I can imagine boutiques purchasing specific software "modules", perhaps from a wide choice made by various TDs similar to the Helge, Eric Mootz, Exocortex etc.
The modules are made with a tool like Fabric (or rather, Fabric's creation engine) to perform logical tasks, for instance modeling, one for texture/UV, an autorigger module, asset trackers, shot setup, a mocap module etc. Data formats like alembic bridge the gaps between the modules, and allow assets to travel through the 'pipeline' of modules. The benefits to a boutique are clear, pipeline customization becomes like legos, just plug in the parts you need (and don't waste $ and time on stuff you don't.) The down side is the lack of a single turnkey solution, if someone hasn't yet made a module you need you're SOL unless you make it yourself. I don't know if this concept will pan out, but I like the idea of awesome folks like Guillaume Being able to work for themselves making tools they're excited about in cooperation with their peers (who are also potential customers) rather than being "managed" aka screwed over by the likes of Autodesk droids. If people want to protest what AD has done, and want to keep what makes softimage special alive, I can think of no better way than this: Support Fabric. Join the beta and build stuff with it. If you're not at all technical, support the people like Exocortex, Eric Mootz, etc who go through he hardships of a small business in order to innovate and have control over what they choose to create. They are likely to be the kind of people who you're doing business with down the road, when Autodesk topples under its own weight. ;) On Sep 3, 2012, at 11:09 AM, Guy Rabiller <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I just wonder, with all those blocks, how do you propose to bring > > them together into one usable package? > > For bigger pipelines I see how it can work,(with plenty of TDs around) > > but for smaller shops and Freelancers? > > Is any group of people having a concept of congealing those blocks. > > I'd be highly interested! > > > Well, I think no one should be 'entitled' or have 'authority' for packaging > these blocks, it's a question of freedom. Yet different kind of 'packages' > may be usefull or required depending on the needs, usages, gui tastes, etc.. > > Different 'packages' could be presented by companies, communities, > individuals. The key is that any work done on those blocks would appear in > all the packages. Different programming languages could be use, because using > C++/Qt/Python may be not the wisest choice when you want to concentrate on > features, experimenting, and move quickly. > > Anyway, that's just an ideal (naive?) vision of what could be done. > > As you pointed it, in reality this require resources and time of course. But > sometimes it's also a question of where and when you put your resources when > you have some. The choice is here. > > On my side I'm working on something highly experimental albeit I obviously > don't have the resources, the time, not even the skills to create a full > blown 3d application but I can do some 'packaging'. > > > Cheers, > Guy. > -- > guy rabiller | raa.tel | radfac founder/ceo > > > Le 03/09/2012 16:12, Thomas Helzle a écrit : >> That's what I do as well AFAP. >> I'd like to add: >> - Support the smaller developers, Thea Render, MoI, Modo, Lightwave, all >> that stuff. >> May not fit in your main movie pipeline - but maybe it does fill a gap. >> >> And get rid of this old myth of how bad the Blender Interface is. ;-) >> >> I just wonder, with all those blocks, how do you propose to bring them >> together into one usable package? >> For bigger pipelines I see how it can work,(with plenty of TDs around) >> but for smaller shops and Freelancers? >> Is any group of people having a concept of congealing those blocks. >> I'd be highly interested! >> >> Cheers, >> >> Tom >> >> On 31 August 2012 18:31, Guy Rabiller <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> >> >> When Autodesk bought Softimage, I said it was the end of XSI. >> >> Nobody wanted to believe me at that time, peoples were reassured >> with wonderfull statements saying on the contrary "with the dev and >> financial power of Autodesk" glorious days are ahead.. >> >> Well.. I hope now these peoples realize XSI *is* indead dead. >> >> Autodesk bought Softimage for technologies and patents to be reused >> in other products, nothing more. >> >> I think it's now time for the 3d industry to boycott Autodesk. But >> who has really the balls to do that ? >> >> Lately, we saw more and more open source libraries developped and >> released by major companies. I think it's a sign. >> >> There is a non-said/secret wish more and more obvious for the rise >> of an alternative solution, an open source and free solution, a >> weapon against beeing held hostage by companies who don't give a >> f..k about their clients, only their wallet. >> >> There are some very interresting initiatives, openexr, ptex, >> opensubdiv, the applessed renderer, the fabric engine, etc.. among a >> lot of others. >> >> I believe in this approach: companies, freelancers, working on >> 'blocks' of features that could be assembled together to produce the >> weapon in question. >> >> It's a non-sense now to start a company to create a new 'ultimate' >> 3d software. What makes sense is if each company, individual, >> creates a 'block' of something, depending on their level of >> expertise. Then those blocks can be assembled together either by a >> community, a company, an individual. The result would suits each one >> of them. >> >> And these weapons must be open source and free. >> >> These would be the only weapon powerfull enough against softwares >> and jobs killer companies like Autodesk. >> >> So rather than to complain against Autodesk, who has actualy the >> guts to do something about it ? >> >> - Stop using Autodesk products ? (I did) >> - Work on alternative solutions ? (I do) >> - Contribute to existing projects ? (I'm trying) >> - Create your on 'block' ? (I'm trying) >> >> No ? Then stop complaining, you have no power to change the >> situation with words only. Companies like Autodesk do not care about >> your words. >> >> At all. >> >> Cheers, >> Guy. >> -- >> guy rabiller | raa.tel <http://raa.tel> | radfac founder/ceo >> >>
