I have been using Cinema 4D and the thing that has impressed me is that the plugins out there are really quite inexpensive. I know this isn't a "feature", but we cannot ignore the community that surrounds the application, and the community around C4D seems very strong.
Anyway, the plugins are between $10 and $25 usually. Some are a few hundred, but rarely, and those add quite a lot of functionality. Turbulence FD, which I really want to buy, is a few hundred dollars, for instance, but is quite impressive in the time I have used the demo. When it comes to history, I found an amazing plugin called Storage Bin, that is best described as an Undo/Redo for each object (and even hierarchies) but it is NOT linear. It actually saves the current state a model (or light, or texture, etc.) is in, and allows you to restore that version at any time. It is a bit like the Soft abilty to revert the scene state from saved Quick Renders, but on a per object basis, and again, ot linear at all. You can always go back (or forward) to a saved state on a per-object basis. This is a very cool ability, offering a lot of functionality for showing clients iterations, having them decide on a version of a model, or whatever, and even if they change their mind to a totally different version at the last minute, you can go to that version and all the transforms (on an object level anyway) will be retained. It is $24. That kind of economics will really help my transition. On Fri, Jun 13, 2014 at 3:24 AM, Mário Domingos <mdomingos.p...@gmail.com> wrote: > I've been trying modo for the last 3 weeks and I must say that I'm really > impressed. The only draw back is the lack of modeling history. > — > Sent from Mailbox <https://www.dropbox.com/mailbox> > > > On Wed, Jun 11, 2014 at 5:56 PM, Cristobal Infante <cgc...@gmail.com> > wrote: > >> When using Houdini I've found Openvdb to be frankly phenomenal. Had never >> been exposed to this tech before. >> >> I know there is a softimage plugin, but never had to use it. In houdini >> Openvdb is a suite of nodes which are really well integrated. >> >> >> >> >> On 5 June 2014 22:35, Serch Mucino <sergio.muc...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> That Pose Manager looks pretty sweet. I think a simple version of that >>> could be done using native Actors/Poses and the Card View (which it's quite >>> outdated, being honest). I am in touch with Lukasz (ACS), and I'll gladly >>> suggest something like this to him. We'll see... from what I hear, he's got >>> a lot on his plate lately. >>> >>> I agree with Angus there... for me, it's going to be all Modo + Houdini. >>> That should do it for me (with the occasional 3ds max from time to time...) >>> >>> >>> ---- >>> Sergio Mucino >>> >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Jun 5, 2014 at 5:22 PM, Angus Davidson < >>> angus.david...@wits.ac.za> wrote: >>> >>>> As more character animators start using Modo those kind of tools will >>>> come. Studio library is very impressive (have already passed it on to our >>>> lecturer to look at for next year when we get forced into Maya ) >>>> >>>> Most of the folks I have spoken to are going for a Modo / Houdini combo >>>> as they compliment each other very well. >>>> >>>> Its going to be tough to find just one package to be able to be the >>>> swiss army knife that softimage is. >>>> >>>> >>>> From: Marco Peixoto <mpe...@gmail.com> >>>> Reply-To: "softimage@listproc.autodesk.com" < >>>> softimage@listproc.autodesk.com> >>>> Date: Thursday 05 June 2014 at 11:03 PM >>>> >>>> To: "softimage@listproc.autodesk.com" <softimage@listproc.autodesk.com> >>>> Subject: Re: OT: What strong features have you found in your new >>>> transition software that SI didn´t have? >>>> >>>> Thanks Sergio :) >>>> >>>> Yes i know ACS, i played with its free sample when it first appeared >>>> and even suggested some new features to it, like the ability to change from >>>> IK to FK and vice versa maintaining the same Positions or changing >>>> Parentings like IK follow head or Shoulder or Hips and maintaing same >>>> positions, im used to it on the rigs I work with, going back to no having >>>> those features its not a show stopper but... yah know :) I even made simple >>>> example videos showing this to ACS guy(forgot his name) showing how they >>>> worked on iAnimate Rigs. As a curious fact, I was a owner of the first ACS >>>> apparition, in good old LW times :) >>>> >>>> When I spoke about Pose Managers im speaking in things like this: >>>> >>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJvxlGpYc1o >>>> >>>> Although its third partie script (free by the way) but im used to >>>> these kind os Pose Managers that take screenshots when we make the Poses, I >>>> currently must have probably 20-30 stored Poses already in a TV production >>>> I recently started working on, if I didn't had the screenshots and >>>> everything was text based it would be a mess for me. Also this Poses are >>>> made Public so anyone from the Studio can acess them to save time during >>>> Animation. >>>> >>>> >>>> I need to take a more serious look at Modo like I said previously, Maya >>>> is great for CA, but for the rest... its welcome to 1999 when we are used >>>> to Softimage... and so far I havent found the slightest interest in getting >>>> more deep than just doing CA in Maya, so im looking around and trying to >>>> decide if I should invest time in Modo or Houdini :) >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Thu, Jun 5, 2014 at 4:59 PM, Serch Mucino <sergio.muc...@gmail.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> It appears to me some of your concerns might be addressed already. >>>>> Some of the things you mention might be covered here... >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> http://docs.luxology.com/modo/801/help/pages/animation/ActorActionPose.html >>>>> >>>>> Also, if you'd be doing a lot of CA, I really suggest looking into >>>>> ACS. It currently only supports biped-like rigs, but it's one of the best >>>>> auto-riggers I've used, and it has a very nice set of animation tools and >>>>> workflows built into it. You can find more info here... >>>>> >>>>> http://community.thefoundry.co.uk/store/kits/acs/ >>>>> http://manual.autocharactersetup.com/ >>>>> >>>>> It can also be customized to support other types of anatomical >>>>> structures, but it requires working a little with the innards of the ACS >>>>> character. There's videos that explain well how to do it though. I've been >>>>> able to add additional deformation items to ACS rigs without too much >>>>> problem. >>>>> >>>>> I hope this helps a bit! Cheers! >>>>> >>>>> ---- >>>>> Sergio Mucino >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> This communication is intended for the addressee only. It is >>>> confidential. If you have received this communication in error, please >>>> notify us immediately and destroy the original message. You may not copy or >>>> disseminate this communication without the permission of the University. >>>> Only authorised signatories are competent to enter into agreements on >>>> behalf of the University and recipients are thus advised that the content >>>> of this message may not be legally binding on the University and may >>>> contain the personal views and opinions of the author, which are not >>>> necessarily the views and opinions of The University of the Witwatersrand, >>>> Johannesburg. All agreements between the University and outsiders are >>>> subject to South African Law unless the University agrees in writing to the >>>> contrary. >>> >>> >>> >> > -- Perry Harovas Animation and Visual Effects http://www.TheAfterImage.com <http://www.theafterimage.com/> -25 Years Experience -Member of the Visual Effects Society (VES)