Does Blender suck or rule?
by Jeff Gran · in Artist Corner · 05/25/2005 (1:08 pm) · 116 replies
I am experienced with the modeling and animating tools in both MAX and Maya, and I've recently downloaded Blender to try it out.
I have read many testimonials about how Blender is actually a very easy to use, fast, efficient tool. After an admittedly limited test run with it, I have to disagree. And not just because it's different than what I'm used to. It seems like a not-quite-there-yet version of a professional tool.
Some examples of things I have a problem with initially:
You can't customise your hotkeys, from what I can find. To me this is one of the most powerful features of the professional tools, that you can customize your interface to be what works for YOU, not what some guy or guys (or gals) deemed was the best interface.
Right-click to select, left click for "blender gesture system" to jump into transform mode... WHY? left click to select in any other application I can think of. This is not faster than the other way around, and is just annoying.
Alt-B to draw a selection-box (which uses the left mouse button, which is not consistent with non-box selection) This is not faster than not having to press two buttons before dragging a selection box.
You can only select vertices. There is an option to select faces or edges, but only in rings, and once you do, the result is that you have selected the vertices that belong to those faces or edges, not the faces or edges themselves. While it is true that it is not necessary to select the higher level sub-object elements, it is very helpful, especially when visualizing the actions you are about to take on the model. It's also faster to select a single face than to individually select the 3 or 4 verts that make it up. And the hotkeys for edge and face selecting are wacky... they don't even use the same modifier (one uses ALT and the other CTRL, if I remember correctly).
I actually do like Blender's customizeable windows system, cause you can make the window in whatever configuration you want, and zoom out and move around (like Maya's hypergraph, which rocks, and which is how I want my OS to work).
Also, I did some searching for professional-quality models made with Blender, and couldn't find any. Looking through the elysiun forums (semi-official blender repository), even the people who were trying to educate the noobs were showing poor modeling skills, and I only found one organic model (an orc head) which was mediocre in quality. Can anyone give me a link to something that would prove that Blender can be used to good effect?
I want to make it clear that I have an open mind about this, and most of the reason I'm starting this thread is in hopes that someone can convince me that I am wrong. Obviously I also would need to USE the tool more and see if I can get used to it and adjust my modeling style accordingly, but I'm interested to hear others' opinions and experiences. When I first opened Blender and started going through the tutorials, I was thinking it would be awesome... the world needs a good free 3D editor... but now I'm thinking that without heavy modifications this is not it.
Discussion! Prove me wrong!
I have read many testimonials about how Blender is actually a very easy to use, fast, efficient tool. After an admittedly limited test run with it, I have to disagree. And not just because it's different than what I'm used to. It seems like a not-quite-there-yet version of a professional tool.
Some examples of things I have a problem with initially:
You can't customise your hotkeys, from what I can find. To me this is one of the most powerful features of the professional tools, that you can customize your interface to be what works for YOU, not what some guy or guys (or gals) deemed was the best interface.
Right-click to select, left click for "blender gesture system" to jump into transform mode... WHY? left click to select in any other application I can think of. This is not faster than the other way around, and is just annoying.
Alt-B to draw a selection-box (which uses the left mouse button, which is not consistent with non-box selection) This is not faster than not having to press two buttons before dragging a selection box.
You can only select vertices. There is an option to select faces or edges, but only in rings, and once you do, the result is that you have selected the vertices that belong to those faces or edges, not the faces or edges themselves. While it is true that it is not necessary to select the higher level sub-object elements, it is very helpful, especially when visualizing the actions you are about to take on the model. It's also faster to select a single face than to individually select the 3 or 4 verts that make it up. And the hotkeys for edge and face selecting are wacky... they don't even use the same modifier (one uses ALT and the other CTRL, if I remember correctly).
I actually do like Blender's customizeable windows system, cause you can make the window in whatever configuration you want, and zoom out and move around (like Maya's hypergraph, which rocks, and which is how I want my OS to work).
