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Design reviews
3D design, modeling and animation software - part 2 (part 1).
Lightwave 3D | Cinema 4D | 3D Studio Max | Strata 3D CX | Maya | SoftImage | FormZ
Strata 3D CX. 3D software for the rest of us |
Strata 3D CX
Let's be honest, Strata 3D CX is not in the same league as the other programs reviewed in this section - and that's also shown in its much lower price bracket. But that is no reason to dismiss it. In fact Strata has features that even experienced 3D designers will be happy to use. An amalgamation of several older 3D programs, Strata 3D CX is actually quite a powerful program and has more than enough features for all but the really high-end user.
But it's target market continues to be illustrators and graphic designers who would like to add 3D effects to their creative armoury. Photoshop files can be imported and mapped without flattening and it has excellent and rendering quality. Its ability to export to a number of file formats, including EPS and Flash, will certainly be welcomed by print graphic designers. |
Maya - broadcast quality 3D software |
Maya, Alias' high-end 3D program
Maya, in its various incarnations, is often seen as the 3D program the others aim to beat. Whether that's a right or wrong perception, Maya is certainly an incredible program.
Created for high-end film and broadcast production, in the days when 3D software cost tens of thousands, Maya now comes in at a far more competitive price. Although, prices do vary drastically depending on what level of professionalism you are buying into and, as ever, it is worth researching your requirements well.
From a features and quality point of view, Maya is certainly still a high-end 3D application. And it is not for the faint hearted. Its animation controls and rendering abilities are unsurpassed in the hands of an expert. But becoming an expert in Maya (or any 3D package for that matter) is no easy matter. It's certainly not recommended for print graphic designers who just want to knock up a quick set of bevels. But for many 3D professionals it is, debatably, the only way to go. |
SoftimageIXSI |
Softimage - the return
Softimage is also one of the original 3D heavyweights, although it has much ground to Maya in recent years. Nowadays owned by high end broadcast company Avid (after brief ownership by Microsoft), Softimage|XSI has continued where it left off with a solid modeling and rendering system. As with many of the other high-end 3D systems, Softimage|XSI comes in several different levels of complexity, with numerous add-ons and plug-ins for specific functions. |
Form Z |
Form Z - surface and solid modeller
Always thought of an a niche product, Form Z is a general purpose solid and surface modeller with an extensive set of 2D and 3D capabilities. Used mainly in architectural environments, it has gained a dedicated following and is certainly worth looking at for anyone serious about 3D design. |
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