film / high end commercials - steeper learning curve =
but very flexible. shaders are complicated but powerful. Good dynamics =
engine&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>3dstudio max: used mostly for =
games / particles work?&nbsp;</div>

<div><br></div><div>Houdini: largely programming / expression based =
workflow, shaders are a nightmare, most powerful rigging / muscles / =
particle system. learning curve is like a cliff (took two months of =
instruction, barely scratched the surface)</div>

<div><br></div><div>XSI / softimage: don't know much about XSI, good =
particle systems?</div><div><br></div><div>zbrush: specialized modeling, =
used a lot in games and creature design. confusing GUI (imo) and strange =
workflow. very fun to use though...</div>

<div><br></div><div>blender: used it extensively five years ago, have =
seen some great work out of it. Very different paradigms, and was never =
very user-friendly.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>again, I know the =
line is "whatever you can use to do the job" but I'm wondering what =
would make the most sense to be competitive and compatible with most =
studios as a freelancer. I'm sure there are things I'm overlooking as =
well.&nbsp;</div>

<div><br></div><div><br clear=3D"all"><div><br></div>-- <br><span =
style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0)">Animator &amp; Editor</span><br =
style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a =
href=3D"http://www.teddygage.com/" =
target=3D"_blank">www.teddygage.com</a></span><br =
style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0)">

<span style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0)">Brooklyn</span><br><br>
</div>
</blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>=

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