Maya, 3D Max, or Lightwave?

[27]

Originally Posted by Vagabond

anyone mess with TrueSpace?? I have seen some images produced with it and they look great to me and the price tag is low.

Caligari Truespace. I used to get my wallpapers from their site.

[Vagabond]

Ya some of the things people do with TS is amazing. I have the program and have messed with it but have never been very good.. I think one has to become very proficient
with lighting to make really nice pics...

[Relgold]

Originally Posted by optinox

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy a software program that would allow me to create 3D, and realistic animations like they use in Movies and proto type characters for games, ect....awhile back someone suggested these 3 software programs, I'm wondering which one is the best as far as 3D, realistic imagery, but something that is up to date with todays technology, BUT fairly easy to learn how to use, I do like challenges but I don't want one that will take a super long time to learn, I'm not looking for something basic/simple I mean a learning curve of some sort would be nice to achieve, any suggestions based on personal use or from other sources please reply back, much appreciated!

Games guys tend to use 3D Studio Max or Maya. However stay away from 3D if you want a sane life. They are all hugely complex and in reality are really 4 disciplines - ie requiring four different specialists at least. Modeler, animator, renderer, rigger. As far as films are concerned these will break down into even more disciplines - character animator, environment modeller, effects specialists, facial artists and animators and when they have done their stuff the results are often comp'd together using a compositor like Shake, which is now cheap as Apple aren't supporting it anymore. In theory you can do it all in Lightwave and Shake which are both great tools and both cheap but unless you are sitting next to an expert they are impossible. Hollywood films don't cost $100 million for nothing, those armies of artists are all truly talented and hugely experienced.

Colin O'Donoghe
Author of The Dragon Code
The Dragon Code Poem Official Site