Also, I did some searching for professional-quality models made with Blender, and couldn't find any. Looking through the elysiun forums (semi-official blender repository), even the people who were trying to educate the noobs were showing poor modeling skills, and I only found one organic model (an orc head) which was mediocre in quality. Can anyone give me a link to something that would prove that Blender can be used to good effect?
I want to make it clear that I have an open mind about this, and most of the reason I'm starting this thread is in hopes that someone can convince me that I am wrong. Obviously I also would need to USE the tool more and see if I can get used to it and adjust my modeling style accordingly, but I'm interested to hear others' opinions and experiences. When I first opened Blender and started going through the tutorials, I was thinking it would be awesome... the world needs a good free 3D editor... but now I'm thinking that without heavy modifications this is not it.
Discussion! Prove me wrong!
#2
My sentiments exactly.
I was thinking along these lines... My plan was to customize the interface and make downloadable hotkey set and interface that was similar to other packages, and make a migration guide for people like me who know MAX or Maya and want to transfer to Blender with ease. But alas, it doesn't look like that's possible.
05/25/2005 (3:08 pm)
Quote:Understand, I really really want to like blender, but don't feel I should have to unlearn and relearn everything about modeling in order to do it.
My sentiments exactly.
Quote:If you do manage to get a solid handle on it, why not throw together some "Blender for complete friggin' morons" (like me ;-) tutorials to help others get through the learning curve.
I was thinking along these lines... My plan was to customize the interface and make downloadable hotkey set and interface that was similar to other packages, and make a migration guide for people like me who know MAX or Maya and want to transfer to Blender with ease. But alas, it doesn't look like that's possible.
#3
I'm sure you could change the python scripts to your liking to get whatever hotkeys you want to do in whatever fashion suits you.
Maybe I should write a tutorial for Blender...
05/25/2005 (3:18 pm)
I thought Blender had a completely awesome design. The fact that it was so customizable was a real plus for me. It does take some time to get used to. I'm not very good at modeling period, but I liked it better than truespace (of course I haven't used Maya or Max so I wouldn't know what "real" modeling is. :)I'm sure you could change the python scripts to your liking to get whatever hotkeys you want to do in whatever fashion suits you.
Maybe I should write a tutorial for Blender...
#4
That might be a kewl thing for GG as a company to look into, maybe a Model Constructor based on blender code and utilizing TGE/TSE technology, so it can natively spit out .dts files, and have reconfigurable keymaps.
I'm going to look over the blender code tonight and see if I can't create a blender mod to allow for rebinding of key presses.
Anyways, as far as liking/not liking blender, thats all a matter of personal taste IMHO. You will tend to like what you're used to, and tend not to like things that seem alien or strange, it's kinda the same thing that Windows/Linux/Mac users go through when working under a different OS.
Point is, once you get used to it, you will learn to like it, or you will move to something else.
*update*
Looks like I'm not the first to try and create a Key remapping system for Blender
linux.ucla.edu/~phaethon/blender/blender-sawfish.jl
Also with regards to a derth of professional blender models.
www.blender.org/
centralsource.com/blenderart
www.blenderwars.com/index.php
puudeli.zoo-gate.fi/~haba/3d/
blender3d.org/cms/Tutorials.243.0.html#806
There are alot more, it's just kinda hard to google for them, when google tends to think of blender as an appliance rather than software :)
05/25/2005 (3:38 pm)
Actually, you can rebind the keys to do anything you want (you just need to find where the keys are defined in the source code), in fact since it's completely opensource you can mod the code to work in any configuration you want...That might be a kewl thing for GG as a company to look into, maybe a Model Constructor based on blender code and utilizing TGE/TSE technology, so it can natively spit out .dts files, and have reconfigurable keymaps.
I'm going to look over the blender code tonight and see if I can't create a blender mod to allow for rebinding of key presses.
Anyways, as far as liking/not liking blender, thats all a matter of personal taste IMHO. You will tend to like what you're used to, and tend not to like things that seem alien or strange, it's kinda the same thing that Windows/Linux/Mac users go through when working under a different OS.
Point is, once you get used to it, you will learn to like it, or you will move to something else.
