[paradoxxl]

Hi folks

I am/was a Cinema 4D user but i want to learn Max or Maya. I really like Cinema 4D's workflow but I miss a few funkcions like a good bridge tool, particle render and other things.
Also the new version didn't brought some very good features (even the dynamics... don't know how to use them because I don't want to wait a few years for calculating a simulation on one cpu core when i got 3 more )

So in this case, I want to learn Max or Maxa. I think, I will learn both ofthem but I want to start with one, because time is rare.

I read a few things, and I can't decide which I want to learn first. I'm very interested in high quality meshes (and animations in future, I already did some compositings). A good particle system and render is a very basic point in the future.
I used VrayforC4D, so I will use it too in the program I will chose.

Pros and Cons I found out. Please correct me if I'm wrong:

Max
+A lot of plugins
+Vray Schatter
+krakatoa
-harder to learn
-strange navigation (MMB and alt+MMB)

Maya
+easier to learn
+more or less industry standard
-less plugins


I know, the software is just the tool kit, the artist dows the work, but please compare this software for my major points. (High Poly modeling, HQ render, Animation, Simulation, Particles)

Best regards,
para

[Dave]

strange, the 2 minuses u gave max are 2 pluses for me, i think its way easier to learn, and has a way more intuitive navigation. but maybe thats cuz im used to it. anyways, final word is:

YES, ANOTHER MAX VS MAYA THREAD! WE R FINALLY GOING TO FIND OUT WICH ONE IS BETTER!!!!

Links:

[paradoxxl]

Hi

The alt+mouse navigation is used in a few programs I think. On the first look, maya looks more friendly to me, so I thought it was easier to learn.

I just want to know which software is more useful for the topics I wrote. You can do loads of other things in these programs, so it isn't one of there general endless threads. I want to make a decision when I got enough pros and cons.

[yukon_28]

I think (and many would agree with me) that you're wrong about easy to learn part, max is easier to learn than maya generally, maya is more complicated program and it's complexity is not hidden, while max does a better job to hide complexity, so you wont deal with it until you have to.

About navigation - yes, maya navigation is way better, it's more of a "standard" 3D navigation.

About industry standard - both max and maya are industry standards, max is an absolute standard on ArchViz and games (though maya also used in games industry), maya is standard in movies production, both used for vfx and commercials.

Everything is IMHO of course.

[Cadmium77]

Links:

3dsMax = being completely rebuilt under the XBR project.


Maya = sort of gone stagnant with not a lot of money being invested in it. Huge resources available for it though, by virtue of it's long history in the business..

[yukon_28]

To your points:

In modeling and rendering max is better imho (in rendering they both have mental ray built in, but max have much more HQ rendering plugins, their max versions are more mature and more accessible).

In animation maya is better i think, i am not an animator, but this is common opinion, animators generally prefer maya, not max.

In vfx/sims/particles etc. - it's a harder question, max have more 3rd party plugins, while maya have more HQ built in tools. Both capable to make production quality fx, both used a lot in this area. If you ask me personally, i can say that max generally allow you to achieve your tasks faster and easier for everything but very complex tasks, which may be done easier in maya.

[buddhabas]

w Modo!

[gordongimano]

The best advice I can give you: take a little time to make your own impression. I'm sure that even if time is a factor, you can spare one month to get a little accustomed to them. Spend a couple of weeks with either of them and see which one feels more natural to you. I'm a long time max user, I'm familiar with it and I like it, but I do admit that there are a few things that I like more about maya, one very important one being the navigation. Even after all this time I spent in max I still find maya's navigation scheme far more comfortable.
Another important thing to remember - while you can achieve good results in both apps, some things that are native to maya are only available to max through plugins. Although some of those plugins for max surpass maya's capabilities. For example maya has a built-in fluid sim solution, while max requires either fumefx or the newcomer phoenix.
As for plugins that clearly give max the edge: hairfarm (maya has had hair and fur long before max, but hairfarm is simply on a whole different level). And while maya's skinning solutions are better than those of max, the situation changes when you add bonespro into the equasion (although this may be just a personal impression).
Like I said, the best answer is the one you find yourself. Take a little time to get to know each software - you're not new to 3d, so it should be a lot easier for you to get things running in a shorter amount of time.

[sassimicah]

1.3dsmax = completely rebuilt under XBR project to look like maya

autodesk ARE NOT IMAGINATIVE .SURPRISE!
they've done nothing new with max, maya or softimage.

2.but maya is more complex not complicated.but i will answer you without bias.
in the case of animation yes maya is the choice. as for particle systems both max and maya are good but max has no default fluid system and must rely on plugins like fumefx to produce them fume fx is a good plugin but at a price(and unlike in maya you cant mix fluids and particles) and depending on how much you want to dig into maya fluid system ,maya API has something called OPEN MAYA FX which allows a user to not only see the source code for the fx engine but modify it as you please to create your own version of maya as this idea extends beyond the fx as all of maya exists as an open product(not open source theres a difference) but on owning a maya license ....it simply says 'do with me whatever you like '.(and if you learn other stuff like cuda language ..why not build an fx system to run on more robust gpu ?).....you can do the same in max like ray fire is an example but harder since you have no base to start with unless you are on guru level.

3.but if you intend to use vray i guess there's the maya version too on windows but i admit to prefer using it on max.
another note plugins don't make the artist ...if anything avoid them if you are starting out in these softwares you don't want to confuse your self..especially with max which has hundreds maybe even thousands of plugins (which i sought of see as a technical artist as counter productive to technical learning as everything is already there for you..you never learn to build to your needs or problems in a production situation).
think of it as if you are a princess who is used to living the good life until one day you are old enough to move out and find that you have no skill to deal with the real life.thats what too many plugins do.

4.Since you can only learn one it has to be maya you'll learn fx quickly from places like gnomon plus most tuorials concerning dense mesh workflow seem to be between maya and..etc zbrush or mudbox.as for rendering its cover more in depth on maya concerning mental ray and renderman but not vray that being said vray in max is vray in maya non big diff.a tutorial on max can easily be understood on other platforms.i hope i've helped.

5.i also must mention depending on where you live in the world there's are maya territory and max territory where you 'd probably need to learn one or the other to get a job.e.g korea=max,japan=maya,malaysia=max,u.s=maya,u.k=may a,spain=max etc

[arvmetal]

Links:

You are wrong on the learning curve, Max is much intuitive and easier to learn than other 3d software, Maya is more consistent in the interface and little more fluid. Both are excellent piece of software (I am Max and Maya guy).

[CyberHype]

I prefer Linux, because M$ are for capitalists!!!

Now serious, if u use google and type "Maya vs Max" u will get 3.460.000+ results, only in english, so dude, i think u dont need to ask this here, unless u want see some flame war, since i cant tell u wich blonde or brunette are the best, this depends of taste.

With Maya and Max, all depends of taste, both can archive almost the same things, and like u said, u was 4D user, because u like it, so get BOTH Max and Maya, get some tuts and find out urself what u like more or less, or use both!!!

[paradoxxl]

Hi

Thanks for all the answers which helped me!

I have now finally chosen Maya. I really like the interface and workflow and atm i'm learning it from 3D Buzz Introduction video tutorial. The tutorial is very very basic, but I like to know what each button does.

Regards,
para