Views On Zbrush Pros Vs. Mudbox Pros

[jtk77]

Alright, I don't know maybe there are no Mudbox users around these forums these days. I posted this in the Mudbox area a week or so ago and didn't generate any interest...so thought I'd ask in these neck of the digital woods...
OK,I haven't been in forums in a long time. ..and no I'm not trying to start some juvenile software ware post here. I'm just looking for honest frank observation from anyone who's used both pieces of software professionally or is in the process of doing so.
Don't give me crap about double posting, lord knows this forum could use more posts these days

I started an independent animation about 3 years ago. Then work changed, life got busy and it went to the old back up harddrive. Recently I started thinking about it again and I feel the story is fun enough that it should be finished. Given advances in what we do, its worth remodeling the characters. Plus, that's the most fun anyway.
So, I bought Zbrush last year, did one thing in it and it too, went to backup since its not something that I would use professionally in my current line of design, I sort of know the software but not enough. At the time I did feel it was a little bothersome to get clean data moved from Zbrush to Maya and vice versa. Though there is a lot of info on the subject online. I really don't have any investment other than initial purchase cash, into it.

Given I primarily use Maya, and have a lot invested in it, should I bother with Zbrush or just put my time into Mudbox.
It costs almost twice as much and since I'm not that into Zbrush, I can't competently understand the differences.
So, anyone have an idea, feel free to post.

PS> though, I do appreciate any info, don't email me with "Mudbox is a professional application" without any explanation cause I'm pretty sure Zbrush is used professionally as well.
...haha...true story.

[james-thompson--2]

I suppose the scupt in Blender is actually the most cost effective of all three; I've seen it's output and it's as good as either. Not only that but running on Linux with it's tiny core will give you a lot more polygons to work on.

But between Zbrush and Mudbox I'd choose Zbrush. It just seems more mature, and capable of putting out a more refined product. I prefer the way it feels even though its learning curve is steeper.

[joojaa]

QUOTE(Cadmium77 @ 01/09/09, 10:15 AM) [snapback]298497[/snapback]
But between Zbrush and Mudbox I'd choose Zbrush. It just seems more mature,

Actually id say mudbox is more mature now in ver2, its designed to actually do just what the users want and not build on other wierd things. So it actually much easier to work in mudbox than it is in zbrush. But unlike zbrush its far less of a graphic package alone than something you use on the side.

As for blender... well mudbox is better, also mudbox is very small footprint program, as it can put a insane amount of polygons on screen at one time without slowing down one bit (iv worked with a 60 million polygons on it without noticing anything), and show realtime scree space occlusion and lightning with shadows. BUt this said you have normal modelling tools in blender that you dont heave in mudbox. But swapping in and out fo mudbox to something like maya is a breeze.

Cost effectiveness of 0 is hard to beat, bt if you actually count the time it takes to get things done id say mudbox wins slightly over blender.

[james-thompson--2]

That's very interesting Joojaa. I'm buried in Scott Spencer's book right now and so it's going to be hard to abandon all the work I've done on Zbrush, but I'll have to give it a second harder look now that you've said this.

So in rough proportions, how many times more polygons can you get from Mudbox than Zbrush?

[joojaa]

QUOTE(Cadmium77 @ 01/09/09, 06:12 PM) [snapback]298560[/snapback]
So in rough proportions, how many times more polygons can you get from Mudbox than Zbrush?

NO idea, i dont actually care about teh amount of polygons on screen. Just that i get the feedback i want.

[james-thompson--2]

I have to say, there are many aspects of Zbrush that are annoyingly, nay, insanely counterintuitive and difficult to master.

Why O why must it be so difficult to learn how to use Subtools and Append Subtools, and moving and scaling stuff in Subtools?

It makes me grind my teeth. I love ZBrush but when you're forced by the workflow into stuff like this it's extremely frustrating. Yes, I've googled the instructions off Pixologic. Yes I've followed them as far as the convoluted nomenclature permits. No they don't work worth a damn.

I cannot get a handle on that stuff...

And CLONING a subtool. God forbid...

I can get 100% on calculus tests too you know...

Working out the subtleties of Mental Ray is a holiday in the park compared to figuring out the arcane instruction sets of ZBrush...

And then there's those transpose tools.

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