*update*
Looks like I'm not the first to try and create a Key remapping system for Blender
linux.ucla.edu/~phaethon/blender/blender-sawfish.jl
Also with regards to a derth of professional blender models.
www.blender.org/
centralsource.com/blenderart
www.blenderwars.com/index.php
puudeli.zoo-gate.fi/~haba/3d/
blender3d.org/cms/Tutorials.243.0.html#806
There are alot more, it's just kinda hard to google for them, when google tends to think of blender as an appliance rather than software :)
#5
1) It's free.
2) It's Open Source.
3) It can export DTS.
4) it's convivial.
5) it can do anims.
6) it can play with NURBS.
7) etc..
I've used many 3D modeling software (CATIA, SolidWorks, VX Designer, 3DS) and actually I Use blender (essentially for cost reason). In fact each time I have learnt a new 3D Software i had a short period of time where I was confused with some new concept in the new software. But after all, a 3D software is made to produce 3D contents, and each software has his own advantage.
I think you encounter this confusion time. The proof : In my version(2.36) it's B (not Alt-B) to draw a selection box :).
If you want some blender files :
A Statue
Another Statue
A Water place
Another Water place
If you want more, send me a private mail.
And finally Blender isn't a professionnal tool, but it is very powerfull, if you can give you time to learn it (In my opinion).
Sorry For my poor english, I'm a frenchy guy. :)
05/25/2005 (4:11 pm)
I think blender have numerous advantages : 1) It's free.
2) It's Open Source.
3) It can export DTS.
4) it's convivial.
5) it can do anims.
6) it can play with NURBS.
7) etc..
I've used many 3D modeling software (CATIA, SolidWorks, VX Designer, 3DS) and actually I Use blender (essentially for cost reason). In fact each time I have learnt a new 3D Software i had a short period of time where I was confused with some new concept in the new software. But after all, a 3D software is made to produce 3D contents, and each software has his own advantage.
I think you encounter this confusion time. The proof : In my version(2.36) it's B (not Alt-B) to draw a selection box :).
If you want some blender files :
A Statue
Another Statue
A Water place
Another Water place
If you want more, send me a private mail.
And finally Blender isn't a professionnal tool, but it is very powerfull, if you can give you time to learn it (In my opinion).
Sorry For my poor english, I'm a frenchy guy. :)
#6
05/25/2005 (4:30 pm)
@Vincent, hey man those are REALLY nice!
#7
@ Jeff : Usually to select face, I go in UV Faces Select Mode. I select my differents faces (right click), and after I switch to edit mode if I want to grab vertices, or to do any other vertices operation.
05/25/2005 (4:38 pm)
@ Dreamer : Thank you ! Subscribe the newsletter to recieve one model every day.@ Jeff : Usually to select face, I go in UV Faces Select Mode. I select my differents faces (right click), and after I switch to edit mode if I want to grab vertices, or to do any other vertices operation.
#8
I beg to differ. Like Jeff, I tried Blender (several times) and just could not 'get' what they were thinking at all. I have tried several other tools that don't have standard interfaces and I took right to them. I loved Nendo, and Marai, and I spent a little bit of time messing around with Silo3d.. I demoed zBrush and picked up the flow in a few minutes.
I tried.. like [i]seriously]/i] tried to like Blender. I wanted to use it, I wanted to support it, but frankly I just don't think the tools are as good as the more well known apps.. and certainly not as well thought out or intuitive as some of the others I had mentioned.
I understand the comments as they relate to OS differences, but with Blender, I was really wondering, what the hell were they thinking?
I tried and I moved on.. and the same sentiment is something I have heard from all of my friends who are 3d artists who have tried it.
If you are used to it.. I suppose it is good.. but if you are used to anything else, you start to use it.. and you ask yourself.. why am I doing this?
05/25/2005 (9:23 pm)
Quote:ou will tend to like what youre used to, and tend not to like things that seem alien or strange, its kinda the same thing that Windows/Linux/Mac users go through when working under a different OS.
