Don't like the GUI, so I don't use it. - Bill

Good reason. I had the same with a car I bought. Never drove it because of the stupid dashboard. Especially the large round thing that obscured the cool clocks and meters.

LOL. I've never ridden a bicycle myself: call me old-fashioned but I just can't get used to round wheels. ;-)

You people are unbelievably offensive, sarcastic and condesending. Wow, what a sense of community! I just bought C4D. can I expect the same kind of treatment on that forum, too?

Bill,

I feel you are entitled to share your opinion anytime and anywhere you wish. Your points are also direct and valid and deserve consideration. Hey, different strokes for different folks. By-the-way many people agree with your reasons for choosing a different 3d option (you know you are not alone). You gotta do what's right for you pal. I wouldn't sweat those people that don't understand your motives. Have a good one.

Stan

Message edited on: 07/05/2004 10:53

yolkworm, I apologize unreservedly. I didn't wish to offend you.

I agree with yolkworm. Carraras GUI is laughable. That's the main gripe from most of the reviewers if you do a google search on "Carrara review". The interface over-complicates the simplest of tasks. But, for only $250 as a side grade from Poser I still like it. That's about the max I'd ever be willing to pay for it though, because of the GUI. C4D is great, but it's a financial black hole when you want to get critical plugins. That's why I love Animation Master. For $300 you get the best character animation toolset in the industry and no need to spend any money at all on plug ins. There's downside to AM if you make your living with 3d, but it's wonderful for us hobbyists.

Tunesy is right about the reviewers feelings on the GUI. I try and read every review I can get my hands on concerning 3D tools and this opinion is common.
I like the interface but I've used it since day one, so that makes it tougher for me to be objective.
As far as the interface over-complicating the simplest of tasks, well, maybe so, but maybe not in all cases.
I have a co-worker who has been a devout Lightwave user and has produced an impressive body of work in the last 4 or 5 years using this fine, well- thought-out software. A couple of weeks ago we needed a small illustration done in a relatively short time so he decided to tackle it and let me watch him from start to finish. It was to be an image of a school bell sitting on top of a closed sign to go with a story on a recent Catholic school closing. As he created each aspect of the model, texture maps and final render I watched with great interest. I know enough about Lightwave to have done this illustration, but not enough to have done it in a short time. When he was finished, an hour and a half had transpired. Although he made the deadline with room to spare, it seemed to me that my co-worker had to take a lot of steps that I would not have taken if I had used Carrara.
Later that night I tried replicating the same illustration and finished in about 20 minutes.
Now, understand, I don't do animation, so I'll not make any claims in that area and I work with this program daily so I am keenly aware of it's limitations but I think that GUI may be different from norm but not inherently bad. The fact is though, that maybe, enough people are intially put off by the interface that it hurts sales, maybe Eovia will address this.

Message edited on: 07/05/2004 14:18

Message edited on: 07/05/2004 14:20

In defence of the GUI, I've always thought that it has been designed so as not to be itimidating for someone new to 3D. Carrara is a low cost program with some high-end features after all, and if you're looking for extra modelling or rendering capabilities after using (say) Poser then you're going to feel right at home. I suppose partly why I was thoughtlessly rude to yolkworm (and I'm not trying to excuse myself) was that for software this good at this price it needs a bit more persistence than 'slight use'. There is a demo version. That's not to say that the customability of the GUI couldn't be improved and I expect Eovia to go this way - it's done that with Amapi Pro after all.

Bill, Part of your freedom to voice your opinion is that there will be opinions voiced from others. It doesn't mean the end of the world. It just means that life isn't perfect.

Yolkworm, I probably should have mentioned that I do plan to upgrade to the next version of Carrara, so long as it's not too pricey, even though I agree 100 percent with your assessment of its GUI. Carrara is very good at several things. After the first few hours of using it I wanted to toss it in the trash, but after a little more use I began to appreciate its strong points. I hope you consider giving it a little more time before you decide to ditch it. Another point worth considering is that Eovia does seem to be quite responsive to their customer base. I have high hopes for Carrara overall. It wouldn't surprise me if they ultimately ditched the assinine interface. They can't hang their hats on a tiny population of people who have been used to an awful interface for years if they want to get any substantial amount of new users. The fact that someone is used to it doesn't make it any less awful.

