Lightwave 7 to Cinema 4D 8.0

[Anadin]

I am with you, I tried very hard to use Lightwave but I could not get my head around the seperate modelling and layout modules. Also the character tools not too hot without plugins (such as messiah).

I would recomend if you can, get mocca as well. It ios awesome.

[Anadin]

Forgot to say, when I said the character tools not too hot, it was the same in Cinema v7.

And as you said, I'm not slagging LW off at all, just its workflow doesn's suit everyone.

[Matt73]

Thanks for the response Anadin, have you ever used 3DS Max? I say that because it is also one of my choices, but I'm still leaning toward Cinema right now. I just want something easy to work with and have a good set character tools.

Now If I could just get the Cinema 8.0 demo to download :D

Thanks

-Matt

[ronald_hartman]

Same here...i have tried lightwave as well (7.5) but i'm not a fan of the workflow of lightwave. Which silly program uses the 'u' key to undo an action for instance....or has only one undo action..or makes you switch between two programs..In Cinema4D everything feels soooo comfortable! Superb. I even prefer it to MAX or even XSI or MAYA. Although it might not be as powerful as the latter two...it saves ages of time to learn.

For me 'the flow' of an application is very important. Not too much clicking, optimal use of shortcutkeys and the right mousebutton and not too much windows that pop up and give you millions of options...C4D is just that.

If you prefer to have a customized interface with your own buttons, toolbars, pallets and shortcut-keys, C4D has one of the most customizable screenlayouts, better in my opinion than any other 3d program out there! I prefer the default layouts (there are 6 allready) though...

[Anadin]

I'ts funny you should mention Max..

I like bits of it but generally fins it awkward.

I have been teaching myself for years using on Real 3D, Imagine, Lightwave, then Realsoft 4D with minor daliances with Softimage and Maya.

My favourite were Realsoft 4D and Maya and when I found cinema - it was like a merging of my two favourite apps.

All of the people I worked with learnt using 3D Studio and then Max.

I found that the modifier stacks and numbering surfaces was all a bit fiddly but ex 3DS users love Max.

Then again, you get the people I really hate who seem to able to pick up any 3D app and just do magic :annoyed:

In my opinion Cinema has a great price to usablity ratio and the people on this forum are great for support as are the Maxon people.

[Anadin]

Whoops called Realsoft 4D instead of 3D - must get my typing skills sorted out. - Does anyone know if there is a Mavis Beacon 3D?

[visualsee]

The # one thing that bugs me about LW (not to mention the workflow that takes getting used to) is that there is only ONE LEVEL OF UNDO in the layout side. This makes doing any animation a pain in the neck since there is little forgiveness on the part of the user. Don't get me wrong, I like LW, especially for texturing and the shear number of cool free plug-ins that you can get for it, however when I tried C4D7 earlier this year and took advantage of an Adobe pricing deal, I was amazed. It lacked a few things here and there or was weaker than LW at some stuff (i.e. animation, texturing), but the new 8.0 has really changed that. I'm now using C4D almost exclusively and splurged on the studio bundle. I'm just a hobbiest and do this for fun, for a few websites I run (maybe I'll make it big someday) and for a shareware game I'm working on. I've found C4D to fit the bill quite nicely. Now if I can just get some documentation for the new features, I'd be all set.

[BrandonS]

I would say that if yor are going to purchse C4D with any intention of doing character work MOCCA is a must buy. That is the great thing about the new modular system of C4D you don't have to pay for features that you are not going to use. I learned 3D with LW 5 and 5.5, the first time I used C4D I was amazed at how easy the interface was to pick up. I really think that C4D has the best work flow in the industry right now. I realize that workflow is a really subjective thing, but an easy to learn interface makes it flow much faster then any other app I have used. If you have the cash Bodypaint will make your textuering work fun easier also.

[Matt73]

Just to let you guys know I decided to order Cinema 4D after spending time with demo. I can actually get the student pricing (good to be a student :) ) version so it looks like I got a good deal. They are sending me Cinema 4D 7 XL now and then 8.0 XL in a couple of weeks.

Woohoo!

I want to thank everyone for all their assistance.

-Matt :thumbsup:

[BrandonS]

Welcome to the fold.

[verti]

"just its workflow doesn's suit everyone."

yes that's true...

BUT... i got it...

ive started reading the manual and after 300 pages... im in love! and now it's gui seems more clear for me...

im a long time c4d user, and always will be. i want to get deep knowledge in as much 3d packages i can handle. now i can see that ill be using c4d for 3d visualisation, and tv spots... lw, for more private stuff like 3d shorts and ca.

im also thinking about buying maya complete...

i am mac user... ;]

take care
verti.

[ThirdEye]

If you choose to buy Maya prepare yourself for a real helly mess! I tried Maya PLE and I could almost start learning poly modeling, it was a real pain in the ass! It's the most powerful package I've ever seen but It's really strange and complicated.

[BrandonS]

I will second that motion ThirdEye_01. I spent a year learning how use Maya and it seems like it was always making me jump through hoops just to do the simplest things. I agree Maya has alot of power, but it needs a serious workflow overhaul in my opinion. XSI seems like a much better option the UI is much better and it has alot of options that give you a head start on projects.

[Swissphil]

mmm.. I got my version of Cinema V7 Art and I'm digging into modelling in Cinema. I think its mostly a question of what workflow you are used to:) There are a couple of technics I am familiar with in Lightwave I have not found yet in Cinema:

bandsaw
Split Polygons by adding points to a quad (without having the neightbour polygon being triangulated instantly) and then cut the polygons using the split command
Weld - Everytime I weld two points, they are always welded at the position of the first point... how do I weld the two points in a different order?


But I also have to admit, I didn't spend too much time with it, I actually wait for my Version 8 upgrade to find its way to Switzerland:

[ThirdEye]

Bandsaw: get saw free plugin
Split polygons... : impossible :annoyed:
Weld: get weld tools at maxon site

[Per-Anders]

Spin Poly will split polys for you on an individual basis as well as spin them around (same as spin quads, only no limited ot quads).

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