Moving on after A:M

#1

I was just wondering what 3D application out of softimage, lightwave, 3Ds Max, and maya are similar to Animation: Master.

The reason I ask is so I can feel right at home so I don’t have to learn all over again.

Thanks,
Jack

#2

Originally posted by snickrep
I was just wondering what 3D application out of softimage, lightwave, 3Ds Max, and maya are similar to Animation: Master.

Similar in what way?
Modeling? Workflow? Animation tools? Texturing?

#3

mainly modeling and animation

#4

I think you will be hard pressed to find any app that is similar to AM in modeling. AM’s spline modeling is fairly unique. I know that Lightwave allows you to model with splines - I can’t speak for the other apps you mentioned. However, it’s fairly rudimentory as it is a polygon modeler 1st and foremost.

Animation tools are a little tougher to quantify. Softimage has some incredble animation tools - or so I have read. Maya as well. Lightwave is getting there.

Alternately, there is messiah:animate a standalone animation app.

In most cases though, AM’s tools aresuperior. In fact, I think you’ll find that many people wish that one of the “big name apps” would implement tools similar to AM’s. AM’s animation tools (rigging, constraints, etc…) are it’s best and strongest feature.

I am by no means well versed in any of those apps - so hopefully someone can step in here and provide more in depth info or correct anything I may be wrong on.

hrmmm…in re-reading this I don’t know that it is much help to you. :shrug:

#5

Originally posted by Nonproductive

In most cases though, AM’s tools aresuperior. In fact, I think you’ll find that many people wish that one of the “big name apps” would implement tools similar to AM’s. AM’s animation tools (rigging, constraints, etc…) are it’s best and strongest feature.

[/B]

Yup. Nothing beats AM for its animation tools.

And. . . I have nothing more to add so I’ll shut up.

#6

Nothing beats XSI ! It has a lot in common with A:M (region rendering, drag and drop clips, … ). I think Hash borrowed a lot of things from Softimage :slight_smile: ! Its powerful but also nice to handle and VERY stable. You should try the demo (XSI 3.5 HL2 EXP) or watch some videos at www.softimage.com. But be aware of the customer service - its friendly and competent !

#7

Originally posted by violet903 I thing Hash borrowed a lot of things from Softimage :slight_smile: [/B]

HA HA HA! NOT!

These features have ALWAYS been in Animation Master. The borrowing has been going one way for years M8.

#8

Originally posted by Wegg
[B]HA HA HA! NOT!

These features have ALWAYS been in Animation Master. The borrowing has been going one way for years M8. [/B]

1986 Softimage & Hash was founded
1988 Creative Environment 1.0 was released (known as SOFTIMAGE®|3D today)
1990 Hash released Journeyman for the Amiga
1992 Will Vinton’s Playmation for Windows was released
1994 Hash changed the name to Animation Master and released version 2

Softimage was/is way ahead of A:M ! They dont need to borrow technology from amateur programmers :rolleyes:
The only reason why such myths stay alive is because most of us didn’t use Softimage a few years ago !!
I believe that in 1 or 2 years even Blender3D will be a lot better than the crappy A:M :slight_smile: !

#9

Softimage didn’t have clip based actions till around 2001. I remember. I was at the Siggraph the year they were showing it off.

The studio I worked at in around 1995 evaluated Softimage and deemed it lacking the features required for the needs we had at the time and stuck with AM. I believe not having re-usable action libraries was THE biggest reason.

As for the rest of your comments. . .

Get over it. Move on. Please.

#10

1986 Softimage & Hash was founded
1988 Creative Environment 1.0 was released (known as SOFTIMAGE®|3D today)
1990 Hash released Journeyman for the Amiga
1992 Will Vinton’s Playmation for Windows was released
1994 Hash changed the name to Animation Master and released version 2

Well first of all, if we are going to debate which one was created first, which has absolutely nothing to do with current feature sets or even the feature sets implemented in the last 10 years, then Hash still wins. You were very selective in one you put on your list. By 1987 Animation:Apprentice was already released. If you want proof: http://amfilms.hash.com/search/entry.php?entry=656.

Next:

Softimage was/is way ahead of A:M ! They dont need to borrow technology from amateur programmers

You would not believe how dumb you sound at this point. Do the programmers at Hash get paid? Yes. Yes they do. Do you know what that makes them? Yes, that’s right, they are professional programmers. And yes they do borrow technology from A:M. When it comes to animation, A:M has been ahead of the bunch for years. Ask Victor Navone. Ask Jeff Lew (who’s character animation DVD which is receiving rave reviews, not to mention he was lead animation on the Matrix sequels). People like to bash A:M for it’s splines, forgetting that it’s not Modeling:Master. It’s Animation:Master and it’s good at what it does. We had someone here recently who was trying to get people to convert to C4D, which didn’t even have character animation tools until the last version.

