Comparison

#1

Im in the stages of jumping into a new 3d app. Ive been using Pixels. Ok stop laughing. I have been looking at AM and Lw and C4D. Just wondering how they all stack up with each other. I like AM because I think its great that a $300 app can do so much! LW seems like a great all around app and C4d looks like nice app to. So any pros-cons on the three is much appreciated.

#2

Depends really on how far you want to go with the program. If you are just a hobbyist who wants to learn the basics of animation and how to edit timelines and nonlinear animation techniques, AM is not bad. However, you have to accept the limitations that the program is a 300$ application and will behave like one. Cinema 4d is much more robust and has a reputation for being pretty rock solid and one of the fastest renderers on the market. But, it’s up to you.
AKA: TacoBallZ

#3

There are many Threads on this subject here, so browse the forum! I bet the majority of the post are on this subject. :slight_smile:

I ordered my upgrade yesterday, though I have said in earlier post that I wouldn´t upgrade untill the app would be come fully workable today standards. I don´t think it is! But I have decide to set my believes on A:M, and hope that things will get better with the app. For one I would like to see more support for polygons, but I don´t think that will “ever”:rolleyes: happen. Why would I want polygons in A:M when we have splines. Well the fact is that splines are pritty good for organic animation, but they don´t cut it when it comes to object modeling. Sure one can model things with splines, but polygons are much faster to model with and things look better in the end with them. It has much to do with that spline has to flow one way while polygons can be cut up in any way.
(So I have started babbling again!) :slight_smile:

I still feel that A:M has one of the best animation setup out there. And that is the main reason for my upgrading. Also I have heard that there has been some improvements in Rendering and stability.

#4

I have used most of the 3D apps out there enough to get a good feel for each one and, as cheezy as it sounds, it’s not about which app is the best it’s about which one is the best for you.

If you’re concerned about money then AM is definitely the best of the lower tier priced 3D and it has great character animation tools, of course. Cons are it’s legendary stability problems and a renderer that can’t hang with the likes of Lightwave, limited external model support, and difficulty in creating models without “creases”.

If you are into special FX, dynamics and particle systems then you may want to get Lightwave or Maya (warning: steep learnig curve on each). Max has the best plugins and with enough plugins it can take on the world. The problem is that with Maya’s price drop it is now the most expensive major 3D app besides Soft XSI and out-of-the-box Max by itself is not that impressive at all.

All that said, I keep coming back to Animation Master. It’s so eaasy to set up characters and when I’m in the other apps I keep complaining, “This only took two steps in AM, why does it take ten in (insert app here)”.

#5

Good points there Bugzilla!

#6

“This only took two steps in AM, why does it take ten in (insert app here)”.

Very well said.

#7

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