maya vs. 3d studio max

[Hard_Drive]

I checked out alot of CG galleries just to look at the human models but the majority of human models are made with 3d studio max. is there any reason why they use 3d studio max more for human modeling? am I missing anything by not using 3d studio max?

[Shogunato]

I think maya is more for animation and 3d studio for video games but maybe i'am wrong.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

You should use both of them so you get the best of both worlds.

[tallacus]

I have been told that Maya and XSI are designed for team based projects, while other apps like 3DS Max and Lightwave are more for the single person

[Foremancr]

I have used 3ds max as well as Maya. I feel a lot of people has used 3ds max years ago because 3ds Max was a lot cheaper. Maya in the last 3 or more years has dropped the price to become more inline with 3ds Max. In addition 3ds Max has given away licences of their software to groups like USFirst to promote it useage.

That said, there are several items in 3ds Max that works differently. 3ds Max hypershader (materal shader) is not node base. Getting full control of the shaders is more difficult. You can keyframe almost everything in Maya where 3ds Max doesn't have that feather. In addition 3ds max has several feathers that has come over from AutoCad which is owned by the same company.

There are and has been a lot of people that has done a lot of wonderful modeling in 3ds Max. These people has been with 3ds max for a number of years and are very familiar with all of the internal working.

[tallacus]

thats must be why there are alot of models out there that are in the .3ds format, but still, Lightwave should take over since its price drop and its just as good as max and all the other big apps

[danlefeb]

The company I work for has slowly transitioned from Lightwave to 3DS and now Maya -- personally, that's probably the order I see them in. But any of this is all personal opinion. I've seen some beautiful work done in Lightwave just as much as I've seen beautiful work done in 3DS and Maya. On the flip side, I've seen some "not-so-beautiful" work done in all three apps also. The software is just a tool...the person behind it is where the art and the magic comes from.

[laxman]

Exactly what danlefeb said.The people who make those beautiful models will be the first to tell you that the software they use is just a tool, specially for modeling which is similar in almost all apps, they could have made that same model given any of the major programs (XSI, 3ds, maya, lightwave...)

[Foremancr]

I agree with your statements that tools are tools and whatever you get use to using with work and work nicely. The cost of tools also comes into play whereby if you can't afford the tools and you will use whatever your budget will afford you. A lot of individuals start their animation career at a young age and their budget isn't a lot. That certainly was my experience. I feel the outcome of someone animation is dependent on their skills not so much as the application.