#Help…Advice
6 messages in this thread
Thanks for the return.
I am calling from the Big Sky Country…Helena, MT. I doubt that there
is a user group within 500 miles of here. CompuS is the only source
of info about anything. I have already talked with a TV studio, and
plan to visit with a couple of other folks who might need animation.
My living is from FoxPro programming. I work with clients in over 25
states in DOS, Win and Mac. I am very interested in jumping in to
3-D. Thanks for the advice on digging in. I have bought every video
mag and book I can find, have all 3-D demo tapes, ordered the
training videos from LA, and next week am planning to visit a
broadcaster video show in Seattle. I have a close friend in SEA who
has been using 3-D for the last 2 yrs.
This is such a new field it is mind boggling to consider the
possibilities. I have a lot to learn. What is the deal with the
'toaster' stuff. Some of our local stations use it. It seems pretty
medium stuff. I am also thinking of do some 3-D for local architects
who use AutoCad.
I think my biggest confusion is, is the market value of some of the
things which I am thinking of doing. But I am going to proceed ahead.
Thanks for the encouragment and taking time to help. ASOFT forum seems
more friendly than Foxforum.
>I am calling from the Big Sky Country…Helena, MT. I doubt that there is a
user >group within 500 miles of here. CompuS is the only source of info about
anything.
PMJI, but I'm in Nevada (about 200 miles from a user group, assuming
there is one in Sacramento) so I totally second your comments about
CIS.
>Thanks for the encouragment and taking time to help. ASOFT forum seems more
>friendly than Foxforum.
One of the big benefits about going the 3DS route (as opposed to
Lightwave from the Toaster folks) is the fantastic support this forum
provides — and not only on 3DS, but every conceivable combination of
hardware and software that might be used in video, these folks know
about. The dealers here are helpful and not pushy, and you can get
direct info overnight (or even sooner!) from the Yost group about how
to do anything you can imagine. In short, if you like CIS, you'll
love this forum. Just MHO.
Thanks for the comeback Mike. What is the deal with the Toaster
stuff. I have seen ads for some of their stuff. Some of our local TV
stations use them. From everything I have seen they cannot hold a
candle to 3-D Studio. I was thinking a first of jumping into their
equip, but after seeing some of the results of 3-D Studio, I cannot
imagine anything better. I also need to remain compatible with AutoCad
and other 2-D systems.
>What is the deal with the Toaster stuff. I have seen ads for some of their
stuff. >From everything I have seen they cannot hold a candle to 3-D Studio.
>I also need to remain compatible with AutoCad and other 2-D systems.
Obviously, 3DS is as compatible with AutoCad as it is possible to be,
given the fact they come from the same company (although different
programming groups). A caveat: I speak second hand for both this and
the Toaster — while I did own an Amiga, I've never owned the
Toaster, just seen the video and ads, and read many discussions here
on the forum. The general consensus was that Lightwave (which is the
3D package that comes with the Toaster for doing animations — some
wags have referred to the "Toaster" as the world's largest dongle,
since you can't run Lightwave without it) was comparable in quality
to 3DStudio Release 2, but that the latest release (available now,
although I'm still anxiously awaiting it — should be here this week)
blows it away.
My own personal feeling is that you could probably get similar results
from Topas and Lightwave as you get the Studio, but that, overall,
3DS has the best brains working both for and with it, and that it
always manages to stay ahead of the pack. For me the support here on
the forum is still the factor that has kept me with it, though. I'm
not an artist, just a programmer, but I can make things with 3DS that
all my friends envy (and that local TV stations play and maybe even
pay for…) and everytime I've needed an answer to a question about
nearly anything dealing with video/animations, it was provided here
in a very short period (days and sometimes hours). I've never
regretted spending the money on 3DS.
you seem to be doing all the right things, Steve! I don't know if I
said it in my previous message, so forgive me if I did. I strongly
suggest you continue with your FoxPro programming while your
animation endeavours build up. If you can consult and work your own
hours you've got it made. I simply quit my day job, also as a
applications programmer, and dove headlong into 3ds. This caused me
and my wife a lot of financial hardship for quite a long time,
although, after 2.5 years, things have improved quite a bit. I still
don't make anything like the money I made as a programmer _and_ I
have a lot more overhead now. However, I love what I do and that
makes it all worthwhile <g>.
Good advice. After seeing the potential of coolness in spending my
days in 3-D opposed to Foxpro, it is really tempting to dump
programming and jump into graphics, etc.. You are right….I don't
want to starve. My plan is exactly as you suggested…a slow
migration.
I am surpised of the positive response that I am getting in some of
my interested clients and other businesses about the use of
animation. I really think that this industry is going to go
somewhere.
The one thing which sometimes slows me down is that I refuse to borrow
for anything. Therefore I will be paying cash as I go. But that's OK.
I got this feeling that time is on our side. I have already seen some
equipment prices go down as features go up.
Thanks again for taking the time to write.