#TOPAS vs 3DS
Well, I sincerely hope v.3.0 attacks the shortcomings of this
version. I don't consider HOLD undo. It's HOLD. If you're really
caught up in what you're doing in the program, it's easy to forget to
HOLD. If you mess up, it's all over. Other modeling programs have
UNDO, there's no excuse for it not being in 3-D Studio. I will add
here that, even with UNDO, HOLD would still have it's place. The two
are DIFFERENT.
The bugs I mentioned are definitely bugs, not operator error.
These problems were discussed in class, and indeed, identified.
Again, I hope they are remedied in the next version.
As far as learning curves, well, it will be different for
everyone. Perhaps I'm the oddball on this one, but, so far, I find
Topas far more intuitive. However, if most people find it easier to
use 3-D Studio, well, go for it. Remember, I was merely giving some
opinions to someone who was asking for them on these two programs.
3-D Studio does, indeed, have a lot going for it, I would just like
to see some of these problems addressed. I also stated them as I did
because the fellow asking seemed to be approaching this from an end
user stance. If his employer were paying for the program, it wouldn't
matter too much that it's a $3000 program with some annoying bugs,
now would it? Learning curves are one thing, object generation is
another. Some things are done a lot more simply in Topas, such as
surface revs. 3-D Studio's inability to work with open polygons, IN
MY VIEW, is a detriment. What can be done "on a heartbeat" in Topas
with surf rev, can take quite a while in the lofter. This affects
transparent objects primarily in 3-D Studio. If nothing else, working
with open polys is plain old convienient, and I hope version 3.0 of
3-D Studio will be up to task of handling them. Little things like
this count. It's the combination of all the little things, plus the
bugs mentioned that really bother me about what should be a killer
program, this 3-D Studio. I didn't sign up for the course for mere
curiousity. It struck me as a great program. I hope it becomes that,
then I'll reconsider "selling it' to my company.