I beg to differ. Like Jeff, I tried Blender (several times) and just could not 'get' what they were thinking at all. I have tried several other tools that don't have standard interfaces and I took right to them. I loved Nendo, and Marai, and I spent a little bit of time messing around with Silo3d.. I demoed zBrush and picked up the flow in a few minutes.
I tried.. like [i]seriously]/i] tried to like Blender. I wanted to use it, I wanted to support it, but frankly I just don't think the tools are as good as the more well known apps.. and certainly not as well thought out or intuitive as some of the others I had mentioned.
I understand the comments as they relate to OS differences, but with Blender, I was really wondering, what the hell were they thinking?
I tried and I moved on.. and the same sentiment is something I have heard from all of my friends who are 3d artists who have tried it.
If you are used to it.. I suppose it is good.. but if you are used to anything else, you start to use it.. and you ask yourself.. why am I doing this?
#9
The basic underlying idea behind the Blender interface is that one hand stays on the keyboard, and the other hand stays on the mouse.
Your mileage may vary, but IMHO it is a much more efficient interface than those of other modeling packages.
05/25/2005 (9:45 pm)
Quote:Like Jeff, I tried Blender (several times) and just could not 'get' what they were thinking at all.
The basic underlying idea behind the Blender interface is that one hand stays on the keyboard, and the other hand stays on the mouse.
Your mileage may vary, but IMHO it is a much more efficient interface than those of other modeling packages.
#10
05/25/2005 (9:52 pm)
That is really no different than all the other 3d apps out.. they all are optimized for that sort of workflow. 
#11
In fact, being Open Source Blender has some distinct advantages over the other 3D apps, on the flip side of the same coin it loses out in that professional polishing that you'll find with the major apps. Its all give and take, in the end Blender is free, it exports DTS to Torque, even full animations and characters, so it really is a good option, though it comes down to circumstance, funds, time (since time can relate to money if you have or don't have time to learn it will really make a difference), etc.
Personally I like blender, I like Max better, but I still am fond of what Blender represents and how powerful it really is.
05/25/2005 (9:57 pm)
Blender really gets comfortable after working with it, much like Max does, maya, truespace, milkshape or whatever. As far as features go, somewhere within its options it has a lot of the same options and tools that max/maya have, you just have to get used to the interface... again really is the same as any 3D app program out there, they all have advantages and disadvantages. In fact, being Open Source Blender has some distinct advantages over the other 3D apps, on the flip side of the same coin it loses out in that professional polishing that you'll find with the major apps. Its all give and take, in the end Blender is free, it exports DTS to Torque, even full animations and characters, so it really is a good option, though it comes down to circumstance, funds, time (since time can relate to money if you have or don't have time to learn it will really make a difference), etc.
Personally I like blender, I like Max better, but I still am fond of what Blender represents and how powerful it really is.
#12
If I may be blunt, I've extensively used 3DSMax, LightWave, Animation Master, and Maya. Their interfaces are most decidedly not optimized for the "one hand on keyboard, other on mouse" setup. They may contain a few concessions to the concept, but certainly not to the same extent that Blender does.
Some are comfortable with it. That's fine. Some aren't. That's also fine. Like I said, your mileage may vary.
Though I do wish Blender would adopt the LightWave policy of "no funny icons, just plain old no-nonsense words" for its buttons...
05/25/2005 (10:20 pm)
Quote:That is really no different than all the other 3d apps out.. they all are optimized for that sort of workflow.
If I may be blunt, I've extensively used 3DSMax, LightWave, Animation Master, and Maya. Their interfaces are most decidedly not optimized for the "one hand on keyboard, other on mouse" setup. They may contain a few concessions to the concept, but certainly not to the same extent that Blender does.
Some are comfortable with it. That's fine. Some aren't. That's also fine. Like I said, your mileage may vary.
Though I do wish Blender would adopt the LightWave policy of "no funny icons, just plain old no-nonsense words" for its buttons...
#13
I know some people use Wings3D (also OSS) for modelling, and import via .obj to Blender to animate. This is what I intend to do - Wings3D is very quick and easy to work in.
