What's better to use for animation?

[gpoleweski]

Hi, I'm not sure if there's already a thread about this but...

I'm trying to get into Animating, modelling and rigging. But I'm not sure what's better for the job. 3ds Max 9? OR Maya 2008 Ultimate?

Both are really good in my opinion and I use them both at school. As I was watching Robots, by Disney Pixar. They said most animation was done in Maya. I've been focussed on 3ds max for a while...I'm still pretty bad.

But I just wasn't sure if Maya would benefit me any better. WHat do you think?

If Maya, it would be helpful to have a link to somewhere, like this awesome site where I would be able to receive help on Maya.

Thanks.

[geldslaw]

first of all my friend, I think what you need to do is to have a look at all the different jobs that there are which uses CGI. You'll be completely amazed that there are so many different and interesting jobs. Any work which uses digital visual media can use CGI and can use any CG application.

Have a look at these Autodesk Showreels they all use one or many of Autodesk products and each is film or video is in part, partially produced or completely produced by one or many studios with lots of multi medium specialisms.

You just have to choose which one

[robinmitra1]

well it doesnt matter much wat software u use (especially for big companies). im my opinion, maya, 3dsmax, lightwave are the best modeling and animation softwares.

When choosing between the softwares, its just a matter of choosing wat features u like the most out of the three. But since u are totally new, it doesnt matter wat software u choose since u havent had the experience to decide which features u like(ur liking for certain features will grow as u actually start learning a software, and its entirely a personal taste of what features on likes cuz all have great features).

But remember one thing, dont just jump around various softwares just because u saw some great artist using that particular peice of software! This used to happen to me often when I started. Everytime I saw a great artist use a particular software, I used to download its demo to try it out

And if ur still confused, just flip a coin and see wat ya get
u will be fine as its much much easier to learn cg these days and softwares have much better features than they used to be 4-5yrs ago....

[Jelmer]

The posts up here pretty much sum up what you need to know, it's not about the software you use but the artist, you! The difference in possibilities between max and maya are minimal, they might have a few different features but in the end a good artist will be able to pull of the same thing with both programs, just stick to one application and keep practicing.

Also think about traditional art/drawing skills they will really help you improve your CG work as well.

[Leonardo812]

I don't want to go too far off topic, but what are the differences in terms of features?

-Leonardo

[geldslaw]

the menue settings are different, the use of a modifier stack is available in one but not the other, a photoshop history is available in one but not the other, one has a more intuitive gizmo, where as the other has a fairly advance copy feature but it could be argued that its the same in both.

Autodesk holds the ownership to more bums on seats for character development application with maya and more bums on seats for architectural and games development with 3ds max.

I just read that blur studios did a commercial for Pringles using XSI for character animation, cinema 4d for the disco ball and 3ds max for the scene assembly, environments and rendering, compositing was done in adobe after effects.

when they made the movie 300 it was made by 6 studios who all used the best tools available. but let me ask you a question, does it matter which pen, keyboard, pen or mouse you use to do your work, does your work get worst if you don't use the best monitor.

All questions are relevant but as Jelmer said, its down to you, you the artist to use your imagination and jut get on with the job at hand. when you're employed to do a job are you going to tell them what software and hardware to buy or will you just use whatever you're given to do the job?

[robinmitra1]

Originally Posted by geldslaw

but let me ask you a question, does it matter which pen, keyboard, pen or mouse you use to do your work, does your work get worst if you don't use the best monitor.

it did matter to me cuz i just got a new 22" LCD screen and it feels like heaven now
just kidding, it doesnt matter (well not that much ) cuz i have even modeled on a shitty 14" and sculpted with a heavy mouse without ever complaining

5-6 years ago, there wasnt anything called global illumination, that we all cant live without these days. back then, great artists still achieved photorealistic looks by faking GI and radiosity (even i used to fake it ). So, yeah, da choice is urs....

as a very general guideline: games = 3dsmax, movies = maya.
but there is no hard and fast rule for that....3dsmax is as good as maya for films too....

[gpoleweski]

Sweet, thanks to everyone who has posted...I'm still not entirely sure. But I'm leading towards Maya. Anyone know of an awesome site like this for Maya or does this suppor 3ds Max and Maya?

[geldslaw]

the support for maya is phenominal, whether or not you'll find a site like this for support I am not so sure, but let us know if you do find one.

[greeney]

from my experience.......

modelling in max is a hell of a lot easier

Rigging / weighting in maya is a godsend!

Texturing in max is a lot easier

animation of intricate things such as eyelids, eyebrows facial expressions can be done very easy in maya using wiring

Max is a lot easier to key frame

so....take your pick lol