I was one of the attendees of this intensive 5 days Maya training. Even though the company I work will probably take the Maya route, nobody forced me to go, however it was a NO BRAINER to take on this offer.
I have to give a lot of credit to Graham and his team for putting this together, since it has given me an invaluable insight into Maya. Of course it hasn't made an expert but now I can open Maya confidently model an asset and tinker around with the nodes. Most importantly we can now make an informed decision in regards to Maya (which I think is crucial). It's important to note that the training was given by Mark, who was very neutral and clear by telling us when something was frankly "shit", but also showing us the alternative ways. Maya is a software ongoing a massive restructuring so it's necessary to understand that when diving into certain modules (modeling for example). Compared to xsi, I've found Maya mainly lacking on the organisational side. No models, no partitions, No groups (sets but the all live together), No easy overrides, it's made me wonder how the hell do Maya users organise they scene (or maybe they just don't ). This is probably the biggest challenge and it will probably depend on each studio. I personally believe that people who are able to stick with it will get the benefits further down the line when bifrost does become the underlying cog underneath Maya. Overall the experience was very positive and I would definitely recommend it to any company thinking of sending their employees. On Wednesday, 10 September 2014, Eric Turman <[email protected]> wrote: > Right Greg, it is a good thing for ADKS to reach out; they *need* to. Just > because the review wasn't glowing (it wasn't particularly negative either) > and that the list did not grab onto the positive parts doesn't mean you > guys aren't doing a good job. I know Maya will never be Softimage...I would > not want it to be, you'd probably end up with the shortcomings of both > packages that way. :P > > Keep at the outreach and, above all, seriously listen and seek to > understand what worked for Soft users in the Softimage workflow. > > Jill & Maurice...you have both been very patient and helpful. > > Graham, I apologize for calling you out on the personal bit, it was > uncalled for. > > Cheers, > -=Eric T. > > > On Wed, Sep 10, 2014 at 12:41 PM, Greg Punchatz <[email protected] > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','[email protected]');>> wrote: > >> Graham I for one am glad you did this, I would love for something like >> this to be held at Janimation. >> >> Greg >> >> "The future is unwritten"- Joe Strummer >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On Sep 10, 2014, at 11:01 AM, Eric Turman <[email protected] >> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','[email protected]');>> wrote: >> >> Please, let's be honest Graham, you *have* taken certain barbs at >> Autodesk personally, even when they were not directed personally at you or >> your co-workers. As Adrian said: >> >> "it will take YEARS for the resentment to fizzle out....just because the >> list has settled down of late (it's disappointingly like a ghost town in >> here most days) it doesn't mean the embers of our collective anger aren't >> still glowing away...but don't expect users not to throw abuse >> occasionally when you stick your head above the parapet!" >> >> # Personal experience...fast forward if you wish. >> Any of the ire and seething hatred that may be shining forth from my >> previous emails is directly because I suffered--no exaggeration--suffered >> through over 5 years of using Maya from late 2001 to early 2007. I know how >> Maya is supposed to be used and its mind-set...and it still sucks. And now, >> since April of this year, I have been using the current release build of >> Maya after hours and weekend almost 7 days a week and I find myself dragged >> back into that swirling vortex of pain and misery known as Maya. It has >> caused my blood pressure to leap up over 30 points on the systolic since I >> have started to use it. Maya takes so much more work to do the same things. >> For example: rigging in Maya sucks donkey balls...I can eventually do the >> same things in Maya, but the stupid hoops that I have to jump through are >> ridiculous; the complexity needed to achieve the same results is ludicrous. >> And the overall workflow of Maya has so much friction that it is >> unbelievable that anyone can get any work done with it and >> remain competitive. >> >> Earlier this year, before I got into the after-hour freelance, I really >> wanted to try and make a positive difference through the beta program to >> improve Maya since it is the only viable option to Softimage. However, >> every time I sit down to compose a list of all that is wrong with it and >> how Maya can be improved, I feel my teeth grinding, I feel the >> anger surging and my blood pressure soaring. In such a state, I know that >> my suggestions are not going to come out in a constructive manner, so I >> have withheld my feedback until such a time where I won't offend and the >> effort wont give me a stroke or a heart attack. >> # gripe session ended >> >> *In short, doing a job with in 3D with Softimage, even in tight >> situations, is fun because, even if it is challenging or there are >> curveballs thrown at you, you can feel confident that you will be able to >> accomplish it with Softimage. With Maya, not only is it a laborious chore, >> if something goes wrong or the client makes changes, Maya has such a >> destructive linear workflow that you can quickly find yourself f*cked. It >> is as arrogant as Marie Antoinette to think that ADSK has given us an >> equivelant exchange.* >> >> Please have patience with us, please don't have a flippant disregard for >> our very real and pertinent points of view, and try not to take them >> personally either. ADSK has injured us and and proclaiming to the list that >> ADSK is did the right business thing and that you guys are doing a good job >> (I'm sure you are doing your best) does not play off too well. >> >> Sincerely, >> -=Eric T. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Wed, Sep 10, 2014 at 9:53 AM, Graham Bell <[email protected] >> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','[email protected]');>> wrote: >> >>> I accept all that, and I'm not taking anything personal at all. I'd >>> actually flip that point a little and ask some to maybe do the same. :) >>> >>> The point I wanted to make was, there was no agenda to this training, we >>> weren't expecting to suddenly win people over. And using someone like >>> Escape, provides a good context of neutrality. >>> >>> G >>> >>> >> -- >> >> >> >> >> -=T=- >> >> > > > -- > > > > > -=T=- >
