Silo, Zbrush, 3d-Coat or Blender for displacement?

Costanel · 03-29-2008, 03:36 AM

Hey there,

I've been looking for a decent displacement and painting program, and one that doesn't cost to much. Zbrush is cool and all, but a bit expensive for a student like me. So I prefer the other options.

I've been looking around, and found that especially 3d-coat(previously 3d brush), Silo and Blender(free!) are good programs for not too much money.
Zbrush is an option, but I'm not fond of the interface & price
3dcoat has an offer till the 31th of march that looks interesting.

Which of this programs would you recommend, and why?

Thanks in advance.

3DBob · 03-29-2008, 04:16 AM

Hi Have ZBrush, 3D-Coat and Silo and have used Mudbox. For your needs I would whole-heartedly recommend 3D-Coat, it is developing at a breakneck speed - Andrew is very responsive to the requests from Lightwave users, and in my opinion its integration with Lightwave is near perfect compared to the other options. It loads and saves Native LWO with UVs and can even do morphs. It can paint too and has novel adaptive subdivision and baking built in.

ZBrush is king when it comes to High detail - but unless you are a fine art sculpter or worlk for ILM you will get 99% of what you need from 3DCoat.

3DBob

hrgiger · 03-29-2008, 05:59 AM

I just picked up Z-Brush from DAZ for $300 during a promotion they had. Keep an eye out, you may just find another deal for it.

moc · 03-29-2008, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Costanel

Hey there,

I've been looking for a decent displacement and painting program, and one that doesn't cost to much. Zbrush is cool and all, but a bit expensive for a student like me. So I prefer the other options.

I've been looking around, and found that especially 3d-coat(previously 3d brush), Silo and Blender(free!) are good programs for not too much money.
Zbrush is an option, but I'm not fond of the interface & price
3dcoat has an offer till the 31th of march that looks interesting.

Which of this programs would you recommend, and why?

Thanks in advance.

You'd better download the demo version to try first.
Which one's function was fulfill your need.

cresshead · 03-29-2008, 08:00 AM

yeah try the demo's there all free except modo which is $25 [but you get video tutorials etc with that $25]

so go try:-
blender
silo
3dbrush
zbrush
modo
mudbox [15 day trial i think]

with that you'll have around 5 x 30days trial or around 5 months to try out your options for nr free [$25]

colkai · 03-29-2008, 08:07 AM

3D-Coat, it's awesome and Andrew is no slouch in providing some very cool features and bug fixes in updates. Highly recommended.

IMI · 03-29-2008, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colkai

3D-Coat, it's awesome and Andrew is no slouch in providing some very cool features and bug fixes in updates. Highly recommended.

I never heard of 3d Coat before today and started thinking, man, these 3D sculpting/painting programs are popping out of the woodwork these days.
Didn't realize he'd changed the name from 3D Brush to 3D Coat.

Steamthrower · 03-29-2008, 10:18 AM

I'd buy 3D Coat this very instant if it was Mac-compatible. So I'm limited to exploring other venues.

- Zbrush is a step behind on Mac development (they just have version 2 out)
- Mudbox looks promising, but also Windows-only, and I've had bad experiences working with Autodesk apps
- Blender simply doesn't pan out. The quintessential interface deal...plus I don't need all the extraneous features
- Silo...well, I demo'd it, and I don't know...I just wasn't impressed. It was stable as a rock, yet I don't think it's near Zbrush's capabilities yet.

Any other programs out there that you guys know of?
-

cresshead · 03-29-2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inigo07

Any other programs out there that you guys know of?
-

hexagon from daz

http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/software/hexagon/-/?&_m=d

it's a bit buggy btw.

Steamthrower · 03-29-2008, 10:43 AM

I don't know, I feel so bad using a Daz product. I tried both Daz Studio and Bryce a few years ago and kept wondering if they were professional programs or games. I'd feel bad when talking to a client and referring them to the tools I use..."go to daz3d.com and see this tool called Hexagon...you can find it lodged between renders of half-clothed pixies..."

IMI · 03-29-2008, 10:50 AM

Inigo, you have a Windoze box or two, don't you?
Honestly, if you have a good Windoze machine, ZBrush 3.1 will knock your socks off.

Steamthrower · 03-29-2008, 11:14 AM

Yeah. I do. Three to be exact. Using Windows is sadomasochistic, is what it is, though. I like to keep all my stuff on one platform. Maybe that's just a losing way of going about things, though. I like working in Final Cut and not having to Boot Camp out of my nice pleasant Mac interface.

geothefaust · 03-29-2008, 11:19 AM

Well, I've got to say that once you learn the interface of Zbrush, there is no going back. It's got great training material and a really good support forum as well. I think the price is right, IMHO. And, if you can find it on sale like HR said, you can usually snag it at decent price.

3D-Coat is cool, I used the version before it changed names. It's pretty top-notch as well, and the interface is easy-as-pie to learn.

SplineGod · 03-29-2008, 01:01 PM

Id definately go with 3D Coat. What is does vs what it cost is too much to resist.

nemac4 · 03-29-2008, 02:00 PM

I jumped on with 3d-coat as well. I have zbrush3 and bodypaint3 but like SplineGod says, .. hard to resist with the features and price.