Customizing your applications in-house

tynew

Just wondering, is this a common thing? I'm wondering if it's okay practice for artists to customize their UI/colors/hotkeys in a studio. I feel like I can certainly work twice as fast with customization rather than the default layouts which can sometimes be painful. To go even further what about versions of Max/Maya? Anything beyond using 3dsmax 2012 has been tedious with bugs/glitches and having a lot of scripts not working with the newer versions. Also I've heard that some studios let them use their preferred texturing programs as long as it gets the job done.

I've never worked in-house but that may soon change. I'm a little nervous because I'm hoping what I can be allowed to do/use is not set in stone.

What do you guys think?

Zezeri

I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to customize your UI and hotkeys. A lot of the other stuff you've mentioned depends on the studio and its pipeline.

I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Neox

i once worked in a studio where the lead wanted everyone to use his setup, it was slow and clunky and many years ago. since then i never had that happen again. Given i am working freelance since many years, our employees and freelancers are SUPPOSED to use their own setup. I can give them mine if they want to, but usuallly their own approaches will fit them better. Every now and then it happens that i learn a new trick, or function i did not know before. If i forced my workflow and shortcuts on anyone there would be little progress.

DireWolf

Version of the software is usually specified by the publish tools and is mostly project specific. Most places don't mind how you work, just that when you publish you'll need to be in that specific software with the right version (with some other criteria.)

Kwramm

custom scripts and hotkeys are usually okay.
your own custom helper programs too, as long as you have the license, as long as they don't interfere with other sofrware, and as long as nobody else is ever required to use your specific software to open an asset, or any of its its parts, in order to re-use it or to fix it.

haiddasalami

Yeah custom scripts, colors hotkeys are generally okay. Some of the people at work have customized their Max to what they enjoy and more power to them.

Lamont

Outside of tools required for workflow that don't interfere with the set pipeline and are legal (legit can use in studio software lic) artist should have their work-space set up for their needs.

PyrZern

I thought if you have your own workstation, you could customize the stuff you use... O o

sprunghunt

Big places might ask you to run the licence for a plugin or script past the legal department but otherwise it's ok.

Brygelsmack

I rely on scripts and hotkeys so I don't see why anyone would want to restrain their artists to do their job as efficiently as possible. It's completely fine where I work. If anything you can ask on your interview.