CompuServe Messages

>>I am looking into moving to SGI equipment and Alias Power Animator. I use Studio 3d now. I would like some feedback on this move. << Hi Guy, I've been using 3DS for over 3 years, and have had access to Alias for the last 6 months or so (and Prisms for more than a year). I still use and rely on 3DS, though if I could afford an SGI for home, I might have purchased one in the last year or 2. As much time as it takes to get to know a package well enough to create really good work, quickly, it's hard to get to know multiple systems, and I have Studio at home, so . . . Looking at the 3D market, IMHO, it is not the time to invest too much in a particular package or system. _Everything_ will change in the next 6 to 9 months (I know, that's always true. But more so for the 3D GFX industry right now.) But one very interesting thing about this years SIGGRAPH, I think, will be that almost every package I've been watching will be showing a "major" new upgrade. 3DS R5, Alias v7, Prisms v6, SoftImage v? & and their NT version, and more, I'm sure. –Prisms– (I know, I know. . . "who?") – a rebiult system, new interface, NURBS, lots of little stuff, and a _new_ package they won't talk about till Siggraph. I loved where this package could go(!?). You could say that Prisms is the package in which you can do _anything_. . . Of course it might take just a little while . . And unfortunately they seem to be going in a rather esoteric(?) direction (they've always had a wild interface). But you never know! –Alias– – completely new user designable interface (little icons, big icons, text w/ or w/out icons), new action window (they needed it!), updated lip syncing, and probably lots more. Alias V7 is a package I'll be keeping a close eye on. They have been working on this change for a while (sounds familiar), and have also been aware of their poor performance in the area of animation. Then again, with that SGI/Wavefront merger who knows what's changed. Alias does have a few things over most other packages. Mainly in it's modelling capabilities. Their modeller is _amazing_. But their animation capabilities are just catching up in most areas (though their IK _feels_ quick and comfortable) Alias' interface has also been poor, it can become extremely crowded on screen, much too easily (but that's changing). The Opti/FX module has been extremely impressive (lighting SFX, now hair(!) ). –SoftImage– – I didn't even know about this one until last week and don't have a clue (I think some one said NURBS) –3DS– – new operating system, new interface, who knows what else. <g> 3DS hasn't changed in the basis of it's Modelling or Animation modules much in a while (excluding IPAS), and modelling is a common "weak point" brought up about Studio, so I expect a rather major change in those areas and probably all over. Of course, until Siggraph, we're all guessing. . . . Think about this for a sec . . . A group of people, Yost Group, get to write, from the ground up, the "next generation" for a package like 3D Studio, knowing they have to compete with, and succeed in, a quickly shifting and expanding industry. They've been working on it for (more than?) 2 years, and we've got (approximately) 6 or 7 months to go for a full release. I have a feeling this is going to be quite an impressive Release. And I'm afraid it will be hard to impress me, my expectations are very high. <g> This should be a _very_ interesting Siggraph. I'll probably be just as torn, but it will all be new! Just my opinion. – Ron "My entire universe is filled with children of Dummies"