I believe that in 1 or 2 years even Blender3D will be a lot better than the crappy A:M !

Wanna hear the funny thing? Blender at zero dollars and zero cents is closer to the price range of A:M than XSI, and yet we continue to beat down every bad thing you say about A:M. How much does animation master cost? $299.00. Now it has hair tools comparable to those of shave and a haircut or sasquatch, built in. Do you know how much S&H costs? $395.00. You say it is better than Blender now. Are you following? The idea is, A:M is great for it’s cost. It’s a fine piece of software. Either you have no life, cannot create art for yourself, or are receiving a commision from XSI. Leave us with our “crappy A:M,” we’re happy here.

#11

May I add that your occupation listing is very fitting?

drunken housewife

#12

Gah! I wish people would quit saying “for the price”. That sounds like your making excuses.

If your a pro. . . then you have probably spent tens of thousands of dollars on equipment, software and contract man hours. I know I have. The difference between $8,000 and $299 fades away in the decision making process very quickly when budgets go up into the six figures. Its the “Best tool for the job” that wins.

I have yet to see “better” character animation tools available at any price. My gripe is the fact that you can’t get that animation OUT of AM into any other environment without pulling your hair out. Games, rendering engines, 3D web formats etc.

A:M is kind of like Cuba. Great beaches, perfect weather, lots of happy people love to visit it every year. . . but this guy in charge who has all these wacky ideas that alienate themselves from the rest of the world’s powers.

#13

Originally posted by zero2zillion
You would not believe how dumb you sound at this point. Do the programmers at Hash get paid? Yes. Yes they do. Do you know what that makes them? Yes, that’s right, they are professional programmers.

I’ve heard you have to make holes in spheres to make them render right. This is just ridiculous and totally unprofessional. So calling them “amateur programmers” seems quite appropriate !

Originally posted by zero2zillion
The idea is, A:M is great for it’s cost. It’s a fine piece of software. Either you have no life, cannot create art for yourself, or are receiving a commision from XSI.

There are programs that you can’t afford to buy and others that you can’t afford to use. :rolleyes:

#14

Originally posted by Wegg
…I have yet to see “better” character animation tools available at any price…

Then try XSI 4.0 today, and don’t delay … even the boobs guy is now a happy Softimage user ! You will love it ! Really ! :buttrock:

#15

In Softimage, Lightwave and a few other apps. . you STILL have to make sure to put all your models in one folder. . . and all your images in another one. . . and all your morphs in yet another one. . .

Get any of those messed up and your scene won’t load properly.

We haven’t had to do that in AM since V4.

THAT is more “Amature Hour” than any glitch inherant to patch based modeling. . .

#16

Originally posted by zero2zillion
[B]May I add that your occupation listing is very fitting?

drunken housewife [/B]

Damned ! :eek: You discovered my secret identity ! :wink:

#17

lol

#18

What’s all the fuss?

All I see is: violet 93 “This person is on your Ignore List.” over and over again. :wink:

#19

even the boobs guy is now a happy Softimage user !

Bold added for emphasis.

PS - I bought XSI about a month ago - got a really sweet deal. I’ve been amazed how many ways AM is superior to it - mostly in simplicity of getting what you want. XSI also has some pretty big “holes” - but I think they’ll get filled over time. Last week, I sent a “bitch” e-mail to my reseller complaining about a feature that was too limited. Within 30 minutes, the guys from Softimage in Montreal called me- and after explaining why I thought it was stupid to have the feature limited, they ended up putting it on the “immediate fix” list… it’s nice to be listened to…

Yes, he liked the support, that’s good. I have my own gripes about hash support, but the “holes” I’ve complained about have been fixed with a new version just 2 days later. And I had my corrupted file fixed.

You make it sound like he switched from A:M. The fact is, if I could afford it, I would buy other pieces of software to have too.

What’s all the fuss?

All I see is: violet 93 “This person is on your Ignore List.” over and over again. :wink:

You’re probably the smart one here, but someone’s got to defend A:M. :smiley:

#20

Roger Eberhart has now been successfully added to your ignore list. You will now be returned to where you were.

Just for the sake of it. ! No big lost ! :rolleyes: