What programs could you not live without?

Barnstable

So I'm here trying to decide if I should shell out the money for TopoGun and the Marmoset Toolbag, and I start to wonder just what programs I absolutely need to make the best 3D work possible, and which ones would just be "nice to have" and convenient.

I know I'd absolutely have to have MAYA and Photoshop, but other than that, I don't know.

So I'm curious, what programs do you consider essential for your work?

Autocon

Max, Photoshop, Zbrush, for the small 1 in a million times I will sculpt something (really would like to use it more but just never have a need to) UDK, Firefox, Notepad, itunes, Pandora and now Maya at work I guess.

Those are the programs that if I didnt have on my computer I would be a sad panda.

glynnsmith

For game art/3D creation, I probably couldn't work without Max, Photoshop, Illustrator and Crazybump/nDo.

Google Chrome, for ref and RTFM'ing/documentation. XnView for viewing images.

Dropbox for backup/project sharing.

UDK is inching into my list, too

Kwramm

other than the obvious must have's (main 3d app: max/maya, 2D app: PS, sculpt app: ZB) to do your work... wScite, adblock, xnview, crazybump, nvidia normal map plugins, nDo, filetexturemanager (maya), idlm (take that slow network!), unfold3D

Firebert

Deskpins (when I'm stuck on a single monitor setup)

Pixeur (sampling colors outside of any app to acquire formulas. great for getting palette ideas off web images without having to save them)

WoodWorkshop (mix it with Photoshop and you can get some great tileable wood patterns)


all pretty lightweight as well.

what's maya and who is max?

Karmageddon

Max, Photoshop, ZBrush, Mudbox (depending on the sculpt), Crazybump... something not Internet Explorer like Firefox or Chrome, VLC Player, Filezilla to upload my site, MS Word

Farfarer

modo
Photoshop w/ nVidia plugin, qSave actions and normal map combine action
zBrush
IrfanView
3DS Max w/ ShaderFX, TurboUnwrap and TexTools
Notepad2 or Textpad
Opera

Mitchell Ford

my work flow consist of:
Max, photoshop, zbrush, xnormal, cgtextures.com, mayang.com/textures, google images

This is what i use for the most part.

TheMadArtist

At work, Max, Photoshop, Xnormal, Zbrush (but only on rare instances). After Effects and Audacity when I'm called upon to make videos or animations. Google Chrome for internet usage.

RyRyB

The usual suspects:
Maya/Max (duh)
Photoshop (duh)
Zbrush + Plugins (UV Master, Decimation Master, etc.)
xNormal
nVidia Normal Map tool
Headus UV Layout (http://www.uvlayout.com/)

Non-art programs:
Multiplicity (http://www.stardock.com/products/multiplicity/)
Macro programs (I use a G11 keyboard at work and macro multiple keystrokes to a single button press)
MS Office

Sean VanGorder

Pretty much the same as everyone else for me, with the exception that I didn't see anyone mention 3D Coat. You should check it out before dropping the money on Topogun.

lefix

for art:
photoshop
maybe also add headus uv layout to the list

windows boosts:
direct folders/qt tab bars
slickjot


for modeling/sculpting/etc i don't care as much, there are several options.

James Edwards

Zbrush, 3dcoat, Silo, UV Layout. These apps continue to allow me to work as far away from max, maya, xsi - whatever the pipeline tool happens to be - until I have to, which is usually only when I need to rig/animate/export.

THE 5

Kwramm wrote: »

...idlm (take that slow network!)...

Huh? Something to make my local network faster? What would that idlm stand for?

Purplepaint

Max (maybe maya if i learned it more..)
Photoshop
Mudbox or Zbrush (haven't quite decided which i like better.. still rather new)
Dropbox
UDK

and of course

Google Chrome

DrunkShaman

VisualStudio.NET
FireFox
Photoshop
Zbrush 4
Softimage XSI
Maya

Stinger88

Photoshop
Maya
ZBrush
Minecraft

RasielD

Maya, PS, SciTE, Dropbox, and Skype would be top of my list, with zbrush, unity, minecraft and a few others coming up in close second.