Yeah, sure.. I'm just recovering from the terrible annoyance of cutting geometry into walls (etc) for tiling within an atlas for a mobile project.. and with Autodesk insisting on keeping UV mapping bound to a modifier, it'll stay that way for a while I'm sure ;)
There's a lot more training material for XSI now than there was a few years ago. I can list some tutorials if your interested? I'm really surprised more people and studios aren't using it. But then with Autodesks awful marketing for it, it's hardly surprising.
What CAD Program would you advise? I have used Autodesk Fusion 360 before. MoI3D? / Rhino / Sketchup... So Hardmesh performs worse than Modo Meshfusion since it does quite a nice job of connecting the geometry.
You can animate the near clipping plane on a camera to reveal the inner workings. http://docs.autodesk.com/MAXDES/13/ENU/Autodesk%203ds%20Max%20Design%202011%20Help/index.html?url=./files/WSf742dab041063133-18033351112a1ce86c6-7fa0.htm,topicNumber=d0e484658
I heard a rumor that Autodesk has some wicked plans for Maya's sculpt poly tool, I think the rep said something along the lines of 'look out Zbrush'. Here's hoping that actually materializes. Awesome workflow idea for the meantime!
I'm not definate on what a matlab is. Does it contain only the materials properties, ie. spec/glossiness/IOR, and you would also input a separate map? AFAIK it is a file used by autodesk. Does this mean that the same .mat file could be used with different renderers in 3ds max (MR, Vray)?
Autodesk has decided to extend the Maya Masters program to include Max artists. If you know of an artist whose work and contribution to 3D computer graphics deserves recognition, send in your nomination by April 28, 2006. Please visit autodesk.com/masters for details
don't use that tutorial. it's outdated and contains incorrect information. this one isn't as basic though it contains a lot better information: http://cg.tutsplus.com/tutorials/autodesk-3ds-max/project-workflow-creating-a-next-gen-sci-fi-prop-day-2/
I got one for free from Autodesk. Used it one evening, and then never used it again. It takes too much space and I was too busy to learn the tool properly. It left it in Belgium, so havnt had the chance to check it out again.
For some reason i half-assumed that they would announce that they inserted a full suite of low poly modelling tools enough to rival 3ds max +graphite modelling tools that would eliminate any need to buy maya/max/autodesk ever again.... :'(