First, even though I'm sure you are sick of hearing it, congratulations for making the most intuitive UI I have ever used for 3d. I am new to the 3d world and am *overwhelmed* by most of the programs I am trying to learn..there is just soooo (too?) much. But with Moi from day one, all I have done is get better faster. Seriously, you've got a great product here. And it is just simply fun to use. I can compare it to Sketchup, which I am also learning and is relatively easy to use, but even Sketchup seems so clunky compared to Moi.

With that said, being new to 3d, I'm not sure Moi is what I need. (By the by I have a strong Autocad 2d background.) I'm thinking that solid modeling is what I really need (ie, Pro/E, Solidworks, etc.) as I want to create part lists for fabrication and export sheets to laser cutters and shapes to CNC machines. But Maybe Moi can still be a tool to help me get to where I need to go more quickly with the design. Can Moi be exported to Solidworks, etc?

General question: Does anyone know of a good 3d primer talking about what you should actually use each type of software for. That is, when should I use 3dmax, Maya, Rhino, Zbrush, Blender, Sketchup, Solidworks, etc. AND, most importantly, where does Moi fit into all of these? What does Moi replace or improve on? Sorry for such a noobish question, but there just seems to be so much 3d out there that I am getting lost! Also, rendering. Another whole can of worms! Again, any good primers out there?

Thanks.

Hi Bluesea, I'm glad that you're having fun using MoI!

> I'm thinking that solid modeling is what I really need (ie, Pro/E,
> Solidworks, etc.) as I want to create part lists for fabrication and
> export sheets to laser cutters and shapes to CNC machines.

Well, a lot will depend on the specific stuff that you're doing - like are you going to run the CNC yourself, are you going to use a service bureau, etc... But yes, those solid modeling packages are very tuned up for dealing with manufacturing so it is possible that you'll need one of those. But it's also possible you might need more of a CAM application, which can be slightly different.


> But Maybe Moi can still be a tool to help me get to where I need to go
> more quickly with the design. Can Moi be exported to Solidworks, etc?

Yup, this is one of the cool parts about MoI - it uses the same type of smooth surface geometry (NURBS) that is used by those solid modeling packages, so you can bring your MoI objects into those systems.

For Solidworks, there is a Solidworks plugin that will read .3dm files (http://www.solidworks.com/pages/products/solutions/Rhino-to-SolidWorks.html), and it is also possible to export .igs files that Solidsworks can read.

MoI is most useful as an early-stage concept design tool for this type of situation. You're much more free and loose to create things in MoI's environment - the solid modelers environment is very powerful for many operations but it tends to force you through fairly rigid stages to construct things, you don't tend to get the same feeling of freedom to draw. And they are quite a bit more complex to use...


> Does anyone know of a good 3d primer talking about what you should actually
> use each type of software for.

Not that I know of really.... Just 3D in general is an awfully broad subject since it is used in a lot of different ways, I mean everything from medical visualization to video games. One pretty major break is whether you are going to manufacture your 3D objects, or whether they are going to be "digital content" as in images or animations. Most applications tend to be focused on only one of these areas.


> AND, most importantly, where does Moi fit into all of these? What does Moi replace or improve on?

Hmmm. Good question! :) It is a bit hard to sum it up in a complete and simple sentence... MoI isn't particularly intended to replace any of those things, it's intended to have a bit of a different flavor, enabling accurate CAD type modeling but with a fast, fluid way of working that is also easy to use. I guess if I had to pick a certain category I would say "quick and easy Industrial Design".

Well, it's getting awfully late here in Seattle, time to go to bed! I'll be back tomorrow.

- Michael

Thanks for the response and you just got even cooler by living in Seattle. I lived in Port Townsend for a bit! Absolutely beautiful part of the country out there. I live in Africa now, quite a change!

I'll have to experiment with the conversion from MoI to Solidworks when I get a chance.

But if anyone else does know of a good summary of the 3d world, please post it! :)

This is not meant to be an all inclusive primer of what each package is used for by any means as each can often overlap into other areas. It really depends on what you want to do, you can break it down into several groups though and some packages are found in more than one.

All around 3D package – You can model, animate and render in these. Usually the modeling is polygonal only but some packages do NURBS as well.
Maya, 3dsMax, Lightwave, Softimage XSI, Cinema4D, Carrara, Blender,
Truespace, Shade, Realsoft3D…there are more as well.

