UNFOLD3D Magic Edition - oppinions please Thread

I am about to study 3D Arts and can get a student discount on Unfold 3D (50% off). Since the school requires use of XSI, I thought about getting a proper unwrapping plugin. Does anyone know if XSI 7.5 has better unwrapping tools than prior versions and if Unfold3D is the best option for me?

Polygonal-design.fr

It's not too expensive with the discount, I just want to make sure I am getting the right thing!

use Lithunwrap . its free^^
XSIs mapping is good i belive but i dont understand any of it so^^

Learn to use the 3d package tools no additional programs will make it easier, fact is you will be forced to use the industry standard toolsets (the game company wont let you bring your own) , so best learn the uv tools for the toolset of your choice.

TKAzA wrote: ... so best learn the uv tools for the toolset of your choice.

But if they suck? I have heard from people, who use 3Ds Max for converting files, Modo for unwrapping and XSI for animation. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me either, but I got that from a professional animator. I'd rather just use one program, but unwrapping has always been my most hated activity and if I can save hours then I'll rather use some other package.

Unfold 3D is used by a lot of professional studios, e.g. Lionhead and probably many others. Perhaps I should wait until after we learn the regular unwrapping with XSI, though.

Edited by: SinKing

I'd wait and learn to use the base toolset just for the experience. I've a lot toolsets for unwrapping and I've yet to find any that were hopeless out of the box. Plugins make faster unwraps, but not necessarily better ones. Once you get the basics down if you find that unwrapping is really where your workflow bogs down then consider finding a tool to automate the process. As long as you have a good unwrap at the end most companies won't care how you got there.

I think I would have to agree that you would be better off learning it in the program first before you try out other tools. It may seem a pain in the ass but it is usually better to learn the hard way than taking the easy way out. You will probably find that the artists who use Unfold in a studio environment can unwrap perfectly well without it.

I used to find it tough and boring, but I don't mind it so much anymore.

XSI 7.5 actually came with a built-in version of Unfold 3D as one of the new features (it wasn't included with Modtool due to their contract with Polygonal Design, but the full version has it). I'm not sure if Autodesk kept that with Softimage 2010 or not, but it might be worth looking into before spending money on a seperate version.

Personally I just use Roadkill UV (free), and XSI's normal unwrapping tools.

Edited by: Cryrid

SinKing wrote:

TKAzA wrote: ... so best learn the uv tools for the toolset of your choice.

But if they suck? I have heard from people, who use 3Ds Max for converting files, Modo for unwrapping and XSI for animation. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me either, but I got that from a professional animator. I'd rather just use one program, but unwrapping has always been my most hated activity and if I can save hours then I'll rather use some other package.

Unfold 3D is used by a lot of professional studios, e.g. Lionhead and probably many others. Perhaps I should wait until after we learn the regular unwrapping with XSI, though.

Don't take me the wrong way but a carpenter doesn't blame his tools for a poor job.

Basically if you can use 5 diffrent programs to take 5 -10 min off a job, well do it, but just be aware that you wont always be able to, so learning the toolsets tools would be better in the long run.
Personally i hated maxs uv tools, so much so, i looked to all other apps, but always came back to max, as its more fiddly working with other apps then transfering back and forth, I also hated the uv tools as i didnt understand them, when you get used to the tools you will l2 love them.

Any way just my 2c, let us know how you go.

Looks like XSI 7.5 has a lot ot offer and thanks for the notice, Cyrid! So you get Facerobot and Unwrap3d with the software - that's nice!

I also found the student edition in a really incredible bundle with basically all Autodesk software (Maya, Max, XSI, Mudbox) for just 150€. Even though those are student versions I think that's a pretty good deal. Knowing now that Unwrap3D is incorporated, I can buy the bundle. Thanks! (shame it aint in the modtool version, too p:)

Edited by: SinKing

Good God, where can one find this bundle? I'm used to seeing them for $300-400 each.

Sounds like one of those incredible bundles you get from Russia that turn around and bite you, but if not, awesome!

As I said - it's only a student version, so you can't use it comercially.
I have been told about this by one of my professors. I'll ask him next week and get back to you. As far as I know that's the most recent Autodesk bundle, so I guess some searching could bring up valid results, too. Anyway Imagonnaask

It's only a 1 year license. That makes more sense.