#Soft Image NT
17 messages in this thread
I just went to a Soft Image demo, and I was not happy. Microsoft is
working on an NT version of this potent software package. I am
entrenched in AutoDESK products, I have BETA tested several versions
of AutoCAD and am currently on the R13 NT beta. What I wanted to ask
is that (if you do this) I be considered as a candidate for the BETA
program on version 3DS 5. I have been trained my Microsoft for NT
Server, I'm a animator/technical illustrator by trade, and a network
designer by necessity. Thanks, -Mark Huppertz, 74554,1665 or
mhuppert@rt66.com
>> I just went to a Soft Image demo, and I was not happy <<
PMJI, I'm not sure if I understand you. Why aren't you happy? Please
explain in a bit more detail for the intellectually impaired, like
me.
Martin: did you say intellectually impaired? Harumph!! I always
suspected you had two brains. I'll be watching this string regarding
unhappiness and soft image. Jeffrey
Sorry, What I ment is that the ease of use and extreme fuctionality
will draw a bunch of the "push the envelope" working animators when
the NT version is released. I now run my 3DS-4 only under Win95, so I
can switch back and forth from Photoshop and Halo to the materials
editor, but I am finding limitations. The 64K page file is still a
formitable bottleneck. A dedicated NT version of 3DS would kick tail,
especially if the IPAS sprawl could be integrated into the program
more transparently. -Mark
I agree with you completely. I found Softimage a very user-friendly
and powerful program when I used it last year. Better in some ways
than 3ds, worse in others (at 10 times the price). I felt after using
it that I wanted to incorporate many of its best points into 3ds and
pay a fraction of the price <g>. We'll just have to be patient and
see what's cooking for r5 – I'm positive it'll blow us all away.
Besides, Softimage for NT is probably along way off and I'm not sure
it'll be the same program as on the SGI, at least not in its first
incarnation. A port is no easy matter especially when a program is so
inherently tied to SGI's graphics. It'll probably need to be rewritten
entirely and I've heard rumours of problems with this.
No easy matter indeed ! Have you seen the classified ads they've been
running in the trades ? They have over one hundred job openings, and
I'll bet coders make up a big percentage of that group.
Like I sain, Microsoft has made NT and Win95 Open GL compliant. If
Soft Image is written in C and to open GL, it's tweak the calls and
re-compile.
>> They have over one hundred job openings, and I'll bet coders make
up a big percentage of that group.<<
and great coders are hard to find.
If soft Image is written in Open GL, the port will be very easy. The
Microsoft rep said to expect a fall/early winter release date.
Microsoft has also "lowered" the price 40%, to $8,995. But my money is
still solidly on 3DS!
>> If soft Image is written in Open GL, the port will be very easy.
The Microsoft rep said to expect a fall/early winter release date. <<
interesting. I think there's a lot of speed issues still though, and
speed is (almost) everything in 3d.
PMJI, but I agree that SI has a lot of power, especially specific to
animation. But, didn't you find as I did, it's probably the buggiest
pieces of s/w ever written <g> ? Just curious, I haven't used it in
quite sometime (years).
PMJI, too, but I must add that SI has been very buggy in our experience as
well. We are finishing up work on a computer entertainment product that relies
on 3DS for all its backgrounds and most of its inanimate animation (an
oxymoron?). We have a SoftImage system and we were not able to get anything
truly worthwhile out of it after about 3 months of trying. Now, granted,
SoftImage did say that we happened along at a particulary unstable time in the
development of their s/w, but it still left a very bad taste in our mouths and
we've learned to rely on 3DS since then. It rarely, if ever, lets us down!
my two cents, MattMan.
<< PMJI, too, but I must add that SI has been very buggy in our experience as
well. >>
Well, it was in was of those unstable periods several years ago too, I guess
<g>.
BILL
Bill,
>> But, didn't you find as I did, it's probably the buggiest pieces of s/w ever
written <g> ? <<
very true. I wasn't pounding on it heavily and didn't experience too many lock
ups, but another artist using it more heavily would lock-up SI about 10 times a
day. Usually he would just get kicked out to the shell. That's why they have a
really cool auto-save feature <G>.
Could you clarify *exactly* what you saw — was it Softimage running
under UNIX (and Microsoft talking about its features under NT), or
was it an actual beta of Softimage running *under* NT? Inquiring
minds want to know. Thanks.
The R5 beta program is pretty full already, but if you'd like to
apply, you need to send your demo reel and a list of your
beta-testing experiences, plus a letter describing how you use 3DS
and how you feel you can contribute to the beta program, to:
Bob Bennett, 3D Studio Product Manager
Autodesk, Inc.
111 McKinnis Parkway
San Rafael, CA 94903
– G
"I just went to a Soft Image demo, and I was not happy." I just went
to the dentist and I am not happy either. That I could understand but
why you are unhappy after seeing a SoftImage demo I really don't know
🙂