I hope Jeff's disappointment with Blender modelling doesn't affect the likelihood of porting his skeleton generator, for this reason.
05/25/2005 (10:29 pm)
What do people think about rigging and animating in Blender?I know some people use Wings3D (also OSS) for modelling, and import via .obj to Blender to animate. This is what I intend to do - Wings3D is very quick and easy to work in.
I hope Jeff's disappointment with Blender modelling doesn't affect the likelihood of porting his skeleton generator, for this reason.
#14
Average, I'd say. The current armature-based action system is good enough to get things done and is in no way "bad", but it's still a bit clunky, especially when compared to Animation Master.
Plus, the current Blender-to-Torque exporter has no way of exporting vertex animations, which makes creating things like facial animations for Torque more complicated than it should be.
05/25/2005 (10:45 pm)
Quote:What do people think about rigging and animating in Blender?
Average, I'd say. The current armature-based action system is good enough to get things done and is in no way "bad", but it's still a bit clunky, especially when compared to Animation Master.
Plus, the current Blender-to-Torque exporter has no way of exporting vertex animations, which makes creating things like facial animations for Torque more complicated than it should be.
#15
I was a Blender user, but switched to Truespace for a while. Since 2005 I am using Softimage XSI, and god I love it. The docs are so good, and the user interface and everything just makes so much *sense* in XSI. Whereas Blender gui seems kind of haphazard in retrospect.
But Blender is advancing quickly, and is very lightweight and fast for a lot of things. Light weight on the pocket book also. Blender is a good thing.
05/25/2005 (10:52 pm)
Anyone want a copy of the Blender 2.3 Guide (2004)? It's yours for cost of shipping. I was a Blender user, but switched to Truespace for a while. Since 2005 I am using Softimage XSI, and god I love it. The docs are so good, and the user interface and everything just makes so much *sense* in XSI. Whereas Blender gui seems kind of haphazard in retrospect.
But Blender is advancing quickly, and is very lightweight and fast for a lot of things. Light weight on the pocket book also. Blender is a good thing.
#16
@Everyone, I own fully licensed versions of 3DSMax, Milkshape, Maya, Blender and Lightwave, I have to admit though I don't have much in the way of art skills, just a desire to learn as much as I can. Of all the 3D apps I've tried, I can do alot more in alot less time in Blender than in the other apps, the workflow at least for what I have done is just so much smoother, once you get comfortable with the Blender interface concept as a whole.
It seems with the other apps, that I am always hunting and pecking through menus to get to what I need, sometimes what I need may be several menus deep. In blender it's usually just a keystroke or two away.
Unless you are married to a particular app because of years spent learning it, or too much money invested to turn to another tool, I recommend Blender above all the other apps, because the workflow is so much smoother, and you can customize everything about it, either via menu options, or by altering a few lines of code.
Source code availability and extensibility is also a very strong selling point, you don't like how something works? Write a python script to change it, or modify the C++ a little, it's not hard, the code is commented fairly well as well. Scripting in python is a huge plus as well, it means you get to work in a very popular already existing computer language rather than some obscure thing like MaxScript, or Milkshapes "filter system"
My final major selling point is crossplatform compatibility, much like Torque, blender is blender, whether you are running it under Windows/Mac or Linux, it still behaves exactly the same, even Maya for Linux does not behave quite the same as Maya for Windows.
05/25/2005 (11:00 pm)
@Andrew, Wings to blender is a good option if you like it that way. Animations in blender are alot easier IMHO than in the other packages I've tried.@Everyone, I own fully licensed versions of 3DSMax, Milkshape, Maya, Blender and Lightwave, I have to admit though I don't have much in the way of art skills, just a desire to learn as much as I can. Of all the 3D apps I've tried, I can do alot more in alot less time in Blender than in the other apps, the workflow at least for what I have done is just so much smoother, once you get comfortable with the Blender interface concept as a whole.
It seems with the other apps, that I am always hunting and pecking through menus to get to what I need, sometimes what I need may be several menus deep. In blender it's usually just a keystroke or two away.
