Which is your favorite 3D modeler?

[arshiel88]

Are you using the most widely used 3d apps for modeling? Vote for it and let's prove something. Please take note this poll is for modeling only.

[Brian Myers]

Well.... Vanilla AutoCAD 2007 has some impressive capabilities if we are just discussing basic modelers (not a specific industry). MAX/VIZ is very, very good... but very complicated. I voted "other" because SketchUp is my favorite, but I have no problems with the direction Autodesk has taken AutoCAD 2007... it's fairly impressive.

Ohh.. and I've not used Inventor, but it could be the best of the bunch......

[.chad]

like dilbert i really like sketchup for modeling. and with the new features that came with 6.0 - i like it a whole lot more.

[arshiel88]

My personal choice is Vanilla AutoCAD and 3D Studio Max. I admire the accuracy of Vanilla AutoCAD and its simplicity without sacrificing accuracy. Others may be simpler such as 3dmax, but usually not accurate up to the last millimeter. I've seen many tutorials in 3dmax that the usual practice in setting measurement is what we call 'eyeballing'. But I admire 3dmax for its flexibility, its modifiers that sometimes takes a long time to do in Vanilla, but just a single click+values in 3dmax.

The parallels (Archi/Mech. Desktop, Revit, etc.) seems to me a bit heavy [first impression-ok quote me if I'm wrong ] since it deals with real details, and not what we just want to see.

Haven't tried SketchUp yet, and I've heard enough good features for me to give it a try.

[Scott D Davis]

Revit, not because it's a great 3D modeler (it has its limitations), but because its not a "dead-end" 3D modeler. I like it because as I produce a model, I'm also producing my drawings for construction docs. I can use it as a "model-only" tool if I want, but I can get so much more out of it. ith Revit, I'm not making a model, just to throw it away and start over again when moving to the next phase of design, as I would be doing with other tools.

[Brian Myers]

I agree with you Scott if we are talking strictly Architecture... Revit is a great modeler for that. SketchUp is easier to use if we are talking the basic shapes of architecture (which is why so many companies use both programs..but Revit is good for quick massing studies as well) but once you get into the important stuff I much prefer Revit's materials and accuracy.

[Scott D Davis]

I agree with you Scott if we are talking strictly Architecture... Revit is a great modeler for that. SketchUp is easier to use if we are talking the basic shapes of architecture (which is why so many companies use both programs..but Revit is good for quick massing studies as well) but once you get into the important stuff I much prefer Revit's materials and accuracy.

you are right...i should have realized being in a AutoCAD forum means that 3D modeling could be "anything" from buildings to widgets and beyond. So my statement is for "architectural" 3D modeling. If I were in product design, I'd probably choose Inventor.

Sketchup if fun, but the novelty of it wears off quickly.

[Cadtharsis]

Sketch-up is fantastic. Just upgraded to Ver. 6 too

[Mohmed Zuber]

AutoCAD's 3D capabilities are getting impressive version to version. I have done many projects using AutoCAD and 3D Studio MAX. I used to create model in AutoCAD (lots of accuracy) and then transfer it layer-wise to 3D Studio MAX for further material assignment, rendering and walk through (These three things are extremely simple in MAX). I think its a great combination.

Recently I have started with Revit, prepared two Architectural projects on it and feel nice with it. Revit will be my third friend.

[robert.1.hall72202]

Sketch-up is fantastic. Just upgraded to Ver. 6 too

I second that notion. I use it at home and it works great.