Hello
I have 3DS MAX 8 service pack 3 from 1 week ago and today, I found on the net that XSI can make excellent rendering, compared to the others 3d softwares and it can load highpolymeshs.
Does it mean that XSI is the best software to use with Zbrush when you want create only hyperrealistic pictures (I don’t need animations) ?
XSI is an animation Package. So you would waste your money on 80% of the functions you would not use and 80% of your time NOT using functions you encounter. Look into Modo from Luxology. That works well with ZBrush and as far as I can see, renders stills as well as Mental Ray. It’s pricey so… I found Carrara 5 Pro being a good renderer as well. Actually… besides the abyssmal renderer in Poser… I can pretty much mimik ALL the results of C4D, Mental Ray, Carrara 5 Pro, Modo 201 wth each other. Takes a bit fiddling but due to the fact that all are build on the same rules… it only takes a few tweaks here and there to yield the same results. Just start with something not Bryce or Poser and you are all set. Once you got one down… you can judge better what your really need/wish. Carrara delivers the best renders for the buck right now.
Cheers and a great weekend
rambling Lemo
If you have Max then you have access to a number of optional Renderers, besides MentalRay. You can add Brazil, VRay and a number of others. VRay is very popular with Architects who do a lot of interior shots because it’s very easy to get realistic results.
XSI is a great modeling tool and you can get it for like a less than 500$. This version features everything you would need for a good modelling soft. If you need hair or fur for characters then there is a shareware plugin (50$) that basically works as well as XSI advanced hair module.