A Sketchup to 3ds max & Vray discussion

[Macho3001]

Re: A Sketchup to 3ds max & Vray discussion

That last post by Damien deserves a scotch !

[dalomar_cg]

Re: A Sketchup to 3ds max & Vray discussion

Thanks ... a single malt if you please

[steelers05]

Re: A Sketchup to 3ds max & Vray discussion

Having the glitches and workaround that can/need to occur is something that concerns me about the whole modeling in SU then importing into MAX and then as Dalomar had said...changes will always need to be made so I agree that you should still try to learn many of the concepts in max and the interface. I am continuing to try and learn it and a resource that I find very useful, and I am sure many of you already know about it, is lynda.com. It is a subscription site, but they have a lot of great stuff on there for learning a number of programs. But, I am still learning max and I am still wondering about a few other things compared to SU:

Something I love about SU is having the accuracy and being able to take a box for example and drawing a line an arbitray distance and divide the face then extruding the face of that box whatever distance you want. Max does not necessarily seem to work that way and it doesnt seem to really use the "line" quite like SU does to draw and break up faces. Am I accurate in this assumption?

[dalomar_cg]

Re: A Sketchup to 3ds max & Vray discussion

Max makes a lot of distinctions that SU does not. With SU, things are more or less on an even playing field and their reason for doing something is more based on ease or intuitiveness. Max is far more explicit about what it does and how to do it.

In Max, how you adjust or modify an object depends on whichever modifier is active on that object. Some modifiers can be stacked on top of others (ie UV mapping does not necessarily negate other modifiers) while other modifiers will require converting the object to that type (ie the EditPoly or EditMesh modifiers). The two base modifiers when it comes to geometry are the EditMesh and EditPoly modifiers, and if my memory serves me correctly imported files will come in as EditMesh. These two modifiers are really for geometry only, so Max thinks of lines/splines as completely different types of objects that typically get wrapped up into the EditSpline modifier.

In Max you don't really mix and match objects of different types, so the "ultimate reduction" of an object is to convert it to either an EditMesh or EditPoly. There are several ways to actually cut faces within those modifiers. The most effective one is Slice Plane and is going to be one of the more accurate ways of slicing since you can set its angle and move it around with gizmos. After you set the slice plane you need to press Slice. Cut is another option, but will not extend the slice beyond where you click, so you can cut a face in the middle and not go all the way through a face. Both of those options are in both EditPoly and EditMesh, but EditPoly has another option called Quick Slice which is similar to cut and will extend slices through the faces. Also note that with nothing selected those will slice through the WHOLE mesh object. If you want an individual element sliced (like a face) than you need to preselect that face before you start slicing it. I also prefer EditPoly over EditMesh as it has a few extra tools that are pretty useful.

Also you might want to try out DigitalTutors.com as they have really good tutorials for 3d specific stuff. I like lynda, but more for 2d graphics/web stuff...3d I really like DigitalTutors. GnomonWorkshop is also really good, but do more specialized topics rather than basic intros to software.

[oncire]

Re: A Sketchup to 3ds max & Vray discussion

3ds max is a powerful software, a complete package especially for animation... but sketchup is good for quick presentation and has a good user friendly tools. even beginners can learn it in no time...the default installer of sketchup gives you just "basic stuff" but you can give sketchup to take farther modeling with the help of plugins (ruby scripts) available, both free and commercial .I like both software... sketchup for "QUICK presentation" while 3ds max for "ADVANCE modeling and animation".

[steelers05]

Re: A Sketchup to 3ds max & Vray discussion

Thanks for the resources dalomar and in depth explanations. Keep an eye out for this postl, because I hope for it to be an ongoing thing that people can continue to add to as they experiment and test.

[JHuman]

Re: A Sketchup to 3ds max & Vray discussion

Steelers, thanks for starting this thread. I have lately been getting more involved into 3DSMax, its been a pain, mainly because my brain is so trained in Sketchup, its hard to break old habits :-\

This will be a very useful topic, its going straight to the favorites. Hopefully soon I will be able to contribute a little more when I get a little more well versed in 3DSMax. Thanks!

[edonk]

Re: A Sketchup to 3ds max & Vray discussion

The only thing that stops me learning 3dsmax is purely down to expense. In the UK a max licence is just crazy money and the main reason I learnt sketchup all those years back.

[steelers05]

Re: A Sketchup to 3ds max & Vray discussion

yeah it is really hard to look past that. For many architects/they dont need the power of max, but I think it is one of the essentials when considering a full blown illustration & motion graphics service

[holmes1977]

Re: A Sketchup to 3ds max & Vray discussion

Hi Steelers
Do you work for yourself or employed by a company?
Cos I like EDONK have the same problem about the price of Max. But am really starting to need the power that Max can offer. Cheers for starting this thread Ive found it very helpful.

EDONK
Do you want to go halfs in robbing a bank. to fund Max.

[edonk]

Re: A Sketchup to 3ds max & Vray discussion

EDONK
Do you want to go halfs in robbing a bank. to fund Max.

Hahah yer meet me down the Red Lion at 12 and we'll go from there, I'll bring the getaway car.
I'm still hopeful that if Autodesk make subscriptions compulsory, that as part of the service we will be able to 'rent' software whenever we need it. i.e. you pay one fee per year and you have access to several pieces of autodesk software within your subscription. I do own Autocad and I do have an annual subscription, and my reseller mentioned a couple of years ago that Autodesk wanted to get the price of their software down but in order to do so the subscriptions service had to be a success. We'll have to wait and see, but until then the bank jobs still on!

[steelers05]

Re: A Sketchup to 3ds max & Vray discussion

Holmes: I am employed by an architecture firm, , but they are a small-midsize firm that is trying to grow. They want to broaden their illustration capabilities so they are willing to invest some time and money into software and such, but like I said...they are still trying to grow so it is hard at times to convince them to purchase new software, especially when considering the expenses that max comes with. To add to it, we are trying to convert our office from autocad to revit and that transition is going to cost plenty of time and money. It sucks having to put so much money into new software, but the power of max should be worth it if you need it...not to mention, vray rt looks amazing. One unfortunate part of this business is that I think many people's work is elvated or diminished by what they can afford or not afford to buy. Aside from software, a perfect example would be plant packages. So many images look amazing, because the user has access to an unbelievable plant package. I do not say this to take away from any of the artists, because you have to be good and knowledgable to have a good image and make your work stand out, but I think there are many people out there (plenty can be found on this forum) that are at that level, but can not afford to purchase plants, people, material packages, and etc... and it is not feesable or they do not have the time to put into creating a library of their own. I apologize for going off on this tangent, but I guess it is my way of saying...Im in for the bank robbing if your willing to split three ways I will provide the man power with my whole 5'11" - 170lb frame haha

[thomthom]

Re: A Sketchup to 3ds max & Vray discussion

Italian Job?

[holmes1977]

Re: A Sketchup to 3ds max & Vray discussion

I really hope no banks visit this website. From now on I think we beter keep to PMing each other on the plans.

[JHuman]

Re: A Sketchup to 3ds max & Vray discussion

Hey I'm a banker! Actually I'm not. I too dont like the cost of all of autodesk's software. I work for a firm aswell as own my own business, and the cost can kill you especially when my annual revenue fluctuates quite a bit, and to take $6000 to $12,000 out of that for a piece of software is rediculous! But, if it means more jobs and more quality then its a plunge im willing to take. Anyways Im glad for this thread, it will ease the pain of switching from SU to Max. Thanks!