Quote Originally Posted by FrostyPanda View Post
I hate that the learning curve is really weird. I'm fine with super complex programs such as After Effects, Photoshop, and Premier (yes I realize they are all adobe, but I bought the cs3 master collection with no experience and I have figured out basically everything in them) but when it comes to simple looking UI's with weird settings, it bugs the crap out of me.

So I've been searching the web, and I've found a few programs i'd like you all to rate as far as powerfulness and ease of use. Cost is not a problem.

3D modeing:
Softimage XSI
3DS Max
Maya
Lightwave
Inventor 2009

Renderers:
Maxwell
VRay
Mental Ray
Kerkythea

@Metric: 4870x2 coming soon???
when it comes to modelers or any 3D based design software you need to understand the principals before you can judge a software. no matter what software, its all user driven.

personally i use 3DSMAX and Inventor not be mistaken both are completely different software and have completely different agendas but are both owned by Autodesk (they are the Adobes of the computer aided design world)

3DSMAX is a more free world type modeler, where modeling is done mostly organically (ie no set unit of measurements depending on the user) and is consider simple as a 3D application. Inventor on the other hand is a Solid CAD modeler (Computer Aided Drafting) which takes numbers and makes a solid out of it.

For our particular use Inventor/Solid Works/Rhino/Sketch up would be the best options generally because they are better and making objects of this sort quicker and more effectively.

Now if your looking to model or organically and/or more conceptually then 3DSMAX/MAYA/LW/XSI/MODO/ETC would be a better choose.

as for Renderer, that is a completely different store. They all do the same thing (make a picture) but they way they do it may vary from each other. I personally use Vray, Mental Ray, and Maxwell. ill switch between those 3 depending on the kind of render im looking for. for our use maxwell would be best simply because its much easier to create realistic renders for simple objects. I wont get into much about the renderer but speed wise maxwell is the slowest (takes more time to get a clear image) Vray maybe the fastest and Mental ray is tricky but a very powerful renderer.

I hope that helps. ill be happy to answer any Qs you guys have