Modeling Package- These usually just provide a faster modeling environment than the all around packages above. Their interface is all about fast modeling and they can often be found working along side the all-arounders providing the meshes for them.
Modo (It can render now as well and they are working on animations it will probably change to an all-arounder in another year), Silo, Hexagon, Amapi,
Wings 3d.

Character Animation – If you set your sights on creating a wombat dancing the cha-cha in a hurry these are the apps for you. The all-arounders can do CA as well, some as good as specialist applications, some not as good.
Project Messiah, Hash Animation Master – No or little modeling but good CA and rendering
Maya, 3dsMax, Softimage XSI, Cinema4D – As good as above
Carrara, Blender, Lightwave, truespace, Shade, Realsoft3D – Not as good.

Content Apps – These focus on content bought from somewhere else and assembled/arranged for your creation. Most of the time you don’t have to model or texture the content as it was already done by the creator. Some do limited animation. It must also be mentioned that any all-arounder can use content as well.
Poser, Daz Studio, Vue.

Landscape Packages – They are really the best or fastest at producing terrains and landscapes and some can do animation, but it is limited compared to the all-arounders.
Vue (all versions), Bryce, Carrara, Terragen, Worldbuilder

Product Design – These are usually industrial strength modelers using NURBS or solids. Just about anything you lay your eyes on was probably built or designed in one of these. Some have the ability to render internal or as a plug-in.
Solidworks, Solid Thinking, Pro/E, Rhino, Alibre Design, Amapi, AutoCad, TurboCad, Alias Studio, MoI

Organic Modeler – A package with a workflow to imitate natural sculpting. If you’ve seen an incredible detailed (the pores have pores!) image in the last 3-4 years it was probably polished in one of these. The output usually needs to be sent off for rendering in another package.
Z-Brush, Hexagon, Silo 2, Mudbox.

Render Only – A plug-in or standalone app that can render like nobodies business. Like a model only package the focus makes them extremely good at what they do, give you the best possible image of your creation.
Renderman, V-Ray, Maxwell, Mental Ray, Final Render, Brazil

Very cool presentation ! Bravo!

You have just forget this "little" one made for an alone crazzy guy as Michael and some powerful simple to use ( and free :)
Modeling / Animation / Rendering
Anim8Or ! http://www.anim8or.com/

Have fun 3D !

Good catch Frenchy, I now there are some I missed, Anim8or, Kerkythea, 4DBlue, Cheetah3D, Sketchup probably a whole lot more(especially on the mac side).

I had not looked at Anim8or in several years, I'll have to take a look.

Google Sketchup is the crazzy prog of these days (and free for almost all functions)
It has an amazing "Photo catch" who permited to project any photo on "a modeling" over this same photo! (It's the not the image linked folow)
A crazzy "Style" function (draw as with a brush or a marker)(It's the image linked folow)
And its egonomy is surely the best (with Moi) at this hour :)
learning curve = 15 minutes !
A super task for quicky architectures urbanism and quick shematic design object with "measures" writed !
Kids of these days are very lucky! Absolutly amazing!

http://sketchup.google.com/gsu6vtvideos.html see video 2 3 4 5
(other video about "Layout" is only for the Pro version)
Model + a "Style" !) Crazzy! As soon as the format "OBJ" Object will be directly implemented that will be a "Bomb" :D

Hi guys!
This is my first post and I think it better suits here.
I also want to say that MOI is great and very easy to understand.
However it is nescessary to understand the NURBS modeling approach too, which differ from polygonal and SDS modeling.
I followed a link form a Blender forum just because I wanted to learn NURBS modeling and I think I found the best solution!
I use Anim8or for a few years and didn't expected you to mention it here.
It's very easy to learn and someone compared it as basic 3DS Max.
In the new version was introduced the ASL (Anim8or Scripting Language), which will bring additional power to this unique software (it is only 821.6 KB !).
Check out the gallery and the forums : http://www.anim8or.com

However I think, integration of a few software products for different tasks is the best option.

I wish MOI to develop fast and to be successful!

See you in the forums!

Thanks Michael, Grendel, and Frenchy for the responses.

Grendel, that is a great "pre-primer". Fantastic way for me to categorize the games in one's head and move on with my research. I found this site with some good lists and descriptions of 3d software as well. It's good to see Moi listed! http://www.bakhter.com

Thanks again.

Google Sketchup in expert hands can make that ! Crazzy guy !
If you are a fan of the vintage Kyosho Optima, you will love this place!!!
Modelized by Ryo Inagaki ! http://www.theoptimahouse.blogspot.com/