Does it Matter What Software You Use?

Over the years we talked about different 3d modeling, animation, and design software.

A lot of people say that it does not matter whether you choose this software over the other because they are all the same since the user is important not the tool. and other people do say there are differences that need to be addressed to help new people make better and well-informed decisions.

Today I am going to share with you my thoughts on when it is important to choose your software properly and when I think it is not that important.

On one hand, I believe that the fundamentals of 3D computer graphics are the same and any major 3d package can be perfect for creating high-quality art regardless of the tools and features because the artists and their skills and understanding is what makes the difference. For example, if you spend few years using one software you will be able to jump to using another one in a matter of weeks or a couple of months because you already know the concepts, the techniques, and the necessary knowledge to do your job properly. The only thing that you need to know is what buttons to press in addition to few new things to be able to do the same thing you were able to do before. So it kind of makes some sense to a certain extent to say that all major 3d software are the same, and comparing them to one another is stupid as some might say.

But on the other hand, I do believe that over the years, old 3d software such as 3ds Max, Maya, Blender, Cinema 4D, Houdini, and so on did develop to cater to the needs of certain industries and professionals that were heavily using it. This, kind of influenced the direction of its growth and pushed it to become better in certain areas with new tools and features that can satisfy the majority of users who were using it over the years.

For example, 3ds Max has been heavily used for game development, VFX, and architectural visualization for more than 20 years and it is still being the case to this day to a certain extent. Another example is Maya which was known since its inception with its powerful animation tools that help animators do their job effectively and faster compared to the other 3d packages so you have to know these things before making a decision that can help you a lot in terms of finding a job, finding learning resources and fellow artists and art communities who can help you solve your problems.

another great example is Blender which is an all-around amazing software in terms of modeling, animation, simulation, and effects, and it can even be used for compositing and videos edition. and the best part is it is free. so if you want to do a lot of things in one place here you go. but it is not widely used in big-budget computer graphics projects yet compared to the other 3d packages but it is going rapidly in this direction more than ever.

Also if you are interested in motion graphics Cinema 4D can be a great choice But I don’t recommend using it if what you after is becoming a game developer or an animator, not because it is not good but choosing software such Max, Maya, or Blender is a wiser decision. so as you can see it is not black and white due to the fact that they are not all the same as some might say.

knowing all this can help you make a more informed decision after you weigh the good things and the downside of each choice because you will not be making a random decision. this is not to say that you will always be able to find the software that will be using first will always be your final choice because changing 3d packages is something that a lot of artists do not just people who are tasting the waters. As a conclusion, i think it is better to be aware of what you choosing and choose something that caters to your needs.

i personally want to know what is your opinion on this subject, and whether you agree or disagree based on your experience let us know.