ZBrushCentral

XSI - should I do it?

Community
#1

Have been scouring this forum for XSI info, and am on the verge of purchasing XSI foundations, but was hoping for some input before going down this path.

I Just need a sweet sub-dee modeler with a killer Tweak (soft selection) tool, tessellation tools, a comprehensive UV editor, and renderer. My aim is photo-realistic caricatures. And you can’t beat Mental Ray, so I really hope it’s all they say it is!

I’ve been searching hard for a complement to ZBrush, and had it narrowed down between Cinema 4D and XSI. Cinema 4D is more expensive, even without their advanced renderer. But more important is the time investment, and what you get out of it.

Lemnonado’s posts have me convinced to just go for it. But many are writing about real problems in getting the displacement maps to work, even after following the ZBrush - XSI guide to the letter. And I’ve been digging the work from the students of the Vancouver Film School. They use XSI there, and don’t seem to be complaining! Something’s gotta give!

So just a few questions for those that are using XSI 5, and I sincerely thank you in advance for any input:

  1. If you’re using it, you obviously get your displacements to work. Is it a real glitch that must be finessed (ie. a “workaround”), or are the problems folks are posting due more to human error?

  2. How is the graphics tablet support in XSI? Was it hard to remap the Middle Mouse Button to some other key combo? Ditching my Wacom for a 3 button mouse is not an option!

  3. Any issues with XSI’s UV editor? I texture in ZBrush with ZappLink and Photoshop, but prefer a good UV mapper to AUV or GUV tiles, so that I can better tweak my color map in Photoshop, plus derive other maps, such as specularity.

  4. Finally, any general gripes about XSI that could possibly be a deal breaker? And if you got an extra minute, what do you love most about XSI?

Thanks so much to you all. Will be posting some stuff as soon as I can get this last piece of the puzzle in place!

Sincerely,
Chris Collins
www.chriscartoon.com

#2

i dont use xsi, but maybe you should try to win it before you buy it… if you can wait.

www.subdivisionmodeling.com

Click the top half link, its the main competition.

#3

Thanks anyway. Just took my chances and bought Foundations.

#4

If you do not animate, then go and have a close look at Modo 201! I had and hated 103 but upgraded to save my investment somehow and am pleasently surprised about the performance and render quality. XSI has it’s massive benefits in Animation. However, modeling and UV Mapping and rendering are excellent! BUT it’s a deep application. What I want to say with that is that you have a LOT of control. And that power comes with the responibility to harness it. Lot’s of reading. But then you can affect details you simply cannot affect anywhere else. No EASY BUTTON in XSI. Not a lot presets either. It took me a while from zero CG to ‘happy results’ in XSI. There is a very good mailing list and a couple of very professional forum. The fact that XSI and displacement mapping is a bit tricky is another proof of the complexity. No easy button there. But if you look at geometry settings, shader settings and a few other things which are all related to the displacment topic you can do anything to any level. But… you HAVE to do it. Don’t worry to much, it’s been done before and the renders are the best from any render engine I have encountered. Modo is complex and deep as well but a bit easier on the nerves. But NO animation for now… Foundation is the best package for the price. But always remember that Hair would come with a 7000$ Price ticket…
And if you wish to buy upgrades… you have to buy a new Fnd every year/major update. Softimage developed a soft spot so point updates (5.0,5.1…) are also give to Foundation users. Which is good IMHO.
I don’t think you cannot go wrong for 500$. C4D is more fun to use but slightly more expensive to start of with. But you can have Hair for substantially less. Any case… to have XSI/MR is always useful… or Modo 201 8-)… I have both 8-))). UV Mapping… both are cool for that. XSI can deal with more geometry than MOdo. I usually do cruel things to XSI with highres ZBrush meshes. If you render a still… It can digest immense amounts of geometry till it runs out of memory… But as it has been said… try it out.
Lemo

#5

Hi Lemo,

Thanks for taking the time to write. So many issues to consider before one plunks down money and commits to a workflow... I've spent months now "cutting bait" and so can't wait to actually start fishing for a change! And I'd tried about everything that had an eval download. Thought the Hexagon2/Carrara 5 combo would do the trick, since Carrara has a good renderer, but Hexagon won't do much of anything before freezing and/or crashing. So even at DAZ's $1.99 special, it was not worth it. (BTW, quitting DAZ requires a phone call.) Once it even took down my whole system. I'm glad you liked Modo 201 better than the last version. The Modo 102 interface was anything but intuitive to me, and they try a little too hard to come off as hip IMO, using marketing hype such as "Super Bon-Bon" to describe a feature, while we wait and wait for the 201 eval version. Ain't nothin' Super Bon-Bon about the price, yo. I did like Cinema 4D, and it's cool of them the way they offer you their unlimited trial version with ALL the modules, and only save disabled. But you gotta go with their advanced renderer (more $$) or why bother? So now you're up to more than a grand. Their BodyPaint3D (still more $$) is way cool, but we got ZBrush with ZappLink -- what Photoshop lover could ask for more than that? Anyway, if anybody else is reading this, and has been going through the same hell as I have, trying to get their software options nailed down before rolling up their sleeves, I say if you got the money, get something major (Such as XSI or Maya) right off the bat for your companion application. Because your time is more valuable than the money, and your long-term skillsets are more important than saving a few bucks in the short term. With all due respect, I'm saying this to those that can afford the extra outlay of cash.

And even if you’re going to go with Silo or another specialty sub-dee app, you might want a top-of-the-line rendering engine someday. Or you might want to animate your ZBrush masterpiece. So you wind up spending the money and having to go through a learning curve all over again anyway.

Best wishes, Lemo, and thanks again. Chris
#6

Hey Chris,

Don’t worry about Hair for XSI foundation cause there is already a nice 85$ worth pluggin that gives you hair. It is very good and gives a lot of control.

there you go with the link

The only bummer about XSI is one renderer that sometimes hates you.

#7

From what I read, you’ll love XSI. And yes, there is a fur and a hair module. But have a look at it before you commit because of that… The only thing you might consider is getting Essentials instead of Foundation… Only reason: You can sell it again with little loss. And you have a few more features enabled. Which you might not need for stills… Besides XSI Ess I got into C4D and over a short period of time piled up quite some modules… I use Ess only for animation and for GI rendering as the AR is ssssslllllloooowwwwwwwww.
Cheers and good luck
Lemo

PS:Yes… Modo is pushed hard to be ‘hip’ hahaha.

#8

You realise you can use blender’s UV editor in addition to XSI. Its a free program. Also if you do not like XSI or blender’s sub-d tools, you can always use Wing3d another free program.

#9

XSI has a superb UV editor build right in… And there is a free plugin which does pelt mapping like the pelt mapper in Modo. Really cool.
Lemo