3dsmax 2017

[Syclone1]

Im in the same boat too and seriously going to be taking a look at alternate software to 3dsmax as I'm assuming at some point and most likely next year they will drop the perpetual licenses completely and force the monthly cloud subscriptions and Ill definitely be dropping 3dsmax at that point. Ive been a paying user since 3dsmax 1.0 and if they think I'm willing to pay $1400+/year instead of the $700 I pay now then they have a big surprise coming, why the hell should I pay double for no reason at all. Especially when there have been no significant additions since CAT. Its like buying tires for my Jeep from AD, the front two are $200 but the back ones are $600 just because, even though there is no difference at all between them. I know there is also rumors of a fluid sim but we all know that wont be useable for a couple years after it is integrated given AD's past track record. Given the comments above Ill be taking a serious look at blender, at least I can still use V-Ray on it and I'm sure if enough people ask then forest pro would get ported.

[bardo]

I was investigating a possible switch to another package too, but unless I have a good scattering tool like forest pack, and a good way of importing max files for all the assets I don't see a possibility. It's like having to start from scratch completely.

This is completely understandable.

[bardo]

About plugins and Blender there is a discussion here.

The quick answer is that there are something similar using the Blender addon system but probably nothing developed at the same level we could have in the 3dsmax world.

In any case it's always the same thing... 3dsmax starts when people doing computer graphics were "nerds" (in a negative meaning)... Someone here weren't already born... so the big users mass is attractive for the plugin software houses.

I'm quite sure that, if Blender could grow , there will be some portings. About this, following also the Blender scene (a good forum is BlenderArtists), I'm able to admit that in the last 2 years there will be more and more professional use oriented addons. So, if the trend continues, I'm confident that the things will be better.

At the moment I'm quite sure that the transition, if you use several plugins, wil not be a 1:1 replace...and you should have problems.
I'm a bit lucky that, in my job, I can use the 3dsmax core tools with some scripts and so my Blender transition (not completed) was more easier.

Speaking about huge files Blender has an Xrefs system...you have simply to choose "link" instead of "append" and you could import models from another scenes with linking for materials,meshes, objects and so on.
Consider also that you can use VrayProxy if you are used to.

[Pixelcon]

unless I have a good scattering tool like forest pack...I don't see a possibility

This.




.

[Vizioen]

I was investigating a possible switch to another package too, but unless I have a good scattering tool like forest pack, and a good way of importing max files for all the assets I don't see a possibility. It's like having to start from scratch completely.

[Sbrusse]

What about plugs?
The major superiority from 3ds over the others are the plugins IMO, forest pack pro, railclone, viz park, etc...
How to get all that working in Blender?

We work with huge files that takes 64+ Gb ram to render with loads of Xrefs etc, is Blender capable of handling all that without hiccups?

[bardo]

Vlado & Co. will be more precise about the name of calling the development but with Vray4Blender you can use Vray 3.4.

The main options (render settings, shaders, textures, ecc) are available... but I'm not able to say if all the new ones are covered by the Blender version (obviously the specific 3dsmax feature will not be covered).

Probably, one of the main features missing is the realtime viewport preview (the Blender active shade) and the VFB integration in the Blender UI.

I'm quite sure, in ant case, that the main step for the transition is not Vray...believe me. It's quite mature.

Blender itself , for me, was the big step...

[Pixelcon]

If you would like to try it...I can suggest you a good addon that help in transition.

https://blenderartists.org/forum/sho...-left-3ds-Max-)

What's the status of Vray for blender? Beta? Released? 3.4?

[bardo]

That's really sad news. OK, will check out Blender. If anything, at least I'll have that one under my belt in case AD decides to remove 3DS Max from their toolset.

If you would like to try it...I can suggest you a good addon that help in transition.

https://blenderartists.org/forum/sho...-left-3ds-Max-)

[Vizioen]

Maybe a global petition, where one eloquently speaks out to Autodesk, telling them to get a grip pointing out the flaws of the last releases of max, maya, revit and autocad. If they won't start doing things right, people are going to move over to other packages. That should wake the stakeholders a bit if this thing goes viral and gathers a lot of attention. A lot of these new releases aren't even worth the title of a quick patch honestly, let alone a Service Pack, yet they even call it a new release. Shameful. The only reason these programs thrive is because of the huge script/plugin community they have, to fix/implement the shit they should've.

[padre.ayuso]

That's really sad news. OK, will check out Blender. If anything, at least I'll have that one under my belt in case AD decides to remove 3DS Max from their toolset.

[Alex_M]

I think that trying to change Autodesk politics is hopeless. Thousands of times people have spoken on forums (even on their own one) and blogs how they feel about the politics of AD and the development of their products but they don't seem to care. Sadly, the biggest wake up call for them would be for their shareholders' profits to shrink. This way they will pressure them to do something. I've realized that the Autodesk are not interested in what their customers have to say as much as making their shareholders happy. At Autodesk shareholders are king, not customers, and they will do anything to please them (meaning increasing their profits). Even if this means a price hike or removing the perpetual license options which no one asked us how we feel about (guess why).

[padre.ayuso]

But like Bobby said, we are all complaining yet we are still paying. Is there no way we can actually do something pro-active to get these guys to change something? Surely, to at least give us a workable program that we can use?

[padre.ayuso]

largest-ever increase in cloud subscriptions"

No way!! Seriously? There is no other option... surely, if the previous year it was 4000 and another 50% of the costumers HAVE to upgrade and thus move to the cloud, since there is no other option, wouldn't that be an increase???? Now, he still does not have mine.... I'm still on 2013, although not for much longer.... But anyhow, lets see how things develop.

[snivlem]

The upgrade option, while under subscription, doesn't exist. Yes, you can decide to stay on an earlier version, but you are still paying for the newest that doesn't work. We are almost 1/2 way through the release year and most can't use 3DS MAX 2017.

Heh this happens with Maya too. They even ripped out the default renderer in 2017 (mental ray) and gave users Arnold............without a single batch render licence! So you ahve one of the most "advanced 3d packages" and "advanced rendering capabilities" as their marketers say, yet you cannot batch render anymore.

Thank god for V-Ray is all i can say.

It's eye opening what Autodesk can do now most are on sub, they could theoretically start ripping out other modules and doing deals with 3rd parties..."oh you want a cloth sim, please buy more licences"...