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I'm also a sort of amateur at 3D modeling (though my background is in VR programming so I have a lot of exposure to it) so take my knowledge with a grain of sal

I'm also a sort of amateur at 3D modeling (though my background is in VR programming so I have a lot of exposure to it) so take my knowledge with a grain of salt, but afaiu there's a few different steps: Modeling: Maya is best, Blender is a good substitute Sculpting/topology: Zbrush is best, Maya is runner up, Blender is a good substitute UV Unwrapping: All the above are good at this Texturing: Substance Painter is best, Blender is a good substitute Animation: Maya and Blender are comparable So as far as I understand the cool thing is, aside Blender is essentially a nearly as good replacement for Maya, and can do everything to an adequite degree for high quality production. The only things Blender is decidedly not an equal substitute for is Sculpting compared to Zbrush and Texturing compared to Substance Painter. Again, I'm not an expert, but I think the above is roughly accurate.

blooalien 5y ago
I keep hearing really good things about Substance Painter from a ton of folk. I'ma really have to prolly have a proper look at it sometime soon-ish.
- Tomte 5y ago
  It's now Adobe's, though, so no more lifeteime licenses, only subscriptions. 50 dollars a month (with introductory price of 25 dollars).
  - Pearse 5y ago
    I'm not sure if it is still the case but you used to be able to get a perpetual license on steam for ~100
    - blooalien 5y ago
      Just checked. Looks like both Substance Designer and Substance Painter are available on Steam.
photojosh 5y ago
Sounds like it's the Python [0] of 3d tools: the 2nd best 3d tool for everything. (It's cool that it's arguably the best in some areas even if that's a controversial argument, I think the same true of Python.) [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17571705 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17571705
cthalupa 5y ago
Blender's procedural ability isn't to be understated or underestimated, either. It's not Houdini, yet, but I don't think the 3rd place competitors are particularly close to Blender, especially with the recent and rapid development of geometry nodes.
Mandelmus 5y ago
> Animation: Maya and Blender are comparable I’m a VFX artist who loves Blender but unfortunately they’re not even close when it comes to animation, even less so rigging (the process of making a 3D mesh animatable). Maya allows for much more sophisticated rigs, and to have them perform at much higher framerates than Blender, which is crucial for animation workflows. So far Blender is a much better Maya substitute for modelling and rendering than for rigging and animation.

blooalien 5y ago

I keep hearing really good things about Substance Painter from a ton of folk. I'ma really have to prolly have a proper look at it sometime soon-ish.

Tomte 5y ago
It's now Adobe's, though, so no more lifeteime licenses, only subscriptions. 50 dollars a month (with introductory price of 25 dollars).
- Pearse 5y ago
  I'm not sure if it is still the case but you used to be able to get a perpetual license on steam for ~100
  - blooalien 5y ago
    Just checked. Looks like both Substance Designer and Substance Painter are available on Steam.

photojosh 5y ago

Sounds like it's the Python [0] of 3d tools: the 2nd best 3d tool for everything. (It's cool that it's arguably the best in some areas even if that's a controversial argument, I think the same true of Python.) [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17571705 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17571705

cthalupa 5y ago

Blender's procedural ability isn't to be understated or underestimated, either. It's not Houdini, yet, but I don't think the 3rd place competitors are particularly close to Blender, especially with the recent and rapid development of geometry nodes.

Mandelmus 5y ago

> Animation: Maya and Blender are comparable I’m a VFX artist who loves Blender but unfortunately they’re not even close when it comes to animation, even less so rigging (the process of making a 3D mesh animatable). Maya allows for much more sophisticated rigs, and to have them perform at much higher framerates than Blender, which is crucial for animation workflows. So far Blender is a much better Maya substitute for modelling and rendering than for rigging and animation.