XSI 5.0

Keg

http://www.softimage.com/Products/Xsi/v5/features/default.asp

Yes I'm an XSI fanboy and proud of it. As per usual XSI update it's packed full of improvments

James Edwards

SO many goodies... Amazing!

flaagan

mmm.. dead sexy.. hope i get a job soon so i can afford the upgrade!

Snowfly

An interface for Maya users. That's blunt>:D

dur23

tweak!! and parallax! and zbrush import! and shape manager! and weeee!

ElysiumGX

Holy friggin crap, already?!
That Maya UI thing is pretty cool. I may use it one day to help familiarize myself with Maya incase it's needed. They say Firefox gained it popularity after allowing IE users to transfer easily.

I won't rush to buy this version just yet. Nothing that I'm dying to have that isn't already in version 4.2. That Ultimapper tool would speed things up a bit tho in the future. And tweak!!!

nealb4me

Yes but can I bind mark hard edge to a shortcut yet? We'll see.

flaagan

interesting news:
http://ageia.vnewscenter.com/press.jsp?id=1120108410825

ElysiumGX

hmm...that's cool. maybe i'll consider bumping up to essentials next year.

James Edwards

I'll just be glad to not have to use that damn 's' key anymore. =]

Using variations of mouse + ctrl/alt/shift is pretty much standard hat in most apps these days. Glad XSI is finally providing such an option.

Funny I was hoping to get some enhanced tweak tool features as well as timeline editing more than any other features and they gave us both plus all the other cool new tools.

GATOR is going to save me so much time being able to create mesh, UV and even bone weight libraries for future reuse. Damn!

I'm really looking forward to that FaceRobot animation tool as well. Even if it's third party, I'll probably add it to my toolset.

flaagan

how the hell can you stand to use alt (or whatever)?
i always found that to be one of my biggest damned headaches when using maya o_O

pogonip

Does anyone know any good resources for learning XSI ? Like Maya has Gnomon DVD and other DVD's does XSI have something similar out there I have not found anything myself and I want to get away from using max

Keg

There's Ed Harriss's website (http://www.edharriss.com/), and the large number of tutorials that come with XSI itself. Check www.xsibase.com should have tutorials also.

ElysiumGX

pogonip: XSI comes with the principals of XSI DVD-rom. There's also a 5-dvd training kit softimage sells. it was once free with the purchase of xsi 4.2. Both of those aren't very helpful for beginners...more like a way to transition from other apps or learn more tricks later on. A good source for me was the 3Dbuzz VTMs, xsibase, and Ed Harriss' site.

James Edwards

The Production Series DVD's can be found on the Softimage site. They were being distributed free for a time with new purchases but I don't know if that deal is still on. Well worth paying for though. They are pretty much the only outside info I've needed besides the manuals. I've also bought several of the 3dTutorial dvds for rigging, scripting, etc. They are a little outdated (version 3.5) but still very relevant and well done.

Links:

http://www.3dtutorial.com/

http://www.softimage.com/education/Xsi/SelfPacedLearning/books.htm

ElysiumGX

Also very cool!
http://www.softimage.com/products/face_robot/

check out the video gallery. yeah, i must upgrade. but seems like it may be standalone app.

JordanW

ed harriss's website is a good place to start, xsibase.com is also a good place to go, forums etc. I also wouldnt mind answering any questions people have about XSI, i've been using it since december and I love it, my only complaint is that i need more people on my ICQ list to discuss XSI techniques with!

Steve

You can download a free pdf of XSICharacter from Mesmer, it's written for older versions but most of it still applies.

http://www.mesmer.com/?loc=/public/readpublicarticle.php&qs=in%3D1118

Raven

[ QUOTE ]
An interface for Maya users. That's blunt>:D

[/ QUOTE ]

true, but Maya is where most people are moving from, or using as well as. They've realised this over the past year and added so much intergration with both products that using either is simply quick and easy.

Personally I feel these companies are begining to update thier products far to often now. Some of these things could've quite easily been released as a minor update.

Keg

XSI updates about once a year with a point release inbetween usually. Thing with XSI's major releases you get alot in the updates. Even their point releases have enough to warrent upgrading.

ElysiumGX

*bump*

XSI 5 released!!!
4 more days left for the Fnd upgrade Promo.
30 day trial download for Foundation 5.

James Edwards

I'm just waiting for them to update the tokens on our site license so I can download. The waiting is driving me INSANE.

Snowfly

As much as I want to make the switch, there aren't any XSI resellers in my country. AAARRRGRGHH!!!!

dur23

WOOOO! I lost my pants, but i say f*&k pants, xsi 5 is way better than pants!

Keg

related to XSI. a maya acsii (*.ma) file importer for XSI

http://sourceforge.net/projects/maxsi

Always been irritated how discreet or whatever they're called now keeps the dot max format closed.