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Silo?

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#1

Hi all,
I’m curious about Silo. I’m learning 3D stuff as a hobby. I currently have ZBrush, Lightwave, Poser and Vue Infinite.

I’m finding Lightwave to be realy intimidating. I’ve never dealt with software with such an unfriendly interface and since the terminology varies so much finding stuff in the manual takes forever. The models I have made never workout in ZBrush (probably my lack of experience). I’m looking for something to use just for base models to take into ZBrush. Models that will open up in ZBrush without lots of problems. Would Silo be a good choice? This topology brush looks like a great thing, how usefull is it?

#2

…you must see also Hexagon 2 for 28 $ (inscription) + 1.99$ (prog) = 30 $ :rolleyes:
(untill 31 may) the more ergonomic “classic” modeler with some powerful functions !
(Zbrush is a “modern” modeler :smiley:

#3

Would like to echo Mr. Pilou’s suggestion.
Although Hexagon 2 is new and still in it’s infancy,
Hexagon 1 has been around long enough to do research on.

And repeating, for 1.99 how can you reallly make a mistake.

Best of luck on final choice!!

#4

Well, there is Wings3D which is great for basic things. Wings3d is free. A great vertexpusher. And the ‘select simmilar’ function has yet to be found in another modeler. But it has no functionality beyond the wireframe. Not necessarily a bad thing… Depends what one wants.

Hexagon2 is worth it’s 30$, It’s something you might want to look at. I personally feel it is awkward to operate and quiate a few functions do not respond as expected… Stability is an issue but it can load surprisngly large meshes. I have not managed to do it but it whould be possible to 3d paint and work with the UV’s. I will not update it however… Actually… I don;t know why I bought it hahaha. I’m such a sucker for a special deal hahaha.

Then there is Silo for around 100$. Silo has a lot to offer. And the new version is coming along nicely. When it is out, that might be the best modeler for the money. However, the price will be higher once the new version is out… So… the usual predicament.I am not using it right now. The topo brush is a piece of c… ooops ‘art’ right now… Very tempramental and the results are not always what you expect… So not the user happy pill.

Modo 201 is at the gates. It will be released after the 17th when the pre buy incentive expired. Regardless what people tell me my modo 103 verson crashes within the first ten minutes of working with it. You learn not to do certain things by the negative feedback from the modeler. Don’t do this <crash>, don;t do that <crash>. Pavlov would have his fun looking at the modo users… Perfectly conditioned by failure. Now… 201 seems to be cured. The bitching and moaning of the community has obviously lead to a rigorous beta testing and alpha testing. To prevent collective frustration a Friday update had been established which made me pay the upgrade fee. It really does look alright. I have to save my investment into 103 as it will not be upgraded and upgrade to 201… Otherwise I would not do it because my XSI is doing all and more. Live and learn.

So Modo 201 can model and texture, all in subdivision and displacement heaven. But it does not come for a small price.

If you also like to animate something… then I can say that XSI has been a great deal for 500$ (Fundation Package) which includes (according to Lemo) the best modeler of them all (integrates the most functions among all of them), a great renderer (Mental Ray; look at my glass test…), and a full blown animation section.

For me, XSI and ZBrush is a killer combo. If you would like to model a bit and fix a ZBrush mesh up here and there, then Silo would be my choice.
If I would like to have another renderer and I would like to stick with still’s then I would get involved with Modo again… One thing is for sure… ZBrush cannot be extracted from the equation…

Cheers
Lemo

#5

Downloaded Hexagon before I posted this :+1: I’m still going for Silo I’ve decided. Not much money and its comes with a free upgrade to the next version. That and I’m a software junkee:laughing: My wife does not care about these small purchases, but wait until she see’s what my next computer is going to cost:grimacing:

I suspect the next version of Hexagon will be released right after Daz’s promotion ends and they are counting on many to upgrade right away. Smart marketing and a nice gift to those just starting out.

#6

Thanks Lemo:+1: Your glass was great.

Thats the type of info I needed. I’ll have to take a real look at XSI. For some reason I had it in my head that cost more than that.

#7

An update for the benefit of others.

I’ve now tried both Silo and Hexagon. They are both great.
Hexagon has lots more capability including displacement painting but has a more complex interface. Learning curve is moderate.
Silo’s learning curve is easy. It’s a basic modeling program without all the fluff and I was able to absorb the whole interface in one day. Which is saying a lot for these 50 year old brain cells.
I decided to go with both but for modeling simple base meshes for either Lightwave or ZBrush I’ll probably use Silo most of the time. The price is right and it is easy and fast to use. The users forum seems very freindly and helpful.

#8

Silo is great only what i really miss in it is reference in ortographic views… and a way to switch with the space bar like in maya :smiley:

#9

Do you mean reference images in the ortho views? You can do that in Silo. You need to have an ortho view selected, then Display>Select Viewport Image…

#10

It’s fortunate that your choices weren’t between

Maya and Max…they changed the bankgruptcy laws:D

#11

…Dynamic geometry system? :wink:

#12

Indeed it is most fortunate I don’t need the expensive stuff. But then knowing me I’ll probably have one of those by the end of the year. When I take up a hobby I take up a hobby.:lol:

Hexagon has a few bugs. Well, more than a few. I’ve barely scratched the surface and I’ve found some. The phone support has been discontinued and you now have to wait 2 days for an e-mail answer. When I called Daz they told me that their phone support only applies to Daz software. When I said I thought Daz bought the software the person on the phone got a little testy.:slight_smile:

Frenchy,
No it does not. It’s real easy to work with though. The next upgrade is free and I think its going to be quite dramatic. I think they are doing a core rewrite.

#13

What is a dynamic geometry system?

#14

I mean you can’t spot easily if you are in front / top etc… Also you have no reference images in perspective view no you mention it :stuck_out_tongue: hope this will get fixed in v2

#15

What is a dynamic geometry system?

…An “history” of the creation of an object
If you change something at the beginning all is re-created automaticaly to the end :rolleyes:
Some powerful indeed :smiley:

#16

Blaine,

used wings til found silo

bought silo

am disappointed that wings came out with a uvmapper before silo2 but silo2 was promised months ago

just like zbrush…now everybody is trying to copy its
realtime displacement features…alot succeeding

so…where do we poor folks go…

you try and buy what you can afford, you abuse the freebies for learning …

and in the end you use whatever you have in your toolbox to get the job or idea in your head done…you improvise when ya gotta, do the best ya can with what ya got

and try to convince yourself to get up and do it all again tomorrow…hopefully a little wiser but if not…getting up and doing it all again…is more important…the alternative is not an option.

learning anything and everything can’t hurt ya so…
keep on trucking!

#17

New update on silo… cant wait to get my grubby little hands on it :stuck_out_tongue:

http://www.silo3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6171&page=1

#18

Thanks for the info. I’ll give it a look see tonight.

#19

Aminuts -

I go where lots of others do I guess. I put it on the plastic card and pay over time. My little binge is over until I pay this stuff off. It is cheaper than drinking though. Can’t seem to come out of a tavern with any money left over. :lol: