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Sumghai · October 11 2012, 06:27 AM

Interesting thread - I came across this discussion whilst mulling over whether to post a question for you pros out there.

I myself have only ever used parametric modelling CAD programs like SolidWorks, due to my engineering background, and I'm comfortable specifying exact dimension, extruding sketches and sticking in chamfers / fillets than the mere thought of tugging/deforming meshes.

Up until this point, SW limited me to CADing up 25th Century versions of various Trek props and knick-knacks e.g. combadges and hypos.

It seems to me, though, that the majority of modellers are geared towards stuff like 3DS / Blender - I guess it's something to do with meshes being much easier to deal with by renderers than the additional data that comes with parametric feature-based CAD?

Amongst the things I'd like to do one day are:

Various canon and Star Trek Online ship classes and rendering various space scenes
An explorable Intrepid-class interior (sort of like what Lewis Niven is doing with the Ent-D in Source)

However, I've found myself in a dilemma:

Should I make use of my existing SW skillset by doing all the modelling in SW, and then import the geometry into Max / Blender for the texturing, etc?
Or should I simply stop being a wuss and learn to work with meshes directly in Max / Blender like everybody else is doing?

October 11 2012, 06:27 AM	#183
Sumghai Lieutenant Location: Melbourne, Australia	Re: 3D Software? Interesting thread - I came across this discussion whilst mulling over whether to post a question for you pros out there. I myself have only ever used parametric modelling CAD programs like SolidWorks, due to my engineering background, and I'm comfortable specifying exact dimension, extruding sketches and sticking in chamfers / fillets than the mere thought of tugging/deforming meshes. Up until this point, SW limited me to CADing up 25th Century versions of various Trek props and knick-knacks e.g. combadges and hypos. It seems to me, though, that the majority of modellers are geared towards stuff like 3DS / Blender - I guess it's something to do with meshes being much easier to deal with by renderers than the additional data that comes with parametric feature-based CAD? Amongst the things I'd like to do one day are: Various canon and Star Trek Online ship classes and rendering various space scenes An explorable Intrepid-class interior (sort of like what Lewis Niven is doing with the Ent-D in Source) However, I've found myself in a dilemma: Should I make use of my existing SW skillset by doing all the modelling in SW, and then import the geometry into Max / Blender for the texturing, etc? Or should I simply stop being a wuss and learn to work with meshes directly in Max / Blender like everybody else is doing? __________________ Laws of thermodynamics as applied to life: 0 - You must play the game. 1 - You can't win. 2 - You can't break even. 3 - You can't quit.