Workflow addition under $500...?
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Here's a good comparison of 3D apps. http://wiki.cgsociety.org/index.php/Comparison_of_3d_tools
Some big name left off of the list....but I thought it was an interesting breakdown.
I would go with Vue 7 Complete. It's $599 and will give you the poly support you are looking for, but it's not much of a modeler.
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Tom,
It might not be what you think you are looking for but I would suggest you have a look at Piranesi.....a widely under-rated app. that just might suit your workflow. -
Thanks Remus, Adam...looks like the core package with the 3d import plug-in would do all I want right now? But it is hard to resist a bunch of neat new toys...at what point between the cheapest and the complete would most of the future-stupid-forehead-smack mostly drop from the picture? (i.e. give me a reason to splurge :`)
http://www.e-onsoftware.com/products/chart.php
Stu, I do like the look of a lot of the tools and outputs of Piranesi...but I couldn't get a good handle on the feel of compiling a bunch of 3d imports: it looks from the outside fairly counter-intuitive...?
Vue seems the same to me (from the tuts)...just less so? Neither has the orbit and move in space simplicity of SU (my first and only 3d prog so far)?
This is very helpful...more please.
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It would be nice if you could buy Vue Pro Studio and just add on the Eco painter. This feature to me is worth the extra money as you can paint in trees effortlessly.
On another note - Modo 302 just drop their price down to $695. http://www.luxology.com/ A little over your budget, but I really think you'd find it pretty intuitive. The sketchup importer should be out any day now for it. It's an amazing price for such a great program. Check out a few of these vids - http://www.luxology.com/event/2008/SIGGRAPH/index.aspx Note the little section at the bottom of the page....1.1 trillion poly's rendered in 6 minutes! The Modo community is really something special. There is constant communication between developers and users and they are always giving previews of the new things they are working on. There's a real sense of family in that community......what I'd imagine SU used to be like in the days before Google.
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I tried to start a similar thread but with little response apart from Tom (http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=13040&p=95274#p95274) This leads me to think there isn't anything out there right now that does what exactly what is required, as I've searched quite extensively as well. I'm also looking at Vue as it looks the most promising but Modo may also be worth investigating. They both seem to handle large numbers of polygons.
Essentially what is required for me is a programme that will directly import the Skp file to do the finishing touches to the base model so vegetation, people, cars etc can be added quickly and then saved out quickly to an acceptable image format including scaled orthographic views if possible. It's the addition of entourage, shadows and styles that really slows things down in Sketchup. For me it doesn't have to be photoreal, in fact I'd often prefer a sketchy look. I've also looked at Piranesi but I couldn't get to grips with it and there's very few images I've seen that I like. I'm sure there is a gap in the market for someone.
Kenny
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Tom [and Kenny] Piranesi can actually import SU components. Ive only tried the demo versions but in the short time I have played with it I didnt find an import limit. And of course it will import Tiff Png etc entourage.
I agree there is some pretty ordinary stuff produced by it, but in the hands of someone like Jeff Jaccobs it can look pretty impressive.
It has its plusses and minusses but if photorealism isnt that important its worth a good look.
Ive been 'almost' going to buy it for years....and now the AUD exchange rate is heading south, it might be a little bit longer yet
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@earthmover said:
Note the little section at the bottom of the page....1.1 trillion poly's rendered in 6 minutes!
Modo is pretty good, but a little caveat, though: given the fact that modo isn't 64 bit yet, rendering that many polygons (even in 6 hours) will be next to impossible without a very thorough knowledge of modo's render settings.
Trust me.
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Vue is probably the easiest route, once you get a few very basic concepts concerning preserving materials and smoothing.
If Google had any sense...and if it was a supremely difficult process to either get SU to handle large numbers of polys or turn off the inferencing engine, they really ought to consider the use of SU as a "parts modeller".
