Comparisons of 3D programs

[Roland Taylor]

The tile says all. I plan to do some...

[StevenBuri]

lol - don't bother I already decided that I want to get Lightwave and use Blender as an extra tool in the bag.

[Microwave]

I use 3Ds Max :D I only use Blender for sculpting now/when I feel like it.

[StevenBuri]

Okay - I'll do a comparision for everyone

Lightwave:

With 3 clicks you can customize every single keyboard shortcut there is.
You have unlimited layers
You can view one layer in the background while working with the current one (helps with detailing)
You have way more camera options
You have way more options in general - with background images alone you can change - gamme, saturation, inverted colors, hues, brightness, contrast. Thats for imported images ALONE - as well as about 30 other preset filters.
You have around 15 primitive objects
More control over your enviornment
More tool options
The ability to create dynamic objects without programming (collision, wind, gravity, particle)
Have 6 different preset camera options - not to mention surface baking and advanced.
Edit schematic view tools
Edit menu layout
Use hypervoxels

Blender:
You can't do any of that without at least some programming - in most cases above a LOT
and you can use multires - a feature I havn't found in Lightwave

And this after just a week of exploring its interface - JUST A WEEK, and I've already found lots of ways its better.

So you can decide - you can program and not create 3d objects - or for the student edition of 195 dollars you can have all the benifets without the bugs, problems, and time.

Case Closed?
Is For Me

[Roland Taylor]

Background and other images in blender can be filtered and otherwise edited. They are all shared throughout the program.

And no program is bug free, problem free or time eliminating... That's just a fact.

[Roland Taylor]

Who said that you need to program to create dynamic objects on blender???

[StevenBuri]

And thats just a quick list - other features are - well, they are just flipping insanely large for everything - and this is coming from a dedicated Blender user.

For instance when editing an object you can set these properties:

Unseen by rays, Unseen by Camera, Unseen by Fog (some found in Blender)
And
Silloueghette Edges
Unshared Edges
Sharp Edges
Surface Borders
Other edges (all above after And for Size and ONLY for edges customization)

as well as shrink with distance

So that doesn't even include the tabs: dynamics, Lights, Deforms, Geometry

[Roland Taylor]

To be balanced again, the way you find them is the difference here. Most of these features are shared by all of the major 3D programs!

[StevenBuri]

Lol, your not gonna change my decision Roland ;). I know that Lightwave is for the more serious user. Its a little more complex but when used right it produces much better results.

In Blender I can go and and mess around and have fun, but the bottom line is I can't create that many high quality objects or images without a lot more work. And even then not always.

[Roland Taylor]

Not trying to change anything :) I hope you understand! I'm being balanced...

And blender is the tool of choice for many. You just have not had that much experience yet. But give it time, and you will find all 3D programs are the same once you know how to use them...

[Microwave]

"but when used right it produces much better results."

It's not the program, it's the artist.

[Roland Taylor]

Amen!

[Joe]

Blender is free.

I choose Blender