You know I own C4D GO and the magazine version of C4D 6 and I LIKE Carrara's interface better. That's probably because I've used it since upgrading from Raydream. I've never been able to "get into" C4D enough to feel comforatble with the interface, so I get fustrated with it and give up. Just goes to show, "different strokes for different floks". Yolkworm I wish you good luck with the program! Hey we ALL belong to the larger 3D community, better to use a program you're comforatble with than no program at all. mike

I've used programs with Kai's Power Tools GUI designs. I survived Bryce II - 5 and Poser 4-5 and Carrara 2-3. I think Amapi 7 has the best GUI for 3D modeling at this point in time. Rhino, Cinema4D, Maya, Lightwave, Max, Wings3D, et al, use the AutoDesk GUI from the CAD days of design. Too much mouse clicking there.

not being mean or anything but I have been looking at other.. and carrara has the cleanest, simplest of all.. some people may say "bubble gum" but it's better on the yes than say cinena4D.. i mean talk about kiddie interfaces.. looks like a 5 year old drew he icon there.. and at least in carrara i can move my buttons/menus around. even use multiple monitors (which I do and he others don't) you know .. I'm thiking I/or we should write a piece about it.. comparing interfaces ease of use. hmmmmmmmm :)

Really I never understand the interface problem. Try using Truespace, or REALLY using Maya. I bet plop a newbie infront of Carrara and one in front of Maya, and come back in an hour the Maya newbie is still trying to figure out to model, while the Carrara newbie is trying to decide how big he wants his render. I've played with everything from Maya, to Cinema, to Lightwave, to Truespace, and just because the Carrara interface is "pretty" doesn't mean its not very functional. I won't gripe about those that don't like the interface and don't want the program, thats there decision and it is understandable, but the reviewers are full of idiots I read a few Carrara 2-3 reviews which stated that Carrara didn't even support plugins...which um obviously it does and has since version 1. I seriously doubt the reliablity of a review when the basic information isn't correct. If the standard user gave Carrara about a days worth of there time and played around they would see the depth and ability in the interface design. Anyway thats my two-three cents and yolkworm...learn to take a joke..god..Maxon has some nice people in the community but I'll NEVER buy from them. Briefly my story: Downloaded latest demo of Cinema4d, played with it, got an email checking on my interest, I stated still working with the software I'll get back to them if interested...received phone call following day...stated still looking and playing and that I'll contact them if interested. Since then in total I have received 10 PHONE CALLS!! And something like 12-14 emails. Talk about sales baggering...GOD. Brian

i have to agree with SHONNER and Nicholas86. carrara is the best tool for a 3d newbie. about maxon,i recieved many phone calls and emails too after playing around with the demo.

Man oh man did I screw up. I thought I would offer to help someone out who maybe wanted to get started in 3D animation but couldn't afford full price for Carrara 3.0. Instead, I started some sort of GUI flame war. By the way, folks, please notice that I only said I didn't like the interface. I never said that it was a bad interface. In fact, I think it's easy to use and a great way for ppl just starting out in 3D. I learned a lot using Carrara. That is why I was offering it to someone else. And then Nicholas tells me to learn to take a joke. Well, Nick, I'm certainly laughing now! This thread is absurd. - Bill

I'm really sorry if anyone thought I was putting down C4D's interface... I wasn't. I was just commenting that for myself it didn't click. I like Carrara because it's what I'm used to but I can see what others that have a different background can find it very difficult to use. I LIKE 3D graphic, no matter what the program and find that I can learn from all of the programs, I read each forum (on several sites). I own books covering the spectrum of programs that I will, almost certainly never own, but I have learned things from all of them. I hate the idea that one program is better than another, I'd like to think it's more a matter of an artist learning to use the tools at his/her disposal to the very best effect. It's a VERY GOOD THING to point out the good things about Carrara, the more sales that can be generated, the more support we shuld see, but why do it by putting sown another program and, possibly, alienating a source of information and visual pleasure? Stupid as it sounds "Can't we all just get along?" mike

yolkworm,cinema is a cool tool,why not using it. the best tool is the tool you like and thats good.if you like cinema4d and can work with it very good then go for it.it makes fun for sure.im one of the guys who likes the interface of carrara and carrara was my first real modeling tool.anyway,happy modeling and rendering.:)

Flame war? hmm. Thought of it as more of a friendly discussion of the interface then a flame war. I do think that this: "You people are unbelievably offensive, sarcastic and condesending. Wow, what a sense of community! I just bought C4D. can I expect the same kind of treatment on that forum, too?" Was a bit rude. The people were kidding, and it was very obvious, unless of course you were kidding? Were you? Anyway, good luck selling your copy of Carrara, I've found the quickest way to sell software is over ebay, if you don't have an account it is pretty quick to set one up and things seem to sell faster there then via word of mouth.

Man oh man did I screw up. I thought I would offer to help someone out who maybe wanted to get started in 3D animation but couldn't afford full price for Carrara 3.0. um, the only mistake I can see that you made would be trying to sell carrara to a bunch of people who already have it.... ;) You might want to list it on ebay?

I didn't see any smoke. Looked more like a discussion of ideas.