So far, 3DS MAX and Maya have been offering very similar tools for modeling and UV mapping, so creating stationary assets for games can be quickly done using either of them in an equivalent amount of time. Maya UV Editing workspace conveniently puts the viewport, UV Editor, and UV toolkit next to each other
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#MAYA OR 3DS MAX WINDOWS#
At any moment, you can choose to go back to different workspaces without rearranging the windows and toolbars manually. It places the 3D viewport and UV Editor next to each other and removes all unnecessary toolbars. Maya’s structure offers an additional usability boost: a specialized UV Mapping workspace. Other than that, cut, stitch, align, and layout tools are identical. Instead of marking seams, choose parts of the mesh and the projection type to create a map of a selected region. Maya has excellent tools for projecting and makes them more prominent in the menus. 3DS MAX and Maya offer almost identical toolkits for this but they focus on slightly different aspects.ģDS MAX makes it faster to unwrap the UV maps: marking seams, choosing different algorithms, and so on.
#MAYA OR 3DS MAX PROFESSIONAL#
Maya provides easier access to the history of operations thanks to the node structure 3DS MAX can achieve the same by building a stack of modifiers, one for each edit.Īny 3D model is worthless without proper UVs therefore a professional modeler must include them with their creations. 3DS MAX can do anything made in Maya and vice versa. Outside of workflow, both 3DS MAX and Maya offer similar tools. Retopology tools are available in Maya Modeling Toolkit (Quad Draw) or in Freeform tab in the ribbon (Poly Draw) in 3DS MAX. You can also use displacement and normal maps to transfer geometry from a high-poly to a low-poly object.
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The tools to reduce the number of polygons in the scene (Reduce/Optimize) offer a wide array of settings for almost any situation and keep the object’s shape pretty well. Retopology and optimizing polycount are very similar in both applications. Maya Modeling Toolkit offers excellent tools for low- and high-poly modeling marked by easy to understand icons This way, Maya prioritizes using keyboard shortcuts for a faster and more efficient workflow. Like other basic modeling tools, creating a loop or moving a pivot is bound to keys by default. Users can find more functions in Mesh, Edit Mesh, and Mesh Tools menus, many of which are present on the shelf. Also there is access to mesh refinement and boolean operations (these are only available as modifiers in 3DS MAX). Primary functions are made into buttons, like Extrude, Bevel, and Connect. In Maya, you can access any polygonal object’s vertices, edges, and faces through the Modeling Toolkit right after creating it.
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All in all, 3DS MAX offers excellent tools for both organic and solid surface modeling, though you’ll have to look for them in different locations and map some buttons for easy access. Here you can find Swift Loop and Loop Tools that are invaluable in modeling but, for some reason, are not mapped to any key combinations by default. Finally, more functions are available in the ribbon’s Modeling tab. Other modifiers can be placed on top to affect the whole object or a selected part of an object: Bend, Relax, Chamfer, etc. Extrusions, insets, and bevels are all done through Edit Poly. With Edit Poly, you can access and create vertices, edges, and faces and change their positions and properties. There is a big universal modifier, Edit Poly. Let’s look at the core differences and decide if you should use 3DS MAX or Maya for game modeling.Ĭreating and changing geometry in 3DS MAX is based on modifiers. While similar, their toolsets cater to slightly different tasks and can be more or less optimized for specific industries. But there are big powerhouses that can do almost any 3D task, like 3DS MAX and Maya. For example, Houdini is an excellent tool for VFX and realistic simulations and Rhinoceros is the top solution for NURBS modeling.
#MAYA OR 3DS MAX SOFTWARE#
Start with picking the industry you want to use this software for and go from there.
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There are over a dozen professional 3D modeling applications on the market, and sometimes it feels daunting to choose between them.