Topic awaiting preservation: Nendo - my thoughts

Nendo -- link compliments of docilebob.

I gave it a whirl and I'm not too happy. It has it's good points, but more bad than good.

For starters, the demo is crippled more than I like. Import/Export has been disabled. You are basically stuck playing with it's native file format. I can understand Export being disabled, but not having Import really hurts when it comes to giving it a work out. I would really like to see how it handles 3DS files with UVW and diffuse maps already applied (more in a bit).

Modeling s pretty basic. Extrude, divide, and things. Start with a primitive and box model it. That's pretty much it. Nothing fancy, but more complex models can be done once you get the hang of it. This is actually a good way to get to learn how to box model, especially since it's not cpu heavy. One thing I really like about how it models is how selecting things is done (I wish Max handled selecting multiple face/lines bit more like Nendo).

Once you get your model, you can paint on it in real time. Pretty snazzy, but some major drawbacks. Only a handful of painting tools and no options for them. You can't change the size of the brush or the opacity (maybe you can in the full version, but I can't imagine them turning it off for the demo). So, you can paint on your model in real time, but with limited functionality. It works, but it's not great.

Still on painting the model -- more problems. Painting is flat on the viewport. That means no projection painting at all, which kind of sucks. If you aren't mindful, you get distortion galore. Not good. Also, the UVW on the object causes problems. No control over UVW at all. None. Leads to more distortion and fuzziness. Since you can't scale the map, major fuzziness. Major suck.

I really would like to see how it handles painting on an object with UVW already applied, but $99 too much just to see this. If only Import wasn't disabled. :sigh:

It's good for learning how to box model, but that's about it. As far as painting on the model goes, much better off with Deep Paint or Painter 3D. Even if you buy the full version and can export models with maps, the limited painting functionality reduces painting in Nendo down to laying graphical markers for more serious texture work in PS or similiar.

That's about it from me.

Addendum: You do have some control over brush size, opacity and hardness via right click. It's limited to names instead of numbers. Limited control, but it's there in a small capacity.



[This message has been edited by warjournal (edited 03-31-2002).]

good review WJ, you should send that to the manufacturers.

I've heard many of the same things said about Nendo before.. But I think more importantly from the same company is a program called Mirai. Which looks to have amazing performance, and so far I've only heard great things about it.

Thanks, VP, but I only talked about things that are important to me. So here I am to tie up some loose ends. BTW, I am thinking about sending them an e-mail asking them to turn on Import.

In the other thread, DB mentioned that the renderer sucks. Well, there is no renderer -- it's just a screencap of the viewport. Suck, but understandable since this prog is for modeling and painting.

Diffuse map only hurts Nendo really bad. You can do other maps, but putting it all together elsewhere might be more trouble than what it's worth. And, since it's intended for diffuse only, there is next to no lighting.

A lighting system of some kind would be nice. There is a light somewhere in the scene, but the facets are washed out pretty bad. That is, some faceted shading, but not much.

Camera can be rotated and panned, but not zoomed (if you can zoom, I haven't figured it out yet). Rotating the camera is "backwards" from most 3d progs, which is a bit disorienting.

The axis is funny. Y is top and Z is front.

That's about it from me. Seriously. I mean it this time.

edit: Damn you, Dan. Now I'm gonna have to check that out.
edit2: Whoa, maybe not. Pricey, and I don't want to jump through hoops for an evaluation. What's up with Minimum Requirement: Ethernet Card?



[This message has been edited by warjournal (edited 03-31-2002).]

[This message has been edited by warjournal (edited 03-31-2002).]

By jump through hoops.. you mean write an email? It really doesn't seem that hard

Well, yeah. Fill out the form to get the CD by mail, then request a license (by e-mail or phone). I went through it once with a different product and I didn't care for the process. Too much trouble for a demo, IMHO. Besides, it looks like it's a bit more robust/industrial than what I'm looking for. I'm on a personal quest for a simple 3d painter and uvw map tweaker that I like.

If you try it, Dan, let us know what it's like.

WJ: For the Zoom in Nendo, click and hold M and drag. M being the button on your mouse that starts the camera .

Whazaaap, Nendo is a pretty good modeler in my opinion, its easier modeling in it than max, I use it to do my initial model then i bring it into another 3D prog to make it more complex, i have the full version though. I wouldnt recommend painting in this program, and yeah the render is the the viewport you see heheh. Since its less cpu intensive than max i use it often sometimes, you can smooth your model when your done in Nendo, just takes a while to export as .3DS when you smoothed a complex model.

Keep up the skillz, later.

I don't know if this is any better than nendo, but I know its not crippled. http://www.wings3d.com/

Schitzoboy

Of course, I just had to play with Wings 3D. I like it. My only bitch so far has to do with material handling.

Played a bit with Lith Unwrap as well. My only bitch is that the work area is square instead of map fit.

Hmm...

edit: Luxo, remember that elephant COB file? I just used Lith Unwrap to convert it to 3DS and it did a damn fine job of keeping the UVW. Hey, I'm impressed.



[This message has been edited by warjournal (edited 04-01-2002).]

when you get the hang of nendo it's AMAZING. the workflow and little things the program does are very unlike Max/LW/etc., like being able to extrude from an edge or point. i'm quite certain they won't enable the export as that's the big diff between the demo and the full version.

besides, i doubt they'll read your e-mail anyway. a good friend of mine has been trying to BUY the program for several months and they've returned a money order and won't mail him back

chris


KAIROSinteractive

I just downloaded wings and loved it! Wow! I can see so many more things I'm capable of modelling now its incredible!!!!

Happy Schitzo

Wings 3D is awesome, AND it's free. Nice combination.