They could then build a " parts assembler" called BuildUp that had little more than the Move/Rotate and navigation tools. In effect a pared-down SU, minus whatever feature it is that is soaking up so much power. This would open, import, or even Paste in Place native content from SU in large amounts. This surely couldn't be too difficult. I've seen apps which are essentially one-man developments which handle more polys than SU.
A 3ds import option would enable you to import trees from Onyx or XFrog and the whole thing be throughput to the renderer of your choice, using existing routes or plugins.
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"BuildUp" ... I like that. Good idea!
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Exactly what I've been looking for Alan...so who's gonna get it done, guys?
(By Christmas, thanks :`)
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Awesome idea Alan! Breaking up Sketchup into two seperate, but connected programs.......similar to what Lightwave does.
Essentially BuildUp could be a staging software. An in-between stage before final rendering. Sketchup Studio would also be apropos. You could simply use Sketchup for your polygonal modeling, export over to Buildup and add high poly components and entourage.
I'm surprised there is not a 3rd party program that fills this need already.
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Build Up would be great as a solution as Alan describes, as that's exactly what's required. I suspect however that if they did isolate the issue causing the slowdown it would be just as well to address it within Sketchup itself. I find that it's the final set up stages when moving/rotating a large model with shadows and styles that the problems occur.
I'm investigating Vue as it holds the most promise from what I know is available, but there is an opportunity for someone to provide a specific solution, either standalone or as an extension to Sketchup.
Kenny
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@earthmover said:
Sketchup Studio would also be apropos.
ahaaa,.. sketchup studio
briliant idea,... make a sketchup as separate program to: modeled(build)> composition(combining component) > render (posible to use cry engine for animation as standalone?)
it would be great!!!
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Okay, now who's gonna build it? Adam B., TBD??? There's gotta be someone out there with the brain for this!
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Hi tomsdesk
I think i found a great aplication for you: SILO (go to http://www.nevercenter.com)
And it has a "End of year Sale" right now so it's really the right time to test it. The professional version it's costing 129$ and you can download the trial that will work for 30 days. Check the video for architectural modeling in http://www.nevercenter.com/videos/This is what they say in the site:
"Silo 2 is a focused 3D modeling application with the ability to effortlessly switch between organically sculpting high-polygon models and precisely controlling hard-edged surfaces. It can be used for anything from creating 3D characters for video games and movies to quickly exploring 3D architectural ideas"Imports and exports a lot of 3d formats, it's seems easy and with a fully configurable interface, you can put custom lighs, lots of uv mapping options, suports high poly and disceplacemt and has very advanced modeling tools. It just don't suport animation or rendering (nor does sketshup in that matter...) but you can export the model as obj file and render in kerkythea that it's free, or export as 3ds and import back in sketchup, for example.
If it would have a little bit more options i think it could replace sketchup in the future (the blasphemy..
), and with this price it's a real bargain. I'm also gonna test it when i have time free.Hope it helps
David
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Silo's pretty cool, but it's not terribly stable in my experience - not on Vista, at least. (I like it, though. Sleek UI -logical, well-organised, a true joy for the eye.)
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Really stinkie? Did you use the new version 2.1? For me stability it's a key issue and they said that the new 2.1 version it's very stable and with better perfomance but i'm on vista too...
Can you tell me your toughs of SILO? Good and Bad stuff and hows the workflow? i'm really thinking in giveing this software a try with the trial
Thanks
David
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Silo is a great program. I got it for my 11 year old son and he models with it everyday. (It does crash quite a bit) I think it's a great introduction to SubD modeling and a good starting point before moving on to more advanced modelers. (Modo, Maya, etc.) Personally, I would suggest trying Hexagon as I find it a little more stable and robust. I don't think however, that either of these programs would meet Tom's need, as they are not geared towards presentation.
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I'm listening intently...keep this great feedback coming! Thanks, Guys! (I'm trying to clear my desk long enough to download and try some out...it seems the only time I get really busy is when I have my head elsewhere :`)
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I agree with earthmover regarding Hexagon 2, think of it like a Silo /z-brush mix.
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