Man. What's up with Mac software developers? There is a plethora of new image editors coming out for OS X. The tall and the small. Some proclaiming themselves "Photoshop killers" others more humble limited tools. Some have been released. Many are in public beta right. Others in private beta. Some feel like good old fashioned vaporware. A few are OS X 10.5 Leapord only. Most are very inexpensive.
I suspect some of this is due to the fact that much of the underlying technology for image editing is now built into Apple's developer tools, apparently making some of this rather plug and play. Others look totally new and unique. So in the last few months we've seen releases or announcements for the following;
Pixelmator - proclaimed Photoshop killer
Iris - implied Photoshop killer
Acorn - simple painting program
Naked light - implied Photoshop killer
Skitch - simple screenshot and painting tool.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Welcome to 3D 4 Free
I've been a Mac based 3dcg artist for 17 years. In that time I've seen my favorite tools disappear into the oblivion of free market competition. Swivel3D. Infini-D. MacroModel. Extreme 3D. Ray Dream Designer. Carrara (not dead yet but thrice orphaned). Hexagon (not dead yet, but twice orphaned).
You'll notice that most of these are low end tools, this is because most of my work is done for print. High end animation studio tools like SoftImage, 3D Studio Max, Houdini and Maya are overkill (and over-budget) for my modest needs. But the high end isn't really a guarantee of staying power. Alias aquired Wavefront and created Maya. But Discreet (makers of 3D Studio Max) bought Alias to aquire Maya. Maya and 3DS Max are in general competing in the same market space. How long do you think Maya will last? SoftImage was bought by Microsoft in the mid '90s and then spun off again. Mirai who's long lineage goes back to Symbolics in the 1980's is in development limbo at Izware.
So, I finally wised up in 1992. A programmer friend, Mike Boeh, suggested I look at Wings 3D a free open source 3D modeler inspired by Nichiman Graphics Nendo (now from Izware). Wings 3d is a polygon modeler that allows for subdivision surface smoothing.
I fell in love with Wings 3D. This love led me to explore what was to me the frontiers of open source development. It was at this time that Blender from NaN was opensourced after NaN closed it's doors. The original developer, Ton Roosendal, stuck with the software and created the Blender Foundation. Blender today is now one of the most advanced and actively developed 3D tools available. And since it is open source it is availabe for almost every computer platform imaginable.
Since 2004 Blender has been my 3D tool of choice. I will on occassion use other tools as needed, but in general Blender does it all for me. So much of what you will see posted here will be my work in Blender and news and info about Blender and other open source tools.
I have no illusion of becoming hub of information for this topic. There are many people far more passionate about open source software and Blender in particular. Be sure to check out Blendernation for daily up to date news on Blender.
You'll notice that most of these are low end tools, this is because most of my work is done for print. High end animation studio tools like SoftImage, 3D Studio Max, Houdini and Maya are overkill (and over-budget) for my modest needs. But the high end isn't really a guarantee of staying power. Alias aquired Wavefront and created Maya. But Discreet (makers of 3D Studio Max) bought Alias to aquire Maya. Maya and 3DS Max are in general competing in the same market space. How long do you think Maya will last? SoftImage was bought by Microsoft in the mid '90s and then spun off again. Mirai who's long lineage goes back to Symbolics in the 1980's is in development limbo at Izware.
So, I finally wised up in 1992. A programmer friend, Mike Boeh, suggested I look at Wings 3D a free open source 3D modeler inspired by Nichiman Graphics Nendo (now from Izware). Wings 3d is a polygon modeler that allows for subdivision surface smoothing.
I fell in love with Wings 3D. This love led me to explore what was to me the frontiers of open source development. It was at this time that Blender from NaN was opensourced after NaN closed it's doors. The original developer, Ton Roosendal, stuck with the software and created the Blender Foundation. Blender today is now one of the most advanced and actively developed 3D tools available. And since it is open source it is availabe for almost every computer platform imaginable.
Since 2004 Blender has been my 3D tool of choice. I will on occassion use other tools as needed, but in general Blender does it all for me. So much of what you will see posted here will be my work in Blender and news and info about Blender and other open source tools.
I have no illusion of becoming hub of information for this topic. There are many people far more passionate about open source software and Blender in particular. Be sure to check out Blendernation for daily up to date news on Blender.
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