Re: OT-open source 2005-05-05 - By Andrew
Back
Open source software is an on-going trend. It's becoming more
powerful and is becoming user friendly. There are many reasons why
these software are made, some of which is to give out a product that a
person wouldn't be able to sell (because of the start-up costs of
manufacturing or too much competition to compete with), giving
software out as a means of a "portfolio" piece, and also just for the
good of the community.
Sometimes free versions are given to higher end products, for example
truespace 3-something is given away for free, while they sell the 7+
version. It generates interest in getting the better version.
As for the software you've mentioned, Blender is very power but
requires some learning to use. I think of Blender's learning curve to
be similar to Maya's. As you've mentioned it has numerous features
that Carrara and other software doesn't have. If I needed to, I can
make a model in Wings3D (so far my preferred modeling app.) and
distort it in Blender using its lacttice deformers. Export out and
import into Carrara for texturing and rendering.
My knowledge isn't high in Blender, but it is enough to do the simple
deformers that I would like to see in Carrara. Animation in Blender
is highly more powerful than in Carrara, with its support of graph
editors and other features. Rendering can be improved by use of
another open-source renderer, YAYFAY.
Its news to me that sony is considering a which in software to
Blender, through. Blender does have its glitches, though, they have
been working hard to erasing them.
Wings3D is a powerful box-modeling software. But it is limited to
closed surfaces, which means that you can not draw a spline and lathe
it in that program. There are no sweeps. But, it does have an
advanced face/edge/point selection tools, customizable interface, auto
UV mapping and other tools. Makes a really good companion product to
Carrara.
One thing that open-source software lacks is customer support. There
is usually a large community to support you with answers but bugs and
other issues are not as easy to resolve. (But, I'm not saying bugs in
general are easy to fix).
I've heard of a couple small, animation businesses (of only a handful
of people) that use Blender and other open-source software as a
stable. But most companies trend to go with the highly evolved,
supported, and documented products. These products can adapt quickly
and be made with specialized features because of their decitated
programming staff. So, currently there isn't much of a threat of
open-source software taking down the larger programs. But the level of
expectations for paid products is growing because of the what is
available for free.
AWBenson
--- In Carrara@(protected), "nicholas8681" <nicholas8681@(protected)> wrote:
> Wish we had a general forum for discussions like this. Guess we will
> have to wait until Ringo's new forum, or the Eovia forum.
>
> I'm curious what people think of the current expanding selection of
> open source software out there. It seems much larger and much more
> advanced then it used to be. For instance look at Blender. Interface
> aside Blender has subsurface scattering simulation, python scripting,
> soft body dynamics, etc etc. Many things that Carrara does not have,
> and features that cost a fortune to have in other programs. What
> effect is this having on the market? We've all noticed the big guns
> dropping in price, while I doubt this is a result of applications like
> Blender, I'm curious if companies are eyeballing Wings, Blender, Gimp,
> and getting nervous at all. Blender was even used for Animatics for
> the spiderman movies, and Sony Entertainment is looking for a
> conversion from its proprietary format to Blender.
>
> Not dismissing Carrara, but in a market where powerful applications
> such as Blender exist why buy?
>
> Of the applications out there, I'd say Carrara is the closest to being
> a full do it all application. Sure Maya can do everything, but can it
> create a sky or a terrain as smoothly and quickly as Carrara? Carrara
> needs just a few more advancements to hit that higher level. I'm
> curious what the Eovia people think about the open source community. I
> like it, and I see it more as additional tools, rather then replacing
> Carrara, or the coming Hexagon.
>
> Anyway, what do you all think?
>
> Friendly discussion please. No arguing, just curious what everyone
> thinks of the open source community. Carrara rocks, and I fully
> support it, and I'd recommend it over Blender any day, if nothing else
> but for its better interface.
>
> Brian
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