New Design Software Recommendation

DSC.CUSTOMS · 15th July 2009, 00:27

Hello everyone ,
I had been working on Photoshop for like some days (but not so regularly) . No doubt it is a really good software for editing . But I actually wanted to learn how to make 3-D designs and a bit of animation . I am not taking this up as a career(already enrolled for mechanical engineering with my first year starting really soon) but this is my hobby . I like to design new things or modify the existing ones . Some of you might be having a deep knowledge regarding the 3D design softwares . I know of a few like 3DS MAX , SOLIDWORKS , MAYA , AUTOCAD etc . I would be grateful to you if you could tell me which one is the easiest and the best to design 3D objects .
Thank you .

pranavt · 15th July 2009, 01:20

Depends on what kind of stuff you want to design, and what else you want from the application. Each application makes it quite easy to design 3D objects, it's really upto your requirements. There's no one-size-fits-all application, which is why there is so much variety.

abhibh · 15th July 2009, 01:23

I think you will be happy with either 3DS MAX or Maya.

Rehaan · 15th July 2009, 02:27

DSC,

If your goal is just to play around and come up with some nice renderings etc - avoid solidworks and autocad from your list. They are more geared towards engineers / manufacturing etc - whereas 3DS and Maya are more geared towards creating and animation + can produce some some great renderings.

Take a look at this thread : http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifti...-maya-etc.html

cya
R

PS - Personally, i love the interface of maya. It just seems to make creating and playing around much easier than the other softwares listed.

DSC.CUSTOMS · 15th July 2009, 08:20

@Pranavt ,abhibh and Rehaan
Thanks a lot guys .
Well i think i wont go for some serious software for now as i have ample amount of time left to make things better . Thanks for the suggestion Rehaan . I would either go for 3DS Max or Maya as i want to brush up my skills and get an idea what 3D designing is all about before i work on the hardcore 3D designing softwares .
Thanks again .

sreedotk · 15th July 2009, 10:55

Look up a software called Blender, It is an opensource project and quite mature. It is pretty good and could be as powerful as Maya or Alias if used well.

Above all it is Free :-)

DSC.CUSTOMS · 15th July 2009, 13:24

Thank you i shall consider that also .
Ill go through their description and get hold of the one whichever is appropriate for me .

pranavt · 15th July 2009, 16:07

The Blender control interface is completely unlike the rest, atleast it was the last time I saw it. Between Maya and 3DS, if you're going for modelling, 3DS is much more suited, whereas Maya has a lot more going for it in the MoCap and animation department.

DSC.CUSTOMS · 16th July 2009, 12:30

thanks again @pranavt
I already downloaded Blender 2.49 and have put 3DS Max on downloading . I found blender pretty good also , atleast for starting with it . Will work on 3DS as soon as it gets done .

15th July 2009, 00:27	#1
DSC.CUSTOMS BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Patiala,Chandigarh Posts: 179 Thanked: 12 Times	New Design Software Recommendation Hello everyone , I had been working on Photoshop for like some days (but not so regularly) . No doubt it is a really good software for editing . But I actually wanted to learn how to make 3-D designs and a bit of animation . I am not taking this up as a career(already enrolled for mechanical engineering with my first year starting really soon) but this is my hobby . I like to design new things or modify the existing ones . Some of you might be having a deep knowledge regarding the 3D design softwares . I know of a few like 3DS MAX , SOLIDWORKS , MAYA , AUTOCAD etc . I would be grateful to you if you could tell me which one is the easiest and the best to design 3D objects . Thank you .
	() Thanks

15th July 2009, 01:20	#2
pranavt Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,682 Thanked: 641 Times View My Garage	Depends on what kind of stuff you want to design, and what else you want from the application. Each application makes it quite easy to design 3D objects, it's really upto your requirements. There's no one-size-fits-all application, which is why there is so much variety.
	() Thanks

15th July 2009, 01:23	#3
abhibh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Back in the HOOD near you! Posts: 2,768 Thanked: 39 Times	I think you will be happy with either 3DS MAX or Maya.
	() Thanks

15th July 2009, 02:27	#4
Rehaan Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 24,043 Thanked: 34,074 Times	DSC, If your goal is just to play around and come up with some nice renderings etc - avoid solidworks and autocad from your list. They are more geared towards engineers / manufacturing etc - whereas 3DS and Maya are more geared towards creating and animation + can produce some some great renderings. Take a look at this thread : http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifti...-maya-etc.html cya R PS - Personally, i love the interface of maya. It just seems to make creating and playing around much easier than the other softwares listed.
	() Thanks

15th July 2009, 08:20	#5
DSC.CUSTOMS BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Patiala,Chandigarh Posts: 179 Thanked: 12 Times	@Pranavt ,abhibh and Rehaan Thanks a lot guys . Well i think i wont go for some serious software for now as i have ample amount of time left to make things better . Thanks for the suggestion Rehaan . I would either go for 3DS Max or Maya as i want to brush up my skills and get an idea what 3D designing is all about before i work on the hardcore 3D designing softwares . Thanks again .
	() Thanks

15th July 2009, 10:55	#6
sreedotk BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 247 Thanked: 90 Times	Look up a software called Blender, It is an opensource project and quite mature. It is pretty good and could be as powerful as Maya or Alias if used well. Above all it is Free :-)
	() Thanks

15th July 2009, 13:24	#7
DSC.CUSTOMS BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Patiala,Chandigarh Posts: 179 Thanked: 12 Times	Thank you i shall consider that also . Ill go through their description and get hold of the one whichever is appropriate for me .
	() Thanks

15th July 2009, 16:07	#8
pranavt Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,682 Thanked: 641 Times View My Garage	The Blender control interface is completely unlike the rest, atleast it was the last time I saw it. Between Maya and 3DS, if you're going for modelling, 3DS is much more suited, whereas Maya has a lot more going for it in the MoCap and animation department.
	() Thanks

16th July 2009, 12:30	#9
DSC.CUSTOMS BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Patiala,Chandigarh Posts: 179 Thanked: 12 Times	thanks again @pranavt I already downloaded Blender 2.49 and have put 3DS Max on downloading . I found blender pretty good also , atleast for starting with it . Will work on 3DS as soon as it gets done .
	() Thanks