Unless you are married to a particular app because of years spent learning it, or too much money invested to turn to another tool, I recommend Blender above all the other apps, because the workflow is so much smoother, and you can customize everything about it, either via menu options, or by altering a few lines of code.
Source code availability and extensibility is also a very strong selling point, you don't like how something works? Write a python script to change it, or modify the C++ a little, it's not hard, the code is commented fairly well as well. Scripting in python is a huge plus as well, it means you get to work in a very popular already existing computer language rather than some obscure thing like MaxScript, or Milkshapes "filter system"
My final major selling point is crossplatform compatibility, much like Torque, blender is blender, whether you are running it under Windows/Mac or Linux, it still behaves exactly the same, even Maya for Linux does not behave quite the same as Maya for Windows.
#17
If I may be blunt, I have used 3dsmax since version 1, maya since version 1, amimation master (since version 1, long before it was MH3da before changing back to Animation Master) Softimage, and toyed around with Alias and Wavefront long before Alias merged with wavefront. I also tried Lightwave, and just about every other 3d app that you can think of (including Blender).
Your experience with 3d apps is impressive, but it is no less extensive than my experience, and frankly, it makes me say..so what?
I didn't just get off the boat here.. so statements to this effect would be better if they can with some sort of example that demonstrates the point.
Can you be more specific? I really want to try to understand the workflow. The statement that the other apps 'make concessions' is not a statement I really 'get'. I have been working with 3d apps for a long time, and all of them pretty much require that you use the keyboard extensively to really develop any sort of productive workflow.
I also don't understand why this 'extensive use' makes it any better, any more intutive, or any faster to work with.
As an example, when I used softimage.. for animating, one could animate with absolute control over the entire scene without moving your hands from the XCV and mouse keys (3 buttons on IRIX).. totally intutive, totally fast, and with total control.
I am not trying to bash blender, I am trying to understand it. My experience is similar to Jeff's, and this experience is one that is shared by many of my colleuges (many of whom are professional 3d artists). I am looking for some sort of explanation as to some way that I could approach it that might make some sense.. or some insight into the workflow that would show me how blender is better.
For those that have worked with blender, and say, Max, Maya, or XSI, and compared and contrasted the workflow differences on a specific tasks.. and how blender proved to be superior, it might allow me to gain some insight.
05/25/2005 (11:02 pm)
Quote:If I may be blunt, I've extensively used 3DSMax, LightWave, Animation Master, and Maya.
If I may be blunt, I have used 3dsmax since version 1, maya since version 1, amimation master (since version 1, long before it was MH3da before changing back to Animation Master) Softimage, and toyed around with Alias and Wavefront long before Alias merged with wavefront. I also tried Lightwave, and just about every other 3d app that you can think of (including Blender).
Your experience with 3d apps is impressive, but it is no less extensive than my experience, and frankly, it makes me say..so what?
I didn't just get off the boat here.. so statements to this effect would be better if they can with some sort of example that demonstrates the point.
Quote:Their interface is most decidedly not optimized for the "one hand on keyboard, other on mouse" setup. They may contain a few concessions to the concept, but certainly not to the same extent that Blender does.
Can you be more specific? I really want to try to understand the workflow. The statement that the other apps 'make concessions' is not a statement I really 'get'. I have been working with 3d apps for a long time, and all of them pretty much require that you use the keyboard extensively to really develop any sort of productive workflow.
I also don't understand why this 'extensive use' makes it any better, any more intutive, or any faster to work with.
As an example, when I used softimage.. for animating, one could animate with absolute control over the entire scene without moving your hands from the XCV and mouse keys (3 buttons on IRIX).. totally intutive, totally fast, and with total control.
I am not trying to bash blender, I am trying to understand it. My experience is similar to Jeff's, and this experience is one that is shared by many of my colleuges (many of whom are professional 3d artists). I am looking for some sort of explanation as to some way that I could approach it that might make some sense.. or some insight into the workflow that would show me how blender is better.
