What modeler do you use?

#21

I will always keep a Mac around that runs OS 9 and EI modeler. I find that most modeling apps do something really well and faster than others. Still love the knife tool in EI modeler for that very reason.

For now Silo is the tool of choice for me. But I’m also holdiing on to Amorphium; it can do so many little tricks that just come in handy now and then.

I think modelers are like shop tools - you need a router, then you need a table saw. When modeling, sometimes its’ EI modeler, sometimes Amorphium, sometimes Lightwave’s modeler, sometimes Silo… I wish I had them all. In the words of Tool Times Tim Taylor “MORE POWER - UUUUGHH” :beer:

#22

I used first formZ, then Rhino and EIM a bit. Personally I’d avoid formZ now. I’ll look at Silo and Modo, although Modo sounds a bit formZish with all those clicks… Whats the difference between Silo and Modo, apart from price? Modo seems very comprehensive, but one gets the feeling the price will be hiked up once the user base is acquired.

Martin K

#23

I like the clear and pragmatical UI in Silo, which allows focussing on the model instead of looking for hidden functions to much.
Silo 2 seems quite promissing too.
Steffen

#24

I just had a very quick look at Silo. My first impression is that it certainly doesn’t have all that number of functions. I assume there are meshing controls somewhere as my first test export to EI, of a beveled cube resulted in over smoothed edges, inspite of setting the angle to 5 degrees on import.

Martin K

#25

You can do a partial subdivide on sections ofthe mesh if you want.
It took me a couple months to get “it” with silo. And then a couple projects where I forced silo into my production work and viola! I can’t say enough good things about it.
Its fast, stable and I can make stuff with it!

I can’t wait for the next version with the displacment feature a la Zbrush!

Mike Fitz
www.3dartz.com

#26

Yes, i’m looking forward to Silo2 a lot, i think it will be a pretty big upgrade.

Reuben

#27

2.0 looks like a real improvement. I’m really looking forward to creating workable UV maps without having to go into Wings and Transporter to be able to work with UVs in EI.

Soon (I hope)

#28

Hmm you’ll still need transporter (i think), Nevercenter seem to have trouble with the fact format, but you never know.

Reuben

#29

I’ve been looking at Rhino 3 and it seems quite solid and forgiving. It makes sense for me to upgrade as its quite cheap to do so.

Martin K

#30

My first ‘real’ modeler was formZ, which I loved. When EI introduced Modeler (EIM) the first version was very unstable for me. By the time it got to version three it was extremely stable for me so I started to give it a real go and rather quickly abandoned formZ. Not that formZ wasn’t as good. In fact it’s my belief that formZ is a much deeper modeler than EIM. I just started liking EIM more because I could get my work done so much faster. It seemed simpler to use than formZ and would edge round the pants off of formZ. When they discontinued it’s development I started looking at other modelers for down the road. Eventually I went with Modo which I also love now. That was a bit getting used to since I’d never used Sub-D modelers before. EIM does have UberNURBS which, to me is it’s modeler within a modeler, and for the most part it is a Sub-D modeler (or at leas operates along the same pricibles to me anyway) but it seemed the models would get cumbersome to deal with when they started getting a little complex. At the moment I use them both. I wish EI would pick up Modeler again and further it’s development but that seems very unlikely (there’s certainly no discussion of it that I’m aware of) but I’ll continue to use it. While EIM and Modo are very dissimilar, They’re my two favorite modelers at the moment. At the moment I render everything in EI.
Curt

#31

Hey folks, thanks for putting Concepts 3D/Unlimited in the list. I really think that is is a good replacement for EIM (sans Ubers) if you like that kind of modeling. In fact, once you get the interface down, it is quite a bit more powerful tool wise.

I also used form*Z for a while, but just couldn’t get my speed up to anywhere near what I can do with Concepts. Now, the poly / subdivision modelers are a whole different animal. I’m more of a mechanical guy anyway, so those just haven’t appealed to me. I’ve played with them a bit, but I don’t have an immediate use for them, and I don’t seem to get them. Maybe some day.

-Steve

#32

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I just published an update to my website. Take a look!

Kind regards,

Alonzo

Main Page:
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Modified Pages:
http://web.mac.com/avtpro5/iWeb/Site/Blog/AEE4D9C8-9449-11DA-A519-0030657CE1C0.html

#33

Hi Guys

I still use EI modeler on my dual G5 2,3 and i love it. EIAS lost a lot of things since stop the modeler.
Today i also use silo for all the “ungeometrical” models.
I hope a new pro 3D solution’s made by Apple (may be directly developed by Pixar’s tools) very soon…

Good work…

#34

Some of our models at :

http://www.cgchannel.com/gallery/viewimage.jsp?imgID=11326

#35

Maya and modo for me although modo does tend to crash a bit. I just got Silo with the EI order I put in so that one seems nice to work with, just haven’t had the time to play with it.

I’m really excited for modo 201.

#36

So you’ve received your software huh? That’s great. I’d really appreciate if you would share your experiences with working with the program for the first time. First time users usually have the most insight towards things and your observations of the program are important.

#37

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