Graphic designer from 7.3(!!!) to 10.5?

[vid2k2]

Hi

3d is about 5-10% of my work.

Thanx, Martinella

IMHO, no.

Unless you do quite a bit more 3D work, why spend the money?
:)

Edit: Some of the plugins you may be using in v7.xx
didn't make it to v10.xx. That may be another consideration for you.

[brammelo]

It entirely depends on the kind of graphic work that you do. If you have some examples of what you do (or what you'd like to do), it might be easier to give our opinion.

[Joseppi]

Matinella,

To figure out whether to upgrade, are there features you struggle without in your current version, or some great new feature (that you tested out to see it's really useful) in the newest version? Upgrades often add features in particular areas, so sometimes the upgrade adds things primarily in an area you're not involved in.

A big factor though is your current hardware... If you have a new/newer system, you might benefit from the newest 4D. If you have a new Intel Mac (for instance), then the new 4D is coded to run faster with the new Intel Mac code in it. BUT if you have an older system, often loading a new, bigger, bloatier, version of the software, suddenly chokes your old system. So what used to be fairly zippy performance of the old version 7.x, on your older system, can start to slow your old system with a newer 4D (or any newer program.)

I've also had it where the newest software required an operating system UPDATE... so then you are into a system update... then the new system breaks some existing programs... I'm usually in the "if it works, leave it alone" view, ESPECIALLY in a work and production environment. If I have projects scheduled to get completed, that's not a good time to experiment with a system upgrade on my main computer.

COST: going from 4D 7 to 10 isn't like upgrading with Adobe where you get the same upgrade price on After Effects from version 4-7 to 8, or something like that. 4D you will basically be paying full retail price now. If you have the work coming in, and the system to run 4D 10 right now, and no other upgrades in software or hardware to make, and can swing the basically full-retail price upgrade to 4D 10, now might be a good time. (or maybe 4D 11 is due out soon... always hard to tell!)

But if you can do 90% of what you need to with 4D7, and it's paid for, that software can just keep earning you profit. 4D did add Advanced Renderer with some extra rendering controls, but for the price and time savings, you may be able to do more rendering the image in 4D then sweetening it up in Photoshop, and/or with Photoshop filters. It's faster working with 2D than 3D rendering. Rendering in 4D7 to layers, and then compositing in Photoshop will likely give you a lot of bang for the buck and control. The renderer in 4D hasn't changed a whole lot from what you have, although things like GI and SSS probably have been added/improved since 7, so if features like that will help give you a look you just cant get now, and your clients are asking for that look, the upgrade could pay for itself.

One thing about switching apps, right now you have a speed benefit from knowing 4D. Switching apps, they always move things around, name features differently, and have various quirks to discover and deal with. You end up having a new learning curve to get over, which can be worth it, but the timing depends on if a new learning curve won't hurt delivering projects...

HTH,
Joe

[LucentDreams]

I'd also say typically no you don't need to upgrade, you'd know if you did because there's something you can't seem to get done in your current version.

That said, 7.3, wow your going to be just on the edge of any compatibility. & was released just before windows XP and Its not very compatible with vista and I wouldn't imagine it running the greatest on leopard either. Something to consider is that your next computer may not work with it.


That said if rendertime is of great importance to you, keep in mind Cinema has had at least two notable speed improvements to the renderer not to mention all the newer features since 7.3. I guarantee any scene yu have will render much faster on a newer system.

[ChrisCousins]

I'm graphic designer/illustrator and have been using version 7.3 for years as additional tool.

Hi Martinella - I'm going to be controversial and recommend maybe you look around. I'm also a designer, doing a mix of motion, screen & print work (the print aspect is diminishing but still significant). 3D is obviously indispensable in motion graphics, which is where Cinema is my weapon of choice, but for print work I'm finding Modo much more useful, I just have to work much harder to get decent quality renderings out of Cinema than Modo, and the modelling tools suit me much better too.

It's not just GI that is easier to work with; the glass is great in Modo, with rich absorption options, and it's a snap to get multiple machines rendering a single high-res image, which is a big pain in Cinema.

Cheers - Chris

[acmepixel]

You did not state what platform you use. but if you want to move up to OSX, especially Leopard which is 64bit, you will have no choice but to upgrade C4D. Not to mention all the totally awsome things they added to v.8.5, 9, 9.6, 10, 10.5...

And don't forget that C4D is the only Pro 3D app that was designed specifically with Designers and Illustrators in mind. Oh, and it being the de facto standard in the Motion Graphics Industry.

:D

[Martinella]

Thank you guys!

I use Vista (big Mac fan however).
Chris, I will try Modo demo version.

Martinella

[Martin Kay]

Hi

I'm graphic designer/illustrator and have been using version 7.3 for years as additional tool. I did couple of weeks ago some 3d visualizations (stills for print) to my client and now they want more that kind of work. So i thougt it might be about time to upgrade my software;) .