For those that have worked with blender, and say, Max, Maya, or XSI, and compared and contrasted the workflow differences on a specific tasks.. and how blender proved to be superior, it might allow me to gain some insight.
#18
05/25/2005 (11:07 pm)
@Joe, Ok prove it to yourself, download blender and follow the tutorials for making the GingerBread Man, time yourself. Then attempt the exact same thing in any other 3D modeling package. I will bet good money, that if you do this you will see that it is in fact a whole lot faster to do this in blender than in the other package.
#19
That is why I beleive Jeff started this thread... and why I posted as well. I have tried it.. more than once.. and I wanted to like it. I actually gave it more of a chance than I would have any other app...
I did try to tutorials with blender, and I kept thinking to myself.. geez, how come they make something so simple so complex? Is there a method to the madness?
If you guys have some specific examples of something you have tried in several apps and how the blender workflow worked better, and why.. I really do want to hear it.
But asking me to do a tutorial to compare something I could do in literally.. 20 seconds in 3dsmax, is just not giving blender a fair shake.
05/25/2005 (11:31 pm)
How much money you putting up? That is why I beleive Jeff started this thread... and why I posted as well. I have tried it.. more than once.. and I wanted to like it. I actually gave it more of a chance than I would have any other app...
I did try to tutorials with blender, and I kept thinking to myself.. geez, how come they make something so simple so complex? Is there a method to the madness?
If you guys have some specific examples of something you have tried in several apps and how the blender workflow worked better, and why.. I really do want to hear it.
But asking me to do a tutorial to compare something I could do in literally.. 20 seconds in 3dsmax, is just not giving blender a fair shake.
#20
Honestly, I was getting the impression that you thought I was "just getting off the boat", so I apologize if I seemed a bit defensive. I generally don't post much at all on message boards, so people tend to assume I don't know anything.
However, if Blender's not working for you despite all your efforts and experience, then it's simply not working for you, and there's nothing I can do. We can debate what exactly constitutes "intuitive" hotkey definintions until the cows come home, and we'll make all the progress of a vi/emacs war, ie: none at all. I'm no Blender fanboy (all I said was I liked the interface); I can't stomach arguing over the fine details of my editing tools.
No one tool is suited for everyone, Blender included, and that in no way is a sign of a lack of skill. As I said earlier, your mileage may vary. Blender simply sucks for you. Just leave it at that.
05/26/2005 (1:23 am)
Quote:Your experience with 3d apps is impressive, but it is no less extensive than my experience, and frankly, it makes me say..so what?
I didn't just get off the boat here.. so statements to this effect would be better if they can with some sort of example that demonstrates the point.
Honestly, I was getting the impression that you thought I was "just getting off the boat", so I apologize if I seemed a bit defensive. I generally don't post much at all on message boards, so people tend to assume I don't know anything.
However, if Blender's not working for you despite all your efforts and experience, then it's simply not working for you, and there's nothing I can do. We can debate what exactly constitutes "intuitive" hotkey definintions until the cows come home, and we'll make all the progress of a vi/emacs war, ie: none at all. I'm no Blender fanboy (all I said was I liked the interface); I can't stomach arguing over the fine details of my editing tools.
No one tool is suited for everyone, Blender included, and that in no way is a sign of a lack of skill. As I said earlier, your mileage may vary. Blender simply sucks for you. Just leave it at that.
Torque Owner Kirby Webber
Understand, I really really want to like blender, but don't feel I should have to unlearn and relearn everything about modeling in order to do it.
Maybe it's just the simple minded box modeler in me that keeps me from forging ahead with Blender, but there's something to be said for the K.I.S.S. principle IMHO, and the interface alone is enough to give me brain cramps.
I keep meaning to sit down and go through some of the more in-depth tutorials but it just never happens - who has that kind of time?!
If you do manage to get a solid handle on it, why not throw together some "Blender for complete friggin' morons" (like me ;-) tutorials to help others get through the learning curve.
Of course, once I have $500 stashed, I'm buying ZBrush to replace over 1/2 the 3D apps I use as it is anyway. =P