Software Recommendations

TheWalkerGod

I'm new to these forums so forgive me if i ever sound noobish. Me and my friends are working on a game in UDK (Unreal Development Kit). I'm working on the asset creation and here's the software i'm using:

Maya: Model Creation
Mudbox: Sculpting/Texture Creation
Gimp: Additional Details/Finishing Touches
Xnormal: Normal Map/Ambient Occlusion Creation

Does anybody have any software they've used that they'd like to recommend? Note that i'm a student and don't exactly have tons of money to spend.

Cibo

Maybe "Meshlab" for Polyreduction when you use a old Mudbox version.

TheWalkerGod

Cibo wrote: »

Maybe "Meshlab" for Polyreduction when you use a old Mudbox version.

Well i'm using Mudbox 2014 so i don't think that counts as old. Do you have any recommendation for UV creation software?

TheWalkerGod

Hermit wrote: »

Unreal Engine 4
Modo 801
Meshfusion (modo plugin)
Substance Designer 4 (also available on Steam)
Substance Painter (also available on Steam)

Modo looks cool so i'll definitely keep an eye on that. As for Unreal Engine 4 I was planning getting it someday, but my teammates have even less money than i do, so we're sticking with the UDK for now.

ZacD

UE4 would be worth it, blueprints would make prototyping faster and allow artists to do scripting work very easily. Source code access, templates, better lighting engine, tons of example content, etc. You can always pay $20 once and just keep using that version.

FullSynch

If you don't wanna spend money then what you've got will serve you just fine. Just a reminder that student versions of Maya and Mudbox are non-commercial.

When you're ready to invest into your process:

Zbrush for sculpting and even texture painting: http://pixologic.com/

Quixel products like ddo,and ndo are awesome for creating textures. http://quixel.se/
- currently in open beta till September 8th (commercial use permitted)
- requires photoshop

Photoshop is of course handy for texturing. Has 3D painting support.

Marmoset Toolbag allows you to preview your models. https://www.marmoset.co/toolbag
( Not essential to game development)

All of these cost a bit of money and time to learn, but in the right hands can speed up asset creation as well as produce fantastic results.

I'm in a team myself and my pipeline goes:
Collect reference with reboard (free!): (http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=134131&highlight=ref+board)
Blender: Base (http://www.blender.org/)
Zbrush: Sculpt and Zremesh
Blender: Clean up low poly
xNormal: Bake
Photoshop: Textures and Masks
Blender: Animation
I then package it all up for the project lead to put it into Unreal Engine 4.

TheWalkerGod

FullSynch wrote: »

If you don't wanna spend money then what you've got will serve you just fine. Just a reminder that student versions of Maya and Mudbox are non-commercial.

When you're ready to invest into your process:

Zbrush for sculpting and even texture painting: http://pixologic.com/

Quixel products like ddo, 3do, and ndo are awesome for creating textures. http://quixel.se/
- currently in open beta till September 8th (commercial use permitted)
- requires photoshop

Photoshop is of course handy for texturing. Has 3D painting support.

Marmoset Toolbag allows you to preview your models. https://www.marmoset.co/toolbag
( Not essential to game development)

All of these cost a bit of money and time to learn, but in the right hands can speed up asset creation as well as produce fantastic results.

I'm in a team myself and my pipeline goes:
Collect reference with reboard (free!): (http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=134131&highlight=ref+board)
Blender: Base (http://www.blender.org/)
Zbrush: Sculpt and Zremesh
Blender: Clean up low poly
xNormal: Bake
Photoshop: Textures and Masks
Blender: Animation
I then package it all up for the project lead to put it into Unreal Engine 4.

Thanks for your detailed response.

PyrZern

3D Coat is awesome for handpainting and UV Wrapping IMO.

Ispheria

PyrZern wrote: »

3D Coat is awesome for handpainting and UV Wrapping IMO.

This. Except 3D Coat is awesome for everything (except animation). It's just especially good for handpainting and UV Unwrapping. Like, you just click on where you want seams and it'll make your UV's for you.