Should i look for new version of C4D or some other software? Strata 3d seems to have pretty good render engine and price is not bad either. In the other hand Cinema tools still look familiar to me. I tried demo version of 10.5 and did not need manual to get some work done.

Or is there any reason for upgrade at all? 3d is about 5-10% of my work.

Thanx, Martinella

I still use 8.5 (c4d) and see no reason too update to 10.5- it does little that 8.5 doesn't do- for stills illustrators that is. Oh, yes. also the upgrade price is very steep- you are almost paying the full purchase price again- for what? Don't get Strata, get Modo. Modo is ideal for illustrators, has a more fully featured modeller than c4d and is about ten times faster to render GI than c4d's blotchy and very slow AR (GI) render.

Martin K

[Martin Kay]

I'd also say typically no you don't need to upgrade, you'd know if you did because there's something you can't seem to get done in your current version.

That said, 7.3, wow your going to be just on the edge of any compatibility. & was released just before windows XP and Its not very compatible with vista and I wouldn't imagine it running the greatest on leopard either. Something to consider is that your next computer may not work with it.


That said if rendertime is of great importance to you, keep in mind Cinema has had at least two notable speed improvements to the renderer not to mention all the newer features since 7.3. I guarantee any scene yu have will render much faster on a newer system.

Well, I've constructed interior scenes in my version of c4d (8.5), opened them in the demo of 10.5 and using a GI hybrid rendering technique (I think Mash did a tutorial using an area light with a bit of GI thrown in). The scene still took about ten times longer to render than Modo did.
Granted it would be better to go with the vRay plug-in, but that would be a prohibitively expensive upgrade solution.

Martin K

[Martin Kay]

Thank you guys!

I use Vista (big Mac fan however).
Chris, I will try Modo demo version.

Martinella

Modo works well on XP. I'm a relatively new user and have not had one crash yet with modelling and basic texturing/rendering. (this is on a fairly involved modelling project)
Not sure that Modo works with Vista..... Not sure that Vista is a good idea anyways, currently...

Martin K

[Martinella]

Decision done!

Just ordered my copy of R11 and AR3 module (didn't know was coming that soon when first time posted). I was very impressed after playing with demo. I tried Modo also (yes, liked it, render quality specially) but I was much more familiar with cinema. I could open all my old scene files and get fast and nice results with the new GI. There is lots of new things to learn but great fun also!

Thanx again, Martinella

[williamsburroughs]

Congrats on the upgrade.

I think you will be happy with the new toolset and capabilities it will offer you. Start using 3D even more now in your work. :)

[brammelo]

didn't know was coming that soon when first time posted For some of us, it was really hard to bite our tongue when someone else in this thread commented on the lammentable GI quality in R10.5 ... a couple of days before the announcement of R11 ;) Glad you didn't decide right away!

[Navstar]

Thank you for not buying Strata. All its features look great on paper, but it's workflow hasn't changed in 15 years! Its interface is firmly stuck in 1994. Strata needs to give it up.

[wesware]

I think you're gonna be happy with R11... I am so far!

Two questions popped into my head that seemed to be the most important and didn't seem to be asked. I only post them for future reference.

10-15% of your work.... if you make alot, that might be enough to buy Cinema R11 :)

The most important question especially since only 10-15% of your work is 3d.... is DO you enjoy it? If you do, then the upgrade was well worth it and it might be a good time to start pitching more 3d.

[Martinella]

weswar,

Yes, I DO you enjoy it. In the near future i will also have more time to learn. Just finished big project.

Martinella

[Martinella]

Navstar,

Strata was my first love since MYST days. I still remember christmas 1995 when i bought my first computer (Macintosh performa 5200) and was so amazed of the MYST 3d grapchics:surprised .
Soon i had opportunity to try it (strata 3d) when it came free with Macformat magazine.

Now...just waiting for september...

thanx all for your comments!! Martinella

[Martin Kay]

For some of us, it was really hard to bite our tongue when someone else in this thread commented on the lammentable GI quality in R10.5 ... a couple of days before the announcement of R11 ;) Glad you didn't decide right away!

Yes, unfortunately there is no upgrade path for me, I have to shell out the whole £1580....add the cost of vRay and that's getting to be approaching Autodesk's Max prices...

Martin K

[Vozzz]

it's quite simple really.

will you make more money by providing your client with more realistic or advanced renders. or will you be able to provide stuff faster.

it's really a question only you can answer.

[Martinella]

it's quite simple really.

will you make more money by providing your client with more realistic or advanced renders. or will you be able to provide stuff faster.

it's really a question only you can answer.


Yes! Simple as that!
But great fun also ;)

Martinella

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